Notre Dame Spring Practice: Questions & Possible Answers

The first of Notre Dame’s 15 spring practices opens Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. It will conclude with the annual Blue-Gold Game April 16.

Head coach Brian Kelly will provide a “State of the Team” address at noon on Tuesday. Here is our own overview of some of the most asked inquiries:

What areas are the strongest around which the Fighting Irish can build?

It starts in the backfield with the quarterbacks and running backs.

In junior DeShone Kizer and senior Malik Zaire, Notre Dame should have its best combination of passers/runners at the position in Kelly’s seven seasons, and both also have developed a tangible body of work against marquee opponents or in clutch situations. Thus, the plan is to redshirt sophomore Brandon Wimbush, who might have the most long-range talent among the trio.

We’re not expecting a starter to be declared at the end of spring. As of 8 a.m. this Tuesday, here was the update of 663 different votes on BlueandGold.com regarding who would end up being the starter: 326 votes for Zaire (49.1 percent), 324 for Kizer (48.9 percent) and 13 for Wimbush (2.0 percent). Will it be healthy competition, or does it become divisive?

Seldom can a team graduate a 1,000-yard rusher such as C.J. Prosise and still be deemed at least as strong as the previous year, yet that is the case with the return of top 2014 rusher Tarean Folston, a senior, and record-setting 2015 freshman Josh Adams.

In sophomore kicker Justin Yoon (15 of 17 on field goals last year as a freshman) and junior punter Tyler Newsome (44.5 yards per punt), Notre Dame should have one of the nation’s better tandems there.

Defensively, the return of fifth-year senior nose guard Jarron Jones, sidelined virtually of 2015 with a knee injury, should provide a quality nucleus up front to complement senior Isaac Rochell, junior Andrew Trumbetti and sophomore Jerry Tillery.

Where is the most shoring up needed?

Probably a toss-up among offensive line, linebacker and safety — or the defense in general.

Graduating three starters along the offensive line leaves a myriad of combinations to assess. Will junior Alex Bars end up at guard or tackle? Are the two center candidates, junior Sam Mustipher and sophomore Tristen Hoge, two of the five best linemen? If so, can the No. 2 man in their spring competition start at another position to get him on the field? Can right tackle Mike McGlinchey seamlessly move over to left tackle?

Linebacker loses not one but two captains in Butkus Award winner Jaylon Smith at Will and Joe Schmidt at Mike. At Sam, senior James Onwualu and junior Greer Martini were a tag team. Plus, Martini and sophomore Will linebacker Te’von Coney are both coming off January surgeries that will sideline them this spring.

For all the outside criticism about Schmidt’s play in 2015 while he battled injuries, Nyles Morgan, who will be entering his junior campaign, could not supplant him. Can Morgan grasp coordinator Brian VanGorder’s scheme that has often been hinted at as being overly complex for the college game?

And speaking of complex … the last line of defense at safety remains a conundrum. Senior Max Redfields’s roller-coaster career has him coming off a Fiesta Bowl suspension, while junior Drue Tranquill is returning from his second straight ACL surgery.

Are there any position changes in the works?

The most notable could be shifting McGlinchey from right to left tackle to replace projected first-round pick Ronnie Stanley. The move would be to provide an ultra-physical left side with junior Quenton Nelson at guard, one that could rival, if not surpass, the Zack Martin/Chris Watt combination from 2011-13. (Nelson hinted at McGlinchey’s switch on his Twitter account.)

With only three scholarship tight ends, the Irish could probably use another figure from the defense to supplement the position as a blocker, just like Chase Hounshell did last season as a fifth-year senior coming from the defensive line. (Hounshell will reportedly use his sixth year of injury at another school in 2016.)

Kelly has also admitted that finding a settled spot for current running back Justin Brent, who was a wideout as a 2014 freshman before getting redshirted last season, might be evaluated.

Senior John Montelus, a right guard his first three seasons, reportedly has been working out with the defense this winter.

What is the health status of so many of the walking wounded from last season?

Zaire already began doing light workouts for the Fiesta Bowl practices in December, while Jones and senior tight end Durham Smythe both battled back to see action in the bowl outing.

With Folston, Tranquill and sophomore cornerback/nickel Shaun Crawford, the ACL tears they incurred usually require about nine months of convalescence, although Tranquill has been referred to as a freakishly fast healer. Limits likely will be placed on them on how much work they will be able to engage in during the spring.

Sophomore wideout Equanimeous St. Brown underwent shoulder surgery in November but has been 100 percent cleared for spring drills. He is the top candidate to replace All-American Will Fuller at X receiver.

As stated, linebackers Martini and Coney might be inactive this spring, plus early enrolled linebacker Daelin Hayes also will be proceeding with caution following shoulder surgery. Along with Hayes, there are four other early enrollees who will participate in spring drills: wide receiver Kevin Stepherson, defensive end Khalid Kareem, and safeties Spencer Perry and Devin Studstill.

Where is the pass rush going to come from this year?

There isn’t a single standout likely to get double-digit sacks (the graduated Romeo Okwara had eight in 2015), but the return of Jones at nose guard should provide a more powerful push up the middle that might enhance the possibility of opening more avenues toward the quarterback. His presence is going to be highly valuable on a unit replete with bodies, but in a developmental stage with most of the players.

Who will be the team leaders both in talent and by example?

Last year Kelly indicated that 10 captains easily could have been selected, but settled for a school record-tying five.

Other than at quarterback and tight end (in a rebuilding phase last year), Notre Dame lost its best leaders/most vocal figures, most productive and/or perhaps the top physically talented players from 2015 at every position group.

As of March 2016, the best bets for captaincy roles would be Rochell and senior cornerback Cole Luke on defense, and McGlinchey on offense. Senior wide receiver Corey Robinson has natural leadership attributes, evident by his election as student body president. But can Notre Dame's top returning career receiver (65 catches, but only 16 last year) balance all his duties effectively?

This will be an especially crucial developmental area throughout the spring and summer before next season commences.