Notre Dame Football: Former Top Recruits Who Will Finally Shine in 2016
While the Notre Dame football program has signed top-15 recruiting classes in each of the last four cycles, the time needed for prospects to develop varies greatly.
In 2016, a handful of Irish who once earned significant recognition as prospects—meaning a 4-star rating or higher—will finally have a chance to occupy major roles.
Minimal playing time behind established starters, injury problems and a bit of slower-than-expected progress are among the factors that have delayed the following five talents.
Unless some sort of misfortune impedes the players once again, they'll be recognizable names by the end of 2016.
Jay Hayes, Defensive End
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Notre Dame hopes Jay Hayes will solve one piece of the puzzle on its defensive line.
The No. 21 defensive tackle in the 2014 class, he's moved to end this offseason. Hayes requested a redshirt last season after initially intending to sit his first year. Injuries had forced the 4-star into a reserve role.
"I went to them (the coaching staff) and asked them," Hayes said, per Eric Hansen of the South Bend Tribune. "I wanted to develop. I felt like my game wasn't as complete. When I get on the field for a really significant amount of time, I want to really be a difference-maker."
Hayes is competing with Andrew Trumbetti for the starting role but will be an important facet of the rotation regardless.
Alex Bars, Right Tackle
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Mike McGlinchey will take over for Ronnie Stanley at left tackle, and Alex Bars is poised to secure McGlinchey's old spot at right tackle.
Bars—who was the No. 106 overall player in 2014—took a redshirt before serving as Quenton Nelson's backup last season. Bars logged significant action in three games, but a broken left ankle ended his campaign. Since then, he's shifted to the outside.
"I really like where he is now," offensive line coach Harry Hiestand said, per Tim Prister of Scout: "Alex has settled in (at tackle). For what we need for our team, he definitely needs to play tackle. He's very good at guard, too. He's a very flexible guy. But we have to have guys that can protect on the edge at tackle when the game comes down to that."
Bars has six career appearances but will more than double that number in 2016 with a healthy year.
Sam Mustipher, Center
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Another new face on the offensive line, Sam Mustipher has almost solidified a place up front.
"Sam's been really good," head coach Brian Kelly said during spring practice, according to Chris Goff of the Journal Gazette. "We'd like Sam Mustipher to be the center."
Mustipher arrived at Notre Dame as the 12th-rated guard in the country. He redshirted in 2014, then managed nine appearances last season as a reserve.
Barring a setback, the one-time 4-star Mustipher will hold off Tristen Hoge to secure the starting job.
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Nyles Morgan, Linebacker
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The 2014 campaign allowed Nyles Morgan to flash his potential. After Joe Schmidt fractured and dislocated his left ankle, Morgan—a true freshman—tallied 39 of his 47 tackles over a five-game stretch.
Schmidt was healthy for the 2015 season, though, and didn't leave the field. Morgan appeared in all 13 games but totaled just 17 stops, seven of which came in a 62-27 rout of Massachusetts.
Now it's time for the junior—who at No. 53 overall was Notre Dame's highest-ranked prospect of 2014—to own the middle.
"Nyles Morgan is a tough, physical football player," Kelly said, per LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune. "What we asked him to do is to be himself. You're not Joe Schmidt, but he's doing a great job getting us lined up. Now that you've got that and that's not an issue, be who you are. And he's a physical, tough player."
Drue Tranquill, Safety
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Drue Tranquill is a known commodity. He registered 33 tackles as a true freshman in 2014, playing in certain packages before a torn left ACL cut short the safety's season.
So the 4-star rehabbed, rejoined the team and won the starting role last year. And then a torn right ACL while celebrating ended Tranquill's sophomore year after just three games. Still, he's kept a positive outlook on the future.
"I'd hate to say I wouldn't have it any other way, but I think I've grown and learned so much," Tranquill said, per Mike Vorel of the South Bend Tribune. "Obviously if I didn't have to go through all that, I would have liked it that way. But I trust in God's plan, and I trust that my story will impact people's lives down the road."
The Irish will rely on Tranquill to be one of their top starting defenders this year—and hopefully avoid another injury.
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from CFBStats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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