Misused Personel
UHND.com - Frank Vitovitch
June 15, 2000

Notre Dame, Ind - Every team has a player or two that everyone knows is capable of great things, but is not getting used correctly.  It seems Notre Dame has more than its fair share of such players.  Those who come in with all the accolades, all the speed, and all the hype, but then never get used.   They also have more than their fair share of players who have shown play making ability but then don't get used.  This article will address of these players who will HAVE to get used in 2000 for Notre Dame to regain some respectability after their 5-7 1999 season.

Jarbari Holloway (TE, 6-4, 258, Senior) - Not matter what anyone else says, Jabari is the best tight end in college football.   Other tight ends may have had more production last season and might have more than Jabari this year, but in my opinion there is no other tight end in the country with as much skill as Jabari.  He has become a fine blocker and is an exceptional receiver.   Does anyone else remember the one handed diving catch against USC? 

He started off early at Notre Dame, but has never been given the opportunity he should.  There is no reason why Jabari should not see the ball at least seven times a game.  Most of the time he is covered by linebackers who simply can not handle him.  If he would have been used more effectively last season, the offense would have looked a lot better and for Arnaz Battle to have success early without losing confidence he will have to use Holloway early and often.  The dump off pass to the tight end is rarely covered well in college football and with a beast like Jabari, who does not fall down with one tackle, it will open up the running game because the linebackers won't be able to cheat up.

Bottom line is, the early success of the 2000 Irish offense may depend on how well Jabari Holloway is used.  If he is not the main feature early against the defenses of Texas A&M and Nebraska, Arnaz Battle will be forced to win the game by opposing defenses.  Against USC, in his only substantial playing time thus far in his career, the Trojan defense crowded the box and stuffed the run forcing Battle to win the game.  Two years later and not much more experience later the same thing will happen unless short dump off passes to the tight end are used.   At this point I don't think Arnaz would be able to beat a team like Nebraska with just his arm.

David Givens (SE, 6-1, 218, Junior) - Against Pittsburgh last season David showed how much talent he can bring to the table.   He threw and caught a touchdown in the game.  He was also the first player to run for a touchdown against Tennessee last year.  Prior to the Notre Dame game, the Volunteers had not surrendered a rushing touchdown.

Its not just his stats or his accomplishments that make him so valuable.  He has play maker written all over him.  When he is in the game, good things happen.  He needs to get the ball though.  He really wasn't used much as a receiver last year and was only used at running back late in the year when the Irish were hit with injuries.  Givens is a game-breaker who needs to see the ball as many times as possible.  He is very effective as the pitch man in the option and because he can throw the ball well he is perfect for trick plays.

Tyreo Harrison (LB, 6-2, 240, Junior) - Harrison was used early last season when injuries hit the linebacking corps hard and performed very well.  He was a ball hawk whenever he was in the game.  He was stuffing the run and getting some pressure on the opposing quarterback.  The Notre Dame defense last year had trouble stopping the run and was abused often. 

Harrison brings the same type of play making ability to the defense that Givens brings on offense.  He has got decent speed for his position and needs to be in the game more.  He should start in 2000 which is very good news for the defense.  He showed flashes of great play in 1999 but didn't really see too much playing time.  As a starter in 2000 he could shine.

Mike McNair (FB, 6-0, 245, Junior) - McNair came to Notre Dame with sprinter's speed and good size.  He was converted to a fullback and has never really caught on.  He was used near the goal line as a freshman but didn't see the ball at all and pretty much had a year of eligibility wasted.   Then as a sophomore injuries hampered him from making an impact. 

The story here is that McNair came in with a ton of hype.   It was considered a true steal that Notre Dame got this Southern California kid away from USC and UCLA, but three years later he has yet to do anything at Notre Dame.   It is not as if the Irish had many quality fullbacks in front of him however.   In 2000 he should see a good amount of playing time, but the coaches have stated that Tommy Lopienski is the probable starter.  What happened to the guy that came in with all the speed and potential?  McNair needs to get in some games and get some carries to showcase his halfback speed at fullback. 

Carlos Pierre Antoine (LB, 6-3, 240, Junior) - Another player who came in with tons of hype but has yet to make an impact is Carlos.  He was considered one of the top talents in the country when he came to Notre Dame, but again, three years later he is waiting for a chance to make an impact.   He saw action in 1999 on defense and special teams and flashed some signs of play making ability, but never saw regular playing time to get comfortable.

He had great speed for a linebacker when he came to Notre Dame, but after two full seasons of lifting weights he has lost some of his speed which made him such a valuable prospect.  If he is put in the game and just allowed to let loose he will come up with plays.  Will this be the case however?

John Owens (DE, 6-3, 255, Junior) - Coming out of high school there were more than a few people who thought Owens might be better suited for defense than for tight end.  The coaching staff however decided to play him at tight end for two seasons.  After two full years on offense which resulted in no catches at tight end, he was moved to defense where he had two sacks in the spring game.

Owens is a classic case, or at least appears to be, of a player who was not put at his best position after high school.  He wasted two years at tight end where he was behind Dan O'Leary and Jabari Holloway (two tight ends with All American talent) before being switched to defense where is seems he is much better suited for.  Owens should be a factor on defense this year and with his speed he could be an excellent pass rusher from the end.

Rocky Boiman (LB, 6-4, 245, Junior) - Boiman was a starter last year and played a lot, but it was primarily at linebacker where he was less than spectacular.  When he was moved to the line to be a pass rusher against Boston College, he responded with two sacks.  He was not used there after that game though. 

It was clear Boiman was better suited to be on the line where he could get to the quarterback and improve the Irish pass rush, but he only played there very limitedly in 1999.  He will most likely be at linebacker again this year because of depth problems at the position.

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