Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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118 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY JORDAN WELLS A nother loaded schedule for Notre Dame this year means there will be a lot to talented players on the opposite sideline throughout the campaign. Here's a look at the top units and players the Irish will face this season. Offensive Backfield 1. USC — Leading rusher Buck Allen is gone, but the running back position is in good hands with junior Justin Davis after he contributed 129 carries for 595 yards and four scores in a supporting role last year. Fifth-year senior quarterback Cody Kes- sler finished with USC's most efficient pass- ing season in school history in 2014, and could make a run at several program records this season. He currently ranks fourth in school history in career passing touchdowns (59) and sixth in passing yardage (6,803). 2. Clemson — Sophomore Deshaun Wat- son has the potential to be the ACC's top signal-caller in 2015, even though he is com- ing off a torn ACL that required surgery. The former five-star recruit's average of 10.7 yards per pass attempt last year ranks first on the Tigers' all-time single-season list, while his 67.9-percent completion accuracy was the second-best mark in school history. Watson's total average yards per play (8.3) from 2014 was also tops in the CU record books, and ranked ahead of former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (7.6) and Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett (7.8) last season. Watson is joined in the backfield by Clem- son's three top rushers from last season — including running back Wayne Gallman, a likely All-ACC performer. 3. Pittsburgh — Junior James Conner could be the top running back Notre Dame faces this season. The reigning ACC Player of the Year is a load to bring down at 6-2, 250 pounds, and that size helped him score a school-record 26 touchdowns in 2014, breaking a mark previously held by Tony Dorsett. Redshirt junior quarterback Chad Voy- tik held his own in his first season as the Panthers starter, throwing for 2,233 yards and 16 touchdowns compared to only seven interceptions. Receivers 1. Clemson — Wide receivers Mike Wil- liams, a sophomore, and Artavis Scott, a ju- nior, return to provide quarterback Deshaun Watson with a talented one-two punch. The duo combined for 133 catches, 1,995 receiv- ing yards and 14 touchdowns in 2014, and both are expected to contend for first-team All-ACC honors. In extra-receiver sets and in the rotation Star Power Abounds Potential All-American quarterbacks and talented skill position players highlight the best from Notre Dame's 2015 opponents Tyler Boyd averaged 97.0 receiving yards per game during his sophomore campaign at Pittsburgh. PHOTO COURTESY PITTSBURGH