Players to watch
Observer Staff Report
Quarterbacks
Which player will be taking the snap come fall is still up in the air. Carlyle Holiday was Notre Dame's man last year after sophomore Matt LoVecchio (bottom right) struggled in the first two games of last season, but LoVecchio started seven games as a freshman, including the 2001 Fiesta Bowl. Holiday worked well in a duck-and-run offense but it is still unclear how his passing game will develop. LoVecchio has had more experience with the pass and it is quite possible that he will line up behind center in the fall. Third-stringer Jared Clark pulled himself out of the running last week and moved to tight end.
Running backs
With the graduation of running backs Tony Fisher and Terrance Howard, the main running backs responsibility will probably fall on rising senior Julius Jones (top left). Fifth-year senior fullback Tom Lopienski should see some more carries, although the new offensive style will make less use of the run. Rising sophomore Ryan Grant (bottom left) and fifth-year senior Mike McNair may also make solid contributions to the Irish run game.
Offensive line
The Irish offensive line is probably the most experienced part of the team. Despite the graduation of Kurt Vollers, the Irish return five lineman with loads of experience — Jordan Black, Jeff Faine, Sean Milligan, Sean Mahan and Brennan Curtin. The line has two years of experience and looked as if it was really beginning to gel at the end of last season. Black, Milligan and Mahan bounced between positions but seem to have settled into place in spring practice. Rising sophomore Mark LeVoir could step in if one of those five gets injured.
Wide receivers
With the new West Coast-style offense, the wide receivers should receive some new national attention. After graduating David Givens and Javin Hunter, the wide receiver position wide open. Arnaz Battle, who did nothing extraordinary in his first year as a flanker, has spent most of spring practice on the sidelines nursing an injury. Rising junior Omar Jenkins leads the returning receivers in receptions with seven. Ronnie Rodamer (top right), Lorenzo Crawford and rising sophomore Carlos Campbell have one each.
Defensive line
The loss of Tony Weaver and Grant Irons will be a blow to the Irish defensive line. Returning starters fifth-year senior Ryan Roberts and rising seniors Darrell Campbell and Cedric Hilliard will have to lead the defensive line, which suffers from a lack of depth. Rising junior Kyle Budinseck will probably step in place as starters.
Linebackers
With the exit of Rocky Boiman and Tyreo Harrison, Courtney Watson is the lone returning starter. The linebackers will have some adjusting to do, but the Irish have the numbers to fill the holes. Fifth-year senior Carlos Pierre-Antoine, rising junior Mike Goulsby and rising sophomores Corey Mays and Brandon Hoyte may be able to crack the starting line-up.
Secondary
The secondary is Notre Dame's strongest unit. With only Ron Israel graduating, the Irish have plenty of depth. Fifth-year seniors Donald Dykes and Shane Walton, rising seniors Glenn Earl, Gerome Sapp and Jason Beckstrom, rising juniors Vontez Duff, Abram Elam and Preston Jackson and rising sophomore Dwight Ellick can all make solid contributions. The leading safeties, who provide a combination of talent and experience, should begin to emerge on Saturday.
Special teams
Nicholas Setta will return for the Irish after being the leading scorer on more than one occassion last season, but will have to find a new holder with the graduation of Adam Tibble. Setta will be joined by classmate Joey Hidbold, who was the Irish punter last season. Who will return kickoffs and punts remains questionable but Jones and Vontez Duff, along with Walton and speedy wide receiver Matt Shelton, have seen action in practice.
All Sports Stories for Friday, April 26, 2002
