Notre Dame Football: Week 2 Fall Practice Stock Report

The intensity of Notre Dame's fall practice was raised a few notches at the beginning of Week 2. 

After spending the first week of fall camp 100 miles southeast of campus at Camp Shiloh in Marion, Ind., the Irish returned to campus and donned full pads, transforming practices from light workouts in helmets and shorts to brutally physical sessions in full gear. 

In doing so, individual players and units have begun to separate themselves and gain attention from the coaching staff. 

Certain stocks have risen, while others have plummeted. 

So who should you be buying and selling? 

Let's find out. 

Stock Up: Nick Martin, C

Aside from the two mainstays of the offensive line—left tackle Zack Martin and left guard Chris Watt—questions were abounds concerning the formation of the 2013 offensive line entering fall camp. 

One of those question marks has been nixed, as the center position has been nailed down by junior Nick Martin. 

While Martin has been the presumed favorite to win the job since spring ball, Matt Hegarty and Bruce Heggie remained in the mix. Now, head coach Brian Kelly's comments about Martin's performance thus far in fall camp have all but solidified him as a starter, via Jim Johnston of WNDU.com: 

"I look at Nick Martin and he doesn't seem like a first year starter," Kelly said. "The way he handles himself, it just seems like he has been in there for a couple years. It is really quite impressive." 

Kelly credited Martin's consistency against one of the nation's elite defensive lines on a daily basis as a point of emphasis for the younger brother of the Irish's starting left tackle. 

"Nick holds his own," Kelly said. "He goes against great competition. Even when he goes up against Kona Schwenke he is challenged every day and just holds up very well. He knows the offense very well. He's not a guy that makes mistakes. He is extremely conscientious. Very fit, can play every play. And he plays to the echo of the whistle." 

Stock Down: Nicky Baratti, S

Nicky Baratti's season ended before it even began. 

The 6'1", 206-pound safety dislocated the same shoulder he had surgery on during the offseason, and the injury will hold him out for the entire season, via Chip Patterson of CBSSports.com. 

"We hope to regain that year of eligibility, obviously," head coach Brian Kelly said. "Very disappointed for Nick, he's worked hard to get back. We'll expect the next man in to step up and get it done there." 

That "next man" will come from a quartet of Max Redfield, Austin Collinsworth, John Turner and Eilar Hardy. 

Sophomore Elijah Shumate is the presumed starter at free safety in the wake of Baratti's injury after running with the No. 1 defense through the majority of fall camp, though nothing has been set in stone by the coaching staff. 

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Nicky Baratti's season ended before it even began. 

The 6'1", 206-pound safety dislocated the same shoulder he had surgery on during the offseason, and is an injury that will hold him out for the entire season, via Chip Patterson of CBSSports.com. 

"We hope to regain that year of eligibility, obviously," head coach Brian Kelly said. "Very disappointed for Nick, he's worked hard to get back. We'll expect the next man in to step up and get it done there." 

That "next man" will come from a quartet of Max Redfield, Austin Collinsworth, John Turner and Eilar Hardy. 

Sophomore Elijah Shumate is the presumed starter at free safety in the wake of Baratti's injury after running with the No. 1 defense through the majority of fall camp, though nothing has been set in stone by the coaching staff. 

Stock Up: The Safety Position

While Baratti's injury was unfortunate news for the Irish defense, Kelly offered high praise of the safety unit that will be without Baratti's services for the 2013 season, via Rachel Terlep of the Elkhart Truth. 

"...John Turner has had a very good week for us and Eilar Hardy," Kelly said. "Both those guys. The old coaching cliché, it's not our job to notice you, it's your job to make us notice you. We have now noticed Hardy and John Turner.

"They have put themselves in position along with Collinsworth, Shumate, [Matthias] Farley where we've got pretty good depth there," Kelly said. 

The lack of worry and panic surrounding Baratti's injury is a testament to the depth the Irish have acquired at the safety position, and it will make for a heated battle for a spot on the final two-deep roster. 

Stock Up: Andrew Hendrix, QB

In the wake of former starting quarterback Everett Golson's suspension for the fall semester, Tommy Rees was named Notre Dame's starting quarterback. 

That much is certain, but the battle for backup duties was a point of increasing interest with the presence of ultra-athletic freshman Malik Zaire in the fold. 

The speculation and pondering about the backup job officially came to a halt yesterday, when Kelly announced Hendrix as the Irish's backup quarterback, via Matt Fortuna of ESPN.com. 

"There's a clear pecking order here, 1-2-3," Kelly said. "Andrew is clearly the number-two quarterback and ready to play. I think I made it clear that if I believe Andrew can help in winning football games, I am not a guy that's going to be hesitant to put him in at any time to help us win." 

Hendrix had an expanded role during the 2011 season, amassing 411 total yards (249 passing, 162 rushing) and two touchdowns. 

However, his role was diminished last season with Golson providing the mobility and Rees serving as a reliable backup in crunch time. 

Stock Down: Max Redfield, S

Along with linebacker Jaylon Smith, freshman Max Redfield earned a 5-star billing from 247 Sports, automatically making the 6'1", 194-pound safety a fan favorite to win the vacant starting position. 

However, per Kelly, the Mission Viejo, Calif., native faces a steep learning curve, via Terlep. 

"We've already talked about Max Redfield and we know his ability," Kelly said. "But there's going to be a mental end of it that he's going to have to continue to progress there. But physically he's got the ability. He'll continue to grow." 

That phrasing isn't promising for Redfield's odds of getting on the field early, though like Kelly said, he'll continue to grow. 

That learning process for a first-year player is complex, as witnessed by Shumate's transition from the Irish's nickelback last season to safety this season. Shumate played sporadically, which is what should be expected for Redfield. 

And while a redshirt season remains a possibility for Redfield, his raw physical ability Kelly spoke to may steer him clear of a season spent taking mental reps. 

Stock Up: TJ Jones, WR

For the first three seasons of the Kelly era, the Irish possessed a bona fide weapon in the passing game with Tyler Eifert and Michael Floyd making highlight reel receptions. 

Now that both have taken their talents to the NFL, the Irish offense is in need of a proven playmaker. 

Kelly made it clear that he does in fact have one in the form of senior receiver TJ Jones, via Terlep.

"It's TJ Jones," Kelly said when questioned about having a go-to guy. "We have a go-to guy...I like the balance in our offense, but I still think we have a dynamic playmaker in TJ Jones." 

The Roswell, Ga., native tied for the team lead in receptions and touchdown receptions last season, and finished just 36 yards short of tying Eifert for the team lead in receiving yards. 

As the Irish's clear No. 1 receiver this season, it'll be interesting to see the balance at the receiver position come into play. DaVaris Daniels, C.J. Prosise, James Onwualu and Chris Brown are each primed for big seasons.