St. Brown and Sanders already making a positive impact this season

Three weeks into the season, concerns over depth at wide receiver are gone, as Equanimeous St. Brown and C.J. Sanders have made a positive mark already.

Notre Dame entered summer camp needing to replace four wide receivers. Will Fuller, with one year remaining, decided to enter the NFL draft. Chris Brown and Amir Carlisle graduated, and Corey Robinson quit football because of a number of concussions.

The only receiver left with really any experience was Torii Hunter Jr. Fortunately, after three games, Fighting Irish fans know that two new starters are good, really good: Equanimeous St. Brown and C.J. Sanders.

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St. Brown is a 6-foot-4, 205-pound sophomore from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. He started the season with a great game against Texas in which he caught five passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns. He is not only tall but also a very good route-runner with good speed. He followed the Texas game with six catches for 85 yards against Nevada and four catches for 83 yards and a touchdown against Michigan State for a total of 15 receptions for 243 yards and three touchdowns.

Sanders, also a sophomore, is 5-foot-8, 185 pounds, from West Orange High School in Granada Hills, California. Most Fighting Irish fans remember him from last season when he returned kickoffs and punts, becoming the third player in program history to return one of each for a touchdown in the same season.

Sanders caught three passes for 55 yards and a touchdown against Texas, while also adding 75 yards on four kickoff returns and 51 yards on two punt returns. Against Nevada, Sanders caught five passes for 46 yards and a touchdown, and last weekend against Michigan State, he caught three passes for 24 yards and ran a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Unfortunately, the kickoff was called back because of a Notre Dame penalty.

In St. Brown and Sanders, Notre Dame has two young receivers who have elevated the Fighting Irish passing game. St. Brown brings great size and route-running to the passing game, while Sanders brings blistering speed. Paired with Torii Hunter Jr., they represent a terrific group of receivers who will improve with each game.

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Even though the Fighting Irish are off to a rough start this season, there should be great optimism in Notre Dame’s two new wide receivers. They will have a great impact on the offense this season and in the future.

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St. Brown and Sanders already making positive impact this season

By Walt Kosin | Sep 20, 2016

Three weeks into the season, concerns over depth at wide receiver are gone, as Equanimeous St. Brown and C.J. Sanders have made a positive mark already.