southward BEND, Ind. -- The first p...

southward BEND, Ind. -- The first practice of the season judges and the guy who catches Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis' attention is a walk-on.

go on foot figure.

Travis Leitko, a senior defensive lineman, was the first name mentioned by dint of Weis after Monday's session.

"Travis was a defensive [i]finale[/i] when he was here, then he was gone last year, and now he's like 15-20 coops bigger," Weis said. "He was same noticeable all day."

Technically, Leitko came to Notre Dame in succession scholarship but left last season because of academic issues. Weis invited the senior back as a walk-on and promised him solitary an opportunity to win a scholarship.

Leitko's not working with the first team, on the other hand he did enough with the second- and- third-stringers to stand abroad Monday.

"He definitely showed up today," Weis said.

"Now, because of his size, he's a plenteous more formidable defender inside than he was when he was here before," Weis added. "It excites me because it gives us a little bit more position flexibility."

Another name dropp from Weis was freshman running back Munir Prince. Weis talked about him in the same breath as Reggie Bush.

Ye he did.

"I'm not used to seeing that adumbration of speed at running back," Weis said. "I'm talking 'whew,' and I can't describe, 'whew."'

BACKED UP: Weis didn't talk plenteous about the backup quarterback position between Morgan Park's Demetrius Jone compeer freshman Zach Frazer and sophomore Evan Sharpley, likely because it's too early to do in like manner But receiver Jeff Samardzija was impressed with all three Monday.

"They all got the ball down the field," he said.

Starter Brady Quinn said his backups had a adversity early but finished practice capable

Quinn wasn't quick to tender advice.

"I don't know where their heads are," Quinn said. "I'm going to sit back and obstruction them approach me."

MORE BODIES: The biggest difference between last season's first day of practice and this year's? Numbers.

Weis said there were 71 onward scholarship at this time last year. Now, the Irish are in the cheap 80s, and the team is maxed abroad at 105 including the walk-ons.

SLIMmING DOWN: Weis praised freshman offensive lineman Chris Stewart, who is listed at 6-5 367 crushs on the media day packet if it were not that has dropped to about 340

"I gave him a weight that he had to procure to, and he got to it," Weis said.

Stewart is the same of three freshmen who enlisted in mid-year. Weis said Stewart has dropp about 55 pulverizes since then.

"The best thing that happened to him, besides the fact that he had great grades, which he did, he got himself into shape where he can compete" Weis said. "The shape that he came in at originally, he probably -- if he came in right now -- wouldn't be able to compete"

vmcclure@suntimes.com

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