Notre Dame Fighting Irish: College Football Preview

Apr 18, 2015; Notre Dame, IN, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish huddle before the Blue-Gold Game at the LaBar Practice Complex. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame enters 2015 with high expectations as they field their 127th team on Saturday.

Notre Dame’s Head coach, Brian Kelly is entering his sixth season with the team more optimistic of the offense than ever. Check out the recent grinning selfie he took with the team on media day. If you were Brian Kelly, how excited would you be for this season? The quarterback controversy is over, the defense is returning a large number of starters, and he has a roster with several NFL-caliber weapons on both sides of the football.

When you analyze the factors involved, it is easy to see what it is about this season that is making coach Kelly grin. They have a favorable schedule and several NFL-caliber weapons on both sides of the ball. How does the song go? “when Irish eyes are smiling…”

Currently, the Fighting Irish are ranked 11th in the preseason Associated Press (AP) poll and USA Today Coaches Poll. It comes as no surprise considering the wealth of talent currently on the roster

In total, 13 players on the roster – six offensive players and 7 defensive players – have been named to preseason awards watch lists by the NCAA. The list includes eight nominees named on multiple awards lists:

"QB, Malik Zaire – Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award DT, Sheldon Day – Bronco Nagurski Award, Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award DB, Keivarae Russell – Bronco Nagurski Award, Bednarik Award LB, Jaylon Smith – Bronco Nagurski Award, Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Rotary Lombardi Award LB, Joe Schmidt – Bronco Nagurski Award, Rotary Lombardi Award, Wuerffel Trophy C, Nick Martin – Outland Trophy, Rimington Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award OT, Ronnie Stanley – Outland Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award DB, Max Redfield – Jim Thorpe Award LB, Nyles Morgan – Butkus Award DT, Jarron Jones – Rotary Lombardi Award WR, Corey Robinson – Wuerffel Trophy WR, William Fuller – Biletnikoff Award, Walter Camp Award RB, Tarean Folston – Doak Walker Award"

What do all these factors mean to Coach Kelly and Notre Dame? They are very balanced this season, especially when compared to their tumultuous 2014 season. One that started off promising, with a strong 7-1 start to the season, before flatlining to a disappointing 8-5 finish.

Given, last year the players were adapting to the schemes of new offensive and defensive coordinators. This year, with so many starters returning, the players are much more confident and comfortable in the system. The offense has the makings of a juggernaut and the defense is one of the best in the nation.

Next: Shades of Four-Horsemen?