NOTRE DAME INSIDER

5 Notre Dame football freshmen who might break out in 2019

  • Notre Dame at Louisville, 8 p.m., Sept. 2, ESPN

SOUTH BEND – Last year marked the debut of an NCAA rule that allowed freshman football players to appear in up to four games without losing redshirt status.

Quarterback Phil Jurkovec was among the chief beneficiaries, able to take a few snaps in multiple games without losing a year of eligibility, but such opportunities were sprinkled throughout the roster.

“I loved it,” said Mike Elston, Notre Dame’s defensive line coach and associate head coach. “It’s the greatest thing ever. The hope is we can at least get them out there some and they can feel it in Notre Dame Stadium, so they know and understand what they are working for consistently.”

Though Notre Dame’s 2019 recruiting class ranked just 16th nationally, according to Scout.com, a handful of freshmen are showing the ability to contribute from Day 1. Here’s a look at five freshmen to watch as the Labor Day night opener at Louisville draws closer:

Jack Kiser, rover

FILE -- Jack Kiser of Pioneer now plays defense for Notre Dame.

One of 10 January enrollees from this recruiting class, the reigning IndyStar Mr. Football has been running with the second team at fall camp.

Thumb surgery for sophomore rover Paul Moala pushed Kiser up the depth chart, but the Pioneer High School product has done everything right, including his rehab from shoulder surgery to repair a torn left labrum in the spring.

“It’s really early in, but he’s just wired a little differently as a freshman,” Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea said this week. “From the minute he stepped on campus, he engrossed himself and entrenched himself in Notre Dame. He embraces the spirit of this university and everything it means to be a student-athlete here.”

Less than two months into his spring semester, Kiser was published in The Observer, the student-run newspaper, with a letter to the editor headlined, “The Hidden Gems of Notre Dame.” In it he extolled the virtues of such places as the Hesburgh Library.

“(A) place where nerds congregate, right? Incorrect,” Kiser wrote. “The library is a place full of knowledge and people willing to help. It is important to establish a routine at the library.”  

Kiser distinguished himself in the football complex as well, packing 221 pounds on his 6-1 frame and showing the ability to take concepts from the white board to the practice field.

“This guy is maniacal about wanting to be successful,” Lea said. “He’s the consummate team guy, too. We’re excited for what he can contribute, having patience with him. He’s done a great job in this camp. He’s stayed consistent with his mindset. We think he can carve out a role for himself.”

Kyle Hamilton, safety 

Starting with a three-interception day at the Culver Academies kickoff, the towering defender has been the story of fall camp despite enrolling in June.

At 6-4 and 210 pounds, he reportedly is the tallest safety of the Brian Kelly era. Hamilton, a late-blooming four-star recruit from The Marist School in Atlanta, flashes in nearly every position and passing drill, earning second-team reps and pushing fellow Georgian Derrik Allen to transfer to Georgia Tech.  

“He’s really good,” senior safety Jalen Elliott said.

How does Hamilton, who had at least seven picks during practice sessions open to the media, keep making plays with such little time on campus?

“Because he’s really good,” Elliott added with a knowing smile.

This week it finally reached the point to where Kelly, who has jokingly pretended not to notice Hamilton’s dominance, had to come clean.

“I can’t tell you that I’ve seen a player that can change direction and carry himself with that kind of range on the back end,” Kelly said. “That’s unusual. It’s very unique to have the suddenness and change of direction, which offers him incredible range and length as a pass defender.”

Kelly also was impressed with the way Hamilton pushed through some physical issues earlier in camp.

“Didn’t miss a practice,” Kelly said. “That was impressive for a freshman. He’s in a contact position, and he fought through it. That’s unusual. He’s got some toughness that you don’t teach at that young of an age.”

Look for Hamilton to get plenty of chances on special teams and in nickel and dime coverage packages.

“Clearly the young man has great instincts and he’s gifted,” Kelly said. “He hasn't even watched film yet. As much as I’ve been trying to tamp down ‘Kyle Hamilton for Heisman,’ he’s a really good player that has showed up every day in some fashion. He has a unique skillset.”

Kyren Williams, running back 

A blown blitz pickup near the end of last weekend’s open practice at Notre Dame Stadium earned Williams an earful from Kelly. But the 5-9 fireplug from St. Louis has shown he can handle the heat.

