Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/864798
44 PRESEASON 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY LOU SOMOGYI T here is a difference between in- experience and youth. In the case of junior quar- terback Brandon Wimbush, he is inexperienced — taking only 27 snaps as a 2015 freshman before redshirting last year — but is not as young like counterparts Everett Gol- son in 2012 or DeShone Kizer were in 2015 during 12-0 and 10-2 regular seasons when they took their first college snaps as sophomores. What helps Wimbush play "older" is the supporting cast that can fa- cilitate and complement his progress, the same way it did with Golson and Kizer. • The returning line, led by All- Americans Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson, has 76 career starts, more than the lines in both 2015 (68) and 2012 (65) had accumulated. Even sophomore right tackle Tommy Kraemer, who is bound to have the most growing pains, is be- hind only Nelson on the entire team when it comes to arriving with the highest cumulative ranking among scouting services. • The deep receiving/tight end corps features one of the nation's best in junior Equanimeous St. Brown, five other targets who caught at least one touchdown pass in 2016, plus graduate transfers Cameron Smith (Arizona State) and Freddy Canteen (Michigan). • The running back depth behind junior Josh Adams — the lone player in Irish history to rush for at least 800 yards each of his first two seasons — might be comparable to 2015 when even after starter Tarean Folston was sidelined for the year with an injury after just three carries and top backup Greg Bryant transferred af- ter being declared academically in- eligible, C.J. Prosise and Adams com- bined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards. SUPPORT SYSTEM New quarterback Brandon Wimbush has the luxury of veterans surrounding him on offense Wimbush will benefit from playing behind an offensive line that has a cumulative 76 career starts and is projected to be among the nation's best in 2017. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN