Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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TOP FIVE MOST IMPROVED Junior tight end Alizé Mack belongs here as much as anyone after sitting out 2016, but his impact already was felt as a 2015 freshman, especially on game-winning plays in back-to-back wins over USC and Temple. Plus, he is included among the top five players. This category is about others who displayed signs of making a difference this year. 1. Defensive End Daelin Hayes Other than a franchise quarterback, there is not a more precious commodity in football than a game-changing pass rusher off the edge. Every championship-caliber unit at Notre Dame featured such an All-American and/or top draft pick with people such as Alan Page, Ross Browner, Frank Stams, Bryant Young and, most recently, Stephon Tuitt in 2012. In 2016, Notre Dame signed that type of player in the five-star recruit Hayes. His per- formance this spring further evoked thought that his impact could become a game changer. 2. Quarterback Brandon Wimbush Like Everett Golson for the 12-1 Irish in 2012 and DeShone Kizer during the 10-1 start in 2015, Wimbush doesn't need to "drive the bus" for the team to thrive. Gol- son could lean on a dominant defense, while Kizer had a veteran line and numerous playmakers surrounding him. Wimbush also has a strong supporting cast on offense as well, but he also could prove to be better and more productive all-around than Golson and Kizer were in their debuts. Few players in America might have a chance to make a more profound impact. 3. Center Sam Mustipher Although he started all 12 games last season, the then junior had his share of ebbs and flows. This spring, he was categorized with fellow linemen Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson as an integral cog and leader. With his top two backups both transferring after the spring, he must show durability and maintain his health. 4. Buck LB Greer Martini Primarily a niche player his first three seasons, Martini seized the starting spot from 2016 nine-game starter Te'von Coney in the spring. He become not only a full-fledged starter, but a potential playmaker to complement classmate Nyles Morgan. 5. Cornerback Nick Watkins This last spot is really a toss-up with sophomore wideout Chase Claypool, who has the skills to explode on to the scene as a sophomore the way Equanimeous St. Brown did last year. The consistency this spring of the senior Watkins, sidelined all of 2016 with a frac- tured arm, can't be overlooked, though. His combination of range, aggression, athletic skills and instincts made him the standout on the back end of the defense. Senior center Sam Mustipher has developed into an integral cog and leader for the Irish offensive line, especially considering the fact his top two backups decided to transfer out of Notre Dame in early June. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN Notre Dame entered summer school (June 19-July 28) with 84 scholarship players, one short of the 85 allowed by the NCAA. The Fighting Irish had been at 87 when they began spring drills, but near the half- way point freshman rover Spencer Perry an- nounced he would transfer at the conclusion of the second semester. Shortly after the semester was completed, junior linebacker Josh Barajas and junior center Tristen Hoge decided to transfer to Illinois State and BYU, respectively, while sophomore center Parker Boudreaux re- turned to in-state Central Florida. Finally, senior tight end Tyler Luatua's past concussion issues prompted him to retire from football, similar to former Irish wide receiver Corey Robinson last year, and his grant-in-aid will be transferred to a general university fund. It was not all subtraction this spring. Ar- izona State graduate transfer wide receiver Cameron Smith is eligible to use his fifth sea- son at Notre Dame in 2017. Also, sophomore safety Alohi Gilman will now play for the Irish after finishing as Navy's second-leading tack- ler last season — highlighted by a career-high 12 in the 28-27 victory versus Notre Dame. He will not be eligible to play until 2018. The breakdown is as follows: • Four fifth-year seniors. Tackle Mike Mc- Glinchey, tight end Durham Smythe and guard/tackle Hunter Bivin were joined by the aforementioned graduate transfer Smith in June. • 17 fourth-year seniors. This class also includes Michigan graduate transfer wide receiver Freddy Canteen, who actually has two years of eligibility left after earning his undergrad degree in three years. • 20 juniors, sans Hoge and Barajas. • 22 sophomores following the transfers of Boudreaux and Perry, but also the addi- tion of Gilman. • 21 incoming freshmen. The current lineup is also augmented with 29 walk-ons, seven of whom are freshmen preferred walk-ons who enrolled this sum- mer for classes and conditioning work. SCHOLARSHIP COUNT Sophomore safety Alohi Gilman (No. 1), who an- nounced his transfer to Notre Dame in June, amassed a career-high 12 tackles in Navy's 28-27 over the Irish last fall. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 23