Notre Dame Freshmen Starting to Flash
Notre Dame entered fall camp with perhaps the most dangerous one-two punch at running back in America. Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree established themselves as dynamic playmakers a year ago, but Notre Dame fans may want to start to pay attention to the battle going on behind them.
C'Bo Flemister has been Notre Dame's No. 3 back and should be entering the season, but it's clear freshmen running backs Logan Diggs and Audric Estime have turned heads.
Diggs, a Louisiana native, had an impressive scrimmage on Thursday and has consistently performed at a high level during camp. Estime looks like a grown man and both have caught the eye of Williams.
"They're excited," stated Williams. "They're ready to work. I know each and every day Logan and Audric are making plays in practice. They have a lot of potential, but it's like a lot of freshmen running backs, they just try to get to the hole too fast - things are moving too fast.
"Once they work on that patience, they're going to be really great backs and I'm excited for what they do this year. I know they're going to light it up with explosives and they've been doing it so far. I'm excited for them to take over and be those guys they want to be."
Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has also been impressed, but in a different area. Rees praised both for arriving on campus mentally prepared to work and it's allowed them to make plays early in fall camp.
"They both have come in and done a nice job," explained Rees. "The biggest thing is they're not disruptive to the process of running a play. The mental side of things for a couple guys that weren't here for spring practice - for them to come in and mentally really pick it up, that allows the flashes of their ability they can show.
"The thing I'm most proud about is how they came in mentally. They were able to understand the process of what we're doing and it's allowed them to go play fast and execute."
It's no secret Notre Dame needed to improve its playmaking ability on the outside. Head coach Brian Kelly has praised his veteran receivers for stepping up in multiple areas and captain Avery Davis has also seen positive steps from Deion Colzie, Lorenzo Styles Jr. and Jayden Thomas.
"A lot of promise," Davis said of the freshmen receivers. "They're super talented - all three of them, from Lorenzo to JT to Deion. They're all really talented. They've been dealing with injuries, but we've seen Deion a lot lately. He has tremendous upside. I'm excited to see him, especially the more he develops."
Traditionally, it's hard for freshmen offensive linemen to stand out or even sniff reps with the first team, especially at Notre Dame.
Freshman left tackle Blake Fisher has taken reps with the first team and almost since the first practice in spring.
The Indianapolis native has caught the eye of everyone, including Rees, who played and coached with some of the best offensive linemen to ever come through Notre Dame.
"Blake's a talented young man," stated Rees. "His ceiling is pretty dang high. I don't love to compare guys all that much, but he shows a rare ability to be that big and athletic. We're going to continue to push for the consistency, understanding and the grit it takes to play at this level."
Center and captain Jarrett Patterson is also excited for the future of Fisher and Rocco Spindler, who received first team reps in the spring. Additionally, Patterson highlighted the entire class as all have had positive moments during camp.
"When they came in, they embraced the process and attacked every day," Patterson said of Fisher and Spindler. "Everything we tell them they need to work on, they do it immediately.
"For Josh (Lugg) and I, it's been really exciting to have them and the other guys - Pat (Coogan), Joe (Alt) and Caleb (Johnson). They've all done a good job coming in and it's an exciting young group. I think they all have bright futures."
Grad transfer Jack Coan has locked down the starting quarterback job, but all eyes have been on freshman Tyler Buchner this month.
Fair or not, Buchner is one of Notre Dame's highest-rated quarterback prospects to sign and showed flashes of his ability during the spring game.
"We put him in some situations where we're moving the ball, or it's live bullets," Rees explained. "I think the speed in which he's able to process things and go through his reads has been a progression for him. That's something that comes with time. You see a more comfortable player than he was in the spring.
"We're going to continue to chip away at his improvement and get him ready to help us win games. We're very excited with the progress he's made.
"Again, I can't overemphasize how much the group as a whole has taken a step forward and how much progress the group has made. We feel like we have three guys preparing the right way."
Linebacker Prince Kollie certainly looks the part and while he didn't early enroll, the Tennessee native has caught the attention of captain Drew White.
"Prince Kollie has done amazing here in his short time," said White. "I thought he had a great summer. He's going to fit in great with the linebacker room. It's a great room. Everyone is willing to help. Everyone wants to get better. It's such a conducive environment.
"I can't wait to see him continue building on both his physical capabilities - he's only going to get bigger and stronger, which is crazy because he's already huge and then just that mental aspect as well."