Notre Dame will find a spot for freshman WR C.J. Sanders

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Something happened during Notre Dame’s practice Saturday that hasn’t been seen in years.

Freshman C.J. Sanders fielded a booming punt from sophomore Tyler Newsome, turned upfield, darted between blockers and raced about 90 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. Notre Dame was in the middle of live special teams work when Sanders returned the punt for a touchdown, something a Notre Dame player hasn’t done in a game since 2010.

Sanders isn’t Notre Dame’s first-choice punt returner — that's junior Will Fuller — but he’s impressed Brian Kelly enough for the sixth-year Irish coach to say he, Mike Sanford, Mike Denbrock & Co. will find a way to get the Granada Hills, Calif., native on the field in some capacity this fall.

“Elusiveness, he can cut full speed,” Kelly said. “Some of our guys have got straight-line speed, but they don’t have the ability to cut it full speed. He has the ability to cut at full speed, and we haven’t had that in my time here. It’s something that has been lacking, and he has that ability to cut at full speed.”

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The 5-foot-8, 185-pound former four-star recruit was one of a handful of freshmen Kelly said could see playing time this year. In addition to Sanders, Kelly rattled off cornerbacks Shaun Crawford and Nick Coleman, tight end Alize Jones, wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, running backs Josh Adams and Dexter Williams and kicker Justin Yoon as first-year players who could contribute (it’s telling Kelly forgot to mention nose guard Jerry Tillery, who enrolled early and impressed coaches so much during spring practice he’s not viewed in the same boat as other freshmen).

For Sanders, though, his speed and agility should get him on the field this fall.

“He becomes a weapon from that standpoint whether it be in some of the fly-sweep stuff, he’s elusive in catching the football, screen game, maybe in the return game, we’ll see how that plays out,” Kelly said. “But certainly a guy that can be a weapon for us.”

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