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Notre Dame Football: 2017 season preview and predictions

By Connor Muldowney

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 17: Members of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish sing the alma mater following a loss to the Michigan State Spartans at Notre Dame Stadium on September 17, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Michigan State defeated Notre Dame 36-28. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 17: Members of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish sing the alma mater following a loss to the Michigan State Spartans at Notre Dame Stadium on September 17, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Michigan State defeated Notre Dame 36-28. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 01: Equanimeous St. Brown #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish carries the ball in for his second touchdown of the first quarter against the Syracuse Orange at MetLife Stadium on October 1, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 01: Equanimeous St. Brown #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish carries the ball in for his second touchdown of the first quarter against the Syracuse Orange at MetLife Stadium on October 1, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Offense

Gone are DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire at quarterback, but getting the starting nod in their place is junior Brandon Wimbush. The former highly-touted four-star dual-threat from New Jersey has just five career pass attempts at the collegiate level, completing three of them for 17 yards.

However, the hype surrounding him is immense. Despite only attempting five passes, he has seven rushes in that same time span, accounting for 96 yards and a score. If he can show that sam scrambling ability and speed in 2017, the Fighting Irish are going to be upgrading the quarterback position — hard to believe after Kizer was so consistent.

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Luckily for Wimbush, four starters return on the offensive line, leaving only the right tackle spot to be filled — presumably by sophomore Tommy Kraemer.

Running back is an area of strength as well as juniors Josh Adams and Dexter Williams return to lead the team. Although it was an area of weakness in 2016, ranking 80th in the country, the run game will be flanked by a near-1,000 yard rusher from last year in Adams and a 5.1 yards per carry back in Williams.

Can Equanimeous St. Brown adjust to a new QB?

Junior wide out Equanimeous St. Brown is returning to the receiving corps as the leader from a year ago. He caught 58 passes for 961 yards and nine touchdowns, looking like a true candidate to be the nation’s top receiver. St. Brown did all of his work with Kizer throwing him the ball, for the most part, so how will he adjust to Wimbush?

Fortunately, the two have already been working on the connection in spring ball and with fall camp set to begin, they will have more time to perfect both route-running and placing the ball where it needs to be and when St. Brown likes it thrown.

If the connection can be just as good as the one between St. Brown and Kizer, you might just see one of the best quarterback-receiver combinations in all of college football coming out of South Bend.

Miles Boykin and Chase Claypool also look to be starting receivers, but neither recorded over 100 yards last season. There will be a ton of inexperience in the corps for 2017, but St. Brown will have no trouble leading the way. C.J. Sanders could also play a vital role.

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