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Notre Dame Football

5 Potential Breakout Players This Spring

February 17, 2017
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Spring is considered the season of rebirth. It's the time of year for a new beginning in many ways and it is for football as well.

That's when the appropriately titled spring practice takes place. All of the success or failures from the fall and winter are washed away. Then comes spring with an opportunity for redemption for some and emergence for others.

CJ Prosise went from an explosive, but inconsistent, slot receiver in 2014 to an emerging star at running back the next spring. Those practices were the launching pad for all of his big plays in the fall that eventually led to him being drafted on day two of the NFL Draft.

Not everyone who steps forward in the spring ends up having a great year in the fall, but like it was in the case of Prosise, it could be an indicator of good things to come. Here are five players that have the potential to breakout that didn't show much (or anything) last year but will get to show a lot more this time around.

Tony Jones Jr.


Jones Jr. didn't show anything on Saturdays because he never had the chance to play on Saturday. They decided to redshirt him last season despite him clearly being ready to play based on what we saw in fall camp.

It's primarily what we saw there that leads me to believe he can have a big spring. There is a lot to like about his game. He runs with great power already and ISD's Matt Freeman said he is looking even more physically impressive since then. I don't think arm tackles are going to cut it against him.

If new offensive coordinator Chip Long integrates a few more power running concepts and a few more double tight formations, that should only aid Jones Jr. even more. There are plenty of reasons to feel good about Josh Adams and Dexter Williams showed some exciting flashes, but look out for Jones Jr. to make a move. He is a bit different than both of them and those differences might help him stand out and establish himself as a player in the backfield.

Chase Claypool


When a player is ballin' out on special teams as a freshman, it's typically a good indicator that he is going to make an impact at his normal position later on in his career. Claypool is a heck of an athlete and he showed already that he is a football player. Put him out on the field and he can do some things. Now we need to see where he is at as a receiver.

While some production returns at that spot, there still is quite a bit of unknown in terms of depth. Things are fairly open outside of Equanimeous St. Brown lining up at W and he may even be moved to X, where he played as a freshman. I think much of that depends on who is the next best guy. I believe Claypool could be that because his physical tools are so special.

I'm excited to see where he is after some 7 on 7 work this winter in addition to working with the strength and conditioning staff. He already looked like a beast in year one. How much bigger, faster, stronger can he get in year two?

It's been a theme of the off season to mention contested catches as well and as a recruit, Claypool seemed to always come down with the football in jump ball situations. I think we'll see that more than a few times this spring and he'll find a role somewhere in the offense.

Julian Love


Some may say that Love already broke out a bit with some strong performances down the stretch last season, but that only made me more excited to see him this spring. There are some players that may not have the perfect measurables. They aren't the tallest or the longest or even the fastest. They have just have "it".

There is something about them that put them in a position to make plays. Then when they get there, they deliver. That is the kind of potential I see in Love. I really think he could end up being one of the best players on the defense in 2017 and that starts this spring.
I really think Love could end up being one of the best players on the defense in 2017 and that starts this spring.

Whether it is making tackles on the perimeter, blitzing, picking off a pass, or whatever it may be, I think we are going to hear and see a lot about Love making plays. I have a feeling that Mike Elko is going to love having him be a part of his defense.

Tommy Kraemer


I haven't seen many offensive line recruits that I have been as impressed with as Kraemer. Some guys don't turn out to be as good as the hype. It happens all the time. I just can't see Kraemer being one of those guys. He is too big, strong, and sound to not become a great player.

Technically there is only one open position on the line at right guard. Even if there wasn't an opening, I'm not sure how Kraemer wouldn't find a way into the lineup.

Offensive lineman buzz is rare. People get excited about skill players scoring touchdowns. Kraemer might be good enough for people to start getting excited about blocking this spring. It's too much to expect him to dominate, but not too much to expect him to be one of the best five on the line. He might even crack the top three.

Daelin Hayes


There was plenty of excitement about Hayes last spring when he couldn't even wear pads. He was so sudden going through bag drills that it blew everyone away. There just haven't been too many athletes like him that have lined up on the edge for Notre Dame in recent years.

Reality hit in the fall when expectations were too high for someone that hasn't played much football in the last few years. There wasn't much to get excited about with him on the field other than the fact that he stayed healthy for the first time in a long time.

Despite not showing much, I think that year helped him quite a bit. He needed experience and he got a decent amount of it. I think we'll see things look a bit more natural for him this spring and he'll be helped by a new position.

Hayes is a terrific fit for Drop, the hybrid end/outside linebacker in Mike Elko's defense. I think he is going to get some favorable opportunities to get after the pass based on scheme. And if Hayes can start to develop some confidence, it's going to be scary to see what he can do with his skill set.

Maybe he still needs more time before he break outs. Perhaps he'll need this spring to set him up for more in the fall. But he is such an exceptional athlete that can do things that others can't. He has enough of the ingredients to emerge in a big way in March and April.
 
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