Our series predicting spring happenings continues today with No. 4.
Prediction No. 4: Folston and Bryant show promise for fall
There was a point during last season when it seemed like you couldn't mention the name "Greg Bryant" without immediately being peppered with questions regarding a potential transfer. He was a four-star recruit who saw action in just three games, tallying 14 rushing yards before being shut down for the season because of tendinitis, with the intent of him receiving a medical redshirt.
Tarean Folston, meanwhile, picked things up as the season progressed, finishing with 470 yards and three touchdowns on 88 carries, with him carrying the ball 11 or more times for 47 or more yards in five of Notre Dame's final six games. Bryant, meanwhile, returned to practice with the team late last season, meaning there shouldn't be any rough transition period for him to return to the field this spring.
The spring should be a nice opportunity for both of these former blue-chip prospects to build on what they started in Year 1. Obviously Folston has much more to build off after a successful first season, but Bryant could definitely use a re-boot after things got off to a slow start. The talent is definitely there, as the 5-foot-10, 204-pounder was ranked by ESPN as the nation's No. 2 running back from the class of 2013.
With George Atkinson III off to the NFL, there will be more carries to go around for these two, who could team with Cam McDaniel and perhaps even Amir Carlisle to help bolster a ground game that finished just 80th nationally in 2013. Bryant and Folston can go a long way toward earning that increased workload by displaying maturity and savvy in their first spring with the program.
