Every year a get a big kick out of the football fans who rip up the experts on Twitter for even mentioning Notre Dame, calling them irrelevant. How can they be irrelevant when they bring up such an emotional response from people, and moreover, I have some news... Notre Dame is a good team, and they are on the verge of being Nationally Relevant on the field again, possible this year.
Ever since the days of Montana and Theismann, so many expectations have been placed on the shoulders of Notre Dame QBs, most of whom have failed, either in college or in the pros. Most recently, Dane Crist has folded at Notre Dame, and he has since transferred to Kansas. It was expected that JR Tommy Rees would be the starter, but I expect for it to be SO Andrew Hendrix under center on 9-1 against Navy. Hendrix has a more complete skill set than Rees, and I think he is a better fit for Brian Kelly's offense. I also think that it will not be long until Gunner Kiel is under center for the Irish. He was the top QB prospect to come out of high school this past season, and he has signed to play for Kelly at Notre Dame. Regardless of who is at QB this year, they will have JR Cierre Woods at RB. Many experts really like Woods, but some really don't. I fall in the camp with those who don't. I think he has some talent, but I don't see it translating into exceptional success at either the college or pro levels. At receiver, the Irish have lost their top weapon, Michael Floyd as he is now teaming with Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona. This leaves JR TJ Jones as the top receiver, and TE Tyler Eifert as the top offensive weapon anywhere on the field. Eifert is very, very good, and it will not surprise me at all to see him taken in the first round next April. He is the best TE in the nation, and for good reason. Up front, JR OT Zack Martin leads a talented bunch who are not newbies, but are not overly experienced starters either. Martin is pretty good now, and with two more year to play in college, he could be a first or second day selection in the 2014 draft.
Defensively, this team is led by the best interior linebacker in the nation, but that should not indicate that the front or back four are slouches. Up front, the Irish lost their best pass rusher when DE Aaron Lynch transferred to South Florida. Although he will be missed, SO DE Stephon Tuitt and SO NT Louis Nix will continue to develop into a nasty pair for this line. The aforementioned SR ILB, Manti Te'o passed up the NFL to come back from one more year in South Bend, and he will have to be accounted for on every single play by opposing OCs. He is the best at what he does, and come April, he should hear his name called fairly early on the first night. JR OLB, Prince Shembo is also pretty good, and should be watched this year too. He is not at the level of a Te'o, but he is in position to emerge as a real player in his own right this season. The secondary is fast, but they lack some experience. I think SR S Jamoris Slaughter is pretty good though, and I expect him to help his draft stock significantly with a strong year.
I know that some see Notre Dame as a has-been, but the Fighting Irish are back. Brian Kelly has done a great job with this team since taking over, and I think now that they team is in the third year in his system, they should really start making strides. The return of Tyler Efiert and Manti Te'o is very important to this program, and I see them making some real noise this year.
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