BGI Special Edition

2013 Notre Dame Football Preview

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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linebackers 'Til Depth Does Its Part Junior Jarrett Grace should have plenty of help from a deep surrounding cast of linebackers while growing into the shoes of an Irish legend After not playing as a freshman in 2011 and working primarily on special teams last season, Grace will attempt to help fill the void left by the graduation of 2012 consensus All-American Manti Te'o. photo by bill panzica By Dan Murphy to all the small nuances of his fits in run and pass coverage, but we're unior linebacker Jarrett Grace has already sprinted through the tunpleased with him and his development." nel at Notre Dame Stadium in front of 80,000 screaming fans. He Grace made 12 tackles, almost all of them coming on special teams has already made his first collegiate tackle and heard his name piped coverage units, and played in 13 games during his first year on the field through the public address system. He's never done it, though, as the in 2012. He made four tackles against Navy in Dublin while competing Fighting Irish's starting middle linebacker. against the same type of triple-option offense that he saw every day in Grace waited patiently behind All-American Manti Te'o for two high school practice while playing at Colerain High School in Cincinnati. seasons. He spent a full offseason preparing to take over the No. 1 spot He made a team-high eight tackles during the Blue-Gold Game this at Mike linebacker and got his feet wet at the team's past spring and also broke up a pass in a perforspring game in April. Now, he says he feels ready "He's a tough guy. He plays mance he said helped to work out some of the butto step in and take over at the hub of Notre Dame's with his new role. He heads into defensive football like you terflies associated feeling comfortable about where talented defense. fall training camp would like to see it played." he stands in the defense and aware of what he still The 6-3, 248-pound Grace is a throwback to the born-and-bred Midwest tacklers from past genera- Defensive coordinator/ needs to improve. tions. Notre Dame's coaches have stressed since the "I know what I have to do every play," he said Linebackers Coach end of last season that Te'o, for all he did on and following the spring game. "I know I can get it done Bob Diaco on Grace off the field, was an irreplaceable player. Grace also, but there are little nuances you learn through won't be the next Manti Te'o, but he has all the physical tools he needs repetition and through game experience. You can almost predict what to plug the gap and keep the Irish front seven among the best in the the offense is going to do, and that's something where I feel like I'd like country. to get to eventually. That's going to take time and consistent effort." "He's a tough guy," said defensive coordinator Bob Diaco. "He plays While Grace is adjusting to his new role, he'll have the luxury of bedefensive football like you would like to see it played. He's still new ing surrounded by the deepest and most experienced group of players J 90  ✦ Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview 90-95.LBs.indd 90 6/25/13 3:33 PM

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