Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/954261
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com APRIL 2018 29 BY THE NUMBERS 1 Touchdown allowed on special teams last year by Notre Dame after permit- ting a school-record five in 2016. The score came on a blocked punt by North Carolina State, the second straight season that happened. The Irish themselves did not score on special teams in 2017. 43.8 Yards per punt averaged the past three years by fifth-year senior Tyler New- some, which is second all time at the school to longtime NFL standout Craig Hentrich's 44.1 from 1989-92. What needs to improve is the 37.88 net average that ranked 64th nationally. 320 Points scored by 1982-85 Notre Dame running back Allen Pinkett on 53 touchdowns and one two-point conversion, making him the all-time leader the past 33 years. Currently in fifth place is Yoon, who has tallied 275 points and needs only 46 points to become the all-time leader. WHO'S GONE C.J. Sanders Decided to transfer as a graduate for his final season after returning three kicks and one punt for touchdowns during his Irish career. WHO'S BACK Fifth-Year senior Tyler Newsome Fourth-year starter was named a team captain heading into his final season at Notre Dame. Senior Justin Yoon A steady and often overlooked placekicker likely will end up rewriting the Notre Dame record books. Junior John Shannon Made a smooth transition into the starting short and long snapper role last season. Sophomore Jonathan Doerer Kickoff man could be the heir at punter and kicker in 2019. TOP NEWCOMERS Whoever becomes the new holder. SPECIALISTS 2018 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW Returning Returning Year-End Year Starts TDs Scored TDs Scored 2017 50 4 0 2018 76 0 — Brian Kelly's Take "For the last two years [Tyler Newsome] has car- ried the message for our football program on a day-to-day basis relative to traits over talent. … He kind of marches to a different tune." POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH Notre Dame will have to replace kick returner C.J. Sanders, who will transfer after graduating. Punt returner Chris Finke might have to fight to keep his spot as well. Sophomore Michael Young could challenge both this spring, although most heavy special teams battles will come in the fall. Former quarterback Montgomery VanGorder was the team's holder the last three seasons, so he must be replaced quickly, allowing placekicker Justin Yoon to develop a rapport with his replacement. S enior Justin Yoon has put together one of the best placekicking ca- reers in Notre Dame history, and punter Tyler Newsome isn't far behind in his category. Yoon sports a career field goal percentage of 80.8 (42 of 52), which is a Notre Dame record with at least 50 attempts, far out- pacing the man in second place, former standout John Carney (73.9 percent, 1984-86). The only Fighting Irish kicker with at least 40 kicks who has a better percentage is David Ruffer from 2009-11, who finished at 82.5 (33 of 40). Yoon is second all time in made extra points (149), third all time (among kickers) in points (275) and fourth all time in field goals made (42). If he simply does what he has done the last three years, he'll own each of those records by the end of the 2018 season. Newsome was named a team cap- tain this spring, the first time someone who is exclusively a kicker or punter has earned that honor at Notre Dame. The Carrollton, Ga., native owns t h e second best career yards per punt average in Notre Dame history (43.8). His average went down in 2017, but Newsome became a more steady and effi- cient punter, evidenced by 17 of his 63 punts being fair caught. Just 14 of his punts were fair caught his first two seasons as the starter. John Shannon handled the team's short and long snapping duties last season, and he was hardly heard from — which is exactly what you want from a snapper. Chris Finke returns as the team's punt returner, but he could face a challenge during the spring and summer. Someone will have to fill the void left by C.J. Sand- ers' decision to transfer. He returned three kicks for touchdowns in 2015 and 2016, though he had none last season while posting a career-low 22.5 yards per return. JUSTIN YOON PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL