Every spring, a handful of players emerge after either not starting the previous year(s) or not playing at all.
David Bruton was a prime example in the spring of 2007. He had been an active special teams player his first two years but never a starter in the secondary, where he had played a total of only 28 minutes and 32 seconds his first two seasons. Nevertheless, he enjoyed a stellar spring at free safety while stepping in for the graduated Chinedum Ndukwe and became the team’s most improved player throughout the dismal 2007 campaign, making himself into a legitimate All-America candidate this year.
Others who showed signs of emerging last spring included fifth-year senior defensive end Dwight Stephenson, linebacker Scott Smith, halfback Junior Jabbie and cornerback Darrin Walls. All became factors in the lineup, with Walls specifically emerging as a big-time prospect as a sophomore.
Who were the primary such figures this spring? Here’s our top 5.
The junior cornerback has been somewhat stuck in the middle at cornerback. He’s been overshadowed by classmate Darrin Walls, who became a full-time starter last year and appears to be on course for some post-season honors in the near future. Meanwhile, fifth-year senior speedster Terrail Lambert is lining up for his third year as a starter. Finally, people always are more intrigued by “the guy who hasn’t played yet,” in this case being sophomore cornerback Gary Gray, who was medically red-shirted last season.
Make no mistake about it, though, McNeil will become a crucial factor in the defensive backfield. When he and Walls inked with the Irish in 2006, our humble opinion was they were best set of corners, on paper, signed by the Irish since 1990 with Jeff Burris and Tom Carter. Burris actually was a USA Today second-team All-America running back, and Carter was an option quarterback who had minimal experience on defense. Both developed into first-round picks at corner. But Walls and McNeil were coveted corner recruits, and McNeil starred in the 2006 U.S.Army All-American Game.
Against pass-happy teams such as Purdue and others, don’t be surprised if McNeil starts ahead of middle linebacker Toryan Smith in the nickel defensive back set. He had that role in the Blue-Gold Game and was one of the most visible players on defense, recording an 11-yard sack of Jimmy Clausen on a third-down blitz during the game’s first series, breaking up a couple of passes, including one in the red zone, solid coverage…and even instigating a skirmish in the end zone after Harrison Smith intercepted a Clausen toss for a 15-yard touchdown early in the second half. McNeil threw a punch at tight end Mike Ragone, which got offensive lineman Eric Olsen into the act, leading to an extended lecture from Charlie Weis on the field.
McNeil appears to be playing with the proverbial chip on his shoulder, and it should yield positive returns in 2008.
The junior from Georgia was at the crossroads this spring. As a freshman, he was used as a situational pass rusher because of his explosive first step, but his 225-pound frame was often easily engulfed by veteran 300-pound offensive tackles when he came off the edge. Last year, not only did he get beat out for a starting position in the preseason by classmate John Ryan and senior Anthony Vernaglia, but freshmen Kerry Neal and Brian Smith leapfrogged him on the two-deep as the season progressed. Through two seasons, the 2005 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year appeared to be on a downward trajectory.
To aid the defensive front, he was moved to end this spring and seemed to acclimate pretty well, finishing as the leading tackler in the Blue-Gold Game with seven, including sharing a stop for lost yardage. A more robust 258 pounds, he still might be considered relatively light when going up against tackles, but he likely won’t have to play all four quarters and 70-some odd plays per game once Ryan (who was sidelined this spring while recovering from shoulder surgery and a sports hernia) and Patrick Kuntz (not enrolled this spring for personal reasons) return, as expected, this summer. Regardless, he is determined to be in the rotation, if not hold on to his starting role.
“This is my junior year,” he said. “It’s either put up or shut up. It’s go time. Time’s not on my side anymore...The time is here. No matter how good I think I’m doing now, I can always do a whole lot better. I’m light years away from reaching my full potential.”
In some ways he reminded us of former Notre Dame offensive tackle Dean Brown (1986-89) who was nicknamed “Big Happy” for his gregarious personality. Stewart always struck us an amiable figure and fun interview. Brown didn’t become a starter until his junior year during the 1988 national title run, and Stewart cracked the starting lineup this spring, moving ahead of senior Mike Turkovich. Actually, Turkovich played left guard last year, whereas the 340-pound Stewart is on the right side, next to tackle Sam Young. But Eric Olsen is at left guard to move the potentially five best linemen into starting roles.
Stewart flip-flopped between nose tackle and guard last year while trying to find an identity, and his frustration boiled over when he temporarily left the team last September before returning to school. By the end of the year, he was playing in a reserve role at guard and also seeing spot duty at right tackle for Paul Duncan. Everything seems to have come together much better for Stewart this spring, not only with his physical play but a more intense mental approach to the game.
