Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 83 The second lieutenant is serving a five‑ year commitment in space operations at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern Cali‑ fornia and has future aspirations to attend law school. Meanwhile, last summer Isaac began a voluntary internship with the opening of a new Street Bean Coffee Shop in the Seattle area. It is a non‑profit business whose aim is to assist homeless young people by training and employing them toward a better future. Rochell's role included creating marketing materials, securing permits, assembling the apprentice manual and even interviewing prospects. Taking such initiative came from the top for Rochell, meaning from his parents and older brother. His father, a former 6‑7 bas‑ ketball player at Texas‑Pan American, came from humble roots while growing up in a family of 10 in Arkansas, but he instilled a work ethic in his sons while growing up on a farm and also driving his 18‑wheel semi‑trac‑ tor trailer across the country for deliveries. Education and faith‑based living were the bedrocks of the household while sending the two sons to Eagle's Landing Christian Academy, a Christ‑centered, college prepa‑ ratory school. It takes enormous resolve and commit‑ ment to be able to attend and succeed at the Air Force Academy or Notre Dame, but sometimes it comes with a negative stereo‑ type, too. Prior to the Irish playing LSU in the 2014 Music City Bowl, and on the heels of a four‑game losing streak, first‑year Notre Dame defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder told his troops about the perspec‑ tive some football powerhouses might have of the "Fighting Irish." "Being at a school like Notre Dame, we kind of have a rap where a lot of times peo‑ ple take us as being kind of soft," Rochell said. "'They're smart … they're not really football players.' So he brought that to our attention and challenged us in that way." Rochell embodies the "tough gentlemen" archetype that Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and his staff recruit to, and it will make him a centerpiece of the 2016 defense, just as Matt was on the offensive side at Air Force. "He's a good leader and I learned a lot from him," said Rochell of his older sibling. "It's more about being a good person, be‑ cause I think being a good person has a lot to do with being a good leader. "That's the biggest thing I've taken from him." Even if it's been in the shadows. ✦ THE NEED FOR SPEED OFF THE EDGE Ever since 2011, when Notre Dame signed five-star prospects Aaron Lynch, Ste- phon Tuitt and Ishaq Williams, finding an explosive pass rusher off the edge has been the single most difficult recruiting endeavor for the Fighting Irish. Lynch earned Freshman All-America honors in 2011, but transferred the following spring to South Florida. Tuitt recorded 12 sacks en route to All-America accolades for the sensational 2012 defense, but he turned pro following his junior year after a fall-off statistically (7.5 QB takedowns). Williams did not suit up his final two years in 2014-15 because of academic snafus. All were recruited to 2010-13 defensive coordinator Bob Diaco's 3-4 alignment, just like current senior Isaac Rochell was. In the 4-3 employed by current coordinator Brian VanGorder, speed off the edge remains one of the top issues in 2016. Last year Notre Dame's 25 sacks tied for 75th nationally. Among the four College Football Playoff teams, national champion Alabama was third (53), runner-up Clem - son fourth (48), Oklahoma tied for sixth (40) and Michigan State tied for 23rd (37). Rochell's 3.5 career sacks lead the team, while senior Sam linebacker James On- wualu has three, and fifth-year senior nose guard Jarron Jones, junior end Andrew Trumbetti and junior linebacker Greer Martini have two apiece. As the strongside end, Rochell is a power player, not necessarily a speed figure off the edge who will overwhelm people with fast-twitch fibers. Still, his seven QB hurries last year (but only one sack) trailed only graduated senior Sheldon Day's 13, and second-year Notre Dame defensive line coach Keith Gilmore considers Rochell the fulcrum of the pass rush. "He had [sack] opportunities last year that he didn't cash in on," Gilmore said. "It's just getting him over that hump of going ahead and finishing the plays. He's got all the techniques down, he knows what to do, it's a matter of in game situations converting and making plays, but I think he's going to be the guy." Junior Andrew Trumbetti also played at strongside end, but at 260 pounds he's much more comfortable as a weakside end. "He's probably our quickest guy, he's got the most speed off the edge," Gilmore said of Trumbetti. "Everything starts with speed in pass rush. If you've got some guys with quick twitch and great speed, you've got a chance. "You have to develop techniques and teach them the understanding of what the protections are doing, giving them indicators as to when you can get a jump — Is the center twitching? Is the back set off a certain way? What does the quarterback do? — trying to get any little advantage that you can get to get a jump, because you're talking about two and a half seconds to get to the quarterback. You have to find whatever indicators you can to help you get there better. It always starts with speed and athleticism." — Lou Somogyi End Andrew Trumbetti enters his junior campaign with just two career sacks, but he is probably Notre Dame's quickest pass rusher and will look to break out in 2016. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA