Notre Dame Football: 5 Players with the Most to Gain in Spring Practices
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame football kicks off spring practice on March 16, and the Irish have plenty of positions to be filled.
Let’s look at which players have the most to gain in spring practice as they look to enhance their current roles heading toward the summer, fall and the 2016 campaign.
Alize Jones
1 of 5
There’s plenty of uncertainty at Notre Dame’s offensive skill positions with C.J. Prosise, Will Fuller, Chris Brown and Amir Carlisle all gone and Tarean Folston returning from a torn ACL.
At tight end, the Irish bring back their primary contributors, with the exception of soon-to-be transfer Tyler Luatua.
Second-year tight end Alize Jones has the opportunity to carve out a bigger role in the offense. As a true freshman, the former top-ranked tight end in the 2015 recruiting class tallied 13 receptions for 190 yards—the best marks among Notre Dame’s five tight ends.
Jones will be jockeying with a healthy Durham Smythe and Nic Weishar for playing time in 2016.
Offensive Linemen
2 of 5
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley, center Nick Martin and right guard Steve Elmer have left three spots to be filled on Notre Dame’s offensive line.
A horde of linemen have the chance to prove themselves this spring in the hopes of locking up a starting spot.
Redshirt sophomore Alex Bars, who suffered a fractured ankle in 2015, will likely start at either guard or tackle. Sam Mustipher and Tristen Hoge figure to battle for the starting center job. Hunter Bivin, Colin McGovern, John Montelus, Trevor Ruhland and Jimmy Byrne all return as well.
Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand should have plenty of competition this spring.
Andrew Trumbetti
3 of 5
As injuries continued to decimate Notre Dame in its Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State, defensive end Andrew Trumbetti stepped up and flashed with a strong performance.
The athletic end notched four tackles (two for loss), one sack and a pair of quarterback hurries. With Romeo Okwara off to the NFL, can Trumbetti step forward this spring and solidify that vacant end position opposite Isaac Rochell?
Trumbetti was listed at 260 pounds in 2015. If he can bulk up while retaining his quickness and athleticism, he could profile nicely on the line.
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Nyles Morgan
4 of 5
The time is coming, Irish fans.
With Joe Schmidt gone, Nyles Morgan is poised to step into the starting “Mike” linebacker spot for his junior season. The former top recruit logged starting experience as a true freshman when Schmidt was injured and hasn’t really been heard from since.
Can Morgan use the spring to enhance his control of the defensive plan and steady the center of the defense?
Nick Watkins
5 of 5
KeiVarae Russell is gone. Devin Butler is two months removed from a broken foot.
There’s an opportunity, then, for Nick Watkins to prove himself at the starting cornerback spot across from returning starter Cole Luke.
Watkins held his own in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. Will that performance build confidence and vault him forward this spring?
All quotes were obtained firsthand and all stats courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted.
Mike Monaco is the lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.
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