Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 103 It's really setting that bar, and continuing to see that practice after practice, so it becomes confidence." Redfield did carry over that performance into the spring, where he was consistently noted as one of Notre Dame's top performers. He finished it with six tackles and an intercep- tion in the Blue-Gold Game. "Max Redfield continues to show why he's going to be a big player for us defensively," Kelly said after the spring game. It wasn't just his production that improved during the spring. Redfield was praised for his improved communication. Not just in the volume, which Kelly often pointed to, but also the authority with which he made decisions. His improved communication and play were tangible, but his ability to bounce back from a season's worth of struggles is what stood out most to his defensive coordinator. "He established new standards in that game, it says a lot about him," defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said. "He had an up-and- down season, got benched, and to come out and finish the season like he did says a lot about his ability to persevere and compete. He never felt sorry for himself, never backed off — he kept working." Improved communication was not the only area where Redfield grew his game in the spring. He also showed himself to be in better position to lead. "Max has really stepped up as a leader. I think he's a lot more comfortable in his role, and a lot more comfortable with the playbook," senior Matthias Farley said of Redfield after the spring. "I think when you're younger and you come into a starting position, it's harder to be vocal because there are a lot of guys older than you. "He's really taken that next step of establish- ing himself as a leader, being demonstrative and bringing everyone to a higher standard with his play." As he heads into his junior season, Redfield is in much better position to handle the mental rigors that go with running such a complex defense. He has embraced the responsibility that comes with being a starter on the back end. "We have a year in the system, we feel much more comfortable and our communication is a lot better," Redfield said following the spring. "Me and Shumate know it's on our shoulders, and it's our responsibility to get the communi- cation fluid and accurate. We took it on our- selves to do that." Redfield carried over a strong finish to the 2014 season into the spring with excellent results. If he can now carry over his strong spring performance into the fall, Notre Dame will find itself having one of the top safeties in the country; a player capable of meeting the lofty expectations that have been placed at his feet and leading the Irish defense. ✦ REDFIELD LOOKING TO CONTINUE SAFETY TRADITION After a tumultuous sophomore campaign, it would seem that putting All-American expectations on the shoulders of junior safety Max Redfield is a reach. That is exactly what happened when Redfield was named a preseason first-team All-American by Phil Steele's 2015 College Football Preview. Redfield went from benched in November to a preseason All-American in June. That is quite a rise, but when talking about a player as talented as Redfield, it might not be much of a stretch after all. Redfield has history on his side. Going back to the last elite safety recruit at Notre Dame, late breakouts have become commonplace in South Bend. Redfield is the most regarded safety prospect to sign with Notre Dame since Gerome Sapp (1999-2002) inked out of Houston Lamar High School back in 1999. Like Redfield, Sapp saw his career get off to a rocky start. He was a backup his first two seasons and did not emerge as a starter until late in 2001. After racking up just 90 total tackles his first three seasons, Sapp broke out as a senior with 71 tackles and four interceptions, helping fuel a 2002 defense that finished No. 9 nationally in scoring defense and No. 11 in total defense. Sapp's partner on the back end in 2002, Glenn Earl (1999-2003), had a similar breakout in 2002. Earl posted just 53 tackles his first two seasons before erupting with 81 tackles as a junior. Both Earl and Sapp went on to be NFL Draft picks. Chinedum Ndukwe (2003-06) spent his freshman season at wide receiver and made just seven tackles as a sopho- more. During his final two seasons, Ndukwe racked up 150 tackles, picked off four passes and broke up 11 passes en route to being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals and playing in the NFL. David Bruton (2005-08) struggled with the mental part of the game his first two seasons, making just 32 combined tackles. He broke out with an 85-tackle performance as a junior. Bruton registered 182 tackles and seven interceptions during his final two seasons en route to being selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Kyle McCarthy (2005-09) had 29 total tackles his first two seasons before busting out with a 110-tackle effort as a junior. Harrison Smith (2007-11) redshirted as a freshman and spent two years at linebacker before finally getting his shot at safety. Over his final two seasons for the Irish, Smith accumulated 183 tackles and 24 passes defended, which helped turn him into a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings. Zeke Motta (2009-12) had an up-and-down first three years at Notre Dame, struggling with the mental and instinc- tual parts of the game. He did not become a full-time starter until his senior season for the vaunted 2012 defense that finished No. 2 nationally in scoring (12.8 points allowed per game), leading the Irish to a 12-0 regular season. Motta was named the Defensive MVP while linebacker Manti Te'o was awarded Team MVP. If history is any indication, Redfield is primed for the kind of season many hoped for when he signed with the Irish, one that would fuel a defensive resurgence. — Bryan Driskell After a rocky start to his college career, touted Irish recruit Gerome Sapp (1999-2002) came on strong during his senior season in South Bend and developed into an NFL player. PHOTO BY PHIL HOFFMANN/COURTESY BALTIMORE RAVENS