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Notre Dame Football: Breakout Candidates at Offensive Skill Positions

By Nathan Erbach

EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 03: Michael Young #87 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Travis Jack Whillock #7 of the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half of a game at Ryan Field on November 3, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 03: Michael Young #87 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Travis Jack Whillock #7 of the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half of a game at Ryan Field on November 3, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 29: Michael Young #87 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish takes the field with teammates before the game against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Michael Young

Nathan:

Michael Young enters his third year with the program, and even though a breakout has always seemed likely at some point, this spring is showing the most signs of any time previous. The speed and quickness have always been there to make him a very good slot option for Notre Dame, but the toughness hasn’t.

With Finke returning for his fifth year, that automatically eliminates slot receiver from the equation on a consistent basis. But with Boykin gone to the NFL, a spot is open on the outside. Young provides Notre Dame with the most experience of any of the wide receivers in the room minus Claypool and Finke, while also giving them a true dynamic deep threat.

From all reports, Young seems poised to breakout as a junior and possibly even in a big way. Look for him to be the downfield weapon Chip Long has been searching for since joining the staff in 2017.

Mason:

With the loss of Miles Boykin to the NFL and Chase Claypool’s perpetual mediocrity, there is plenty of room for a wide receiver to step up and break out. That man to step-up is Michael Young. Coming into this season as a junior, it’s time for Young to prove himself in this Notre Dame offense. Last season, Young tallied 138 yards on seven receptions — one of those going for a touchdown. As the fourth or fifth option in the offense last season, those numbers aren’t bad. However, Young will be the second or third option this season and will be relied on heavily. Expect him to rise to the occasion.

With Boykin gone, Young will need to have a breakout season and replace the vacated production, and there is plenty of reason to believe he will. Young has the size, frame and speed to beat his defender in a variety of ways. Expect to see that this year, as he is our first candidate to have a breakout season for the Irish this fall.

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