Notre Dame tailback Darius Walker is making preparations for next month's National Football League Draft.

Former Merrillville star James Aldridge would like to be the guy who replaces him.

"I'm optimistic for sure," Aldridge said Wednesday in a phone interview after the Irish opened spring practice.

"Right now, I'm just trying to accept as much coaching as possible and become the running back they want me to become. I guess that's a hybrid -- somebody who's going to get the job done."

Even though he was coming off a surgical procedure on his left knee after spring practice last year, Aldridge played in seven games last season and rushed for 142 yards on 37 carries -- 3.8 yards per carry and 20.3 yards per game.

Aldridge said getting his feet wet last year could pay dividends this fall when he competes with Travis Thomas -- who was moved to linebacker and played primarily on defense last season but has since been returned to the backfield by head coach Charlie Weis.

"Getting to play a little bit last year helped," Aldridge said. "Adjusting to the speed of the game really helped me in this phase of the training."

The former Parade Magazine All-American has gotten stronger as well after being given the go-ahead to go full throttle in the weight room shortly after Notre Dame's Sugar Bowl loss to Louisiana State.

He's improved his lower body strength because he's been able to go through all the lifts without limitations.

"It's made me a better player for sure," he said.

Some Notre Dame fans are lowering expectations for the upcoming season, because the team lost Brady Quinn, former Valparaiso star Jeff Samardzija, Walker and five other offensive starters.

Weis isn't lowering his expectations.

"It's easy for everyone to say, 'Well, this is a transition year; this is a rebuilding year,' You can't ever think like that," Weis said. "I can't think like that as a coach, and they certainly won't think like it as players. It's not happening."

Weis is focused on finding a replacement for Quinn.

"I'm going to be heavily -- almost exclusively -- involved with the quarterback position," Weis said.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report