Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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70 MARCH 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL RECRUITING When Blue & Gold Illustrated went to press Feb. 13, Notre Dame stood at 89 scholarship players. By August, it will have to be whittled down to the NCAA limit of 85. The number in parentheses denotes years of playing eligibility remaining, starting with the 2018 season. Quarterbacks (4) Senior — Brandon Wimbush (2) Junior — Ian Book (3) Sophomore — Avery Davis (4) Freshman — Phil Jurkovec (4) Note: Wimbush started 12 games last season and accounted for 30 touch- downs, including 14 rushing (a quarterback school record). However, it was Book who played the final two and a half quarters in the Citrus Bowl and ral- lied the Irish to a 21-17 victory. Running Backs (4) Senior — Dexter Williams (1) Junior — Tony Jones Jr. (3) Sophomore — None Freshmen — C'Bo Flemister (4) and Jahmir Smith (4) Notes: This position took a huge hit at the end of the season when junior Josh Adams opted to turn pro, while sophomore Deon McIntosh and freshman C.J. Holmes were dismissed from the team. Any path back for them could be determined at the end of the spring semester in May. Williams is the top returning rusher from last season with 360 yards, 9.2 yards per carry and four touchdowns, while Jones rushed for 232 yards, 5.3 yards per carry and three scores. They combined for eight catches and 25 yards. Smith is one of seven freshmen who enrolled this January, which pro- vides some needed extra bodies in the backfield. Wide Receivers (11) Fifth-Year Senior — Freddy Canteen (1) Seniors — Miles Boykin (2) and Chris Finke (2) Juniors — Chase Claypool (2) and Javon McKinley (3) Sophomores — Michael Young (3) and Jafar Armstrong (4) Freshmen — Kevin Austin (4), Micah Jones (4), Lawrence Keys III (4) and Braden Lenzy (4) Notes: With 2016 and 2017 top receiver Equanimeous St. Brown off to the pros early, sophomore Kevin Stepherson dismissed from the team and C.J. Sanders opting to be a graduate transfer elsewhere next season, Claypool is the top returning target after snaring 29 passes last season for 402 yards (13.9 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. Young and Boykin caught fourth-quarter TD passes in the Citrus Bowl win, and the latter was named the game's MVP. McKinley is back after medically redshirting last season, and Jones enrolled in January, which will help supplement the corps this spring. Tight Ends (6) Fifth-Year Senior — Nic Weishar (1) Senior — Alizé Mack (2) Junior — None Sophomores — Cole Kmet (3) and Brock Wright (3) Freshmen — George Takacs (4) and Tommy Tremble (4) Notes: The 2017 graduated starter Durham Smythe was the best combina- tion blocker and receiver (15 catches averaged 16.3 yards) at the position last year. Mack (19 catches for 166 yards and one TD) and Weishar (nine catches for 52 yards and two scores) will face strong competition from the two top 2017 Irish recruits Wright and Kmet, plus Takacs, who enrolled in January. Guards/Centers (7) Fifth-Year Seniors — Alex Bars (1) and Sam Mustipher (1) Senior — Trevor Ruhland (2) Junior — None Sophomores — Aaron Banks (4) and Dillan Gibbons (4) Freshmen — John Dirksen (4) and Luke Jones (4) Notes: Bars and Mustipher return as third-year starters at right guard and center, respectively. Gibbons was named Scout Team Player of the Year on offense. Offensive Tackles (6) Senior — None Juniors — Liam Eichenberg (3) and Tommy Kraemer (3) Sophomores — Robert Hainsey (3) and Josh Lugg (4) Freshmen — Cole Mabry (4) and Jarrett Patterson (4) Notes: One of the more plausible moves this spring is projected to be Kraemer — who rotated as a starter with Hainsey at right tackle in 2017 — downshifting to guard. That would enable Eichenberg or Lugg to vie for the fifth starting position at a tackle spot. Or if the fifth-best option is a guard, then Hainsey and Kraemer each could start at tackle. Defensive Ends (7) Fifth-Year Senior — Jay Hayes (1) Senior — None Juniors — Daelin Hayes (2), Khalid Kareem (3), Julian Okwara (2) and Ade Ogundeji (3) Sophomore — Kofi Wardlow (4) Freshman — Justin Ademilola (4) Notes: Jay Hayes and Kareem provide a veteran combination on the strong side, while Daelin Hayes (no relation) and Okwara do the same at the drop position. That quartet combined for a relatively modest 9.5 sacks among them in 2017, but added 21 quarterback hurries/hits, with the seven by Okwara and six by Kareem coming in reserve roles. Senior running back Dexter Williams returns after averaging 9.2 yards per carry and scoring five touchdowns in 2017. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND 2018 Scholarship Breakdown By Position And Class