Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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116 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW THE 2016 ALL-OPPONENT TEAM Offense Quarterback: Brad Kaaya (Miami) Kaaya is considered a potential first-round pick after passing for 3,238 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sopho- more. The 6-4, 210-pound signal-caller is expected to break out in new head coach Mark Richt's pro-style of- fense. Running Back: Christian McCaffrey (Stanford) The 2015 Heisman Trophy runner-up broke Barry Sand- ers' 25-year-old all-purpose yardage record, racking up 3,864. He led Stanford in rushing yards (2,019) and re- ceiving yards (645), while adding touchdowns as a punt returner and kick returner. Wide Receiver: Isaiah Ford (Virginia Tech) Ford set a school record with 11 receiving touchdowns and had the Hokies' first-ever 1,000-yard receiving sea- son, finishing with 1,164 yards. His speed and big-play ability should allow him to truly flourish in new head coach Justin Fuente's up-tempo offense. Wide Receiver: JuJu Smith-Schuster (USC) Smith-Schuster had a dominant sophomore season, racking up 89 catches for 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns. He torched Notre Dame for 139 yards and a score. He is a physically imposing player with an elite combination of size and speed. Wide Receiver: John Burt (Texas) After hauling in 28 passes for 457 yards as a true fresh- man, the former Rivals100 wideout is poised for a major jump in production thanks to the pass-oriented system being installed by new offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert. Tight End: Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech) Few tight ends — if any — combine the elite size (6- 7, 245) and athleticism that makes Hodges a matchup nightmare. Over the last two seasons, the redshirt junior hauled in 85 passes for 1,056 yards and 13 touchdowns. Offensive Tackle: Zach Banner (USC) USC's standout right tackle overwhelms opponents with his 6-9, 360-pound frame. The fifth-year senior allowed just one sack in 2015, earning first-team All-Pac-12 and first- team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus. Offensive Tackle: Connor Williams (Texas) One of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal season for Texas was Williams, who started all 12 games at left tackle as a true freshman. He was named to ESPN's All-Freshman Team and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors. Offensive Guard: Tony Adams (North Carolina State) Adams, a junior, has started 22 of the last 25 games at right guard for the Wolfpack. He earned 2015 second- team All-ACC honors from Pro Football Focus. Offensive Guard: Wyatt Teller (Virginia Tech) Teller needs more work as a pass blocker, but in 2015 he proved to be a force in the run game. The 6-5, 304-pound redshirt junior is strong and physical, possessing the nec - essary disposition to thrive along the interior. Center: Brian Allen (Michigan State) After starting 10 games at left guard, Allen moves to center, where he will replace his older brother Jack, an As- sociated Press first-team All-American in 2015. The junior is a preseason All-Big Ten pick by Athlon and Sporting News. Defense Defensive End: Solomon Thomas (Stanford) Thomas emerged as one of Stanford's top defenders a season ago, finishing with 10.5 tackles for loss. The junior played inside and outside last fall, but expect him to spend more time outside in 2016. Defensive End: Ken Ekanem (Virginia Tech) After a down year in which he had just 4.5 sacks, the fifth-year senior is looking for a repeat of his 2014 season in which he led the Hokies with 9.5 sacks while contribut- ing 14.5 tackles for loss and 19 QB hurries. Defensive Tackle: Malik McDowell (Michigan State) McDowell was a force as a sophomore last fall, racking up 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, earning Associated Press second-team All-Big Ten honors. He is a freakish athlete for a player that checks in at 6-6, 280 pounds. Defensive Tackle: B.J. Hill (North Carolina State) The 6-4, 300-pound junior proved to be a weapon for the Wolfpack in the run game. He registered 51 tackles and finished third on the team with 11 tackles for loss. Linebacker: Malik Jefferson (Texas) After a standout rookie season, Jefferson is primed to become one of the nation's top defenders. The game-changing sophomore combines a high football IQ with outstanding athleticism, making him a force to be reckoned with. Linebacker: Riley Bullough (Michigan State) Bullough follows in the footsteps of his father Shane (1983-86) and older brother Max (2010-13) as standout linebackers for the Spartans. The fifth-year senior led the defense with 106 tackles in 2015 en route to a spot on the coaches' All-Big Ten second team. Linebacker: Peter Kalambayi (Stanford) Kalambayi has been a solid performer for the Cardi- nal defense over the last two seasons. The senior has churned out 15 tackles for loss and 11 sacks off the edge during that time. Safety: Chuck Clark (Virginia Tech) Clark is a versatile defender who can play safety or cornerback in the Hokies defense. Last fall, the senior emerged as the team's top tackler, finishing with 107 stops to complement his three tackles for loss, an inter- ception and eight passes broken up. Safety: Dameon Barber (Nevada) Last fall, Barber emerged as one of the nation's top rookie safeties, earning second-team All-Mountain West honors after leading the Wolf Pack with six interceptions. The 5-11, 180-pound sophomore finished third on the team with 45 solo tackles. Cornerback: Corn Elder (Miami) Despite playing opposite first-round draft pick Artie Burns, the rising senior graded out as the Hurricanes' top defensive back. According to Pro Football Focus, only Florida State's Jalen Ramsey received a higher cornerback grade than Elder did in the ACC. Cornerback: Adoree' Jackson (USC) Jackson was not as dominant as some expected last sea - son, but he still grades out higher than most cornerbacks Notre Dame will face. The junior is a tremendously gifted two-way athlete that produced 84 tackles, 18 passes bro- ken up and one interception his first two seasons. Last year, senior return man Brisly Estime of Syracuse led the ACC with 18.1 yards per punt return. PHOTO COURTESY SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS