Rockne's Roundtable

For me, the most interesting things about Spring practice can be stated in some general questions. Who are the returning Imact players and are they measuring up to the high expectations we have for them? Who will be the starters and are they improving enough to become impact players? Who are the backups and which of them will become starters? which will improve to where the coaches trust them enough to play them in critical situations? Who are we not counting on but could surprise?

To set the table for the discussion of each of these questions, I have identified the players who I think can be put into each of these categories. You may not agree, and that could begin its own discussion.

But I also think it will be interesting to follow spring practice and update our thinking about who is in each category.

Here is my list. Have at it.

Offense:
Impact Players
WR: Jones, Daniels, TE: ??? OL Z Martin, Watt, Lombard RB: ??? QB: Golson

Starters:
WR: Neal,, TE: Niklas, Koyack, OL: ???, RB: ????

Key Backups (some starters will come from this group):
WR: Brown, D. Smith TE: Welch, OL: N Martin, Hanratty, Stanley, RB: GAIII, Carlisle, McDaniel, QB: Rees

Could be Interesting:
WR: Ferguson, OL: Harrell, Heggie, Hegarty, RB: Mahone, QB: Hendrix, Zaire

Defense:
Impact Players:
DL: Tuitt, Nix, Day, DE/OLB: ???, OLB’s: Spond, ILB: ???, CB: ???, S: ???

Starters: DE/OLB’s Shembo, ILB’s: Fox/Calabrese, CB’s Jackson, Russell, S: Shumate, Farley

Key Backups (some starters could come from this group):
DL: Hounshell, Schwenke, Springman, Jones, DE/OLB’s Councell, I. Williams, Okwara ILB’s Grace, Moore, CB’s L Wood, Safety: Barratti, Colinsworth

Could be Interesting:
DE/OLB: Rabasa, ILB: Moore, Turner CB: Atkinson, S: J Brown Hardy