Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/699309
BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 55 said this spring. "He's out there competing. So there's a lot to be gained from playing base- ball, but you have to be a special individual, especially at this level. I think the gains are competitiveness, discipline and the maturity that he shows and his ability to handle it." *** Five months prior to his arrival at Notre Dame in 2013, Hunter Jr. suffered a fractured femur while at a practice for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. It wiped out his freshman season with the Irish while he rehabilitated. "I've seen him break his femur and he didn't know what was going to come of it. He worked his butt off to get back — and then to limited play," Hunter Sr. said. "They put him in and they knew he had talent. They just didn't know how his leg was going to respond, so the first year he got back he was limited." What also complicated his first season of playing time in 2014 was a groin injury suf- fered during a fall camp critical to a player looking to enter the fold as a contributor. He returned in the fourth game of the season and caught a touchdown in his first collegiate contest. "He went out every time he was called upon and he did what he had to do. He made the adjustments and it was very beneficial for the team when they needed him," Hunter Sr. said. "Just seeing that process and overcom- ing those obstacles and learning plays, he always asks questions to coaches and players that were there before him, and he's one of those guys that's a sponge and soaks it all in. What's right for him, he keeps it. What's bad for him, he throws it out. "He's really learning, he's still learning. He's not where he used to be two years ago, but who is? Hopefully you're not. He has a lot to learn even though he's learned a lot. He's never going to stop learning in the game of life or in sports." Hunter Jr. knows that even as a rising se- nior there is still much for him to absorb. "It's definitely not easy, but it's my second time going through it; I kind of have a system down, just making a schedule or going over the schedule for the week and trying to get homework done before I travel or anything like that," he said. "Just trying to get it done in general so I don't have to worry about it. It's one less thing to worry about for the week. "I've got a lot of friends that are trying to help me out and making sure I get the notes if I miss [class]. … As far as football goes, you've just kind of got to dig deep and you may be tired that morning. "I may have played the day before, but you have to dig through and everyone's expecting that out of you." And the biggest factor in why Hunter Jr. has made it work is that he expects it of him- self — and has since even before the 5 a.m. workouts with his father as a teenager. ✦ JUMP IN PRODUCTION Many Irish followers are concerned about replacing Will Fuller's production, but recent history shows when one standout leaves, another player quickly fills the role. Here are four over the past 12 years that made a dramatic leap from one season to the next: Player (Years) Rec., Yds., TD Rec., Yds., TD Change Jeff Samardzija (2004 to '05) 17-274-0 77-1,249-15 +60, +975, +15 Golden Tate (2007 to '08) 6-131-1 58-1,080-10 +52, +949, +9 TJ Jones (2012 to '13) 50-649-4 70-1,108-9 +20, +459, +5 Will Fuller (2013 to '14) 6-160-1 76-1,094-15 +70, +934, +14 BECOMING THE NO. 1 It's a common ritual after losing a receiver with the production of Will Fuller to fret over where those yards and scores will be allocated the following sea- son. If recent history is any indication, someone will be ready to lead that charge. Senior wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr. seems to be the likeliest candidate to carry the torch into 2016. Citing multiple concussions, senior wide receiver Corey Robinson opted not to play his senior season in 2016, which leaves Hunter Jr. (35 catches for 428 yards and three touchdowns in his career) as far and away the most experienced returning wideout. Hunter Jr. has played all three receiver positions during his career and is expected to replace Fuller as the starting X receiver. "Wherever they need to move me, I'll be able to do that," he said. "I played a couple snaps on Z [in practice] today just because the situation called for it. [I'll play] where they need me to be, I'll make sure I know what I have to do, and whatever the situation calls for, I'll be there." In the spring, he displayed some of the big-play ability that helped Fuller enter the NFL Draft as a junior and be selected in the first round. "He's had a terrific spring," head coach Brian Kelly said. "His player load has been as high as anybody on our team. Matter of fact, I think it's been as high as any receiver that we've had here in a couple years. In other words, the work volume that he's put in while he's going to school, while he's playing baseball, has been an incredible commitment. "Look, he could have taken the easy way out here. He could have said, 'Hey, I'm playing baseball, I can't make it this weekend. I've got a doubleheader.' But no, he would go to practice and then he would go into a phone booth and throw on his Superman cape and head on over to the baseball field. "It's amazing what he does in terms of the intensity in which he practices and how hard he goes, and then he does the same thing for [baseball coach Mik Aoki]. He's a unique young man in that he can focus and give that kind of intensity to both sports." — Andrew Owens Hunter Jr. has played in 23 games for the baseball team over the past two seasons. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS