Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/869474
20 SEPT. 11, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY BRYAN DRISKELL T here was a time when Notre Dame's defensive lines were as good as any in the country. It was evident on Saturdays and when it came time for the NFL Draft. From 1967‑79, the Fighting Irish pro‑ duced eight first‑round picks and three more second‑round selections. However, the last time the Irish produced a first‑round defensive lineman was 1997, when the Jack‑ sonville Jaguars picked end Renaldo Wynn. Since then, Notre Dame has had just four defensive linemen taken in the first two rounds of the draft, all in the second round. Production on the field has waned as well, and Notre Dame hit rock bottom in 2016 when the defensive line accounted for just three total sacks (only one came from the end position). If Notre Dame wants to put a championship‑caliber defense on the field, it will have to get a great deal more production from its front four. It's an unproven group, but there are plenty of reasons for optimism. Recruiting has been the area most pointed to when Notre Dame's line struggles are discussed. The Irish have not consistently recruited the defensive line as well as it can and should, but the 2016 class has pro‑ vided a much‑needed spark to the unit. Sophomore end Daelin Hayes was the marquee signee in the class, giv‑ ing Notre Dame its first five‑star end since it signed Stephon Tuitt and Ishaq Williams in the 2011 class. Hayes had three sacks in the Blue‑ Gold Game in April, and he has car‑ ried over that dominant play into fall camp. Notre Dame signed four ends in 2016, and based on what it showed during August practices, the group is prepared to make its presence felt this season and especially beyond. Khalid Kareem originally commit‑ ted to Alabama, but decided he did not want to go that far from his De‑ troit home. That allowed Notre Dame to land Rivals' No. 237 overall player nationally. Kareem's game is power, which is why Alabama and Notre Dame made him such a high priority. An early enrollee, he did not make much of an impact as a freshman, playing in just three games last fall. He showed signs of progress in the spring, and the deeper Notre Dame progressed into fall camp the better he performed. "Khalid has been under the ra‑ dar," head coach Brian Kelly said. "We've been really pleased with Khalid Kareem. What I would say first and foremost is where he's really changed a lot is his strength physi‑ cally. Maybe he doesn't have that 'first‑step quickness,' or twitch that somebody would write about, but he's so physically strong. "… He can walk somebody back at that position. He is deceptive in his ability to cross face, spin out, do some other things. He's been a player that's been emerging for us. I really like what he's doing at that end position." Despite not playing much as a freshman, Kareem felt he benefited a great deal from being around Isaac Rochell, who is now with the Los Angeles Chargers. "I definitely learned something from playing in those games, expe‑ rience always helps," Kareem ex‑ plained. "Getting to watch him [Ro‑ UP AND COMERS The rise of Notre Dame's sophomore ends is expected to fuel a defensive resurgence Khalid Kareem garnered praise from head coach Brian Kelly after a strong fall camp, adding to Notre Dame's depth at the defensive end position. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS