Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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26 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Count on special teams needing to make a difference in at least three games each year. How the Irish fare here could mean the difference between another four- or five- loss season and a major bowl and playoff contention. 4. Will the running game be leaned on more than ever under Brian Kelly? It seems this is asked every year. Since 2001, Notre Dame has reached the telling 200-yard rushing figure at the end of the reg- ular season only once, and that happened to be 2012 when the 12-0 team had to lean on the run more to take some of the burden off inexperienced quarterback Everett Golson. With Zaire now at the throttle, the Irish might be "forced" to go that direction again, as it did with 263 rushing yards versus LSU in the 31-28 Music City Bowl victory. We're not saying 200 yards rushing during the season solves everything. However, it probably would not bode well if Notre Dame is in the 130- to 160-yard range again as it was in Kelly's other four seasons. 5. What improvement will come at safety? Other than 22 turnovers by quarterback Everett Golson, this was the position group most harped on last year in terms of assign- ment consciousness and communication. Physically, junior free safety Max Red- field and senior strong safety Elijah Shu- mate have the goods to thrive. It will be more about having the self-assuredness with the complete defense to be traffic cops and coaches on the field. They have too many playmaking capabilities to combine for only six passes broken up, two interceptions and no fumbles forced during a season. TOP FIVE STATES Twenty-seven different states are repre- sented on Notre Dame's 2015 roster, with two freshmen this year adding Idaho (center Tristen Hoge) and Louisiana (defensive line- man Jerry Tillery) to the list. Here are the top states when combining quantity (walk-ons included) and quality. 1. Indiana (11) — Keeping top in-state and academically qualified talent close to home is a priority the Irish have fulfilled. This includes two 2014 returning captains in defensive lineman Sheldon Day and center Nick Martin, both from Indianapolis, plus 2014 Butkus Award finalist and Fort Wayne product Jaylon Smith at linebacker. Three freshmen joined the fold with linebackers Josh Barajas and Asmar Bilal, plus defensive lineman Brandon Tiassum. 2. Texas (11) — The Irish recruiting in the Lone Star State has picked up in recent years, and among those expected to start or play extensively are junior tight end Dur- ham Smythe, junior wide receivers Corey Robinson and Torii Hunter Jr., sophomore defensive ends Grant Blankenship and Kolin Hill, and sophomore corner Nick Watkins. 3. California (12) — The Golden State has vast representation, including incom- ing wideouts CJ Sanders and Equanimeous St. Brown. Five of them are walk-ons — but 2014 MVP and fifth-year senior Mike line- backer Joe Schmidt from Orange was one, too. Junior free safety Max Redfield will be a pivotal figure on defense, and fifth-year se- nior slot Amir Carlisle plus sophomore tight end Tyler Luatua (who started in the Music City Bowl) will aid the offense. 4. Ohio (12) — Notre Dame's top two quarterbacks are from the Buckeye State with junior Malik Zaire and sophomore De- Shone Kizer, and the return of fifth-year senior linebacker Jarrett Grace was a huge bonus. Junior defensive lineman Jacob Ma- tuska enjoyed a good spring, and a couple of freshman corners are enrolling with Shaun Crawford and Nick Coleman. 5. Illinois (13) — This is the most rep- resented state, including three incoming freshmen in receiver Miles Boykin, defen- sive lineman Micah Dew-Treadway and of- fensive guard Trevor Ruhland. Senior Scott Daly will start at long snapper for the third straight year while sophomore linebacker Nyles Morgan will factor in one way or another. Fifth-year senior Connor Cavalaris, a regular on special teams, also returned this spring. TOP FIVE FRESHMEN CANDIDATES TO PLAY With 19 returning starters on offense and defense from last year's bowl victory over LSU returning, plus 2012-13 starting corner- back KeiVarae Russell back in the fold, there is not as much urgency as in recent years for freshmen to immediately help along the two deep. These might be the best bets. 1. K Justin Yoon — On National Signing Day head coach Brian Kelly anointed him to Junior wide receiver Corey Robinson is part of a strong Lone Star State presence on the Irish roster. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA