There is a gaping hole in Notre Dame’s kickoff return unit.
Amir Carlisle is the frontrunner to continue as Notre Dame's kick returner this fall. (Photo: Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports)
The vacant position isn’t flashy, nor is it paid much attention. But the success of a kick returner relies heavily on the man in front of him.
“We lost our off returner on the kickoff return, and you can’t underestimate what Cam McDaniel did there,” said Irish tight ends coach and special teams coordinator Scott Booker. “It was really an unsung hero on that team. First with George Atkinson (2011-13), he got a lot of big returns and a lot of them were due to Cam really doing a great job on the backside.”
At 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, McDaniel was an undersized yet gritty senior who served as the reliable option in Notre Dame’s backfield. He never possessed breakaway speed and only ran for 10 or more yards on six of his 77 carries last fall. But his pass blocking ability was superior to that of Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston, and he wasn’t the type to shy away from a hit.
Booker has a couple of possibilities in mind to fill McDaniel’s role.
“You’ve got guys like C.J. Prosise, who is a big guy that can run, that can field kickoffs and that can block as well,” he said. “You’ve got guys like Tarean (Folston). (I’m) excited to see some of those guys in those positions as far as off returner.”
The Irish need to increase their production on kick returns, regardless of who is blocking or returning. Fifth-year senior Amir Carlisle remains the frontrunner to return kicks again, a category Notre Dame ranked No. 74 in nationally (20.47 yards per return). Carlisle returned 35 of 41 kicks last fall, averaging nearly 22 yards per return.
Bryant, whom Booker named as the top-candidate at punt returner, will work in an area the Irish have struggled in dating back to the departure of Tom Zbikowski following the 2007 season. The combination of Cody Riggs and Bryant averaged slightly less than eight and a half yards per punt return in 2014 – the greatest total by Notre Dame’s punt return unit in head coach Brian Kelly’s five seasons as coach, though it only ranked No. 53 nationally.
Potential options at returner aren’t limited to Bryant and Carlisle. Wide receiver Will Fuller could work his way into the equation, and Booker added there may be a freshman or two—specifically C.J. Sanders—who will get a chance to prove their worth in the return game.
Notre Dame’s kickoff and punt coverage units will include a number of veteran players this year. More of an effort is being made to give the Irish’s special teams units an experienced flavor with the likes of Prosise, James Onwualu, Matthias Farley and Jarrett Grace playing key roles.
“They’re going to be core guys,” Booker said. “Those older guys aren’t just going to not be on special teams. Those guys are going to be a core leadership for special teams. Will they be on all four? I don’t know. But they’re going to be core guys on special teams… Grace had been a stalwart on special teams before his injury. I’m excited about all those guys.”
Some of the younger players on special teams will include Devin Butler, Nyles Morgan, Greer Martini, Te’von Coney and Nick Watkins.
“We’re going to get a lot of speed on the field and we’re looking for guys that are going to compete on special teams,” Booker said.
Extra Points
The media received its first glimpse last Saturday of backup quarterback DeShone Kizer as Notre Dame’s holder. Quarterback Malik Zaire worked as holder with the second-team.
Long snapper Hunter Smith began last fall with the holding duties before Zaire took over toward the end of the season following a number of shaky holds. Booker explained the thought process behind giving the job to Kizer.
“I think what we saw form DeShone was he had really good hands, but he also had fast hands,” Booker said. “So he was able to catch some out of range balls. He had fast hands so he that he could spin the laces if he needed to and he had a calm demeanor about himself, playing quarterback all that type stuff.
“Really like him so far and the evaluation is still early on him. But excited to see what he does holding wise.”
Booker confirmed incoming freshman Justin Yoon will handle kicking duties this fall, while Tyler Newsome takes over at punter. Newsome will backup Yoon at kicker, while the freshman and walk-ons will handle backup punting duties.