“He’s gradually made improvements not just on the field but the whole mentality that goes with the game,” Weis said. “He’s probably pretty happy in his own right because he’s kind of settled in…you’ll have a tough time getting him out of there.”
“I felt he was a little impatient,” said offensive line coach John Latina of Stewart last fall. “He missed a lot of time, and when he came back in the fall he was behind, which was not his fault, not anybody’s fault going into the second year. I think he got frustrated with himself and maybe some other things too. He had to soul search a little bit and that’s what young players do. Even though I’m an older person, I can remember doing that stuff too.
“So what you do is try to be there to provide leadership, a father away from home. It’s all about the attitude, and he came back with a better attitude, worked harder and positioned himself to get some playing time. It wasn’t given to him, it was earned. He’s a completely different kid right now. I see him around here studying things, watching tape on his own…an offensive lineman really has to be a student of the game. I see him doing those things because it’s important to him, because his attitude is right and it tells you he cares about getting better. Instead of just coming out to practice, he’s trying to come out to practice more prepared. He’s not just studying on his own, but asking questions.”
The most wide open starting position this spring was strong safety, following the graduation of four-year starter Tom Zbikowski. McCarthy might have been the front-runner, but senior classmate Ray Herring, juniors Sergio Brown, Jashaad Gaines and Leonard Gordon, plus sophomore Harrison Smith also were expected to be factors.
But by the first week of spring practice, Weis singled out McCarthy as a player who has distinguished himself as a clear-cut starter. That never changed the rest of the spring, and he finished with six tackle in the spring game (tied for second most). This isn’t a complete surprise because he did move into the dime back role in 2007, but to seize the strong safety spot as he did this spring was newsworthy.
“He’s shown a confidence beyond his playing experience,” said Weis, who noted the strong chemistry he shared in the secondary with fellow safety and classmate Bruton. “He’s been here for four years now. Confidence is as much mental as physical. There are great open lines of communication between the two of them and it’s made everything flow a lot better than I anticipated. He’s playing like it’s his job.”
1.Harrison Smith
His ascent was probably the most meteoric of the spring. Withheld from game competition as a freshman, the 6-foot-2, 206-pound safety quickly caught the eye of the defensive staff in the first half of spring practice. The only frustration with him was how to get him on the field. Bruton and McCarthy were playing well together as the two safeties…so the staff opted to use him in the role of a hybrid safety and linebacker in specific defensive packages.
“It came maybe halfway into spring ball,” Smith recalled. “They wanted to shuffle people around to see what looks they could get. Coach (Corwin) Brown and Coach Tenuta told me about it and then I talked to Coach Weis about it and he said it would be a good look for us to match up with the offense.”
In the Blue-Gold Game, on some occasions Smith would be deep in the secondary, and other occasions he would walk up to the edge of the line of scrimmage. His 15-yard interception return of a Clausen pass shifted momentum to the defense in the second half.
“I’m kind of a bigger safety, so it’s easier for me to get down in the box. I can also use my athleticism,” Smith said. “It makes a lot of sense what they’re doing. I’m still a safety, it’s natural. They’re just doing their best to implement me in the defense, whatever is possible. I wouldn’t say it was intimidating. It was a little goofy maybe at first because I hadn’t really seen football from that type of angle. I got used to it. It’s not too bad. It’s not exactly like safety, but just going to practice every day, you eventually feel at home there. I have to use hands more and try to get more technique when I blitz.”
“You witnessed it,” said Bruton of Smith. “He’s done it all spring. He’s done it at safety, he’s done it at linebacker. He’s a great young player with a bright future.”
Normally reserved in talking about individuals, even Brown was effusive in his praise of Smith before stopping himself earlier this spring.
“I don’t want to say too many good things about him, because he might poop in my lunch bucket,” Brown said.
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Others who showed signs of emerging last spring included fifth-year senior defensive end 
“So what you do is try to be there to provide leadership, a father away from home. It’s all about the attitude, and he came back with a better attitude, worked harder and positioned himself to get some playing time. It wasn’t given to him, it was earned. He’s a completely different kid right now. I see him around here studying things, watching tape on his own…an offensive lineman really has to be a student of the game. I see him doing those things because it’s important to him, because his attitude is right and it tells you he cares about getting better. Instead of just coming out to practice, he’s trying to come out to practice more prepared. He’s not just studying on his own, but asking questions.”
