The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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128 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY ANDREW VAILLIENCOURT The rivalry has been restored. After three years of not playing, Michigan and Notre Dame resume the affair with a night battle in South Bend this fall in the season opener. It's a monumental contest between two teams with College Football Playoff aspira- tions, and only one can escape unscathed. Senior quarterback Brandon Wimbush, a dual threat who was more successful on the ground than he was through the air last year, leads the way for the Notre Dame offense. He rushed for nearly half as many yards (803) as he passed for (1,870) and almost equaled the aer- ial touchdown produc- tion (14 rushing com- pared to 16 passing). Despite some incon- sistent play, Wimbush helped the Fighting Irish to a 10-3 record that was capped by a 21-17 win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl. Wimbush will look to take his game to the next level this fall, but will have to do it without some key players. Notre Dame lost its leading rusher (Josh Adams) and receiver (Equanimeous St. Brown) to the NFL, along with its two best offensive linemen — All- Americans and first-round picks Quenton Nelson (left guard) and Mike McGlinchey (left tackle). Taking over at running back will likely be a committee of senior Dexter Williams and junior Tony Jones Jr. Both put together solid seasons last year, combining for 592 yards and seven touchdowns. The offensive line will miss its two stal- warts, but still returns three starters and the top backup. Fifth-year seniors Sam Mustipher and Alex Bars will anchor the center and left guard positions, respectively, after each starting every game last season (Bars was at right guard then). Also back are junior Tommy Kraemer and sophomore Robert Hainsey, who split time at right tackle in 2017. Hainsey totaled just five fewer snaps than Kraemer and started the final four games of the season, so Kraemer is expected to kick inside to right guard. Junior Liam Eichenberg is ex- pected to take over at the left tackle spot. At wide receiver, ju- nior Chase Claypool returns after hauling in 29 passes for 402 yards and a touchdown. He's expected to be the No. 1 target for Wimbush in the passing game, but will get some help from senior wide receivers Miles Boykin and Chris Finke, who combined for 355 receiving yards last season. Notre Dame started multiple tight ends in a number of games, resulting in one of two starters at the po- sition returning in 2018. Durham Smythe exits, while Alizé Mack comes back. Mack actually had more catches than Smythe (19 to 15), but had less yards (244 for Smythe and 166 for Mack). Each also added one touchdown. The Fighting Irish had the No. 27 offense in the nation last year, averaging 448.2 yards per game. Meanwhile, the defense was tied for No. 46 in the country a year ago, allow- ing 369.2 yards per contest. That defense returns eight of its 11 start- ers, plus several experienced backups. Junior cornerback Julian Love was the standout in the secondary last fall, recording an as- tounding 20 passes broken up and three in- terceptions. His 23 passes defended ranked second in the country, behind only Iowa's Josh Jackson (26), who is now in the NFL. In addition, Love was fifth on the team with 68 tackles and is tied for third on the squad in that category among returners. Despite Love's prowess, Notre Dame's pass defense was only ranked 53rd in the country last year. Other stars joining Love in returning are senior linebacker Te'von Coney, the team's leader in total stops and tackles for loss in 2017; senior defensive lineman Jerry Tillery, the squad's reigning sack leader; and fifth- year senior linebacker Drue Tranquill, who stuffed the statistics sheet with 85 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an intercep- tion and three fumble recoveries last fall. Both safeties return, but Navy transfer Alohi Gilman, now a junior, is expected to take one of those starting jobs. At Navy in 2016, Gilman had 76 tackles and five passes broken up. His career high of 12 tackles came against Notre Dame. Three defensive linemen also come back, which should give the group a boost up front. Notre Dame should provide a significant test for Michigan in week one, but it's noth- ing the Wolverines can't overcome. Notes Athlon Sports projects Notre Dame to finish the 2018 season ranked No. 15 … Both senior kicker Justin Yoon and fifth-year senior punter Tyler Newsome return as four-year starters … Yoon has made 42 of 52 field goals in his career, while Newsome is a team captain this year. ❑ The Rivalry With The Irish Will Be Renewed Opening Weekend 2018 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2017 Result Sept. 1 Michigan — Sept. 8 Ball State — Sept. 15 Vanderbilt — Sept. 22 at Wake Forest W, 48-37 Sept. 29 Stanford L, 38-20 Oct. 6 at Virginia Tech — Oct. 13 Pittsburgh — Oct. 27 vs. Navy* W, 24-17 Nov. 3 at Northwestern — Nov. 10 Florida State — Nov. 17 vs. Syracuse^ — Nov. 24 at USC W, 49-14 * at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego; ^ at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Brandon Wimbush, Sr., QB — It was an up-and-down year in 2017, and he will be pushed by redshirt sophomore quarterback Ian Book this fall … Completed just 49.5 percent of his passes for 1,870 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions last season … Also ran for 803 yards and 14 touchdowns … The 14 rushing touchdowns were the seventh most by a quarterback in the country. Defense: Te'von Coney, Sr., LB — Led Notre Dame in tackles (116) and tackles for loss (13) last sea - son … Also notched three sacks, tied for second most on the team … His teammates named him the squad's Impact Player of the Year at the 2017 award banquet. Junior cornerback Julian Love picked off three passes last year 0 and returned them for 153 yards with a pair of touchdowns. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL GAME 1 • NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH • SEPT. 1 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: U-M leads 24-17-1 First Meeting: U-M 8, ND 0 (Nov. 23, 1887, at South Bend, Ind.) Last Meeting: ND 31, U-M 0 (Sept. 6, 2014, at South Bend, Ind.) Head Coach: Brian Kelly 69-34 at Notre Dame (9th year) and 122-56 overall (15th year) 2017 In Review: 10-3 overall Final 2017 Ranking: No. 11 in Associated Press and coaches' polls Returning Starters: 16 (6 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2017 (Citrus Bowl vs. LSU, W 21-17) Big Ten Championships (last): N/A (Independent) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Brandon Wimbush (1,870 yards, 16 TD, 6 INT) Rushing: Wimbush (803 yards, 14 TD) Receiving: Chase Claypool (402 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: Te'von Coney (116) Sacks: Jerry Tillery (4.5) Interceptions: Julian Love (3)