Predicting Notre Dame football: Offensive Player of the Year

By Greg Hadley | Sep 1, 2016

Oct 3, 2015; Clemson, SC, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr. (16) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Clemson Tigers cornerback Ryan Carter (31) in the fourth quarter at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Clemson won 24-22. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

With only a few days left until the beginning of the season, the Slap The Sign experts make their picks for the offensive player of the year for Notre Dame.

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth installment in a week-long series leading up to Notre Dame’s season opener against Texas on Sunday. Check back in for a new set of predictions each day until Sunday.

There are plenty of candidates for offensive player of the year, because there are so many unanswered questions about Notre Dame’s offense. Will DeShone Kizer or Malik Zaire start? Will Tarean Folston or Josh Adams get the majority of the carries at running back? Who will step up at wide receiver? Is Mike McGlinchey really a first-round NFL pick? Is Quenton Nelson an All-American?

Related Story: Predicting Notre Dame's defensive MVP for 2016

Depending on how you answer those questions, you’ll come to very different conclusions about who Notre Dame’s offensive MVP will be in 2016. One thing’s for sure: this question will be a lot easier to answer after this Sunday. In the meantime, we make our best guesses.

Greg Hadley: Torii Hunter Jr.

With the position battles raging at quarterback and running back, it seems unlikely that one player will emerge decisively enough at either position to take charge and act as the offense’s most valuable player. I have a feeling Malik Zaire and DeShone Kizer will trade starts throughout the year, and Tarean Folston and Josh Adams will split carries in the backfield.

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But when it comes to wide receivers, there’s only one guy there for Notre Dame, and he is primed to have a great year: Torii Hunter Jr.

The only returning receiver with more than one career catch, Hunter was named a team captain a few weeks ago, speaking to his leadership, not just of the unit, but the entire offense. He also just so happens to be a great receiver. Last year, playing mostly in the slot, he had two touchdowns and 363 yards on 28 catches.

I’m not sure he’ll reach Will Fuller levels of production this season, but I do think Hunter will lead the team in catches, touchdowns and receiving yards by a wide margin, and in a year where all the other numbers will be split, that should be enough to make him the single most important and valuable player on Notre Dame’s offense.

Ben Belden: The Offensive Line

This year’s offensive MVP will not be a quarterback, wide receiver or running back. In fact, this year’s offensive MVP will be a position group: the offensive line.

There are many questions surrounding the Notre Dame offense as the season opener draws near, but the offensive line is not one of them. Anchored by a future NFL player and team captain in Mike McGlinchey, the offensive line will lead the Irish when the rest of the offense shows inconsistencies.

If the Irish offensive line can perform on an elite level, it won’t matter who is taking the snaps, catching the passes or running the football. A dominant offensive line will allow quarterbacks time to throw, receivers time to get open and running backs holes to run through. It also will allow the Irish to control the tempo of the game and keep the pressure off a young defense.

Next: Visualize Notre Dame's recruiting reach with this map

If Notre Dame has a successful season, the starting five offensive linemen will be the ones to thank.

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