Notre Dame football: 2016 offense potential
By Walt Kosin
Most of the discussion concerning the 2016 Notre Dame offense has been the competition between Malik Zaire and DeShone Kizer for starting quarterback. But how will the rest of the unit fare?
This year’s offense features some great returning starters and many young stars with great potential.
The battle between Zaire (6-foot, 225 pounds) and Kizer (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) will likely end with Brian Kelly naming one of them as the starter at the end of fall camp. Both quarterbacks are very good, but Zaire is the better runner and Kizer the better passer. For Fighting Irish fans, this is an embarrassment of riches as both could lead Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff.
Related Story: Notre Dame football: 2016 defensive preview
At running back, Tarean Folston (5-foot-9 1/2, 215 pounds) returns from a leg injury that caused him to miss the 2015 season. However, Folston has already proved his worth with a great 2014 season. His main competition for the starting job this year will be Josh Adams (6-foot-2, 220 pounds). Adams, as a true freshman last year, shared running back duties with CJ Prosise and had a fabulous season in which he ran 117 times for 869 yards, a 7.1 average, as well as six TDs.
Dexter Williams (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) also played as a true freshman last year and will vie for snaps. Former receiver Justin Brent (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) will be given a chance at running back, so the Irish have both quality and quantity at the position.
At tight end, the Irish looked to have five players as recently as two weeks ago. Unfortunately, Alize Jones (6-foot-4, 240 pounds) was suspended for the 2016 season due to academic reasons just last week.
Now, the Fighting Irish return Durham Smythe (6-foot-4, 245 pounds), a redshirt junior, who was projected to start at tight end last season until he was injured in the second game of the year against Virginia. He is the best all-around tight end on the team, as he has good hands and is a very effective blocker.
Redshirt sophomore Nic Weishar (6-foot-4, 245 pounds) is a great pass catcher but is not the best blocker. Meanwhile, the Irish will have two very good blocking tight ends in junior Tyler Luatua (6-foot-2, 255 pounds) and converted defensive lineman senior Jacob Matuska (6-foot-5, 275 pounds). Even though Notre Dame has lost Jones for the season, the tight end position still looks good. Both Smythe and Weishar are four-start recruits who should come into their own this season.
The offensive line looks to do well again this season as offensive line coach Harry Hiestand continues to recruit well and develop his players. Two starters return for the Fighting Irish as redshirt sophomore Quenton Nelson (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) returns at left guard and redshirt junior Mike McGlinchey (6-foot-8, 310 pounds) moves from right tackle to left tackle. It appears that in spring practice, redshirt sophomore Sam Mustipher (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) beat out redshirt freshman Tristen Hoge (6-foot-4, 300 pounds) as the starting center.
The biggest battle left is at right guard, where redshirt junior Hunter Bivin (6-foot-5, 310 pounds) is going against another redshirt junior, Colin McGovern (6-foot-4, 315 pounds). Both of them are four-start recruits and whoever wins the position will keep this offensive line as one of the best in college football. Lastly, at right tackle, redshirt sophomore Alex Bars (6-foot-6, 320 pounds) appears to have won the starting position over fifth-year senior Mark Harrell (6-foot-4, 305 pounds).
At wide receiver, Torii Hunter Jr. (6-foot, 195 pounds) will lead this group with redshirt sophomore Corey Holmes (6-foot-0, 190 pounds) and Equanimeous St. Brown (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) serving as secondary options.
Overall, this appears to be a potentially powerful offense. We know the starting quarterback will be very good and so will the backup, no matter what. It’s great that Tarean Folston is returning, and he will form a great one-two punch with Josh Adams. Tight end Durham Symthe, who started last season before being injured, will start again this year with three other tight ends to back him up. Torii Hunter will lead the wide receivers with an array of talented underclassmen also getting playing time. Although Notre Dame only returns two of five offensive line starters, the other three starters were four-star recruits with Alex Bars having started a number of games last season because of injuries.
One last important addition to the offense is place kicker Justin Yoon, who made 15 of 17 field goals last season as a true freshman.
Next: Irish return to campus for open practice
Last season, by the end of the second game, Notre Dame lost three starters: running back Tarean Folston, quarterback Malik Zaire and tight end Durham Smythe. I don’t think that will happen again this season. If the Fighting Irish have a minimal amount of injuries, this is an offense that can and will score and score often. Notre Dame is in a very good place offensively and if they can avoid turnovers, it’s an offense that can lead the team to the CFP.