Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/531612
98 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW LINEBACKERS … His tackle total ties for the eighth-highest ever among Irish rookies. Prep: Listed as a four-star prospect, the No. 2 recruit in Illinois, and the No. 5 inside linebacker and No. 72 overall player in the nation by Rivals … A first-team USA Today All-USA selection after an outstanding senior cam- paign for Crete-Monee High … Racked up 115 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception as a senior … Named a first-team 6A all-state linebacker by The Chicago Tribune … Helped his squad to a 14-0 mark and a state crown as a junior … In his three years as a starter, the school went 40-2 on the gridiron … Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Personal: Born Aug. 16, 1996 … Father, Thomas, played football at Western Illinois … Enrolled in First Year of Studies. Year G-GS Solo Asst. Total TFL Sacks 2014 12-4 23 24 47 3.5 0.5 JAMES ONWUALU • OLB Jr. • St. Paul, Minn. Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 220 Career Highlights: After earning playing time as a true freshman wide receiver, he flipped to linebacker prior to the 2014 campaign … He played in all 13 contests and made eight starts, posting 24 stops and two tackles for loss … Saw time in all 12 regular-season games and made four starts in 2013, catching two passes for 34 yards while also making six solo tackles on special teams. Prep: Rated as a four-star talent, the No. 1 prospect in Minnesota and the No. 21 athlete in the land by Rivals … Did a little bit of everything as a senior, totaling 574 yards and 12 scores on 74 rushing attempts while add- ing 421 yards and five touchdowns on 26 catches … Also averaged 26.1 yards per kickoff return and returned an interception 94 yards for a score … Earned several first- team all-state laurels at different positions … Turned down an invitation to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl because he knew he would enroll early and wanted to spend time with his family. Personal: Hails from the same high school that pro- duced former Irish star wideout Michael Floyd and for- mer Notre Dame offensive tackle Ryan Harris, who play in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos, respectively … Enrolled in Mendoza College of Business, majoring in management-consulting. Year G-GS Solo Asst. Total TFL Sacks 2013 12-4 6 0 6 0 0 2014 13-8 13 11 24 2 0 Totals 25-12 19 11 30 2 0 JOE SCHMIDT • ILB 5th-Sr. • Orange, Calif. Ht.: 6-0½ • Wt.: 235 Career Highlights: The 2014 Notre Dame MVP earned several award nominations for his work on and off the field … Started the first eight games, but suffered a season-end- ing ankle injury against Navy … Led the squad with 65 tackles and 42 solo stops at the time he was hurt … Also forced two fumbles in his first year as the starter … Still finished fourth on the team in tackles and pulled down two interceptions to rank third … Played in all 13 games during the 2013 campaign … Recorded 15 stops, includ- ing two for loss … Played primarily on special teams during the last 10 games of 2012 … Finished the season with six tackles. Prep: Former walk-on was an unranked player by Rivals coming out of high school, despite being a three- year starter at middle linebacker for football-rich Mater Dei High … As a senior, totaled 98 stops, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks en route to all-conference, all-section and all-state accolades, as well as team MVP laurels … Was recognized for his achievements on and off the field by the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and was named the 2010 Man of the Year for all Mater Dei students. Personal: Hails from the same high school as former Notre Dame great and 1964 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte … Father, Joseph II, was a team captain and safety at the University of San Diego … Sister, Catherine, was a 2006 Notre Dame graduate and competed for the Irish in track and field … Another sister, Mary Grace, played soccer at Texas A&M … Brother-in-law, Greg Lopez, was a 2006 Notre Dame graduate and captained the baseball squad … En- rolled in Mendoza College of Business, majoring in management-entrepreneurship. Year G-GS Solo Asst. Total TFL Sacks 2012 10-0 2 4 6 0 0 2013 13-0 10 5 15 2.0 0 2014 8-8 42 23 65 0.5 0 Totals 31-8 54 32 86 2.5 0 JAYLON SMITH • ILB Jr. • Fort Wayne, Ind. Ht.: 6-2½ • Wt.: 235 Career Highlights: In 2014, he was a Butkus Award finalist, sec- ond-team Associated Press All- American and named Notre Dame Defensive Player