Wu Am I? Tha Human Planet & Masta Destroyer

Welcome to another edition of Wu Am I? for the 2009 season. Once again- I am trying to identify the 36 players of impact for the 2009 squad. So without any further bullshit, I open chambers 17 & 18…

Chris Stewart #59
Offensive Guard
6’5″ 337 lbs.
Senior
Spring, Texas
Wu Name: Tha Human Planet

Chris was the biggest recruit to ever commit to Notre Dame… literally. At 6’5″ and over 360 pounds- Stewart became the largest man ever enrolled at the university and showed up as an early admit in January of 2006. He needs no other Wu Name than the one he received when he arrived- Human Planet. He didn’t make that big of a splash right away though. He redshirted his freshman year, and in the spring of the 2007 season, he was moved to nose tackle to see if he could anchor the line in Notre Dame’s new 3-4 defense. The experiment didn’t work, and it may have set Chris back in his development as an offensive lineman. He played as an extra offensive tackle in the jumbo formation in 2007 and at times he played like his physical presence would suggest. He also looked like he took a play or two off- not good for a struggling line. In 2008 Chris became the starter at right guard and formed a gigantic duo with him and big Sam Young on the right side. Old habits from the previous year set in, and Chris took a few plays off from time to time. When this happened, he was replaced by freshman sensation Trevor Robinson. Trevor would come in kick some ass- and then Stewart would come back out and just destroy people.

A strong enough pattern is there to suggest that Chris will become the starter in 2009, but will be replaced from time to time because he will either take a play off, or nurse an injury (he was hurt quite a bit in 2008)- then he will re-enter the game and kill people. Call me crazy, but I think Stewart will reinvent himself in 2009 as a consistent destroyer of those who would dare line themselves up against a planet. I think Verducci will be able to light a fire so big and so bright under his ass, that if he passed gas- half of the stadium would be vaporized. Chris has very quick feet for a man of his size and he is also very athletic. The NFL loves lineman like Chris- if he can just stay consistent. I’ve seen more obscure and less physically gifted players go very high on draft day and I will dare to say that I think Stewart could make himself a first round draft pick in either 2010 or 2011, should he exercise his 5th year option. Are you sensing that I think Stewart could dominate in 2009? Good- because I’m not sure if I was that clear.

Kyle McCarthy #28
Safety
6’1″ 209 lbs.
Senior
Youngstown, Ohio
Wu Name: Masta Destroyer

Kyle was relatively small potatoes coming out of Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio. He was rated as a 3 star athlete by Rivals.com and a 2 star cornerback by Scout.com. He played both quarterback and defensive back while in high school and held offers from Ohio State and Navy among others. Add an extra star or two next to his name and he is eerily similar to the former star he replaced- Tommy Zbikowski. McCarthy’s rise to Irish starter was quite a different path than Tommy Z’s however. It was more gradual. Kyle redshirted his freshman year and than was a special teams standout his sophomore season in 2006. In 2007 he saw his playing time double as he continued to kick ass on special teams as well as spell relief in the secondary. He saw the first start of his career in 2007 against Navy (we shouldn’t hold it against him). Than after a heated battle in the spring and summer- Kyle took over as the starter at the safety spot vacated by Zbikowski. All he did, was lead the Fighting Irish in tackles with 110.

McCarthy is back for his 5th year in a Fighting Irish uniform and he looks to help lead Notre Dame back to a BCS game- and perhaps more. Although he has many some similar qualities that Zbikowski had while at ND, Kyle does not have the flash in respect to the returns and ball-hawking ability, but he has become a better tackler than his predecessor. When McCarthy locks in on a ball carrier- that ball carrier goes down. Mr. Dependable is what Kyle really has become for this Irish defense. Maybe as much as anything- that’s what this insanely talented secondary needed. Someone they could depend on if they break too soon, or slip. Kyle McCarthy: your State Farm Insurance Agent. Look for more of the same in 2009.