The first position battle the Subway Domer is going to analyze are the Wide Receivers. First, let me just say, this is no real attempt to say who is going to start on Saturdays this fall. All we are doing here is breaking down the spots a wee bit and putting a projection on what we would like to see. I will only be referring to the players enrolled at ND right now and available for the spring game. We have no logical dissertation of the other 15 freshman until late summer.
-
David Grimes
-
D.J. Hord
-
Robby Parris
-
Richard Jackson
-
Barry Gallup
-
George West
-
Darrin Bragg
This position has great depth. It also has a lot of questions and inexperience. The absolut lock is David Grimes. He showed a lot of promise as the 3rd WR in last years formations. He caught 26 balls for 336 yds. and 2 TD as the 4th leading receiver on the team. Those aren’t great stats, but when the top 3 were Samardzija, McKnight, Walker, and Carlson- he took what he got. He made some crucial catches in the UCLA game that really elevated him.
The next 2 leading WR from last year that are returning is West and Parris. They COMBINED for 3 receptions for 21 yards and no TDs. (West did score a TD against Purdue on a WR reverse). That doesn’t make me feel like jumping with joy about what lies ahead with a new QB at the helm.
However, D.J. Hord returns after missing all of last season with a torn Achilles tendon. He may be that HR threat we have all been looking for him to be. IF he really is 100%. We don’t have any real information on the others and won’t until after the Spring Game.
BALLERS
-
Grimes
-
Hord
-
Jackson
I have no real reason to claim Jackson as the 3rd WR. Just a hunch that he may become a beast. I’ve had hunches before and it always seems 50/50.
Mitch’s Take: No idea. Grimes definitely. After that the other 2 spots are a toss up. He was a worrier about Samardzija and thought he was a pile of dung the first 2 years. Was pleasantly surprised when Jeff turned out to be our best player after Quinn. He sees someone stepping up but it is way to early to tell. Ask again in October.