of the Year … Also was a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award … Started all 13 games for the second straight campaign … Led the team in total tackles (112), solo stops (65), assisted tackles (47) and tackles for loss (nine) … Tied for second with 3.5 sacks and also forced a fumble with seven quarterback hurries … Named the 2013 Notre Dame Defensive Newcomer of the Year … Started every game and totaled 67 tackles, which was the third most by a freshman in Irish history … Also totaled 6.5 tackles for loss (which ranked second on the squad), forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, pulled down an intercep- tion and broke up three passes … Was the first rookie linebacker to start a season opener since Kory Minor in 1995, and his tackle total was the highest for a fresh- man since Bob Golic set the record in 1975 with 82. Prep: Listed as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 prospect in Indiana, and the No. 1 outside linebacker and No. 3 overall player nationally by Rivals … Won the But- kus Award as the nation's top high school linebacker and was also named Indiana's Mr. Football for 2012 … Named a first-team All-American by Parade and USA To- day … Was selected as team MVP for Bishop Luers High after his senior campaign, and his No. 9 jersey was also retired … First-team Class 2A Indiana all-state selection as a junior and senior … Posted 72 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks on defense, and ran for 1,265 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior … Played in and served as a team captain at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he blocked a kick. Personal: Born June 14, 1995 … Older brother, Rod, played at Ohio State … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters. Year G-GS Solo Asst. Total TFL Sacks 2013 13-13 41 26 67 6.5 0 2014 13-13 65 47 112 9.0 3.5 Totals 26-26 106 73 179 15.5 3.5 NEWCOMERS JOSH BARAJAS • ILB Fr. • Valparaiso, Ind. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 212 Prep: Scout listed him as a four-star prospect, the No. 1 recruit in Indiana, and the No. 5 outside line- backer and No. 51 overall player in the nation … Helped Andrean to a state-runner-up finish in Class 3A as a senior by notching 98 stops, 10 tackles for loss, seven sacks and an interception despite missing four games due to a broken finger … Received first-team all-state accolades from the Associated Press … Starred at line- backer in a state championship campaign as a junior … Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Personal: Born April 4, 1997. ASMAR BILAL • OLB Fr. • Indianapolis Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 210 Prep: Rated as a four-star recruit, the No. 2 player in the Hoosier State, and the No. 8 outside linebacker and No. 87 overall prospect nationally by Scout … As a senior, racked up 155 tackles (104 solo), six stops for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recov- eries and one interception to help Ben Davis (12-2) win the 6A state championship … Listed as a second-team All-American by MaxPreps.com … Named all-state by the Associated Press after an honorable mention as a junior … Named The Indianapolis Star's Mr. Football award winner at linebacker in 2014 … Saw action in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Personal: Born April 12, 1997. TE'VON CONEY • ILB Fr. • Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 230 Career Highlights: Enrolled in January 2015. Prep: Ranked as a four-star talent, No. 20 prospect in Florida, and the No. 6 inside linebacker and No. 118 player in the land by Rivals … Totaled 136 tackles, 12 sacks, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions during his senior season … Logged 172 tackles, 14 sacks, six forced fumbles and two interceptions as a junior … Named to the Associated Press Class 8A all- state second-team defense his last two years … Started in the Under Armour All-American Game despite being a late addition. Personal: Born June 10, 1997. BGI'S 2015 DEPTH CHART No. Mike Linebacker Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 38 Joe Schmidt 6-0½ 235 5th/1 5 Nyles Morgan 6-1 237 So./3 59 Jarrett Grace 6-2½ 253 5th/1 No. Will Linebacker Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 9 Jaylon Smith 6-2½ 235 Jr./2 4 Te'von Coney 6-0 230 Fr./4 42 Michael Deeb 6-2 255 Jr./3 30 Josh Barajas 6-3 212 Fr./4 No. Sam Linebacker Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 17 James Onwualu 6-1 220 Jr./2 48 Greer Martini 6-2½ 240 So./3 43 Kolin Hill 6-1½ 230 So./3 27 Asmar Bilal 6-3 210 Fr./4