This Wednesday the Fighting Irish step on the practice field for the first time following a disastrous 4-8 season. The program has followed up a truly forgettable season with a surprisingly uplifting winter and will begin laying down the tracks for what is hoped to be a highly successful 2017 season.

BOLDĀ denotes returning starter

QUARTERBACK

Brandon Wimbush, r-SO
Ian Book r-FR

Competition: 2/10
Intrigue: 5/10

In some ways this should be a more exciting spring practice for quarterbacks compared to last year. In the spring of 2016 we knew itā€™d be Kizer and Zaire going head-to-head but we also knew a leader would never be named and barring something disastrous (didnā€™t happen) weā€™d head into the summer without much clarity.

Being able to see a million times more of Brandon Wimbush actually makes this spring one of the more anticipated in recent memory. In fact, itā€™s the first spring in a while where so much focus will be on one player. In addition, itā€™ll be fun to see what Book has to offer because while he should be a very distant second on the depth chart heā€™ll get plenty of reps in these practices.

RUNNING BACK

Josh Adams, JR
Dexter Williams, JR
Tony Jones, r-FR
C.J. Holmes, FR

Competition: 6/10
Intrigue: 7/10

Nearly all of the data points last year pointed to Adams being viewed as The Guy from the coaching staff. Who knows if that changes but Adams has been perpetually banged up and spring is often the time of year when the ā€œstartingā€ running back rests up more than other stars at different positions.

This is a fun position group because all 4 guys can do some damage, including early enrollee C.J. Holmes who should jump right in for some reps.

X WIDE RECEIVER

Kevin Stepherson, SO
Javon McKinley, SO
Deon McIntosh, r-FR

Z WIDE RECEIVER

C.J. Sanders, JR
Chris Finke, r-SO

W WIDE RECEIVER

Equanimeous St. Brown, JR
Chase Claypool, SO
Miles Boykin, r-SO

Competition: 4/10
Intrigue: 3/10

Rising sophomore Kevin Stepherson played so much last year that it feels as if Notre Dame is bringing back all 3 starters. Therefore, Iā€™m not sure thereā€™s going to be a bunch of interesting things going on with this group.

The lone exception to that thought would be Chase Claypool who has emerging X-factor written all over him. Heā€™ll be someone to focus on this spring.

TIGHT END

Durham Smythe, 5th SR
Nic Weishar, r-JR
Alize Jones, r-SO
Tyler Luatua, SR
Brock Wright, FR

Competition: 9/10
Intrigue: 8/10

Weā€™re told that Chip Long likes to use two tight end sets a lot so weā€™ll see how much of that is talk versus reality when the pads are strapped on in the spring. He certainly has the horses to make plenty of moves with the formations.

There may be no greater competition on the roster this off-season. This one offers a little bit of everything from a couple decent veterans to a couple budding young stars pushing for more playing time.

LEFT TACKLE

Mike McGlinchey, 5th SR
Hunter Bivin, 5th SR
Aaron Banks, FR

LEFT GUARD

Quenton Nelson, r-JR
Jimmy Byrne, r-JR
Trevor Ruhland, r-SO

CENTER

Sam Mustipher, r-JR
Parker Boudreaux, r-FR

RIGHT GUARD

Tommy Kraemer, r-FR
Tristen Hoge, r-SO
Robert Hainsey, FR

RIGHT TACKLE

Alex Bars, r-JR
Liam Eichenberg, r-FR

Competition: 6/10
Intrigue: 6/10

What do we know about the offensive line? We know with utmost certainty that the left side is set in stone. We can also safely assume Sam Mustipher will hold on to his starting spot at center, although that might be written in pen with some white-out on standby.

Nevertheless, letā€™s assume Mustipher remains at center then here are the likely configurations for our 2017 starting lineup:

Mustipher-Kraemer-Bars (30%)
Mustipher-Bars-Kraemer (30%)
Mustipher-Bars-Eichenberg (30%)
Mustipher-Hoge-Bars (10%)

There may be a hot take out there from someone that Alex Barsā€™ spot (wherever it may be) is less secure than Mustipherā€™s but Iā€™m confident Bars will start in 2017. We almost never see legit starters play an entire season and then lose their spot on the offensive line. Can you imagine if it happened to two players in one off-season?

Transfer Threats: Boykin, McIntosh, McKinley

I know what youā€™re thinking the depth at receiver isnā€™t deep enough for any of these guys to bolt. Ah, yes but transfers seldom make 100% sense.

Boykin got a taste of playing time last year which could keep him fighting for more snaps but he could also find himself the 3rd big receiver with the ascendency of Claypool.

McIntosh is either buried deeply on the receiver or running back depth chart, take your pick. Heā€™s probably the most likely to leave out of anyone on the roster.

McKinley may not be 100% healthy for spring which could make him a little more patient or constantly looking over the depth chart while others get better. Heā€™s also from California, which Iā€™m sure everyone understands the risks involved there.

Breakout Star: Kraemer

Wimbush makes too much sense in this category and it’s really not fair if you’re a quarterback is it? Especially a quarterback in Wimbush’s situation without a huge competition on his hands.

Alize Jones coming back from suspension is a good pick here, as well.

I’m super high on Tommy Kraemer, though. He’s in a tough spot with a lot of competition against other talented players which might not make him a rising star the way Alize could be after a few practices. Still, we saw some glowing language used by Kelly about Kramer which isn’t super unusual but getting 1st-team reps in your first fall camp on Notre Dame’s offensive line without being an early enrollee–that’s kind of ridiculous.

Kraemer is the highest rated recruit on the entire roster. I have a difficult time not seeing him begin to shine this spring.

Major Story Line: Wimbush Drinking from the Fire Hose

Take a look around at the roster with 8 starters returning and it’s way too easy to talk yourself into buckets full of optimism for the offense. We could upgrade at right guard! Alize could make the tight ends dynamic again! Dexter will bring speed that Folston lacked! The receivers have decent experience and will be getting much better!

The arrival of a new OC in Chip Long will certainly grab enough headlines with tales of an altered offense but I’ll reserve my excitement for when the chips (get it?) are really on the table through a full season.

No, this spring is going to be about seeing how much Wimbush can shoulder as The Guy with expectations being sky high for one of the top quarterbacks from the 2015 class. Notre Dame foolishly blew Wimbush’s redshirt as a freshman but was fortunate to not use him last year. Now it’s his time as the seas have parted and the starting position, with all the surrounding talent, is his to operate.