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5 Young Players To Watch For Notre Dame In Music City Bowl

Five Young Players To Watch For Notre Dame In Music City Bowl

Notre Dame Football
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Bowl season is a time for development and an opportunity to see younger players in extended roles. For Notre Dame, there are plenty of young players who will need to capitalize on the bowl game and preparations to help take the Irish further in 2015. Here are five players who can use the Music City Bowl as a stepping stone into next season.

5. Right Tackle Mike McGlinchey

Mike McGlinchey Notre Dame
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

5. Right Tackle Mike McGlinchey

Mike McGlinchey Notre Dame
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

McGlinchey stands to take over the right tackle position from Christian Lombard and needs to impress during the Music City Bowl. McGlinchey has a big, long frame that should help him protect the edge and he played well in relief of Lombard against USC. If McGlinchey can hold his own against a physical LSU defense, it should bode well for a Notre Dame offensive line that could return four starters next season.

4. Middle Linebacker Nyles Morgan

Nyles Morgan Notre Dame
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

4. Middle Linebacker Nyles Morgan

Nyles Morgan Notre Dame
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Morgan, whom Brian Kelly described as a “bull” earlier this week, will be critical for the Irish in stopping LSU’s power rushing attack. Morgan, who received some Freshman All-American honors, seemed to grow better with each game. After only registering four tackles against Arizona State in his starting debut, Morgan racked up double-digit tackles in the final three games, including a career-high 11 stops against USC in only one half of play.

3. Running Back Greg Bryant

Greg Bryant Notre Dame
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

3. Running Back Greg Bryant

Greg Bryant Notre Dame
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Bryant, a five-star running back coming out of high school in 2012, struggled to find consistency in his first full season of action. After sitting out last year with knee tendonitis, Bryant was Notre Dame’s second-leading rusher with 287 yards on 52 carries, including a career-high 79-yard performance against USC on only seven carries. Bryant will see his role expand next year as the Irish have only two scholarship running backs on the roster.

2. Safeties Elijah Shumate and Max Redfield

Elijah Shumate Notre Dame
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

2. Safeties Elijah Shumate and Max Redfield

Elijah Shumate Notre Dame
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Shumate (64 tackles and one interception) and Redfield (54 tackles and one interception) are two of Notre Dame’s most athletic defenders. However, after a promising start to the season, both struggled to the finish after being replaced in the starting lineup before the Northwestern game. They are both critical to the Irish defense as they are the only healthy safeties for the Music City Bowl and heading into the offseason.

1. Quarterback Malik Zaire

Malik Zaire Notre Dame
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

1. Quarterback Malik Zaire

Malik Zaire Notre Dame
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Zaire is critical for an Irish offense with plenty of returning weapons, but still searching for a leader. Zaire, who looked comfortable running the ball this season, will need to refine his passing skills in order to win the job. Zaire finished the season with 109 yards rushing on 11 attempts and 170 yards through the air, with all of it coming against USC. The quarterback battle will be the key storyline for Notre Dame moving forward.

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