Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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1. Defensive Tackle Darnell Ewell Per Blue & Gold Illustrated football analyst Bryan Driskell, he is the most physically ready player in the 2017 class to see action as a freshman. His skills could allow him to be an impactful run defender early on. 2. Tight End Brock Wright Regarded as the top tight end nationally in the 2017 class by Rivals, the 6‑5, 250‑pounder is physi‑ cally ready to contribute. With Tyler Luatua retiring from football, more minutes have opened for Wright and others behind Alizé Mack and Durham Smythe to potentially be featured in offensive coordinator Chip Long's two‑tight‑end packages. 3. Safety Isaiah Robertson The early enrollee added 15 pounds since arriving in January, made numerous plays through‑ out the spring and recorded six tackles (one for loss) and a QB hurry in the Blue‑Gold Game. With safety relatively an unproven area, he has a chance to become more than just a special teams regular as the season progresses. 4. Defensive Lineman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa At 6‑4 and 250 pounds, he may not be big enough to be an every‑down player early in his Irish career, but he could carve himself a role as a pass rusher up the middle. The Hawaiian registered 18 sacks as a senior, displaying a quick first step off the line and advanced technique. 5. Offensive Lineman Robert Hainsey Offensive linemen typically redshirt their first year in South Bend, but Hainsey made waves as an early enrollee with his skill and technique this spring. He may not see many (if any) snaps given the returning players. However, Hainsey may be too good to redshirt, and the loss of center Tristen Hoge opens a spot on the interior. TOP FIVE FRESHMEN MOST LIKELY TO SEE THE FIELD Down To The Wire Close games tend to even out over the course of time. Under head coach Brian Kelly, the Fighting Irish were 5‑0 in games decided by seven points of less during the 12‑1 season in 2012, but 1‑6 last year in such contests. Those two years "evened out" to 6‑6. In seven seasons overall at Notre Dame, Kelly is 22‑19 in games where the final margin was seven points or less (2‑4 in overtime). Of the 90 games (59‑31) he's coached, 45.6 percent were decided by such close scores, with ebbs and flows each way. From 2012 until the controversial 31‑27 loss at Flor‑ ida State in 2014, Kelly's Irish squads were an extraor‑ dinary 12‑2 when the final score was seven points or less, highlighted by a 10‑game winning streak at one point. Only a 12‑game winning streak by head coach Elmer Layden's Irish from 1937‑39 eclipsed that. Over the past three years (2014‑16), though, the Irish have been involved in 18 such games (six per season) and are 7‑11. It might be time in 2017 to "come back to the mean." For the first time since head coach Brian Kelly's inaugural campaign in 2010, Notre Dame will play seven home games. And for the first time since 2009, Charlie Weis' final season as the Irish coach, the university will not hold a Shamrock Series outing. This year will be only the seventh time Notre Dame will play seven home games. The first occurred in 1988, its most recent national title. The other five were 1999 (5‑7), 2006 (10‑3), 2007 (3‑9), 2009 (6‑6) and 2010 (8‑5). The Irish were 2‑4 at home last year — more defeats than the four previous years combined. From 2012‑15 under Kelly, Notre Dame had a 21‑3 home record (.875), includ‑ ing unbeaten marks in 2012 and 2015. In the 22 seasons from 1990‑2011, the Irish were unblemished at home only once (1998). Whether the Shamrock Series, held in San Antonio last year versus Army West Point, has run its course as an annual event is to be determined. Notre Dame vice president/direc‑ tor of athletics Jack Swarbrick has stated he wants to restore the Shamrock Series in 2018 and beyond, and that it be more "opponent driven." The options there might be more limited. Early enrollee freshman safety Isaiah Robertson capped a strong spring with a six-tackles performance in the Blue-Gold Game. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN On special teams, kicker Justin Yoon and punter Tyler Newsome have started each of the past two seasons, while current freshman John Shannon — who redshirted last season — is slated to take over for graduated four-year starter Scott Daly. Offense Pos. Player Career Starts (2016) OT Mike McGlinchey 26 (12) OG Quenton Nelson 23 (12) TE Durham Smythe 15 (12) OL Alex Bars 14 (12) C Sam Mustipher 12 (12) WR Equanimeous St. Brown 12 (12) RB Josh Adams 12 (9) WR C.J. Sanders 7 (7) TE Alizé Mack 5 (0) TE Nic Weishar 3 (1) WR Kevin Stepherson 3 (3) OL Hunter Bivin 1 (1) Defense Pos. Player Career Starts (2016) LB Nyles Morgan 16 (12) S Drue Tranquill 16 (12) DL Jerry Tillery 15 (12) DE Andrew Trumbetti 11 (7) NG Daniel Cage 11 (4) LB Greer Martini 10 (4) LB Te'von Coney 9 (9) S Devin Studstill 9 (9) CB Julian Love 8 (8) CB Donte Vaughn 4 (4) CB Troy Pride Jr. 3 (3) CB Nick Coleman 2 (2) CB Shaun Crawford 2 (2) CB Nick Watkins 1 (0) DL Jonathan Bonner 1 (1) Most Career Starts Entering 2017 The number in parentheses represents 2016 starts. Seven At Home For Seventh Time 26 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW