Notre Dame, Ind. (UHND) - With an upgrade of the passing game coming with the installation of the West Coast Offense, the wide receiver position is going to be much more pivotal this year than it has in years past. Unfortunately for Notre Dame, its two most experienced receivers graduated and have moved on to the NFL. David Givens and Javin Hunter fortified the starting receiver positions last year for Notre Dame, but both graduated.

Left behind at receiver for the Irish is former quarterback Arnaz Battle, juniors Omar Jenkins and Ronnie Rodamer, sophomores Matt Shelton and Carlos Campbell, and incoming freshmen Rhema McKnight and Maurice Stovall. Of that group they have combined for 14 receptions for 180 yards - that's an impressive game for star receiver in one game. That being said, Notre Dame obviously lacks experience at the receiver position.

Battle is the oldest of the group. He spent two seasons backing up Jarious Jackson before he was the starting quarterback for the 2000 season. In the second game however he broke his hand and missed the rest of the season. Last season he was moved to wide receiver because of the crop of young quarterbacks. He suffered various injuries last year however and did not assert himself as a prime time player at receiver. He has one more season to do so and baring injury, I would be very surprised of he doesn't. Battle is a play maker and needs the ball in his hands. If Holiday can get the ball in Battle's hands, he will make plays. Battle is quick and can make people miss. He also has the size to run through weak tackles.

Omar Jenkins is penciled in at the other starter position as of now, but that could change in the fall. Jenkins came in with Rodamer and the since departed Jovan Witherspoon and Lorenzo Crawford. Jenkins has 7 career receptions for 111 yards including a 47 yard touchdown against Stanford last season. Jenkins is a talented receiver who doesn't have too much experience. Among this group of receivers though, he has the most catches and yards. At 6-1, 204 he possess good size for the position. He will most likely be other starter against Maryland, but nothing is set in stone.

Ronnie Rodamer is the other junior receiver on the team. He possess a ton of talent, but has been hampered by injuries since arriving at Notre Dame. At 6-4, 206, he has great size for the position and makes match up problems for any 5-10 cornerback who has to cover him one on one. Rodamer will challenge for a starting role this year and if he stays healthy that is very possible. After two seasons, Rodamer only has 1 reception for seven yards. If he stays healthy this season, he can have a breakout season. He has all the tools, all he needs to do is stay healthy.

Sophomore Carlos Campbell impressed the coaching staff last year and looked good in limited action last season. He had one catch as a freshman, but it went for 32 yards. Campbell is 5-11 and 194 which is decent size for a receiver. He runs good routes though and can make plays. He will also press Jenkins in the fall for the starting role. He will see more time this season and should be a solid contributor even if he does not start.

The other sophomore on the team is Matt Shelton. Shelton is a burner who did not see any playing time a s freshman. He has excellent speed as he was reported to have run 4.3's at camps before his senior season. He tore his ACL as a senior though and some schools backed off him. Notre Dame kept its offer and he came aboard. He might have a hard time passing Campbell or Rodamer since he saw no action last year and could be passed by freshman Maurice Stovall and Rhema McKnight.

The two freshman Notre Dame has coming in are two difference makers. Rhema McKnight and Maurcie Stovall give Notre Dame a dynamic duo at receiver. Stovall is huge at 6-5 and is very fast with a 4.4 40 time. He is the prototype for a wide receiver. He is big and fast. With some coaching he can become a dominating wide receiver on the college level. He will create mismatches for any corner who tries to cover him and should come in and make an impact immediately as a freshman. If he isn't at least a regular contributor this season I will be very, very surprised. In fact, it should come as no surprise to anyone if he is starting by season's end.

While McKnight is not as big as Stovall, he still has good size at 6-2. He also possess good speed and is a great route runner. He also should be a regular contributor by the end of the season and could also be a starter by season's end. It may be unfair to expect this out of either of these two, but they possess so much raw talent, it is hard to believe that they will not have an immediate impact.

Like runningback, there is a lot of talent at this position, but it is not very experience. Battle, Jenkins, Rodamer, Campbell, Shelton, Stovall, and McKnight give the Irish there most talented group of receivers in some time. If four of them can step up and establish themselves this fall, Notre Dame will be fine. I expect Battle and Jenkins to start the season but wouldn't be surprised if Battle and Rodamer did. I also expect Battle and Stovall to be the starters at the end of the season.