“He’s mature beyond his years,” Kelly said. “He’s a unique young man in that he’s been able to handle all this and handle it in a manner that we’re going to lean on him to help us.”

Along with another former wide receiver, Jafar Armstrong, Williams has been flexed out during practices as offensive coordinator Chip Long seeks ways to compensate for the injury setback to Michael Young. Williams has quickly become one of Jurkovec’s favorite targets.

“Not a lot of guys that I’ve been around in my time that we could throw so much at and he’s got the makeup to be able to handle it,” Kelly said. He’s picked up our offense. He went through spring and never really showed any shakiness. He has not missed a beat.”

First-year running backs coach Lance Taylor, who previously coached wide receivers with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and running backs at Stanford, also offered praise for Williams.

“Kyren is very conscientious,” Taylor said. “That is the one word I would use. Football is important to him. He’s constantly asking the right questions. He wants to be good at it and he works at it. Everything I say he writes down – on the field.”

Blips are quickly erased due to Williams’ ability to process information. His poise has also caught the coaches’ eye.

“I found with him the bigger the moment, the more he rises to the occasion,” Taylor said. “You want guys to practice like they’re going to play on Saturday, and that’s the way he practices. Every time we’ve asked him to do something situation – ‘Hey, you’re going to be highlighted on this play’ – he’s stepped up and made a play.”

Jacob Lacey, defensive tackle 

Getting fired up for the first game of his college career won’t be a problem for Lacey. His Louisville ties run deep.

“Jacob’s dad (David) went to Louisville,” Elston said of the Bowling Green, Ky., product. “I think he was born in Louisville; he spent five years there. So, he’ll be ready Louisville in terms of energy and excitement.”

Enrolling early gave Lacey a chance to put even more muscle on his 6-1, 293-pound frame and become a key backup on the interior of a line that lost first-round tackle Jerry Tillery and starting nose tackle Jonathan Bonner.

“Jacob came here in the spring and he had a leg up on everybody because he was here,” Elston said. “Jacob will be ready. Total confidence in him, and the guys have confidence in him. He goes in there and knows what to do.”

Not every time, of course, but Lacey has shown the ability to adjust quickly.

“He’s not perfect,” Elston said. “He’s going to learn a lot of football as he goes into the games. There is a lot to learn there. We do so many things with our defensive linemen: movement and communication and execution within the defense.”

While fellow freshman linemen Hunter Spears and NaNa Osafo-Mensah have had their struggles, Lacey just keeps coming.

“He’s big, he’s fast, he’s very athletic for his size,” Elston said. “That’s his skillset that I’m excited to see him grow and get better. And then he’s very intelligent; he learns really well. He’s not a high-rep guy who needs 50 reps to get it right. He makes one mistake, you show him on film and he gets it right.”

Jay Bramblett, punter

It’s rare that punters become team captains, but that’s the quality of contributor Notre Dame lost with the departure of four-year starter Tyler Newsome.

Into the void steps another Deep South recruit in Bramblett, plucked out of Tuscaloosa, Ala., right out from under Nick Saban’s nose. Bramblett, another January enrollee, faltered a bit in the spring but has put a stranglehold on punting chores in August.

“I think Jay Bramblett has done an incredible job,” special teams coordinator Brian Polian said. “The spring was a little bit of a struggle. We kept putting holes in the ceiling of Loftus (indoor practice facility).”

Chilly temperatures for 7 a.m. outdoor punting sessions challenged Bramblett.

“He couldn’t find a groove, and frankly, I couldn’t blame him,” Polian said. “Getting through the rough patch in the spring speaks to his maturity. It speaks to his family and how he’s wired. I think there’s a maturity there that’s beyond his years, especially as a true freshman.”

Mike Bramblett, Jay’s dad, is on the Hillcrest High coaching staff that also counted Jay as a quarterback. The younger Bramblett has impressed Kelly with his versatility, hang time (4.6 seconds) and even his passing arm, which could come in handy on fake punts.

“He’s got a terrific arm,” Kelly said. “Just throwing that out there. He can do a lot. He can rugby punt. We just like his makeup. We think the moment is not going to be too big for him. He’s going to be able to bounce back from a bad kick.”

Bramblett also will serve as the primary holder on place-kicks, replacing veteran quarterback Nolan Henry.

Follow Notre Dame Insider Mike Berardino on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @MikeBerardino. His email is mberardino@gannett.com.