Notre Dame Football Awards for 2014 Season

The University of Notre Dame will host their year-end awards banquet Friday night, which is a black-tie affair dubbed, "The Echoes." With the Irish's coaching staff returning to campus after being out on the recruiting trail, it's an opportunity to look back at another season before turning its focus to LSU and the Music City Bowl. 

While the Irish's backslide during the second half of the season put a damper on the season, there were still plenty of performances that were noteworthy. And with Mike Mayock and Skylar Diggins hosting the festivities, it's a weekend that could mean a lot on the recruiting trail as well.

With a young roster likely returning the bulk of the team's contributors, "The Echoes" are a good opportunity for Brian Kelly to kick-start the 2015 season. 

Let's take over the jury pool and project some of the winners for Saturday night.

Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year

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DeShone Kizer

Notre Dame's freshman quarterback didn't see any playing time. But he likely spent a lot of time simulating the opponents' offenses, getting his reps against the Irish's first-string defense.

At 6'4.5", DeShone Kizer is the one quarterback on the current depth chart who has an NFL build. He likely spent a lot of time this season going up against an NFL system on defense, with defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder working out his installation against the scout team. 

The plan was always for Kizer to redshirt this season, working with quarterback coach Matt LaFleur to prepare for the seasons ahead. He'll jump into a quarterback competition this spring that could be wide open before Brandon Wimbush joins this summer. 

Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year

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Jay Hayes

Jay Hayes took off his redshirt late in the season and forced into action with the Irish's depth chart being ravaged. He played admirably before spraining his ankle early against USC, making his return for the LSU game questionable. 

But Hayes' contributions on the scout team led to his insertion into the lineup. There's no bigger compliment to pay a player on the show team. And while it means his eligibility clock is now ticking, Hayes' ceiling could render that point moot considering no top defensive lineman has stuck around in South Bend for five seasons.

Offensive Newcomer of the Year

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Greg Bryant

Greg Bryant started the season fast and ended strong, but he got lost a bit in the middle. But for all the frustrations, he still led the Irish in yards per carry, averaging 5.5 per attempt.

The sophomore (a redshirt freshman eligibility-wise) hasn't made the instant impact many expected after arriving as a blue-chip recruit, but he did some impressive things this season. Bryant filled in on special teams and broke a few nice returns (including a big one against USC), averaging 13.6 yards per punt on a unit that historically has struggled. 

Heading into the 2015 season with Bryant and Tarean Folston in the backfield, the ground game has an opportunity to be special. 

Defensive Newcomer of the Year

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Nyles Morgan

It hasn't all been pretty, but Nyles Morgan has done an admiral job filling in for Joe Schmidt at middle linebacker. The true freshman has certainly made some mistakes, but he's showed himself to be a physical presence in the middle—a tackling machine when he's in the right position. 

Heading into his sophomore season, Morgan saw enough football to turn a position of real concern into one of the stronger spots on the depth chart. While the mental part of his game still needs to be refined, the baptism under fire will make Morgan a better player next season.

Before then, he has one last assignment in front of him, with LSU expected to run the football early and often in the Music City Bowl. Morgan should end the season making double-digit tackles in three straight games. 

Special Teams Player of the Year

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Vacated

This won't happen on Saturday evening, but my vote for Special Teams Player of the Year is nobody. Watching Kyle Brindza collapse down the stretch was a sad ending to a very productive career at Notre Dame. His field-goal kicking woes infected his punting, leaving Brindza's kickoffs as the only thing not shaky by the end.

While the coverage units were very good this season, it's difficult to point out one contributor from there. And giving anything to the teams' holders but a new set of gloves doesn't make sense. 

Nick Pietrosante Award

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Austin Collinsworth

The Nick Pietrosante Award is given to the Notre Dame player who best shows courage, loyalty, teamwork and dedication. That was the embodiment of Pietrosante, a former Irish great who went on to become a first-round draft pick and the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 1959 before retiring from football as the Detroit Lions' all-time leading rusher. 

That award should go to Irish captain Austin Collinsworth. The fifth-year senior battled through an early season knee injury and a shoulder injury to work his way back onto the field to try and help his teammates. 

Another serious shoulder dislocation against USC likely ended Collinsworth's career, which was a star-crossed path through South Bend that included another season lost to injuries. As the first recruit Kelly brought to South Bend, Collinsworth did everything he could to help his team.

Lineman of the Year

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Sheldon Day

As the only defensive lineman with significant playing experience before heading into the season, Sheldon Day took on a leadership role as a junior both on and off the field. Shifting inside to defensive tackle in VanGorder's four-down scheme, Day had a productive season, even as the focal point up front. 

A knee injury ended Day's season early, keeping him out of the last two regular-season games. Kelly hopes to have Day back against LSU, which is an SEC program that recruited the Indianapolis native in high school. He'll be needed if the Irish are going to have a shot to slow down Leonard Fournette and company. 

Offensive Lineman of the Year

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Ronnie Stanley

While the four other starters mixed and matched, Ronnie Stanley held his own at left tackle in his first year there. After starting at right tackle for all 13 games last season, Stanley took over for Zack Martin and quickly turned himself into a first-round draft prospect. 

Stanley has the size, length and athleticism that even Martin didn't. He was excellent all season as a pass-blocker and improved his physicality throughout the year. One of the few bright spots came against USC in his battle with potential top pick Leonard Williams.

Stanley has asked for an NFL evaluation before deciding whether or not to come back for his senior season. If he returns, he's another All-American candidate. 

Offensive Player of the Year

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Will Fuller

After playing only a minor role in last year's offense, Will Fuller exploded as a sophomore, breaking 1,000 yards and being within a touchdown of the single-season record. With 14 touchdown catches and 1,037 yards, Fuller established himself as one of college football's best playmakers. He had a very successful individual campaign in a season that ended in collective disappointment. 

Fuller's elite deep speed was on display as a freshman. But even as the team's primary weapon in the passing game, Fuller consistently beat defenses trying to stop him with man coverage, scoring a touchdown in every game of the season except against Stanford and USC. 

While he's still plagued by the occasional drop, Fuller will be an All-American candidate entering 2015. 

Defensive Player of the Year

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Joe Schmidt

Notre Dame's defense fell apart when Joe Schmidt went down with a season-ending injury. At the time, the senior linebacker was the Irish's leading tackler and communications hub in the middle of VanGorder's defense. 

Schmidt had perhaps the team's most impressive season. He was a consistent performer who successfully anchored the Irish's rush defense. He'll return for next season after his broken ankle heals, and he will once again be a tackling machine at the center of it all.  

Most Valuable Player

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Jaylon Smith

The sophomore linebacker made 103 tackles in the regular season while leading the team in tackles for loss and finishing second in sacks. Jaylon Smith's transition to the "Will" linebacker spot was a success by any statistical measure—made even more impressive by the fact that he was learning on the job.

Without Schmidt by his side, Smith's stats dropped before picking back up in the season's final games. While his performance wasn't enough to keep the defense from collapsing, Smith took on a bigger leadership role, assisting with play calls while surrounded by youth at nearly every position. That will only help his development heading into his junior season. 

A finalist for the Butkus Award, Schmidt likely enters 2015 as one of the top defensive players in college football.