Blue and Gold Illustrated

August 2017

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2017 25 That's what we realize and that's what we're trying to make every- thing this year, whether it's in the weight room or the classroom, and obviously on the field." St. Brown is the standout among the receivers after last season, but Kelly is anticipating more spread- ing of the wealth, including with the tight ends, under new coordinator/ tight ends coach Chip Long. "You're going to see a better sup- porting cast across the board, which is going to give us much more balance — and more importantly it's going to give us much more consistency from an offensive standpoint," Kelly said. In 2016, Boykin was stationed mainly at the boundary receiver po- sition, where St. Brown starred. With potentially a little more tempo under Long, one's listed position is not as pertinent as understanding the over- all big picture. "Anybody can play anywhere — slot, to the field, to the boundary," Boykin said. "The biggest thing is just learning the offense so they can play you anywhere. … A lot of block- ing, that's something we're really try- ing to harp on, too. "Be more physical at the point of attack, and going up and getting the ball." With Boykin, St. Brown, sopho- more Chase Claypool and tight ends Alizé Mack and Durham Smythe all at least 6-4, Notre Dame will have its tallest pass-catching corps ever, complemented by the shiftiness and speed of players such as Sanders, Finke, sophomore Kevin Stepherson, and recently added graduate trans- fers Cameron Smith (Arizona State) and Freddy Canteen (Michigan). "I like to think I'm a combination of all of them, right?" Boykin said with a laugh. One way or another, he should be miles ahead of where he was the past two seasons. ✦ After catching only six passes his first two sea- sons, Boykin is on the verge of making much more of an impact as a junior. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA

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