Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/841614
150 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY BRYAN DRISKELL E valuating Notre Dame's 2012 recruiting class isn't easy. It was ravaged by decommitments and transfers, but also provided impact talent. Grading it proved difficult for the recruiting services as well. Rivals ranked it No. 20 in the country, but ESPN had it No. 8. In the end, it's probably somewhere between those valuations. The class helped Notre Dame to big wins, but the player losses left the program short in numbers at key positions. WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN Notre Dame's 2012 class was good, but it was never as productive as it should have been Top Storylines 1 Start Strong, Finish Strong The class made an immediate impact, with six players having roles on the 2012 team that finished 12-1. Cornerback KeiVarae Russell was a starter, finishing his rookie season with 60 tackles and two interceptions. Defensive tackle Sheldon Day was a key rotational player on what was arguably the best defensive line in the nation. Day finished his freshman season with 23 tackles and two sacks. Wide receiver Chris Brown only caught two passes that season, but his 50-yard fourth- quarter reception on the road against then-No. 8 Oklahoma led to Notre Dame's go-ahead touchdown. Safety Nicky Baratti had a key end zone interception in Notre Dame's 13-6 win over Michigan and safety Elijah Shumate was the nickel defender. The class took on a more prominent role in 2015 and served as the driving force behind a 10-3 season and run to the Fiesta Bowl. Notre Dame's two regular-season losses were by a combined four points, and all three teams that beat the Irish finished the season ranked in the top five. Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley was a consensus All-American and Sheldon Day was tabbed as a first-team All-American by USA Today and a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and Football Writers Association of America. Running back C.J. Prosise rushed for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Brown was a solid No. 2 to standout receiver Will Fuller. Russell made two game-clinching interceptions in his final season, and Shumate was second on the team with 52 solo tackles. The class went 39-13 in its four full years together.