Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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totals for a kicker … Finished second behind John Carney (1984-86) in career field goal percentage (.704) and second to Craig Hen- trich (1989-92) in career points for a kicker … Was named Notre Dame's special teams player of the year after the 2012 and 2013 seasons. JALEN BROWN • CB Irving, Texas (Macarthur) Prep Ranking: Consensus three-star recruit … Ranked as the nation's 27th best cornerback by ESPN. Career Summary: Took a redshirt in 2011, and played sparingly on special teams and in re- serve duty the next two seasons … Did not see any game action in 2014. Final Review: Notre Dame star wide receiver Michael Floyd said in 2011 that Brown was the toughest player he faced on the Irish scout team, but Brown could never translate that into playing time. BRAD CARRICO • DT Dublin, Ohio (Coffman) Prep Ranking: Consensus three-star recruit … Listed as the No. 52 strongside defensive end in the country by Rivals. Career Summary: Although he was recruited to play defensive line, Carrico was moved to the offensive line as a freshman … Took a redshirt year in 2011. Final Review: A football injury suffered dur- ing his freshman season resulted in him being put on a medical scholarship prior to the 2012 season. BEN COUNCELL • LB Asheville, N.C. (A.C. Reynolds) Prep Ranking: Ranked as a four-star recruit, the No. 5 weakside defensive end in the land and the No. 91 player nationally by Rivals. Career Summary: After redshirting in 2011, Councell became a special teams player and backup linebacker in 2012 … Finished that season with 10 tackles … Played in nine games in 2013, making 15 tackles (one for loss) … Made a career-high five tackles against Navy, but could not finish the game after suffering an ACL injury that ended his season prematurely … Played in 12 games in 2014, mostly on special teams. Final Review: Injuries, including concussion problems, hampered his football career … Compiled 26 career tackles, but chose not to return for his fifth season despite being of- fered a spot on the roster. DAVARIS DANIELS • WR Vernon Hills, Ill. (Vernon Hills) Prep Ranking: Invited to play in the Under Armour All-American Game … Graded as a four-star recruit by every major recruiting service … Ranked as the No. 64 player in the land by 247Sports … Listed as the nation's No. 12 wide receiver by ESPN … Named the top player in Illinois by ESPN and 247Sports. Career Summary: After redshirting in 2011, Daniels started three games and hauled in 31 passes for 490 yards in 2012 … Became a primary starter in 2013 and finished second on the Irish in receptions (49), receiving yards (745) and receiving touchdowns (seven) … Set career highs with eight catches for 167 yards, including a career-long 82-yard score, in a 31-24 win over Purdue. Final Review: Daniels showed promise in the 2012 offense and then put together a semi- breakout season in 2013, but an academic suspension in 2014 ended his Notre Dame career … Finished with 80 career receptions for 1,235 yards and seven scores. MATTHIAS FARLEY • S Charlotte, N.C. (Christian) Prep Ranking: Consensus three-star recruit … Rated as the No. 68 cornerback in the nation by 247Sports. Career Summary: After redshirting as a fresh- man wideout, he was thrust into the starting lineup in 2012 following Jamoris Slaughter's season-ending Achilles injury in the third game … Started 11 games and made 49 tack- les … Made a career-high nine stops in the 22-13 victory over USC that secured the Irish a spot in the BCS title game … Made eight starts in 2013, and finished with 49 tackles and two interceptions … Played a key role in the 2014 defense, playing mostly at nickel … Set career highs with 53 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four interceptions … Started three games in 2015, piling up 41 tackles and an interception. Final Review: The overachiever finished with 192 tackles, more than any player in the 2011 class … Registered 9.5 tackles for loss and eight interceptions … Farley was named a captain for the 2015 season. EVERETT GOLSON • QB Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Myrtle Beach) Prep Ranking: Ranked as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Scout and 247Sports, and was tabbed as a three-star talent by Rivals … Listed as the nation's No. 226 overall player by 247Sports and No. 254 by Scout. Career Summary: After redshirting in 2011, Golson earned the starting quarterback spot for the 2012 season … Made 11 starts that season, including the BCS National Champi- onship Game against Alabama … Passed for 2,405 yards while completing 58.8 percent of his throws … Added 298 rushing yards and accounted for 18 total touchdowns … Passed for a season-high 346 yards against Wake Forest, 289 yards versus Purdue and 270 yards against Alabama … Missed the 2013 season due to an academic suspension … Re- NOT FINISHING WHAT THEY STARTED The following 17 players from the class of 2011 left Notre Dame with eligibility remaining: • RB George Atkinson III — Bypassed his senior season to enter the 2014 NFL Draft • CB Josh Atkinson — Used his fifth year of eligibil- ity at Azusa Pacific in 2015 • CB Jalen Brown — Was not asked back for his fifth season after playing in only nine games his four years in South Bend • DT Brad Carrico — Medical hardship; suffered an injury during his freshman season that resulted in him being put on a medical scholarship prior to the 2012 season • LB Ben Councell — Chose not to return for his fifth season despite being offered a spot on the roster due to concussion problems • WR DaVaris Daniels — Suspended for senior season in 2014 due to academics and opted to enter the 2015 NFL Draft • QB Everett Golson — Used his fifth year of eligi - bility at Florida State in 2015 • OL Conor Hanratty — Decided to retire from football rather than use his fifth season of eligibil- ity following a series of concussions • S Eilar Hardy — Used his fifth year of eligibility at Bowling Green in 2015 • OL Matt Hegarty — Used his fifth year of eligibil- ity at Oregon in 2015 • TE/DT Chase Hounshell — Will use his final sea- son of eligibility at Ohio State in 2016 • DE Aaron Lynch — Transferred to South Florida following his freshman season and spent one year (2013) with the Bulls before turning pro • TE Troy Niklas — Bypassed his senior season to enter the 2014 NFL Draft • DE Anthony Rabasa — Planned to use his fifth year of eligibility at Western Michigan in 2015, but instead decided to retire from football • DT Tony Springmann — Medical hardship; forced to retire from football after missing the 2013 cam - paign and served as a student assistant in 2014 • DE Stephon Tuitt — Bypassed his senior season to enter the 2014 NFL Draft • DE Ishaq Williams — Suspended for final season in 2014 due to academics and was not reinstated by the NCAA in 2015 Running back George Atkinson III concluded his Notre Dame career as the school's all- time leader with 2,136 kickoff return yards. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA 148 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW