Brian Kelly Embraces Notre Dame’s Spring Competitions
On the eve of Notre Dame’s first practice of the spring, head coach Brian Kelly boasted of the program’s large amounts of competition at various positions. It all begins, of course, at quarterback.
With the Irish returning senior Malik Zaire, junior DeShone Kizer and sophomore Brandon Wimbush, Kelly considers Notre Dame’s depth there “almost an embarrassment of riches.”
In a February interview with FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman, Kelly had indicated that Wimbush would likely redshirt in 2016. He backed off from that position Tuesday, indicating that Wimbush will also be given the chance to earn the No. 1 role.
“Brandon will get an opportunity to compete,” Kelly said. “I know I’ve talked during the year about the possibility of redshirting, but as we've gotten the chance to assess his situation, we want to give him a chance to compete as well. We think he’s extremely talented, so he’ll be given the opportunity to compete and have the chance to break through.”
That, of course, might also be a way to keep the second-year player engaged during the next nine months.
Zaire started the final game of the 2014 season — a 31-28 win over LSU in the Music City Bowl — and the first two contests of 2015 before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Kizer led the Irish the rest of the way during a 10-3 season.
“If there is one kind of underlying fact about this spring, all eyes would be on the quarterback position,” Kelly said. “I think that’s an understatement. We’ve got, really, three outstanding quarterbacks. Obviously, DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire are easy names to throw around, but we really like Brandon Wimbush as well.”
Kelly said he cannot provide a timetable for a decision at the position, saying that the coaching staff is “not predisposed to anything.” Everything is on the table, the head coach said, including the possibility that two players could share time on the field once the regular season begins.
“If we had a tape recorder on our meeting, it would be a consensus that we would love to be able to come out of the spring with a No. 1 quarterback,” Kelly said. “We know that the nature of the guys we have here, and the guys that are competing are probably not going to let that happen.
“It’s going to require all of the time that we have leading up to the first game.”
Injury Update
The Irish are relatively healthy after suffering a slew of injuries in 2015.
Senior quarterback Malik Zaire has no limitations on him this spring, per Kelly, after recovering from a fractured ankle suffered in the 34-27 win over Virginia Sept. 12 that forced him to miss the rest of the season.
Sophomore wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown is “good to go” after his shoulder injury, Kelly said.
Linebackers Greer Martini and Te’von Coney will both miss the entire spring with their respective injuries, the coach noted.
Defensive backs Drue Tranquill (ACL) and Shaun Crawford (ACL) missed the final 10 games and the entire 2015 season, respectively, but Kelly said both will be given the opportunity to every-down roles this spring.
Offensive lineman Alex Bars suffered a fractured ankle Oct. 17 against USC and is not yet fully cleared, although he is “really close,” per the head coach.
Lastly, senior running back Tarean Folston is “partial” for this spring, but “I don’t know if we’ll tackle him,” Kelly said.
Quick Hits
• Notre Dame enters spring practice at the 85-man scholarship limit after the departures of defensive end Doug Randolph, safety Nicky Baratti, wide receiver Jalen Guyton and linebacker John Turner.
Randolph, a medical hardship case, will stay around the team as an unofficial assistant.
• With Turner and Baratti off the table as possible fifth-year seniors, that leaves running back Josh Anderson, offensive lineman Mark Harrell, defensive lineman Jarron Jones and long snapper Scott Daly as the fifth-year players entering the spring. Safety Avery Sebastian returns as a sixth-year senior.
• Notre Dame released the jersey numbers and updated height and weight numbers for its five early enrollees.
Daelin Hayes (No. 9): 6-3½, 257 pounds
Khalid Kareem (No. 53): 6-3¾, 270 pounds
Spencer Perry (No. 31): 6-2, 204 pounds
Kevin Stepherson (No. 29): 6-0, 181 pounds
Devin Studstill (No. 13): 6-0, 190 pounds
• Kelly announced a number of changes to Notre Dame’s behind-the-scenes staff:
Pryce Tracy replaces Ryan Mahaffey as an offensive graduate assistant after the latter was hired as Northern Iowa’s offensive coordinator. Tracy served as the special teams analyst in 2015.
Marty Biagi replaces Tracy in the special teams analyst post. Biagi was formerly the South Dakota defensive backs coach.
Matt Mitchell has been promoted from offensive analyst to offensive graduate assistant.
Harland Bower accepted the role of defensive graduate assistant after working at Central Arkansas last season.
Clay Bignell replaces Maurice Crum Jr. as a defensive graduate assistant after serving as Northwestern’s defensive graduate assistant last season.
Former Buffalo head coach Jeff Quinn moves from his spot as offensive analyst to assistant strength and conditioning coach.
• Asked about the defensive issues the Irish have struggled through the past two seasons, Kelly said simply, “Scheme is not an issue.”