Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1007651
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2018 11 UNDER THE DOME THEY SAID IT "Far from the deepest group you'll find, but linebacker TE'VON CONEY could be the best player on the Irish roster, aiming for All-America honors after making 116 tackles, 13 for loss, last season. Drue Tranquill moves to linebacker from rover, where he had 85 tackles, including 10.5 for loss, last season. Now, Brian Kelly just has to find some depth." Athlon on ranking Notre Dame with the 10th-best linebacker unit in the nation "In 2017, I pegged the Irish as my No. 1 most improved team and they delivered by rising from 4‑8 to 10‑3. One of those losses was a one‑point heartbreaker to Georgia at home. My power ratings project an even better year this season for Notre Dame, which would put the team in serious playoff contention. The Irish are experienced at head coach, with ninth‑year man Brian Kelly, and at quarterback, where Brandon Wimbush is a returning starter and backup Ian Book threw the game‑winning TD pass in the Citrus Bowl defeat of LSU. "Overall, 15 starters return, including nine from a defense that ranks no lower than No. 21 on my three defensive top individual units. Even with the graduations of Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey, the offensive line is stocked with talent and will be stout. "Finally, the Irish play only four true road games. Two of the toughest of those trips will be at Virginia Tech, which will be very young on defense, and at USC, which could struggle to effectively replace quarter‑ back Sam Darnold. It won't take long to get a read on the 2018 Fighting Irish, who host Jim Harbaugh and Michigan in an opening‑week revival of a rivalry that has been dormant the past three seasons." — Phil Steele on ranking Notre Dame No. 1 for teams that could make a surprise run to the College Football Playoff "He can make plays on ball carriers, he can make plays on the ball [and] he's great rushing the passer. As a quarterback who has played against this defense, you have to know where he is at all times. He's one of the best disguise safeties I've ever played against." — Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum on former Irish star and current Vikings All-Pro safety Harrison Smith being ranked No. 46 in NFL.com's top 100 head- ing into the 2018 season "Zack Martin is the best at what he does. At right guard, I don't believe that anyone is better than Zack Martin. His feet are so good and change so fast and get right back where he needs to be — I got to deal with it in practice. … It'll make you mad just going against him." — Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence on former Irish star and current Cowboys All-Pro right guard Zack Martin being ranked No. 71 in NFL.com's top 100 heading into the 2018 season OF THE MONTH ➤ "Nic Weishar has been nominated for The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, one of the most esteemed honors in college football. #GoIrish" Notre Dame's official football account (@NDFootball) July 17 PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN With 160 full-color, glossy action-packed pages of Notre Dame football information, this magazine is a must-have for the upcoming season! Irish fans, do you want the best, most in-depth preview of the upcoming football season? ORDER NOW: THE 2018 NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL PREVIEW ORDER AT BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM $ 11 95 Plus $4 S&H while supplies last $ 6 95 Digital Edition Only NOW SHIPPING • Player Features • Historical Articles • Detailed Position-by-Position Analysis • Opponent Previews • And much more!