Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 119 BY BRYAN DRISKELL N otre Dame will face 11 opponents that qualified for bowl games and had a .605 winning percentage a season ago. In order to have a bounce-back season, the Fighting Irish will have to work through a number of talented football teams — especially on the defensive side of the ball. Best Offensive Backfields 1. Georgia — There might not be a better backfield in the country. Seniors Nick Chubb and Sony Michel have combined for 5,835 rushing yards and 55 total touchdowns. Chubb's physical running style complements the slashing Michel, while talented sopho- mores Brian Herrien and Elijah Holyfield provide excellent depth. Sophomore quarterback Jacob Eason is a former five-star recruit that passed for 2,430 yards and 16 touchdowns last fall. He must improve in his second season as a starter if he wants to hold off freshman Jacob Fromm, another five-star recruit. 2. USC — Redshirt sophomore Sam Dar- nold is one of the hottest quarterbacks in the country. After taking over in game four of last season, he went on to pass for 3,086 yards and 31 touchdowns while throwing just nine interceptions, en route to Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year hon- ors. Darnold is joined in the backfield by ju- nior Ronald Jones, who rushed for 1,082 yards (6.1 per carry) and 12 touchdowns last fall. USC's lack of depth keeps it from claiming the top spot in this ranking. 3. Miami (Ohio) — The RedHawks were 0-6 and averaging 17.0 points per game when then-redshirt sophomore Gus Rag- land took over at quarterback. Thanks to his 17-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, Miami went 6-1 down the stretch and averaged 27.9 points per game. He is a talented run-throw quarterback whose play makes everyone around him more effective. Miami lacks a true go-to back, but it does return a three-man group that combined for 1,524 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry a season ago. Best Receivers/Tight Ends 1. USC — This ranking is part projection and part a reflection on the lack of proven production for Notre Dame's 2017 oppo- nents. Junior slot man Deontay Burnett hauled in 56 passes for 622 yard and seven scores last fall. A breakout season is expected for redshirt sophomore tight end Daniel Ima- torbhebhe, who hauled in 17 passes for 250 yards. He teams with junior Tyler Petite to form one of the top tight end duos in the Pac-12. USC signed arguably the top group of pass catchers in the 2016 class, and that group is expected to pay huge dividends for the Trojans this season. 2. Miami (Fla.) — The Hurricanes won't be lacking for playmakers despite the loss of first-round draft pick David Njoku at tight end and leading receiver Stacy Coley. Sophomore Ahmmon Richards is a big- play threat that led the Hurricanes with 934 yards and a 19.1 yards per catch average as a rookie. A case could be made that Richards is the best receiver on Notre Dame's sched- ule this season. He'll be joined by a deep and talented, but unproven, group of players. Senior tight end Christopher Herndon IV could emerge as one of the top tight ends in the ACC. 3. Temple — Redshirt junior Ventell Bry- ant has NFL ability, and those traits were first on display during his redshirt freshman season when he ripped Notre Dame for six catches and 91 yards in 2015. Bryant ended his sophomore campaign with an 11-catch, 151-yard performance against Wake Forest in the Military Bowl. Senior Adonis Jennings had the best game of his career against Wake Forest, hauling in seven passes for 154 yards. He'll team with Bryant, senior Keith Kirkwood and junior Brockrick Yancy to form arguably the top group of pass catchers in the American Ath- letic Conference. Best Offensive Lines 1. Stanford — The Cardinal offense scuf- fled for much of the 2016 season, averaging 317.8 total yards per game and 175.0 rushing yards per game during the first nine contests. Stanford shifted its line around for the final four games, and the move paid off. Stanford averaged 478.0 yards of offense and 285.3 rushing yards during that stretch. Veteran tackles A.T. Hall and David Bright are solid and experienced players, and so is center Jesse Burkett. Sophomore Nate Herbig was a dominant force after being inserted into the lineup for the final six games. 2. North Carolina State — Only Miami (Fla.), with 92, has more career starts re- turning to its line than the Wolfpack, which returns 88 career starts. North Carolina State's line wasn't overly consistent last season, but with four returners having at least 13 starts under their belt it is poised for a breakout. Senior guard Tony Adams is the anchor up front after earning second-team All-ACC honors a season ago. Redshirt junior Garrett Bradbury moves to center after starting every game last season at guard. Improvement from redshirt junior tackles Tyler Jones and Will Richardson is key. 3. Boston College — The Eagles' line re- turns 87 career starts, but it will look much dif- ferent this season. Last year's starting left tackle Aaron Monteiro is moving inside to guard. He will like be replaced at tackle by West Virginia transfer Marcell Lazard, while starting center Jon Baker is moving to right guard. On The Defensive Notre Dame will have to manage a 2017 schedule loaded with talented defenders Temple junior wide receiver Ventell Bryant capped off the 2016 season with an 11-catch, 151-yard per- formance against Wake Forest in the Military Bowl. PHOTO BY JOSEPH V. LABOLITO/TEMPLE ATHLETICS