Early enrollee freshman Micah Dew-Treadway jump-started his college football career this spring, joining classmates Tristen Hoge, Te’von Coney and Jerry Tillery learning about life at the next level. The Chicagoland product, with projectable size and length, will now go about transitioning from high school standout to freshman defensive lineman—quite a fall down the totem pole.
In Dew-Treadway, the Irish coaching staff identified a projectable defensive lineman. He’s a raw athlete who looks the part of a defensive tackle, though they hope he turns into someone with pass rush ability as well. That could take some time, especially along a defensive line filled with talent. But for as quickly as someone like Jerry Tillery emerges, there are developmental talents that end up in the same place.
Let’s take a closer look at the early enrollee.
MICAH DEW-TREADWAY
6'4", 295 lbs.
Freshman, No. 97, DL
RECRUITING PROFILE
A Semper-Fi All-American, Dew-Treadway picked Notre Dame in June and stuck with his commitment. A three-star prospect, he notched eight sacks and 12 TFLs as a senior, earning All-State first-team by the Champaign News-Gazette and All-Area by the Chicago Sun Times.
Had offers from Mississippi State, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, Wisconsin and others.
FUTURE POTENTIAL
When looking at the 2015 recruiting class, Dew-Treadway probably embodies the “developmental prospect” tag better than just about anybody else. There are things that he possesses that you just can’t teach—namely being 6-4 and weighing 295 pounds. But after that? New defensive line coach Keith Gilmore has a lot of work to do.
The good news? There’s no reason that Dew-Treadway should feel the pressure of needing to see the field immediately. But on Signing Day, Brian Kelly talked about the ability they see in the young defensive lineman to rush the passer, and ultimately that could be a differentiator for the tackle prospect.
CRYSTAL BALL
Barring a nightmare scenario, I don’t see Dew-Treadway on the field this season. And that’s not a bad thing. Watching highlights from his senior season of high school, you saw Dew-Treadway do some very good things, displaying the type of player who could very easily turn into a Jarron Jones type performer. But there are also the habits of a high schooler on display, things that will need to be drilled out of him.
Fifteen practices this spring won’t necessarily do that. Nor will a fall playing behind veterans Sheldon Day and Jones. But as the Irish rollover their interior depth, newcomers will need to step to the forefront. So throw Dew-Treadway into a promising group that’ll include Jay Hayes and Jon Bonner, developmental players who could be key to providing the next level of reinforcements.
THE 2015 IRISH A-to-Z
Josh Adams, RB
Josh Barajas, OLB
Nicky Baratti, S
Alex Bars, OL
Asmar Bilal, OLB
Hunter Bivin, OL
Grant Blankenship, DE
Jonathan Bonner, DE
Miles Boykin, WR
Justin Brent, WR
Greg Bryant, RB
Devin Butler, CB
Jimmy Byrne, OL
Daniel Cage, DL
Amir Carlisle, RB
Nick Coleman, DB
Te’von Coney, LB
Shaun Crawford, DB
Scott Daly, LS
Sheldon Day, DL
Michael Deeb, LB