After each season players and coaches alike look at those who are college seniors but for one reason or another (usually some sort of redshirt) can come back for one more year. Many factors can come into play as this decision is being made. Often it depends on the school and the coaching staff having to make the choice of believing their experience will benefit the team (on and off the field) or is it time to cut bait and go in a younger direction (accepting more letters of intent). However, it can also be the choice of the player who may decide that it may be time to move on, hopefully to the NFL Draft. One recent exception is Sean Cwyner, who decided not to return to South Bend (and he would have been more than welcomed back to play), and knowing the NFL would not be calling, he chose to take his degree and enter the workforce.
This season has a good news/bad news theme going with many players who will have a year of eligibility left at the end of the year. We need these players to step up and have the type of seasons that would command attention from NFL teams along with their lure of fortune and fame.
Leading the charge is tight end Tyler Eifert. With the departure of Michael Floyd and no clear cut quarterback, the receiving game starts out behind the eight ball. Yes, on the roster Eifert is listed as a tight end, but make no mistake about it, he has and will be splitting out wide. At 6’6” he will dominate defensive backs, at 250+ lbs., he can mix it up going across the middle and with his speed it will be difficult for linebackers to cover him. Eifert should finish with honors including All-American (first team) and Mackey Award Finalist (possible winner). Tyler could have left for the NFL last year and would have likely been drafted earlier than later, but chose to stay. He may have flown under the radar two years ago, but after last season, he will be bulls eyed by all the defenses the Irish face.
If Tyler Eifert is #1 on this list Cierre Wood would be #1A. With a question at quarterback and inexperience and unproven talent at wide receiver, the running game will be counted on especially early. Factor in the size, experience and talent on the offensive line, lesser talent in the backfield could be a 1000 yard rusher.
There are other players needing to step up and have career seasons that may also shed some light on their talents and abilities to NFL scouts, but would still have a year of eligibility. However, they are probably a little more likely to come back in 2013.
Defensively, linebackers Carlo Calabrese and Dan Fox who may have been overlooked due to the fact they play next to super backer Manti Te’o, have to step up even more. Calabrese has appeared in 24 games with 8 starts during his sophomore season. Carlo did not so much lose his starting role as Dan Fox won it and they shared time playing next to Manti Te’o. Dan Fox, who has played in 26 games, starting all 13 games of his sophomore season, should continue his upward development and really could become something special for the 2013 season.
With an amazing 26 games played and 26 games started, there is little debate that Zack Martin will be an NFL lineman, the question is when. He could make a pro roster now in my opinion. Linemen take a little while to develop and if he were to have a year like last season he would be a mid-round pick. A great season, or better yet two more, and he could be one of the highest picked linemen in the draft.
Chris Watt saw action in 26 games with 13 starts as a junior. Watt was a very highly touted recruit coming out of high school being named to virtually every All-American list in the country, and has steadily developed and grown his talents as well as his 6’3” 310 lb. guard frame at the collegiate level.
