Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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running backs State (1997-2000 and 2002-06), Washington (2001), Kent State (1996) and Mount Union (1995). In addition to serving as the running backs coach, Alford was the assistant head coach at Iowa State in his second tenure with the Cyclones. As a ball carrier at Colorado State from 1987-90, Alford eclipsed 100 yards rushing on six occasions, and he still holds the single-game school record with his 310-yard performance against Utah. Following his collegiate career, he participated in the Denver Broncos' training camp and played for the World League of American Football's Birmingham Fire in 1992. Returning Players Geor ge Atkinson III • R B Jr. • Livermore, Calif. Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 217 Career Highlights: Appeared in 25 games during his first two years on campus, and has totaled 1,758 allpurpose yards and nine scores … Has rushed 60 times for 388 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns, while also hauling in three receptions for 14 yards … Served as the main kickoff returner in each of the past two years and has compiled 1,356 yards and two scores on 57 attempts (23.8 yards per return) … Saw action in 12 games during the 2012 campaign, and ranked third on the squad with 361 rushing yards while tying for second with five rushing touchdowns … Paced the team with an average of 7.1 yards per attempt and also finished first with 441 yards on 22 kickoff returns (20.0-yard average) … Recorded two touchdown runs of at least 50 yards, and notched his first 100-yard game on the ground, against Miami Oct. 6, when he finished with 123 yards and a score on 10 carries … Exploded onto the scene as a freshman and earned honorable mention All-America honors from SI.com after he set the Notre Dame record for single-season kickoff return yards (915) and tied the program mark with two touchdown runbacks … Selected as a second-team Freshman All-American by Phil Steele's … Returned 35 kickoffs, which was the second most in school history, and averaged 25.6 yards per runback … On offense, totaled nine rushes for 27 yards and two touchdowns … Also made nine tackles on special teams, which ranked third on the team … Was first Irish freshman with two kickoff returns for TD since Rocket Ismail in 1988. Prep: Saw action as a running back, wide receiver and defensive back as a senior at Granada High … Rushed 172 times for 1,669 yards and 17 touchdowns, while hauling in 27 passes for 678 yards and six scores … 247Sports listed him as a four-star prospect, the No. 12 player in California, the No. 15 wide receiver nationally and the No. 111 player in the country … Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and served as captain of the West squad … Was also selected to the Team USA vs. The World All-Star Game. Personal: Born Nov. 29, 1992 … Father, George Atkinson Jr., is a former All-Pro defensive back who helped the Oakland Raiders win Super Bowl XI … Twin brother, Josh, is a defensive back on the Irish roster … Ran indoor track for Notre Dame in 2012 and placed third in the 200 meters at the Big East Championships … Enrolled in College of Arts and Letters. YearG-GS Att. Yds. Avg.T D 201113-0 9 27 3.0 2 201212-0 51 361 7.0 5 Totals25-0 60 388 6.5 7 Amir Car lis le • R B Jr. • Santa Clara, Calif. Ht.: 5-10 • Wt.: 185 Career Highlights: Did not play in 2012 due to injury … Attended USC as a freshman and played in eight games with 19 rushes for 118 yards (6.2 yards per carry) … Also recorded seven receptions for 41 yards and a score … Gained 90 yards on 10 rushes against Colorado and added two catches for 31 yards, including a 19-yard TD reception. Prep: Finished his high school career with 5,108 rushing yards and 73 touchdowns … Earned several AllAmerica honors as a senior after he ran for 2,110 yards and 28 touchdowns, and tallied 12 receptions for 231 yards and three scores … Was named all-state as a junior after he gained more than 2,000 yards on the ground … Was ranked as a four-star prospect, the No. 2 all-purpose running back nationally and the No. 65 overall player in the land by 247Sports. Personal: Born Sept. 24, 1992 … Father, Duane, ran track at Maryland and has been a strength and conditioning coach/speed and performance coach with numerous high school, college and professional teams … He is currently the director of sports performance at Purdue … Was enrolled in First Year of Studies. YearG-GS Att. Yds. Avg.T D 2011*8-0 19 118 6.2 0 * at USC William Mahone • R B So. • Austintown, O hio Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 214 Career Highlights: Did not play during the 2012 campaign. Prep: Earned second-team Division I All-Ohio