As we roll out this year’s rankings, it’s worth putting up a special post just for the players who just missed being ranked in our final composite ranking. With depth on this roster significant, and several unknown quantities expected to play big roles, quite a few players left off the Top 25 list will likely be a big contributor this season.
Let’s roll through the dreaded “others receiving votes” tally from this year’s proceedings.
2014 Irish Top 25 -- Others Receiving Votes
Will Fuller, WR (Soph.): The sophomore receiver technically finished in a tie for 25th, but lost in a tiebreaker. Fuller has big-time potential as we saw last season when he led the Irish receiving corps with a beefy 26.7 yards per catch. He’s in the mix to start at wide receiver opposite DaVaris Daniels and will likely be more than just a human go route in 2014.
Highest Ranking: 14th. Lowest Ranking: Unranked (Six ballots).
-- RECOUNT UPDATE --
Fuller joins the Top 25 with the hard luck No. 26 spot now going to...
Romeo Okwara, DE (Jr.): Listed on every ballot but one, Okwara slid outside the Top 25 because he lacked any single voter projecting a high-upside season for the converted defensive end. I think that season is possible, but Okwara will need to show a nose for getting after the quarterback, something we haven’t seen in his two seasons at outside linebacker.
Highest Ranking: 20th. Lowest Ranking: Unranked (One ballot).
Elijah Shumate, S (Jr.): After an injury plagued sophomore season, Shumate fell outside the Top 25 after finishing at No. 24 last year. Physically, he’s arguably Notre Dame’s second most impressive safety, behind only Max Redfield. But Shumate enters training camp behind grad student Austin Collinsworth, and in need of recapturing the swagger he showed as a slot cornerback in 2012.
Highest Ranking: 15th. Lowest Ranking: Unranked (Five ballots).
Amir Carlisle, WR (Sr.): Carlisle fell out of the rankings after finishing No. 19 last season, the product of a disappointing 2013 season that saw him start the year as the team’s No. 1 running back but finish the season out of a job -- and a position. After a good spring at slot receiver, we’ll see how Carlisle rebounds at a new position.
Highest Ranking: 15th. Lowest Ranking: Unranked (Six ballots).
Austin Collinsworth, S (GS): Even though Collinsworth has a starting job heading into training camp, there’s some skepticism surrounding his overall ability. (Hence a lower rating than Shumate.) His athletic deficiencies showed when C.J. Prosise blew around him during the Blue-Gold game for a big touchdown, but Collinsworth finished the 2013 season strong, and showed an early ability to adapt in Brian VanGorder’s defense.
Highest Ranking: 16th. Lowest Ranking: Unranked (Seven ballots).
Nyles Morgan, LB (Frosh): The freshman linebacker had the most votes from our panelists of those missing the Top 25, but they weren’t enough to slide inside the composite ranking. Morgan will battle Joe Schmidt and Jarrett Grace for time at middle linebacker, and is expected to see the field from the start this year. The Chicago native was one of the top linebacker recruits in the country.
Highest Ranking: 20th. Lowest Ranking: Unranked (Four ballots).
Mike McGlinchey, OT (Soph.): Currently penciled in at right tackle, all eyes will be on McGlinchey during fall camp, as he’s the current leader for the fifth spot on the offensive line, with four other starter jobs seemingly spoken for. At almost six-foot-8, McGlinchey has the length, size and athleticism you covet at tackle. With an upside that’s nearly unmatched, we’ll see if he’s ready to contribute in 2014.
Highest Ranking: 19th. Lowest Ranking: Unranked (Seven ballots).
Honorable Mention: WR C.J. Prosise (two votes), OT Quenton Nelson (two votes), LB Ben Councell (one vote), Eilar Hardy (one vote), LB Kendall Moore (one vote), WR Torii Hunter Jr. (one vote), S Matthias Farley (one vote), LB Jonathan Bonner (one vote), DE Jhonny Williams (one vote).
Our 2014 selection committee:
Pete Sampson, Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals)
Tyler James, South Bend Tribune (@TJamesNDI)
Chris Hine, Chicago Tribune (@ChristopherHine)
Team OFD, One Foot Down (@OneFootDown)
Ryan Ritter, Her Loyal Sons (@HLS_NDTex)
JJ Stankevitz, CSN Chicago (@JJStankevitz)
John Walters, Medium Happy (@JDubs88)
John Vannie, ND Nation
Keith Arnold, NBC Sports (@KeithArnold)