Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/841614
22 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 1. Offensive Guard QUENTON NELSON Nobody for the Irish graded out better and more consistently with his 2016 week-to-week performance than the third-team Associ- ated Press All-American. He's become even more assertive this year, and the third-year starter and 329-pound road grader could be the No. 1 guard selected in next spring's NFL Draft. 2. Offensive Tackle MIKE MCGLINCHEY Some footwork issues to clean up in pass blocking and nine illegal procedure penalties in 2016 are the two items that prevent the left tackle from ranking right up there with Nelson. If he continues to improve as expected, Notre Dame could conceivably have two offensive line- men selected in the first round in the same NFL Draft for the first time since 1967 with tackle Paul Seiler and guard Tom Regner from the 1966 national champs. 3. Middle Linebacker NYLES MORGAN The top tackler (94) and sack man (four) during last year's fiasco, the hard-hitting and fierce senior Mike linebacker is primed to have a stellar campaign in new defensive coordinator Mike Elko's alignment in which he will be the centerpiece. 4. Running Back JOSH ADAMS After rushing for a freshman school-record 835 yards and a team-high 933 as a sophomore, the next natural step would be a 1,000-yard campaign. With relatively good health, it is possible. No one else on the roster has more than 281 career yards on the ground, and Adams' pass catching skills and continually improving blocking could make him one of the nation's more complete backs. 5. Wide Receiver EQUANIMEOUS ST. BROWN and Tight End ALIZÉ MACK Like quarterback DeShone Kizer and Nelson last year, both could become bona fide early picks in the NFL Draft after their junior seasons in 2017. With Mack, who was sidelined in 2016 for academic reasons, it's purely projection, but he fits the profile of a Tyler Eifert-like "flex" figure in new coordinator Chip Long's tight end-friendly offense. He was conspicuous throughout the spring as a prime target. Like Golden Tate and Will Fuller (both high picks after their junior year) before him, St. Brown exploded on to the scene as a sophomore with 58 catches that averaged 16.6 yards and included nine touchdowns. TOP FIVE PLAYERS TOP FIVE POSITION BATTLES 1. Right Tackle Liam Eichenberg vs. Tommy Kraemer The two sophomores from Ohio are the newbies among the four returning starters along the line, much like sophomore Quenton Nelson and Alex Bars at left guard in 2015. Kraemer held the edge this spring and is deemed the better run blocker, while Eichenberg per- haps is a little more refined in pass protection. 2. Buck Linebacker Greer Martini vs. Te'von Coney Coney finished fourth in tackles last year (62), while Martini was fifth (55). Coney had a quality spring, but Martini — one of six team captains — especially thrived in new coordinator Mike Elko's defense. 3. Second Safety Nick Coleman vs. Devin Studstill While sophomore Jalen Elliott can't be labeled a lock yet at Whip safety, the Stud safety was especially competitive throughout the spring. A third-team cornerback last year, Coleman appeared to surprisingly nudge ahead of nine- game freshman starter Studstill. 4. Strongside Defensive End Andrew Trumbetti vs. Jay Hayes Between these two seniors, Hayes took only 155 snaps last year com- pared to Trumbetti's 627, yet it was Hayes who consistently came out with the top group this spring. 5. No. 2 Running Back Tony Jones Jr. vs. Dexter Williams Junior Josh Adams is the linchpin of the backfield, but these two Floridians made strong cases to be the second option, with Jones especially flourishing during the spring after redshirting last season. Linebacker Nyles Morgan led the Irish in both tackles (94) and sacks (four) in 2016, and is primed to have an ultra-productive senior season in new coordinator Mike Elko's defense. PHOTO BY RICK KIMBALL Sophomore running back Tony Jones Jr. thrived during the spring and put himself in position to contribute to the Irish rushing attack this fall. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA