Notre Dame Sophomore Class Is Ready To Make An Impact For The Irish Offense

Notre Dame produced a Freshman All-American from its 2022 recruiting class, but overall the class didn't make the impact that was expected in year one. We could talk all day about reasons why, but on the offensive side of the ball the 2022 class is ready to make its presence felt.

Several players from the class head into the spring ready to compete for starting jobs and key rotation roles, and two more are battling back from injury, and when they are healthy they'll do the same thing. Although the junior class is expected to dominate the offensive depth chart this season, the rising sophomores are in position to play a very, very important role for the Fighting Irish offense.

PLAYMAKERS READY TO STEP UP

Let's be honest, Tobias Merriweather should have gotten on the field a lot sooner than he did in 2022. He finally got a chance late in the season and showed his promise before a concussion ended his season. Heading into year two, Merriweather is in position to go from a lightly used player as a rookie to a very important member of the wideout rotation in 2023.

Here's what I know, barring injury there is no doubt that Merriweather is going to play more in 2023 and will be a more important part of the rotation. That's the bare minimum of what we'll see from Merriweather this season. Of course, there's a good chance that Merriweather have an even more important role.

Merriweather is arguably the most talented wide receiver on the roster, and if he makes a big jump in year two he could end up not only being a starter, but the team's most productive wideout. Merriweather has elite size at 6-4, he is a smooth athlete with the ability to stretch the field, his ball skills at the prep level were outstanding and he already possesses an advanced feel as a route runner. What he lacked in year one was a good enough grasp of the offense for the primary decision makers on offense to give him more reps.

Expect that to change in 2023 as Merriweather enters his second semester in college. He'll have a much better grasp of the offense, he's got a lot more time in the weight room and I expect the current staff to give him every opportunity to not only compete for playing time, but for a chance to become "the guy" at wide receiver. If Merriweather has the breakdown he's capable of it will make the Irish offense much, much better at wide out.

Another sophomore - tight end Holden Staes - is also in position to become a much more productive member of the offense. Staes got a little bit of action in 2022, including 16 snaps in the bowl game victory over South Carolina. With Michael Mayer and Cane Berrong gone, and fellow sophomore Eli Raridon likely out this spring, there's a tremendous opportunity for Staes to lock in a spot in the top two spots at tight end.

Staes is an athletic player that brings impact potential in the pass game, and if he has a good spring he could pair with junior Mitchell Evans to give the Irish a tight end tandem that will help the offense remain strong at the position.

LINEMEN READY TO BATTLE

Notre Dame has two open spots on the offense line, with both the left and right guard positions open this spring. At least two rising sophomores will have a chance to battle for those open positions.

An injury kept 2022 signee Billy Schrauth from getting reps last spring, but a lot of eyes will be on him this spring. Schrauth is an incredibly talented blocker with loads of potential. He didn't play at all in 2022, but his combination of size (6-4 1/2, 302), athleticism, power and demeanor is outstanding. Schrauth made his presence felt on the scout team last season, and now he's in position to seize hold of a starting job.

Schrauth will certainly make his fair share of young guy mistakes, but him earning a starting job is key to Notre Dame's line achieving maximum success in 2023. Simply put, Schrauth is without question one of the five most talented blockers on the roster. Him tapping into that potential this spring will allow him to win a starting job, which then gives him a chance to make another jump in the fall.

Having Schrauth lined up next to Joe Alt on the left side of the line could make that side of the line very, very dangerous in 2023.

Fellow sophomores Ty Chan and Ashton Craig could also get a crack at battling for a starting job, although right now Craig has been at center during his brief Notre Dame career. Chan is massive (6-5, 310) and physical, and although he lacks the athleticism that Schrauth brings to the table he has a lot of tools. Craig is very athletic but needs to add a bit more size and strength. A strong winter from either player will put them in position to compete for one of the starting jobs at guard this spring.

Classmate Aamil Wagner is probably a year away from having a chance to compete for a starting role, but the hope is that Wagner - an undersized blocker with immense talent - can make the strides needed to lock in a backup job at tackle.

PRICE AND RARIDON WILL GET THERE

If not for injuries to running back Jadarian Price and tight end Eli Raridon, we'd have even more to talk about with the sophomore class. Price would have played a lot in 2022 if not for suffering an Achilles injury over the summer. Raridon had emerged as a factor at tight end prior to his season ending in October after suffering a knee injury.

Price could have a chance to get back to action this spring, but he might need even more time. Raridon is likely out until the fall. Both players are dynamic athletes for their positions, and getting them back to health would have a huge benefit to the Notre Dame offense.

Even without Price and Raridon the sophomore class is going to make a big splash on offense this spring. When that pair returns this class is going to get really fun.

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2023 Scholarship Offers
Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Follow me on Gettr: @IrishBreakdown
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter