Team Report: Strategy and Personnel

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2008: QB Jimmy Clausen -- He played better in his final three starts as a true freshman, but he has a lot of growing to do. He ended up starting nine games, completing 138 of 245 passes for 1,254 yards, with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. He has the arm, but he will have to develop poise and decision-making for the Irish to be successful in 2008.

RB Robert Hughes -- He will be closely watched after his final two games of 2007, when he ran for 110 yards against Duke and 136 yards against Stanford. Before then, the big true freshman back had just 18 carries all season.

LB Maurice Crum Jr. -- He has another year of eligibility available if he wants it. The fourth-year senior inside linebacker finished 2007 with 84 tackles, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

PRO PROSPECTS: DE Trevor Laws -- He moved up the draft boards this season with his all-out effort and his knack for being around the ball. He made a smart decision to come back for his fifth season. "The guy's getting nine, 10 tackles a game as an interior defensive lineman. That's phenomenal," Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said. "Isn't like we're playing against crummy teams ... and he's had numbers every week."

SS Tom Zbikowski -- Rated as one of the top strong safeties in the draft, Zbikowski had 80 tackles as a senior and two interceptions. He ended his career with 299 tackles, eighth all-time at Notre Dame. He's been a big-play guy throughout his college career, but to improve his third- or fourth-round grade, he'll need a good 40 time in workouts.

TE John Carlson -- He wasn't always able to show his pass-catching skills as a senior because of Notre Dame's infant offense. Still, he led the Irish with 40 catches for 372 yards and three touchdowns. Carlson, who has good skills as a receiver and blocker, enters the offseason as a mid-round pick.

C John Sullivan -- He missed the last two games of the season with a knee injury after starting 31 consecutive games. He's probably a top-five prospect at center, although Notre Dame's troubles this season in pass protection and in the running game won't help him.

ROSTER REPORT: As part of the season's youth movement, Notre Dame started seven true freshmen in 2007 -- NT Ian Williams, QB Jimmy Clausen, RB Armando Allen, WR Golden Tate, WR Duval Kamara, OLB Kerry Neal and OLB Brian Smith. In all, the Irish used 11 true freshmen this season.

Starting DT Pat Kuntz (leg) missed the final two games of the season. Kuntz finished with 42 tackles and had a knack for getting in the passing lanes, knocking down nine passes.

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