Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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120 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW THE 2017 ALL-OPPONENT TEAM Offense Quarterback: Sam Darnold, USC Once he emerged as USC's starter, Darnold shred- ded the Pac-12. He finished ninth nationally in passing efficiency, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 3,086 yards with 31 touchdowns. Running Back: Nick Chubb, Georgia Chubb ranks second all time at Georgia with 3,424 rushing yards, trailing only Herschel Walker's 5,259. His career average of 6.4 yards per carry tops Walker's 5.3 average. Running Back: Ronald Jones, USC Jones racked up 1,082 yards and 12 scores on the ground despite splitting carries in 2016. Now the junior is the main man in the backfield, and if the Trojans' line can hold up he should be poised for a true breakout season. Wide Receiver: Ahmmon Richards, Miami (Fla.) Richards put together an outstanding freshman season in 2016, hauling in 49 passes for a team- leading 934 yards and 19.1 yards per catch. If Mi- ami can figure out its quarterback situation, he should be highly productive. Wide Receiver: Ventell Bryant, Temple Bryant has the size and athleticism NFL scouts crave, and if he has the breakout season some expect him to have he'll also have the production. Last year, he led Temple with 54 catches for 895 yards. Tight End: Isaac Nauta, Georgia Notre Dame will face a number of talented tight ends this season, but Nauta could be the best. The former five-star recruit hauled in 29 passes for 361 yards as a rookie, but a jump in production should come in year two. Offensive Tackle: David Bright, Stanford Bright's overall success in 2016 wasn't all that impressive, but he finished the season on a high note. He'll move to left tackle and protect the blind side of the Cardinal quarterbacks. Offensive Tackle: Bentley Spain, North Carolina Spain has started 23 career games at left tackle, helping anchor a line that generated 463.9 yards of offense per game and 7.0 yards per play the last two seasons. Offensive Guard: Tony Adams, N.C. State Adams has 35 career starts under his belt and the powerful right guard of the Wolfpack earned second-team All-ACC honors last season. He was also on the 2016 All-Opponent Team. Offensive Guard: Nate Herbig, Stanford Herbig only started the final six games of the season. In games he didn't start, Stanford aver- aged 139.0 rushing yards per game. With the 346-pounder in the lineup Stanford averaged 290.5 rushing yards per game. Center: Brian Allen, Michigan State Allen is the All-Opponent Team center for the second straight season, although injuries forced him to make 10 starts at guard. The second-team All-Big Ten selection is back inside where he will lead a young line. Defense Defensive End: Harold Landry, Boston College Landry has registered 36.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks the last two seasons. He really broke out after his 16-sack junior campaign. Athlon and Lindy's both chose him as a preseason first-team All-American. Defensive End: Bradley Chubb, N.C. State Chubb is a second-team All-American according to Lindy's and Athlon, and the senior will challenge Landry for top ACC lineman honors. The 275-pound senior has 31.5 career tackles for loss and 15.5 ca- reer sacks. Defensive Tackle: Trenton Thompson, Georgia Pro Football Focus ranked Thompson as one of the six best interior run defenders in the country, but the junior's best football is likely still ahead of him. The former five-star recruit had 9.5 tackles for loss in 2016. Defensive Tackle: Rasheem Green, USC Green started to show off his five-star ability last season, leading the Trojans with six sacks. The junior finished off the 2016 season with four sacks in the final five games and big things are expected of him this fall. Linebacker: Shaquille Quarterman, Miami (Fla.) A true freshman in 2016, Quarterman piled up 84 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries. The athletic linebacker earned ESPN first- team Freshman All-America honors. Linebacker: Roquan Smith, Georgia Smith was solid in his first season as a starter in 2016, pacing Georgia with 95 tackles. Now in his second season in head coach Kirby Smart's defense and with an improved defensive line he should be quite productive. Linebacker: Porter Gustin, USC Gustin had an impressive sophomore season, making 68 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks as an outside linebacker in USC's 3-4 defense. The 6-5, 260-pounder already has 20 career stops be- hind the line of scrimmage. Safety: Dominick Sanders, Georgia Sanders battled shoulder injuries in 2016 and the result was a dip in production from his 2015 season that earned him first-team All-SEC honors. He is healthy and poised to lead a talented Georgia secondary. Safety: Jessie Bates, Wake Forest A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Bates made 100 stops and picked off five passes last season, which earned him second-team All-ACC recognition. Cornerback: M.J. Stewart, North Carolina Stewart was one of the few bright spots on a po- rous North Carolina defense. The two-time All-ACC performer has 29 career passes broken up, which ranks third all time for the Tar Heels. Cornerback: Heath Harding, Miami (Ohio) Don't let his small-school status fool you, Hard- ing can play. A first-team All-MAC performer last season, Harding led the RedHawks with 15 passes defended. He has 218 career tackles and 12.5 ca- reer stops behind the line. Special Teams Kicker: Michael Badgley, Miami (Fla.) Badgley led all ACC kickers with 8.9 points per game and 21 made field goals, which was the third- best single-season mark in Miami history. His 60 made field goals ranks third on the school's all- time list. Punter: Jake Bailey, Stanford Bailey ranked 24th nationally a season ago with a 43.5-yard net punting average. That is the fourth- best single-season mark in Stanford history. Kick Return: Nyheim Hines, N.C. State Hines has already posted a pair of 100-yard kick returns for scores. His first came against national runner-up Clemson in 2015 and his second came in North Carolina State's 41-17 Independence Bowl victory over Vanderbilt to cap the 2016 cam- paign. Punt Return: Braxton Berrios, Miami (Fla.) The athletic return man ranked 11th nationally with 11.3 yards per return in 2016, including a 41- yard touchdown return against Florida A&M. — Bryan Driskell Miami sophomore linebacker Shaquille Quarter- man is ready to build on his ESPN Freshman All- America season. PHOTO COURTESY MIAMI ATHLETICS