SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame linebacker Brian Smith remembers being on a knee ready to get in his stance during a television time out against Michigan State thinking about rushing the quarterback when it dawned on him.

"I looked around and felt comfortable with where I was at," he said. "I thought back to previous plays in that game and how everything was starting too click and everything was a lot more comfortable."

Smith and fellow outside linebacker Kerry Neal have been looking increasingly more comfortable on the field as this season has progressed, making opposing quarterbacks increasingly less comfortable. In this disappointing season for Notre Dame (1-7), the two speedy freshmen have given Irish fans hope for the future.

"They've given us another dimension that going into the season we weren't sure if they could provide," defensive coordinator Corwin Brown said. "We've liked what we've seen from them."

Both players had their breakthrough game against the Spartans in the fourth game of the season. Smith, who did not play in the first two games, had a season-high three tackles, while Neal had two tackles, including a sack, two quarterback hurries, and a pass breakup.

Neal, who has played in every game, became a starter the next game against Purdue. He said coaches told him about the start shortly before the game.

"I just played it cool because I feel like starting is not that big a thing," he said. "Because once I go in I'm going to do the same thing regardless."

The adjustment hasn't been easy, Neal said.

"It's not like high school where you can go out there and make all the plays," he said. "Here you really have to play technique and be fundamentally sound. You can't just go out there running around. Because everyone is good in college."

Both have shown flashes of brilliance. Neal recovered a fumble against UCLA and returned it 11 yards to the 1-yard line to set up a Notre Dame field goal. Smith intercepted Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.

Coach Charlie Weis likes the promise of both players.

"They play this game with passion, and any time you play the game with passion and have some athleticism, you have a chance to be something special. Both those guys have a chance to be," Weis said. "When it's all said and done, by the time they leave here, they'll be household names."

In the 3-4 defense Notre Dame switched to this season, both players lineup at defensive end and as a linebacker, depending on the call. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Neal is more of a defensive end who can play linebacker, while the 6-3, 233-pound Smith is more of a linebacker who can play defensive end. Smith loves the defense.

"It lets me work to my strengths. I like to drop into pass coverage and I like to get after the quarterback," he said.

They will be challenged this week by needing to play disciplined against the option of Navy (4-4), which leads the nation in rushing at 343 yards a game.

Both players say the biggest challenge for them this season has been to stop thinking too much and to simply play. The most impressive thing about them is their speed.

"They both have mad speed," Weis said. "And they're also high motors, too. I like both those guys a lot."

Smith, whose father, Chris, was a fullback for the Irish during 1981-84, said his goal is to get bigger next year. He said he wants to be a "freak" athlete like San Francisco 49er tight end Vernon Davis.

"When people look at Vernon Davis, he's 260 pounds running 4.3, 4.4 and benching a million pounds. That's the kind of athlete I want to be," he said.

Neal said he just needs to keep learning.

Despite the disappointment of this season, both players say they and other members of the freshmen class see a bright future.

"We're going to learn to overcome losing and at the end of the day we'll be a really good team and be stronger because we've been through some hard times," Smith said.