Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/531612
BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 153 ability to block on the outside was a compo‑ nent to the Irish averaging 189.4 yards per game on the ground in 2012. DANNY SPOND • OLB Littleton, Colo. (Columbine) Prep Ranking: Tabbed as a four‑star prospect, the No. 2 player in Colorado and the No. 27 athlete in the country by Rivals … Listed as a three‑star recruit, the No. 4 player in Colorado and the No. 14 middle linebacker nationally by Scout. Career Summary: Combination of size, ath‑ leticism and toughness allowed him to earn a special teams role as a true freshman … In 2011, continued his role as a key special teams player while also working himself into the linebacker rotation … Set a career high with six tackles (five solo) in a 45‑21 victory over Maryland … Earned the starting "Dog" linebacker spot during the 2012 season, but missed the first two games with severe health issues … Returned in a victory over Michi‑ gan State and started the final 11 games of the season … Finished the year with 39 tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and three passes broken up … Excelled at set‑ ting the edge in the run game and occupying blockers so that his interior teammates could get to the football and make plays … During the 2012 season, tied his career high of six tackles in wins over Michigan and Stanford … Was forced to retire from football prior to the 2013 season due to hemiplegic migraines … In three years, made 29 appearances and started 11 games. Final Review: Spond was a late pickup for Kelly and his staff, and turned out to be an important part of the 2010 class … His strong play on the edge helped Notre Dame finish the 2012 season ranked No. 11 nation‑ ally in rushing defense … After retiring prior to his senior season, Spond was asked to be a mentor to the team and helped work with Notre Dame's young linebackers … He fin‑ ished his career with 53 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception. JUSTIN UTUPO • DT Lakewood, Calif. (Lakewood) Prep Ranking: Rated as a three‑star recruit, the No. 68 prospect in California and the No. 50 defensive end in the land by Scout … Listed as a three‑star prospect, the No. 84 player in California and the No. 62 defensive tackle in the country by Rivals. Career Summary: Did not play in any games in 2010, which allowed him to preserve a season of eligibility … Made 12 appearances in 2011, mostly on special teams … During Notre Dame's 12‑0 regular season in 2012, earned playing time as part of the defensive line rotation … Was a defensive line reserve during the 2013 season, where he racked up seven stops and a tackle for loss … Notre Dame had a young defensive line in 2014, and he served as a leadership role with that unit … Appeared in all 13 games and made three starts … Set a career high with six tackles against USC. Final Review: Despite being one of the low‑ est‑ranked recruits in the 2010 class, Utupo made 48 career appearances and three career starts while bulking up to be a lineman … He finished with 30 tackles and three stops for loss during his career. ALEX WELCH • TE Cincinnati (Elder) Prep Ranking: Listed as a four‑star prospect, the No. 7 player in Ohio, and the No. 4 tight end and No. 111 overall player nationally by Scout … Rated as a four‑star recruit, the No. 14 prospect in Ohio and the No. 12 tight end in the country by Rivals. Career Summary: Did not see any action as a true freshman … Emerged as the No. 2 tight end behind All‑American Tyler Eifert during the 2011 season … Made his first career catch against Navy, an eight‑yard gain … Missed the 2012 season with a knee in‑ jury … In 2013, made 12 appearances as a backup tight end and special teams contribu‑ tor … After graduating from Notre Dame, transferred to Miami (Ohio) and emerged as the starting tight end … Despite missing two games, finished his final season with 24 re‑ ceptions for 312 yards and two touchdowns. Final Review: Heading into the 2012 sea‑ son, Welch was poised to take over as the primary backup and heir apparent to Eifert … However, the knee injury that cost him the 2012 season allowed converted defender Troy Niklas to overtake him … Welch never got back to full strength at Notre Dame, but he finished his career as a starter and key contributor for the RedHawks. LO WOOD • CB Apopka, Fla. (Apopka) Prep Ranking: Consensus three‑star recruit … Considered the No. 28 cornerback na‑ tionally according to ESPN … Rated as the No. 81 player in Florida and the No. 44 cor‑ nerback in the land by Rivals. Career Summary: As a true freshman, emerged as a special teams coverage man for the Irish, playing 11 games and making three tackles … Continued as a key special teams figure and backup cornerback during the 2011 season … Made six tackles that year and returned his lone interception 57 yards for a score against Maryland… Was poised to contend for the starting cornerback spot opposite Bennett Jackson in 2012 … A knee injury wiped out that season and KeiV‑ arae Russell became the starter … In 2013, again earned a role on special teams, setting his Irish career high with 10 tackles … After graduating from Notre Dame, transferred to Miami (Ohio), where he played in 13 games and made seven starts … Finished the 2014 season with 32 tackles, two tackles for loss and one pass broken up. Final Review: Wood registered 19 tackles at Notre Dame … Had he not injured his knee in August 2012, he would have had an opportunity to become a starter … Wood finished his Fighting Irish career the way it began, as a special teams player and backup cornerback. ✦ Despite having his career ended by injuries, linebacker Danny Spond emerged as a strong run defender and special teams player for the Irish. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA