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Notre Dame Football: 5 potential breakout candidates for 2017

By Connor Muldowney

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Brandon Wimbush #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish warms up before the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the University of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Brandon Wimbush #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish warms up before the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the University of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 15: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is seen during the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on October 15, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Stanford defeated Notre Dame 17-10. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 15: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is seen during the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on October 15, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Stanford defeated Notre Dame 17-10. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Not many offensive players in Notre Dame’s 2016 recruiting class drew as much hype as Chase Claypool. He was ranked the No. 177 overall recruit and 36th-best receiver in the 2016 class, according to 247Sports, and had the potential to contribute right away.

Unfortunately, he didn’t see the field as much as he would have liked, even in a down year for the program. He caught just five passes for 81 yards and was targeted eight times in just five games played. Entering the 2017 season, the sophomore is considered the second starting receiver behind potential All-American Equanimeous St. Brown.

With St. Brown drawing all the attention from defenses, you can bet Claypool will be targeted early and often. Defenses might not be ready for a young guy like Claypool to break out and put up monster numbers, but he has the talent to do so.

Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing in at about 205 pounds, Claypool has an impressive frame for a wide out and his athleticism to go along with it is scary. He could be a “throw it up to me” type of receiver who catches anything tossed his way.

Expect him to put up big numbers opposite St. Brown this season.

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