Like Harvard Law, Notre Dame annually boasts an impressive class of incoming freshmen. And this season especially, Charlie Weis has a (delightful) dilemma on his hands; his team has more depth than the Amazon River.

Obviously, this isn’t a harmful problem for the Irish skipper, but he must find a way to balance his upperclassmen with a steady dose of the younger guys who are capable of making big plays. And for the Domers in ’09, there are a handful of eager playmakers. 

Immediate impact freshmen:

Manti Te’o, LB: Allow me to briefly recite some of the 6’2, 244- pounder’s accolades;   2008 High School Athlete of the Year by Sporting News, 2008 HS Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today, rated as the second-best overall prospect in the ESPNU 150, and the list goes on longer than a California Redwood. Weis has said that Te’o will be seeing plenty of playing time, which you can translate into “every single down on the defensive side.”

Shaquelle Evans, WR: Although he’ll be playing behind standout WRs Floyd and Tate, the Californian can see time with either one of the two. Weis says that he likes Evan’s route running and combination of size and speed. Hey, he wasn’t coined the best playmaker in the west by the Sporting News for nothing.

Alex Bullard, OG: He’ll be starting the season as a backup, but you can bet the All-State Tennessean will see some action this fall. He’ll be learning from (when he’s not bullying them in practice) a veteran group of lineman that can only equate to a promising career.       

Nick Tausch, PK: Tausch is a highly talented placekicker that was voted to the Dallas Morning News Top 100 list for area players in his senior year of HS. That year, he made 15 field goals, including ones from 51 and 53 yards. He opened training camp as co-starter, along with junior Brandon Walker.