Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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defensive line Depth Defying Notre Dame's defensive line depth suffered two setbacks during and after spring drills. The first was when junior Chase Hounshell, who saw some action as a 2011 freshman, suffered a torn labrum for the second year in a row. The injury required surgery and will sideline him again. Then in June, five-star recruit Eddie Vanderdoes, projected to see immediate action in 2013, backed out of his signed letter of intent with Notre Dame and will enroll instead at UCLA, located in his home state. That leaves junior Tony Springmann — who contributed 11 tackles, two stops for loss and one sack in 2012 — as the top reserve option. He provided versatility to the unit last season, lining up at all three positions when needed in the 3-4 set, including nose guard. But with senior Kona Schwenke behind Nix, Springmann can concentrate more on playing along the flanks. "He's still a guy that we can move inside if we need to, but certainly we wanted him to be able to play that four-technique [lining up on an offensive tackle's shoulder]," Kelly said. "We think he's a perfect fit for it. He's got great reach and size." "I'm trying to be in a position where I can do both and excel at Quick Facts Position Coach: Mike Elston (4th year at Notre Dame) Returning Starters: NG Louis Nix III (22 career starts) and DE Stephon Tuitt (16) Departing Starters: DE Kapron Lewis-Moore (42) Projected New Starter: DE Sheldon Day Top Reserves: NG Kona Schwenke (2) and DE/NG Tony Springmann Waiting His Turn: DE Jarron Jones, NG Tyler Stockton and DE Justin Utupo Newcomers: DE Jacob Matuska and DE Isaac Rochell Moved In: None Other Departures: DE Chase Hounshell will be sidelined a second consecutive season because of shoulder surgery FYI: Lindy's College Football 2013 Preview ranked Notre Dame with the No. 1 defensive line in college football, while the Athlon Sports 2013 College Football Preview had it No. 2, behind only South Carolina … All three of the prime 2013 preseason college football magazine's — Athlon, Lindy's and Phil Steele's 2013 College Football Preview — named Nix and Tuitt first-team All-Americans … Nix was rated as the nation's No. 1 defensive tackle by Phil Steele's and No. 2 by Lindy's, behind Arizona State's Will Sutton, and both publications rated Tuitt behind only South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney as the country's best defensive end … Among Athlon's top 40 incoming freshmen defensive linemen, Rochell was rated No. 27. both," Springmann said. "We have the best nose guard in the country in Louis Nix, and I try to learn as much as I can from him. He knows how to play the game, but I do feel comfortable playing defensive end." A year ago at this time, Schwenke was actually a costarter at nose guard while exerting better effort than Nix. Now, he provides quality relief effort behind Nix with fifth-year senior Tyler Stockton. Senior Justin Utupo, now in the 280-pound range, has shown enough at end to work with the second team. With the versatility to play anywhere along Massive 6-5, 295-pound the line, junior Tony Springmann will be a sophomore Jarron Jones, who prime figure in the defensive line rotation. photo by bill panzica arrived with a larger frame and more accolades than Day, has also received reps with the second team. However, Jones lacked the football fundamentals that Day possessed while playing for one of the nation's premier programs (Indianapolis Warren Central), and he also needed to progress in his mental approach to the game. "Jarron is starting to play like a freshman in college," Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston said. "He was playing like a high school senior a year ago in terms of his immaturity, his lack of aggressiveness. He's got this great big body, and now he's starting to throw that around and become more of an aggressive player." Jones' progress will be crucial if Notre Dame is to continue producing quality lines in the future, and if he can contribute what Springmann did in 2012, it would be a boost. Junior Cat linebacker Ishaq Williams, working behind senior Prince Shembo, has been receiving reps at end in the 4-3 alignment — Kelly said the breakdown is about 52 percent in the 3-4 and 48 percent in the 4-3 — to further augment the front. "We can get him 15 to 20 more reps [at defensive end], and he's all for that," Kelly said of Williams, who enjoyed a strong spring. ✦ Dynamic Defensive Line Duos Who are the most famous defensive line tandems at Notre Dame the past 50 years that lined up in multiple seasons? The presence of senior nose guard Louis Nix III and junior defensive end Stephon Tuitt in 2013 prompts that question. Here are that tandem's top competition since 1964, or the year football went away from a oneplatoon system (same players lining up on both offense and defense): Kevin Hardy and Alan Page (1964 and 1966) — Hardy sat out most of the 1965 season with an injury incurred in the second game, but the Irish were 18-1-1 these other two years, winning a consensus national title in 1966 while the defense yielded only 24 points all season. Three-sport athlete Hardy was in the interior, and College and Pro Football Halls of Fame member Page played the perimeter. Page earned first-team All-America accolades from six outlets in 1966, while Hardy was on three. Both also were second-team All-Americans according to the Associated Press and UPI. Page was the No. 15 pick in the 1967 NFL Draft and Hardy No. 7 in 1968. Walt Patulski and Mike Kadish (1969-71) — Notre Dame finished in the top five nationally in total defense all three years with end Patulski and tackle Kadish. Patulski was a consensus All-American as a senior, won the Lombardi Award and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft. Kadish was a first-team Sporting News All-American and the No. 25 pick of the first round. Ross Browner and Willie Fry (1973, 1975-77) — Famed "Bookends" helped Notre Dame to two national titles. Browner was a consensus All-American in 1976 and 1977, his 77 tackles for loss are almost double of anyone else ever at the school, and he was the No. 8 pick in the 1978 NFL Draft. Fry earned second-team All-America notice his last two seasons and was a second-round selection. Chris Zorich and Jeff Alm (1988-89) — The two secondround picks (Alm in 1990 and Zorich in 1991) helped propel the school-record 23-game winning streak while finishing in the top 15 in rushing, total defense and scor- ing defense both years. Defensive lineman George "Boo" Williams also made a huge impact for the 1988 national champs, but he was ineligible in 1989. Bryant Young and Jim Flanigan (1992-93) — Both were linebacker recruits who morphed into linemen and helped Notre Dame to a 21-2-1 record these two seasons, finishing ninth against the run in 1992 and fourth the following year. Young received some first-team All-American notice in 1993 and was a second-team selection by the AP and UPI, but the No. 7 pick in the 1994 NFL Draft had an even more brilliant 14-year pro career. Flanigan was selected in the third round and played 11 years in the NFL. Victor Abiamiri and Trevor Laws (2005-06) — Neither received any All-America recognition while helping Notre Dame to consecutive BCS bids for only time since the format began in 1998, but both became second-round NFL draft selections. Abiamiri's 21.5 career sacks at Notre Dame trail only Justin Tuck (24.5 from 2002-04) and Kory Minor (22.5 from 1995-98) since 1982. — Lou Somogyi 86 ✦ Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview 84-88.DLs.indd 86 6/25/13 2:16 PM