2015 Notre Dame Football Preview

2015 Notre Dame Football Preview

Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview

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56 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY BRYAN DRISKELL W hat a difference a year makes. When Notre Dame kicked off the 2014 season, there were more questions surrounding the Irish wide receivers than there were answers. Notre Dame's lone proven wideout — DaVaris Daniels — had been suspended, and the Irish entered the season with a unit that had just 46 career receptions and 13 career starts. When Notre Dame kicks off the 2015 season, it will boast a receiv- ing corps that now has more than 250 career receptions and 51 career starts, giving it one of the deepest and most productive units in the nation. Lindy's Sports College Football National 2015 Preview ranks the Notre Dame pass catchers as the second-best group in the country. "We're very explosive — anyone can get it done," junior Will Fuller said. "We're really deep at receiver. We're going to be a very explosive offense that can score on anyone in the country." Fuller certainly did his part last season, hauling in 76 passes for 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns. For the unit to reach its full potential, the receivers around Fuller will have to elevate their games. From a statistical standpoint, senior Chris Brown and junior Corey Robinson performed well opposite Fuller, combining for 79 receptions and 1,087 receiving yards, numbers that would seem to be exactly what the Irish offense needs. However, those numbers do not tell the entire story. Brown and Robinson rarely played their best football at the same time. Early in the season, Robinson shined — twice hauling in eight passes and making a number of big plays in big moments. Both of his touchdown receptions against Florida State gave the Irish a lead over the defending national champions. An ankle injury sustained in the Navy game slowed him down, and the 6-4 pass catcher struggled down the stretch, hauling in just 13 passes for 180 yards in the final six contests. During the first seven games, Robinson caught 27 passes for 359 yards, while making four of his five touchdown grabs. Conversely, the early going was not kind to Brown, and by the third game Robinson was eating away at his reps. Brown started to improve in the middle of the season and by the end of the year he was playing the best football of his career. After catching 21 passes for just 221 WIDE RECEIVERS RAISING THE BAR The Irish pass catchers are one of the top units in the nation Junior Corey Robinson ranked second on the team in receptions (40) and touchdown grabs (five) in 2014, and was third in receiving yards (539). PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA

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