Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Junior DaVaris Daniels recorded the only 100-yard receiving game by an Irish pass catcher in 2012, when he hauled in six receptions for 115 yards against Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. photo by bill panzica wide receivers The Next Level New leaders need to emerge to replace the outgoing talent By Wes Morgan solid offensive line and an effective running game helped firstyear starting quarterback Everett Golson settle in quickly as a sophomore in 2012. Eventual Mackey Award-winning and NFL Draft first-round tight end Tyler Eifert, along with reliable targets in wide receiver TJ Jones and running back Theo Riddick, gave Golson the courage to sling it enough to keep opposing defenses honest en route to a national ranking of 71st in passing offense (222.77 yards per game). Notre Dame found ways to keep opponents guessing by utilizing the versatility Riddick and Eifert brought to the table. A The main common denominator in the passing game between last year's 12-1 Fighting Irish and a 2013 squad trying to get back to a BCS National Championship Game is Jones now that Eifert and Riddick have moved on to the professional ranks and Golson moved out of his Notre Dame dormitory due to an academic violation. Because none of the incoming Irish running backs have proved they can be a regular threat in the passing game this season, head coach Brian Kelly is looking for a playmaker to step up in support of Jones, who enters his final year in an Irish uniform with 111 career receptions for 1,321 yards and 10 touchdowns (50 catches for 649 yards and four TD in 2012). To complicate matters, with Golson temporarily banished from South Bend, a running game that was already a work in progress heading into 2013 after the loss of co-starters Riddick and Cierre Wood took another hit. Golson rushed for 298 yards and six touchdowns and extended plays with his legs. His replacement, senior Tommy Rees — as unflappable as the career Plan B quarterback has been — unfortunately is known more for what he can't do: run and take long shots down the field. Rees has negative-71 rushing yards in 47 attempts over 34 career games, and his maximum effective passing range extends only to about 35 yards. However, with Rees having enrolled early in 2010 along with Jones, the two have excellent chemistry. Jones has found his way to 58 ✦ Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview 58-63.WRs.indd 58 6/25/13 2:39 PM