And that's not all!

Coach Charlie Weis may have another bonafide weapon he can incorporate into his diversified offense.

Flight leader Brady Quinn may have himself yet another wingman he can count upon.

And superb receivers Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight just might have a running mate who can occasionally take the pressure off them and make it much more of a risk to double team the aforementioned twosome.

Introducing sophomore David Grimes who almost overnight has gone from bit player to center stage. From inconspicuous performer to major contributor.

Up until two weeks ago, the 5-10, 174-pounder was better known for his kick returning (12 attempts, 298 yards) than being on the business end of a Quinn aerial.

But that's all changed in one heck of a hurry. On succeeding Saturdays, Grimes has emerged a genuine receiving force. Of his 16 catches on the year, 11 have come in the last fortnight.

The skilled Grimes enjoyed his breakout game against UCLA. Running crisp routes and finding open space with regularity, the youngster from Motown made some mighty sweet music.

Grimes grabbed a hold of eight Quinn passes (79 yards)  that matched Samardzija's game-high total. Included in his day's work was a sliding 14-yard catch that helped fuel ND's miraculous comeback in the waning seconds.

Yesterday, the speedy soph added to his burgeoning reputation and made Navy take note of his presence with another 72 yards in receptions.

His biggest snare came late in the first period when he worked himself free and hauled in a 36-yard pitch that put the Irish on top 10-0.

It was a catch to remember because it marked the first time Grimes had found the end zone in an Irish uniform. Based upon what's happened of late, it doesn't figure to be his last. 

Grimes' emergence couldn't have come at a more propitious time. Truth be told, ND badly needed another wideout to step up and make some noise. Not only for the present but perhaps even more importantly, for the future.

With defenses now having to account for Grimes in multiple receiver sets, top dogs Samardzija and McKnight might be harder to contain because they figure to have a bit more room to roam.

Moreover, Grimes' continued development should open things up for standout tight end John Carlson as well.

Now fully integrated into the Weis game plan, Grimes has given the Irish attack another dimension and made it all the more dynamic. With Grimes on board, ND's passing game could fly even higher than before.

Though Grimes' coming-out is a pleasant surprise, it can't be considered totally unexpected. After all, Grimes shined in last spring's Blue-Gold game and has shown flashes of promise during practice.

Even Weis was on record as saying Grimes had a solid chance to eventually work his way into the receiving rotation.

But with only five catches through six games of '06, the diminutive Grimes was more of an afterthought than a legitimate target for Quinn.

What a difference two games can make!

Grimes is now on the verge of establishing himself as a real and dependable option for his senior QB.

And while there's no underestimating Grimes' current contributions, it's in the near future where he'll need to make his biggest splash.

With the impending departure of all-time greats Samardzija and McKnight, a huge hole will be left in their wake. Like the size of the Grand Canyon.

Other than the still learning Grimes, the Irish have no experienced wideouts to fill that massive breach.

Even if the highly-regarded D.J. Hord successfully rebounds from season-ending injury to fulfill his promise, he's still an unknown. 

Fifth -year candidate Chase Anastasio has played sparingly.

And behind them all that remains are green and unproven freshmen like George West, Robbie Parris, Richard Jackson and Barry Gallup.  

Throw in the fact that the smashing  Quinn will also soon vacate and ND's future passing game is a cause for genuine concern. Worry even.

Uncertainty will clearly reign and Weis will have his work cut out for him trying to keep the Irish proficient in the air.

That's why Grimes must continue to improve steadily and stay on a fast track. Come next year, he will be the only seasoned wide receiver returning to South Bend. Weis will be forced to expect big things out of him.

Whether Grimes is up to responsibility of that magnitude remains to be seen. Can he become a true go-to type of player or is he destined to occupy more of a complimentary kind of role?

On the surface, Grimes seems to have plenty to offer. He shown that he's got the nifty moves, admirable speed and secure hands to become something special.

But his size is a bit worrisome. And the question lingers about whether can he stand up to the punishment of being a featured cog in Weis' scheme.

Only time will tell.

But for now, Grimes appears to have arrived. He's starting to make his mark. Despite his limited stature, his influence is being felt.