Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/699309
BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 81 Rochell's best performance (four tackles) came at Air Force — where his brother, Todd, was already a sophomore starter at offensive tackle for the Falcons. In 2014, Rochell joined fellow sopho‑ mores Smith and cornerback Cole Luke as the only three members of the defense who answered the bell to start all 13 games. Smith was a Butkus Award finalist and Luke's 15 passes defended were the most by a Notre Dame player in 36 years. With Rochell, who lined up at both end and tackle, his work was overshadowed with the lamentations of losing fellow linemen Jarron Jones and Sheldon Day in the final month to injuries. In the 31‑28 victory versus LSU in the Music City Bowl that year, Rochell was stout enough to start at nose tackle and hold his ground, while also blocking a fourth‑quarter field goal attempt to keep the game tied. Last year, Rochell's 63 tackles were fifth on the team and 15 more than anyone else along the line — but the undisputed cen‑ terpiece of the front was Day, a two‑time captain. And now it's Rochell's time in the sun while casting a different shadow. A New 'Day' Next to filling the void of 2015 Butkus Award winner Smith at linebacker, mak‑ ing up for the graduation of Day might be considered the most formidable task to un‑ dertake for the 2016 Notre Dame defense. Day's combination of leadership, versatil‑ ity in his ability to play on the edge or inside, and production with team highs in tackles for loss (15.5), quarterback hurries (13) and forced fumbles (two) last year made him a standout. Nevertheless, to not have a significant drop‑off along the 2016 line — if any — is doable for at least two reasons. One is the return of the fifth‑year senior Jones at nose guard after he was shelved for the entire 2015 regular season because of a torn MCL. His presence provides instant girth (6‑5½, 315 pounds), experience and playmaking skills to the position. Equally important is the presence Rochell — possibly the most underrated and over‑ shadowed Notre Dame player the past two seasons — for many reasons: • The strongside end Rochell has been just as versatile as Day, having also started at nose tackle and lining up just about any‑ where along the interior when needed. He won't be needed at nose guard this year, but might be able to augment sopho‑ more Jerry Tillery in the interior at the three‑ technique defensive tackle, if Jones doesn't slide there on occasion himself. "You're always in situations where you have to be able to move around," Rochell said. "Who knows what will happen, but I know we have a lot of really good guys at very specific positions, like Jarron at nose. "I do in a way see myself being at one position consistently, but you never know." • Rochell's durability has been tremen‑ dous while basically starting all 26 games the past two years. Even Day had entered his senior year having missed seven starts be‑ cause of injury issues, while in other games he was slowed by lingering wounds. "I can't attribute it to anything else other than being blessed," said Rochell, whose 783 snaps last year were the most among the linemen. Rochell made 63 tackles in 2015, which ranked fifth on the team and was 15 more than any other members of the defensive line. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA