SOUTH BEND, Ind. - During the course of the 2008 season, one capped with last week's trouncing of Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl, Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis called on 10 members of his highly regarded freshman class.

Some, such as receiver Michael Floyd, provided key contributions. Others played sparingly, but gained valuable experience at the very least. But the bottom line is that Weis once again proved that he is not afraid to call on freshmen to contribute.

With that said, the following is an early look at which of the current 18-man class could receive a tap on the shoulder from Weis next fall.

Cierre Wood, RB
Wood is ranked as a top-five player at his position, and it's no secret that the Irish running game hasn't exactly stirred up memories of the good old days when Lou Holtz was parading talented running back after talented running back onto the field.

Wood is considered to be a special back, and in 2007, Armando Allen and Robert Hughes, both of whom will be juniors next fall, each played significant downs as true freshmen.

If Wood does see time next fall, he will in all likelihood have shown enough of a skill at pass protection, a must for Weis from his running backs.

Shaquelle Evans, WR
Like Wood, Evans is considered one of the best prep players at his position.

It would be hard to imagine Evans claiming a starting spot, like Floyd did this season. But with David Grimes graduated, a spot in the wide receiver rotation has opened, one Evans would seem poised to be a candidate for.

Former starters George West and Robby Parris, both seniors in the fall, figure to have something to say about it, however, as will sophomore Deion Walker, who did not play as a freshman but was a big catch last year.

Chris Watt, OG
This may be a bit of a stretch because Notre Dame returns its top three guards from 2008. But Watt is considered one of the top guards in the country, and Trevor Robinson, one of the three key returnees at the spot, played considerably as a true freshman in 2008.

If there are problems in the running game, Watt could bull his way onto the field, if at the very least to gain experience for 2010.

Tyler Stockton, NT
Stockton isn't the world's highest ranked defensive lineman, but Notre Dame simply doesn't have a lot of talent or depth at the position.

Starter Ian Williams had a quiet 2008 season after impressing late in 2007, his freshman year. Backup Brandon Newman did not play but figures to see action next season. Ditto for Hafis Williams.

Marlon Pollard, CB
True freshman Robert Blanton moved into the starting spot late in the year because of an injury to starter Terrail Lambert, but Blanton was seeing a lot of playing time before Lambert's injury.

This is a position of strength at Notre Dame, especially considering Blanton, starter Raeshon McNeil and former starter Darrin Walls, who was not enrolled at ND last fall because of personal reasons, return.

Pollard, however, could get his feet wet on special teams in order to indoctrinate him to the college game and prepare him for a more prominent role in 2010. He's a talented corner and one who could see action late in games next season.

Zeke Motta, LB
Motta will enroll in school next week, which will give him a leg up in learning the system. With starter Harrison Smith expected to move to safety, Motta could push his way into the two-deep.

The specialists
Who are they? Well, Notre Dame has received commitments from three, and all could see playing time.

Kicker Nick Tausch will be waiting if junior Brandon Walker struggles, like he did in the first half of the season. Punter Ben Turk is a fallback if professional baseball lures Eric Maust away from the ND football team. And long-snapper Jordan Cowart, a high school teammate of Turk, is at a position in which he too could see early time.

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