Spring Preview: Wide Receivers

2010 Scholarship Spring Depth Chart
 
These are the minutes and seconds played at on offense last season. 

Note: Floyd missed five and a half games with a broken collarbone, but returned to action against Navy (Nov. 7).

Career Statistics 

Note: Running back Armando Allen has the most career catches among all Irish returnees with 102 for 695 yards (6.8 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. Backfield mate Robert Hughes has grabbed 36 passes for 303 yards (8.4 yards per catch), while tight end Kyle Rudolph nabbed 62 passes for 704 yards (11.4 yards per catch) and five TDs his first two seasons. 

Evans registered just 48 seconds over the final seven games after totaling more than 32 minutes over the first five.

Of all the position units on Notre Dame’s 2010 roster, only the offensive line more different players see action in 2009 than wide receiver.

Eight current wideouts played for Notre Dame in 2009, although one of them, sophomore Theo Riddick, lined up at running back last season. For the time being, Riddick appears to be the first major position switch under new head coach Brian Kelly.

Furthermore, that group of eight will be joined by early enrollee Tai-ler Jones this spring and three other freshmen (Daniel Smith, Bennett Jackson and Austin Collinsworth) once training camp begins in August. That makes it an even dozen wideouts on scholarship, probably the most ever at Notre Dame.

Led by All-America candidate Michael Floyd, the Irish definitely have numbers at receiver — but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have depth. There’s a difference. Numbers speak of body count; depth speaks about players who have already proven they can consistently thrive in meaningful or clutch situations at this level. If Notre Dame were truly “deep” at receiver right now, then the move of Riddick might not have been necessary.

Would it have occurred had Golden Tate, last year’s Biletnikoff Award winner, returned for his senior campaign this year? Regardless, the Irish should possess enough volume in a Spread offense that regularly deploys three, four or even wideouts at the same time.

What the production will be like is a different issue.

Top Storyline
Who can emerge as a strong complement to Floyd, or will it have to be a receiver by committee? When Tate and Floyd lined up together in 2009, there was not a more lethal receiving duo in the country — maybe not even on some NFL teams. Amazingly, though, when Floyd came back from his early-season injury, the Irish were 0-4 in the last four starts by the two standout pass catchers. It was more evidence of what a team game football is.

Riddick and senior Duval Kamara might be the best bets to join Floyd as a trio of starters in the Spread, but competition should be abundant and playing time is there for the taking. It would not be a surprise if Floyd succeeds Golden Tate as the Biletnikoff recipient.

Seeking Action
Juniors John Goodman and Deion Walker, along with sophomores Shaquelle Evans and Roby Toma, will vie for action, but none caught more than six passes last season. Early enrollee Tai-ler Jones has the best opportunity among the four wideout recruits to make a dent in the lineup this year.

• Kamara enjoyed a record-setting freshman year in 2007 with 32 catches, four of them TDs. But the emergence of Floyd and Tate relegated the 6-5, 219-pound physical force primarily to a blocking role, where he excels. He’s averaged merely 9.9 yards per his 43 total catches the past two seasons. Can he become a more viable receiving threat again?
 
• Evans appeared to have the makings of becoming Notre Dame’s next playmaking wideout, succeeding Tate and Floyd. But after playing 32 minutes and 27 seconds in the first five games of 2009, he totaled only 48 seconds in the last seven (with no outward evidence of injury). 

• Goodman joined Floyd in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American game and caught a 64-yard scoring pass from Dayne Crist in last year’s blowout of Washington State. Is he primed for a full-time role as a junior? What about classmate Deion Walker, who has one career catch? 

• Roby Toma was maybe the top surprise in last year’s freshman class and surprisingly did not red-shirt. Can he hold off the challenge from Riddick in the slot?

Notable Data
Despite missing five and a half games with a broken collarbone, Floyd’s 44 receptions last year were almost as many as the 46 passes caught by the combined eight other returning scholarship wideouts on the Irish roster this spring.

Compared To Last Year
Minus Tate, one can’t make the statement that Notre Dame is stronger at wideout this year than in 2009. No single player can replace him, and even a collective group is unlikely to match his production. Graduating senior Robby Parris (25 catches, 227 yards, one TD) also was a solid third option on occasion, and several players on the current roster should be capable of at least matching that type of consistency.

Furthermore, the Irish will have far less game experience at quarterback with Crist than they did with Jimmy Clausen, who blossomed in his third year as the starter. That could make it even more challenging for the receiving corps.

This is another area where football might need to take a cue from Mike Brey’s basketball program when it lost Luke Harangody for several weeks. The collective whole must galvanize and excel in different roles to compensate for the loss of Tate.

Summary
The presence of Floyd provides an excellent base to work with, especially if he has a full season of health. With proven targets at tight end and running back as well, the onus shouldn’t be overwhelming on a receiving corps that possesses many options. The issue will be who else can become a consistent, productive mainstay week after week.