Notre Dame football: Irish return to campus for open practice

After a week at Culver Academy, Notre Dame football returned to South Bend and conducted an open practice Thursday, with Brian Kelly and members of the team addressing the media afterwards.

First of all, because everyone is dying to know, Kelly stayed tight-lipped on the state of the QB race.

That’s not at all surprising. We’ve been in fall camp for a little less than a week so far, and both these quarterbacks are talented enough to start, so it would make sense that Kelly will take his sweet time in deciding who will get the nod.

Related Story: The case for Malik Zaire to start

There are just two potential dangers in waiting to name a starter. The first is that Kelly’s head might explode if the media continues to pester him without getting a straight answer.

The second, more serious, problem that could result from a prolonged competition is one player or the other getting frustrated and potentially splitting the team into factions, ruining chemistry. That’s a possibility Kelly doesn’t talk about too much, and when he does, he insists any frostiness between Zaire and Kizer will dissipate when the time comes.

You can’t expect him to say anything else, but all the same, the last time Notre Dame had two capable starting QBs, one transferred when he felt he had lost out. It’s too late in the game for either player to transfer this year, but Zaire especially has limited time left in college to prove himself and doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who likes being strung along. Just something to keep an eye on.

Speaking of players with not much time left, senior safety Max Redfield has endured a long collegiate career with plenty of ups and downs after coming to Notre Dame as a five-star recruit, and he has been so shaky that there was talk that freshman Devin Studstill might replace him this season.

But so far, Redfield has been outstanding in fall camp, Kelly said. With just one season left in his career, he has finally lived up to his potential.

Of course, Redfield has always shown flashes of potential, and Kelly, while never shy about calling him out and benching him, wants to see him succeed. But I expect Redfield to be on a very short leash early in the season, until he can translate his practice successes into on-field production.

Meanwhile, Studstill is not the only freshman who has impressed Kelly thus far. He mentioned a trio of freshmen wideouts, Kevin Stepherson, Chase Claypool and Javon McKinley, as being very productive thus far and capable of earning playing time this season. The Irish certainly need all the help they can get at wide receiver.

Next: Notre Dame football: Fall camp first impressions

Injuries

Micah Dew-Treadway, a sophomore defensive lineman, broke his foot and will be out eight weeks. Junior cornerback Nick Watkins has had a procedure related to a broken arm he suffered in spring practice that will sideline him for another month. Sophomore running back Josh Adams, senior wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr. and junior defensive lineman Daniel Cage all were limited in practice Thursday due to nagging injuries.