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Predicting Notre Dame football: Rookie of the Year

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With the season opener against Texas just a few days ago, the Slap the Sign staff makes their picks for Notre Dame’s Rookie of the Year for 2016.

Editor’s Note: This is the second installment in a week-long series leading up to Notre Dame’s season opener against Texas next Sunday. Check back in for a new set of predictions each day until Sunday.

After making our picks for the breakout player of 2016 yesterday, we’re back at it today with another tough choice: Rookie of the Year. With only spring practices and fall camp to go off, these predictions could be way off, but there are definitely a few early favorites.

To be considered a rookie, a player must not have played significant snaps last season. That’s a fairly loose definition, we know, but we wanted to consider all possible young players who really didn’t play last year.

Greg Hadley: Devin Studstill, S

With the dismissal of Max Redfield, the Irish need answers at the free safety position. According to the Week One depth chart, that answer is Avery Sebastian, a sixth-year senior. But don’t expect him to stay there. Devin Studstill came in as an early enrollee last spring and blew everyone away with his talent and quick assimilation into the college game, even taking first team reps ahead of Redfield.

Unfortunately, during fall camp, Studstill was limited with a sore hamstring, which allowed Sebastian to earn the season-opening start. But don’t expect him to stay the backup for long. Studstill is 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, and way ahead of anywhere people thought he’d be at this point in his career.

Sep 19, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; (Editor

Ben Belden: Avery Sebastian, S

Avery Sebastian has every opportunity to be the Irish’s top newcomer this year. With the dismissal of Max Redfield, Sebastian is listed as the starter at the free safety position. By all accounts, Sebastian is the player who understands Brian VanGorder’s defense the best. For this reason, he’s getting the nod over true freshman Devin Studstill.

Sebastian is a graduate transfer from the California Golden Bears, who saw action early last season before breaking his foot. He was granted a rare sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA for this season. If Sebastian plays well, he has the opportunity to anchor the back end of the Irish defense. If he does not, Brian Kelly could opt to allow Studstill his opportunity to get experience.

Danny Cunningham: Devin Studstill, S

I think the rookie of the year for Notre Dame will be true freshman safety Devin Studstill. Everyone knows what happened with former Irish safety Max Redfield over the past couple of weeks, and I think this will open the door for the Palm Beach County product.

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In the spring, Studstill was able to push Redfield in the defensive backfield, to the point he was actually listed as the starter at one point. Obviously, it is expected for Avery Sebastian to get a fair amount of time at that spot early on in the season, but as Studstill gathers more experience, I expect him to be on the field more. If he can figure out the ultra-complex BVG defensive scheme, then he’ll be able to contribute in a big way this season.

Alex Koslow: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR

Equanimeous St. Brown has the potential to be the best offensive player not at the quarterback position, but I’m going to consider him a rookie right now. He played primarily on special teams last season and does have one career catch for eight yards. However, he hasn’t seen enough playing time at his primary position to consider him anything other than a rookie.

With Torii Hunter Jr. being the only receiver with experience, someone else is going to have to take the burden from him. The former four-star recruit has the size to be a very formidable match-up. At 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, St. Brown could be the next Jeff Samardzija, a rare combination of size and speed that quarterbacks look to when they need to make a play.

Chase Eyrich: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR

Even though this will be in his sophomore season, Equanimeous St. Brown will be this season’s Rookie of the Year. Last season St. Brown only had one reception for eight yards and played some on special teams, so this is really his first true call to action. Torii Hunter Jr. is the only receiver with more receptions on the roster. St. Brown is going to be asked to step up as the second or even top go-to receiver.

His speed is what’s going to set him apart; no one will out run him on a route. St. Brown did suffer a sprained left thumb during August, which made him look skeptical during training camp. The only concern I have for St. Brown is that it’s been awhile since he was in full game mode. Taking in-game hits could do a number on his body during the first few weeks, not to mention he also suffered two separate shoulder injuries last fall and last spring.

But as long as he keeps up with treatment and rests well, it’s hard not to imagine St. Brown as a top target with 30 or more receptions this year.

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