honors at linebacker from the Associated Press in 2011 … Despite missing half of his senior year with an ankle injury, he still rushed for 700 yards and nine touchdowns, and also caught two touchdown passes and scored on two kickoff returns … Recorded 30 tackles and an interception on defense … Tallied five picks as a junior and returned two for scores … Ranked as a three-star prospect, the No. 28 running back in the land and the No. 32 player in Ohio by 247Sports. Personal: Born Sept. 2, 1993 … Was enrolled in First Year of Studies. Cam McDanie l • R B Jr. • Coppell, Texas Ht.: 5-10 • Wt.: 199 Career Highlights: Saw action at both cornerback and running back during the 2012 season and played in all 13 games … Was also one of the team's top special teams players … Rushed 23 times for 125 yards and a touchdown … Also hauled in two passes for 41 yards and returned seven kickoffs for 135 yards … His 301 all-purpose yards ranked seventh on the squad, and he also added five tackles … Recorded his first career touchdown on the final drive against Miami Oct. 6, accounting for 75 (54 on the ground) of the team's 93 yards during that march … Set a school record with nine consecutive Irish offensive plays in that contest … Played in eight games during the 2011 campaign, primarily on special teams … Totaled two tackles, rushed three times for nine yards and returned a pair of kicks for 24 yards. Prep: Earned second-team all-state honors for Class 5A from the Texas Associated Press Sports Editors as a senior … Totaled 1,906 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground, while also hauling in 40 catches for 492 yards and three scores for Coppell High … Also was named MVP of District 7-5A by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram … Led all Dallas area 5A players with 37 total touchdowns and ranked third in rushing yards … Listed by 247Sports as a three-star prospect. Personal: Born Sept. 20, 1991 … Enrolled in College of Arts and Letters, majoring in psychology. YearG-GS Att. Yds. Avg.T D 2011 8-03 93.00 201213-0 23 125 5.4 1 Totals21-0 26 134 5.2 1 Newcomers Gre g Br yant • R B Fr. • Delray Beach, Fla. Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 200 Prep: A second-team USA Today All-USA High School All-American after he rushed for 1,447 yards and 17 scores as a senior … Added 308 yards and three scores through the air, while helping American Heritage High finish 11-1 in his final campaign … Was named first-team Associated Press Florida All-State as a junior and senior … Helped his team win the Florida Class 2A crown in 2011 … Finished with 2,180 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground as a junior, in addition to 272 yards and two scores through the air … Selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he rushed eight times for 27 yards and caught three passes for 16 yards while helping the East team to a 15-8 victory … Tabbed as a four-star recruit, the No. 19 player in Florida, the nation's No. 10 running back and the No. 128 overall prospect in the land by 247Sports … According to the 247Sports Composite (a compilation of all the major recruiting services), the four-star checked in as the No. 11 prospect in his home state, the No. 6 running back nationally and the No. 45 overall player in the land. Personal: Born Sept. 23, 1994 … Father, Greg Bryant Sr., played at Northern Illinois before he logged time in the Canadian Football League … Greg Sr. coached the defensive line at American Heritage High. Tare an Fo lst on • R B Fr. • Cocoa, Fla. Ht.: 5-10 • Wt.: 190 Prep: Was named the Associated Press Florida Class 4A first-team All-State running back and Florida Today Offensive Player of the Year in 2012 after he rushed for 1,722 yards and 16 scores … He also hauled in nine passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, and intercepted four passes on defense for the Cocoa High team that advanced to the state semifinals … Returned one pick for a score and added touchdowns on two kickoff returns, while he also served as the team's punter … Was also named first-team all-state as a junior, after he rushed for 1,286 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding two scores via receptions … Played in the Under Armour All-America Game, and intercepted one pass, broke up another and added a tackle as a defensive back for the victorious team … Listed as a four-star recruit who was ranked the No. 18 senior in Florida, the No. 9 running back in the nation and the No. 122 overall prospect by 247Sports … Checked in as the No. 17 prospect in Florida, the nation's No. 10 running back and the No. 104 senior in the 247Sports Composite. Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview ✦ 53 48-53.RBs.indd 53 6/25/13 11:22 AM