Notre Dame Freshmen See Major Fluctuation In Weight Already
The 21-man freshman class, especially the five-man defensive line, that signed with Notre Dame this February has already seen some significant upheaval in the new strength and conditioning program.
The University released its updated football roster shortly before head coach Brian Kelly’s press conference this afternoon that previews the start of fall camp for the Fighting Irish on Tuesday, August 1 at Culver Academies.
By position, here are the updates, beginning with Signing Day in February to what was listed July 31:
Quarterback Signing Day: Avery Davis (5-11, 185)
July 31 Listing: 5-11, 202
Note: Unless injuries occur to starter Brandon Wimbush and backup Ian Book, Davis is likely looking at a redshirt year.
Running Back: C.J. Holmes (6-0, 200)
July 31 Listing: 6-0 1/8, 208
Note: Shoulder surgery sidelined the early entrant during the spring. He also switched his number from 15 to 16, while Arizona State transfer wideout Cameron Smith goes from 16 to 15.
Wide Receivers: Jafar Armstrong (6-0, 170), Michael Young Jr. (5-10, 170)
July 31 Listing: Armstrong 6-0 ¾, 214, Young 5-10, 190
Note: We had to do a double take with the gains of both wideouts, but especially with Armstrong. Maybe the February number was exceedingly low at the time, but we’ve never seen a skill position player pack on 44 pounds so fast.
Tight Ends: Cole Kmet (6-4, 235), Brock Wright (6-5, 245)
July 31 Listing: Kmet 6-5 ½, 256, Wright 6-4 ½, 254
Note: Early entrant Wright already seemed physically advanced in the spring but added 11 more pounds just from January to March before shedding two pounds this summer. Kmet’s 21 added pounds were quite an increase after leading his high school to a state baseball title this spring.
Offensive Linemen: Aaron Banks (6-5, 320), Dillan Gibbons (6-4, 315), Robert Hainsey (6-4, 275), Josh Lugg (6-6, 280)
July 31 Listing: Banks 6-5 ¾, 325, Gibbons 6-4, 294, Hainsey 6-4 5/8, 290, Lugg 6-6 7/8, 300
Note: Banks began the spring at 310 before reshaping his body… Gibbons’ 21 pounds lost were the most among the frosh this summer.
Defensive Linemen Signing Day: Darnell Ewell (6-4, 280), Kurt Hinish 6-2, 280), Jonathan MacCollister (6-3, 244), Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (6-4, 250), Kofi Wardlow (6-3, 210)
July 31 Listing: Ewell 6-3, 321, Hinish 6-1 ¾, 298, MacCollister 6-3 ¼, 233, Tagovailoa-Amosa 6-2 ½, 293, Wardlow, 6-2 ¼, 234
Note: The 43 and 41 additional pounds of Tagovailoa-Amosa and Ewell, respectively, were eye-opening, even overshadowing the 18-to-21 pounds of weight put on by Hinish and Wardlow. At least two of the rookies might be counted on to help in 2017 with senior nose tackle Daniel Cage ruled out this season because of health issues.
Linebackers Signing Day: David Adams (6-0 ½, 222), Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6-2, 205), Drew White (6-1, 220)
July 31 Listing: Adams 6-0 ¾, 234, Owusu 6-1 ½, 204, White 6-0 ¼, 227
Note: Nowhere as dramatic here than other positions like receiver and the lines.
Safeties: Jordan Genmark-Heath (6-0 ¾, 200), Isaiah Robertson (6-1, 195)
July 31 Listing: Genmark-Heath 6-0 ¾, 220, Robertson 6-1 ½, 195
Note: What is interesting about Robertson is he was listed at 208 pounds this spring, meaning he added about 13 pounds during winter conditioning. He now is back at his original weight of 195. Genmark-Heath might be growing into rover size.
Kicker/Punter
Signing Day: Jonathan Doerer 6-3, 188
July 31 Listing: 6-3, 193
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