Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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58 PRESEASON 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY BRYAN DRISKELL P utting together the 2017 class was a roller-coaster ride for the Notre Dame coaching staff. What started out as one of the nation's premier classes fell apart when the on-field product suf- fered through its worst season in nine years. After head coach Brian Kelly over- hauled his staff following its season- ending loss to USC, the Irish were able to rebound by landing six play- ers in the final week of the recruiting cycle, including three on National Signing Day. Notre Dame finished with the na- tion's No. 13 recruiting class accord- ing to Rivals, landing eight signees in the Rivals250. It was quite a finish for the Irish considering their 4-8 record. Each of the 12 teams ahead of Notre Dame in the recruiting rank- ings won at least eight games, and the top dozen had a combined 119-39 ledger last fall. Notre Dame also ranked ahead of rival Stanford (No. 19), reigning na- tional champion Clemson (No. 22) and Washington (No. 23), the Pac-12 champs and a College Football Play- off team. Immediate contributions were de- sired at defensive tackle, but at every other position Notre Dame did not have a significant need for freshmen to play right away. However, the return- ing players have not stopped many of the incoming freshmen from making a hard charge up the depth chart. Here's our annual preseason over- view of the freshman class and the impact it could make in 2017: READY RIGHT NOW It is no surprise that Notre Dame is set to get help from the freshman class at defensive tackle. It returns just one interior player with signifi- cant experience, junior nose guard Jerry Tillery. The loss of senior nose guard Daniel Cage — who is sitting out 2017 due to heath reasons — made the need for interior help even greater. Norfolk, Va., native Darnell Ewell was expected to be the freshman big man earning immediate playing time. He was ranked as the nation's No. 139 overall player by Rivals, making him the highest-rated defen- sive tackle to sign with Notre Dame since Louis Nix in 2010. Ewell showed up to fall camp at 321 pounds and in the early practices he appeared to have a tough time car- rying that weight. The longer camp went the better Ewell performed, but his lack of technical advancement has slowed down his initial push for playing time. If he wants to get on the field as a freshman, he'll have to work to learn the defense and adopt the tech- niques being taught by line coach Mike Elston. Former three-star recruit and Key- stone State native Kurt Hinish has been the top freshman surprise of fall camp. Listed generously at 280 pounds when he signed, Hinish didn't seem big enough to be a force inside. On the flip side, there was little doubt about his quickness and disruptive ability. However, he checked in at 298 pounds when fall camp started and quickly dismissed any notion that he didn't have the size and power to get on the field as a freshman. Hinish has moved to the backup nose guard position and is poised to become an immediate contributor. The Pittsburgh Central Catholic product has played well in open practices, but is he making such a hard push because he's been that good or is the loss of Cage forcing him into the lineup? It could be both, but that won't be truly known until Hinish gets a chance to prove himself on Saturdays in September. Like Hinish, classmate Myron Ta- govailoa-Amosa seemed to lack the girth to help out inside right away. When he signed with the Irish in February, the native of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i, was listed at 250 pounds. Like Hinish, when fall camp started he was much bigger, checking in at 293 pounds. A defensive end in high school, Tagovailoa-Amosa has been play- ing tackle throughout fall camp, and he's getting plenty of opportunities to make a push up the depth chart and snap counts. The Irish might also get some help from a rookie on the back end of their defense. His early enrollment and a lack of experienced depth in the secondary have allowed safety Isaiah Robert- son to vie for playing time. He has displayed impressive range and is al- ready one of the best tacklers among the team's safeties. At this point, Robertson seems locked into the backup Whip safety spot. If anticipated starter Jalen El- liott struggles or goes down, it would not be a surprise if Robertson gets a crack at the starting role. Even if Elliott plays well, there could be a role for Robertson as a ro- tation player or situational defender. Robertson should also be an immedi- ate factor on special teams. FIGHTING FOR A SPOT Notre Dame typically redshirts its offensive linemen, especially since line coach Harry Hiestand ar- rived prior to the 2012 season. All but one of Hiestand's signees have redshirted. The exception was Steve Elmer, who made four starts in 2013 due largely to injuries at guard. Highly touted line recruit Robert Hainsey was expected to redshirt, but the Pittsburgh native is making it difficult for the staff to keep him out of the mix at tackle. Rivals' No. 108 overall player in the country enrolled early and began spring practice at guard. Within the first week, he moved out to tackle. Initially, Hainsey was lining up be- hind standout fifth-year senior Mike McGlinchey on the left side — the position he played the last two years at powerhouse IMG Academy in Bra- denton, Fla. After a week of fall camp, he slid over to right tackle, where he is being Q uick Returns Notre Dame's freshman class will need to be in the two deep at several positions this season Less heralded defensive tackle Kurt Hinish is poised for significant playing time as a freshman. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND