Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/941859
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2018 71 FOOTBALL RECRUITING Defensive Tackles/Nose Tackles (8) Fifth-Year Senior — Jonathan Bonner (1) Senior — Jerry Tillery (1) and Micah Dew-Treadway (2) Juniors — None Sophomores — Kurt Hinish (3), Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (3) and Darnell Ewell (4) Freshmen — Jayson Ademilola (4) and Ja'Mion Franklin (4) Notes: This has evolved into a pleasant surprise because in November 2017 starter Bonner indicated to the student newspaper The Observer that he did not plan to return for a fifth season, and in December it appeared Tillery aspired to head to the NFL after leading last year's team in sacks (4.5) and QB hurries (11) despite playing the nose tackle position. Also, per defensive line coach Mike Elston, Bonner and Tillery will switch positions in 2018. Returning both starters in the interior provides a luxury to give youngsters such as Tagovailoa and Hinish, both regulars as freshmen last season, more time to develop without getting overused. Linebackers/Rovers (13) Fifth-Year Senior — Drue Tranquill (1) Seniors — Te'von Coney (1) and Asmar Bilal (2) Juniors — Jamir Jones (2), Jonathan Jones (3) and D.J. Morgan (3) Sophomores — David Adams (4), Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (4) and Drew White (4) Freshmen — Bo Bauer (4), Jack Lamb (4), Ovie Oghoufo (4) and Shayne Simon (4) Notes: The return of 2017 captain Tranquill — who will shift from rover to Buck linebacker — and leading tackler Coney (116, plus a team-high 13 stops for loss) is significant because both had the option to turn pro. Coney will shift from Buck to Mike, which was vacated by Nyles Morgan, and then Tranquill can move to Coney's 2017 spot. Finding the third starter, at rover, will be a primary topic this spring. A huge benefit to the corps is that Bauer, Lamb and Simon already enrolled in Janu- ary, thereby giving them a head start in the winter strength and conditioning program, plus 15 spring practices. Safeties (10) Seniors — Nick Coleman (1) and Nicco Fertitta (1) Juniors — Devin Studstill (2), Jalen Elliott (2) and Alohi Gilman (3) Sophomores — Jordan Genmark Heath (3) and Isaiah Robertson (3) Freshmen — Derrik Allen (4), Houston Griffith (4) and Paul Moala (4) Notes: Elliott started all 13 games last season, Elliott 12 and Studstill had nine starts as a freshman in 2016 — yet Navy transfer Alohi Gilman, who was ineligible in 2017 because of his change of schools, would have been one of the starters, per head coach Brian Kelly. Genmark Heath also made a strong push late in the season and recorded five tackles in the Citrus Bowl victory. Plus, the highest-ranked recruit in the 2018 Irish haul, Griffith, already has enrolled. He is projected to receive his initial look this spring at boundary cornerback, but his future might be at safety. Cornerbacks (9) Fifth-Year Senior — Nick Watkins (1) Senior — Shaun Crawford (2) Juniors — Julian Love (3), Troy Pride Jr. (3) and Donte Vaughn (3) Sophomore — None Freshmen — TaRiq Bracy (4), Noah Boykin (4), DJ Brown (4) and Joseph Wilkins Jr. (4) Notes: This position has the most quality depth since the early 1990s, when it included future pros such as Tom Carter, Bobby Taylor, Shawn Wooden and Willie Clark, plus two-year starter Greg Lane. Love finished No. 2 nationally in passes broken up (20) and passes defended (23), while Watkins had eight — which were more than the team-high six shared in 2016 by then freshman Vaughn and senior Cole Luke. Crawford began 2017 strong after injuries sidelined him his first two sea- sons, while Pride finished the campaign with a flourish as a starter. Kicking Game (4) Fifth-Year Senior — Tyler Newsome (1) Senior — Justin Yoon (1) Junior — John Shannon (3) Sophomore — Jonathan Doerer (3) Freshman — None Notes: Newsome and Yoon both will be fourth-year starters at punter and kicker, respectively, while Shannon returns as the top long snapper and Doerer as the kickoff man. Junior cornerback Julian Love led the Irish with three interceptions this past season, and he returned two of them for touchdowns. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL