Brian Kelly Post-Practice: Aug. 24

Brian Kelly met with the media following Wednesday's practice.

Now less than two weeks away from the Sept. 4 against Texas, Kelly gave several updates on issues surrounding the program:

• Kelly named his four captains for the 2016 season: James Onwualu, Mike McGlinchey, Torii Hunter Jr. and Isaac Rochell.

"They have the experience of understanding what it takes on a day-to-day basis to bring others along with them in the intense spotlight that is Notre Dame," Kelly said. "As we enter the season, things start to shift and focus on playing games and what goes on with that, so these guys have been in the battles, have maneuvered through them, have got great experience and they’re great young men. Great character and I trust them to be great representatives of Notre Dame both on and off the field."

Kelly has never had a quarterback as captain in his seven seasons at Notre Dame.

The coach said he considered DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire, part of a six-man group that Kelly whittled it down to.

"I’m certain that would be made very good captains," Kelly said. "That’s kind of the luck of the draw at this point.

"...These four guys really rose to the top."

• Kelly spoke about the two incidents that occurred over the weekend. Max Redfield was dismissed from the team, Devin Butler is indefinitely suspended and Dexter Williams, Te'von Coney, Kevin Stepherson and Ashton White are awaiting word from the university on any punishment.

Kelly said the Williams/Coney/Stepherson/White group is practicing with the team. Kelly said if he has it his way, those players will be "available to play" against Texas.

Kelly said any possible punishment through the university will certainly be expedited and that his hope is that it'll move quickly.

Butler is not part of the team, Kelly said. Butler is not practicing, he's not in the building nor is he part of any football team-related activities.

The coach's reaction to the news over the weekend?

"Like any other father, my first one was disappointment," he said. "That disappointment kind of moved on to embarrassment for the university. Then I was mad as hell.

"You have to be prepared as a college coach unfortunately to deal with some poor decisions. They crop up and you have to be as fair but you also have to be quick in making decisions. When they don’t square with your mission or philosophy in your program or your university, you can’t be afraid to make decisions. You can’t be swayed by external factors, you’ve got to do the right thing.

"There’s so many different messages. They’re life lessons and it’s more than just you. We talk about selfish decisions, we talk about representing more than just yourself, you represent a university, you represent a program, you represent an entire fanbase. It’s not just about you."

The loss of Redfield in particular impacts Notre Dame's depth chart. A two-year starter, Redfield leaves the Irish thin at safety.

"Max was an outstanding player," Kelly said. "He was having a great camp, he had a great spring. He’s athletic, he’s fast. You’re taking a really good player off your defense, but we’ll be able to plug in a guy there that will get the job done for us.

"Anytime you dismiss somebody from the program, that’s serious."

• In terms of what the Irish have at free safety now that Redfield is out, Kelly said he feels good about the long-term depth at the position. Kelly said no position changes are needed to make up for the loss.

Devin Studstill is expected to be the starter in Redfield's place. The freshman was an early-enrollee, and Kelly likes the Studstill brings.

"We’ll have a true freshman on the road playing against a talented team," Kelly said. "Devin is a kid that has a lot of talent, he’s a very confident player, but we’ll all be kind of looking at it like you will be.

"We’ll have to play a few guys at that position, he’s not going to go out there and play every snap."

Kelly said sixth-year senior Avery Sebastian “would fit in nicely as well" at free safety with Studstill. The coach also mentioned Nicco Fertitta and Jalen Elliott as depth options.

• Kelly said both quarterbacks have been sharp over the last week since it was announced they would both play against Texas.

"You can just tell there’s that sense of, ‘I’m playing, I better get after this now,'" Kelly said.

• Senior Colin McGovern will start at right guard, Kelly said. McGovern was battling with sophomore Tristen Hoge throughout camp.

• Sophomore running back Josh Adams had a good practice Wednesday, Kelly said.

"Today was the first day he looked like Josh Adams. So it was good to see," Kelly said.

• Defensive tackle Jay Hayes has returned to practice. A high-ankle sprain kept him out of several practices, but Kelly said if Hayes can be 100 percent by the weekend, he feels good about Hayes being ready for the opener.

• Kelly on sophomore receiver Chris Finke, who received a scholarship Tuesday.

"I just thought that what I wanted to see was that consistency kind of make its way through the entire camp before we made a decision on him," Kelly said.

Finke will see time at the backup Z-receiver, as well as occasionally on punt return, Kelly said.

• Kelly said the three-man rotation at kick returner is C.J. Sanders, Adams and Williams.

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