It is said that change is good.
For two budding players at Notre Dame, it had better be!
Because if not, their careers at South Bend might turn into ones of unfulfilled promise. And should that happen, the Irish football team will be diminished because each of these youngsters has the potential to make a significant impact on the program.
It's not a stretch to say that ND's fortunes, both immediate and in the near future, could be dramatically affected by how this pair of underclassmen adjusts, adapts and ultimately reacts to a critical position change.
The two young men in question are Chris Stewart and his classmate Munir Prince. One is big, a hulking and mammoth physical specimen. The other is blazing fast, a speed demon who can motor with just about anyone on a football field.
Stewart's transition involves moving from the offensive line to the ultra demanding nose tackle position in ND's new 3-4 scheme.
Prince's move has him switching from one backfield to the other, from running back to cornerback.
Neither of these shifts offers a guarantee of success and there remains the possibility that Stewart and Prince could ultimately return to their original positions.
But right now, coach Charlie Weis and his staff are intrigued and hopeful that Stewart and Prince can make a mark in their new locales because these are areas in which the Irish are in dire need of assistance.
Because the Domers have a surplus of young, emerging and talented offensive linemen, this freed up Stewart to jump to the other side of the ball. Given his notable stature at 6-foot-5 and 340 pounds, Chris certainly has the frame that could allow him to develop into exactly the type of run-stuffer and lane-clogger new defensive coordinator Corwin Brown will demand from the nose tackle position.
Yet, it's not size alone that leads Weis and Brown and others to think that Stewart can be a force on the D-line. Rather, it's his agility and yes, his athleticism that could make him a standout.
Stewart is hardly anchored to the spot he occupies. This 19-year old possesses surprising footwork and his lateral movement is not to be discounted. He does, after all, have a basketball background and you can't get it done in that sport unless you can move and get up and down the court.
So you couple his physique with his athletic aptitude and the Irish would be crazy to not at least explore the possibility that Stewart could evolve into a defensive mainstay. If the 3-4 alignment is to work, a nose tackle of substance must emerge and on paper anyway, Stewart could very well be that player.
As of now, Stewart is running behind junior Pat Kuntz on the depth chart which is to be expected given the Texan's newness to the position. A minor ankle injury has also prevented Stewart from going full-tilt during spring practice.
On the surface, it appears as if the coaches are willing to give Stewart some time to grow into his new spot. There doesn't seem to be a rush to force him into action.
However, you do get the sense that if Stewart can catch on quickly, Weis and Brown won't hesitate to put him on a fast track . Because Stewart just might become that rock in the middle that can determine whether the 3-4 proves to be boon or bust.
As for Prince, his move from O to D came largely at his own request. He met with Weis, suggested the change and upon reflection, his coach agreed to give it a try.
With the numbers stacking up at running back and with his chance at that position perhaps being marginalized, Prince sought another avenue to get on the field pronto.
That he should look to the defensive backfield comes as no surprise. Prince is well aware that ND needs big-time help there and besides, Munir feels comfortable at the position. As a junior at St. Louis' De Smet Jesuit High, Prince was a lights-out defender and earned all-state honors at the corner.
It's almost as imperative for the Irish to find a spot for Prince as it is for the player himself. Prince has speed to burn and ND can't afford to waste that precious commodity.
The 5-foot-10, 184-pound blur has run an impressive 10.4 in the 100 meters and you just can't teach that. Quicks of that type must be utilized immediately and put to maximum effect.
Weis is on record as saying that Prince is going to get a legitimate look at the backend of his defense. Armed with obvious athletic skills and a rare ability to accelerate virtually from a standstill, it's hard to envision Prince not getting plenty of playing time as both a corner and in a nickel package.
He is that unique defender who can get beat and yet with his foot speed, compensate for an error by still getting back there in time to break up a play. The Irish have far too few players blessed with that kind of makeup capability.
If Munir can just settle-in as a corner, get the nuances down and learn to trust his instincts, he could soon become the Prince of the Irish defense.
For Chris Stewart and Munir Prince, change has been thrust upon them. Change that, though fraught with a certain amount of uncertainty, offers so much promise.
But only time will tell if it was a change for the good!