Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com PRESEASON 2018 47 ing 25-miles-per-hour wind that al- lowed LSU to start at only its 23-yard line in a failed final attempt to rally. In close contests, special teams out- put often tip the scales to the vic- tor, and the 2018 Notre Dame slate is likely to produce many more white- knuckle, 11th-hour dramatics. Newsome's punting was a high- light during the Aug. 15 practice, the last one of the r e g u l a r s e a s o n open to the media, while Yoon has elevated his leg power and drive — although he al- ready recorded a 52-yarder versus Navy as a freshman in 2015 — significantly. While lining up for a 50-yard field goal attempt against a rush during an Aug. 11 practice in Notre Dame Sta- dium, Yoon was the target of a verbal barrage from head coach Brian Kelly on how he's incapable of converting from such a distance. Yoon converted it with relative ease and plenty of yards to spare. "I do that because I know he tunes it all out," Kelly said. "[Afterwards] I asked him what I said. He said 'I didn't hear you.' … His focus is amazing." Through his first three seasons, Yoon has been a model of the requi- site three C's in kicking: consistency, concentration and clutch conversion. • The data through each of his first three seasons has been similar on field goals: 15 of 17 as a freshman, 13 of 17 as a sophomore and 14 of 18 last season. His .808 field goal percentage dwarfs the second highest in school history with a minimum of 50 kicks that is held by 23-year NFL veteran John Carney (whose son J.D. Carney is a walk-on sophomore quarterback for the Irish) at .739 from 1984-86. (2009-11 kicker David Ruffer is the highest with 40 kicks, converting 33 of 40 for a .825 percentage). Yoon also converted all 55 extra point attempts last season. • His concentration has been best reflected in that he has converted all four of his field goals — and all from at least 40 yards — in the most inclement conditions, including the aforementioned two versus LSU. As a freshman in a monsoon at Clemson, his 46-yard field goal early gave the Irish a chance to win it in the end before falling short 24-22. At North Carolina State a year later when players literally had to walk in water, Yoon drilled his lone attempt, from 40 yards out. • Although he does not have a last-second Harry Oliver-like epic field goal (Michigan 1980) on his dossier, Yoon has consistently deliv- ered when most needed, including the aforementioned kicks in adverse conditions. In the 30-27 vic- tory versus Miami in 2016, his third field goal was a 23-yarder with 30 seconds left. Last year after a shaky start in the opening-game romp ver- sus Temple in which Yoon was 0 of 2 on field goals, he responded the next week when the stage was brightest against Georgia, going 4 of 4 from 39, 42, 37 and 28 yards, the latter giving the Irish a 19-17 fourth-quarter lead before falling 20-19. "He makes big kicks," Kelly said. "His thing is his ability to tune out ev- erything in the big moments and make those kicks when you need them. "And that's really how you should look at kickers, in my estimation." In the past two August camps, Yoon was inconsistent but rectified it by the time it was needed. "A lot of that had to do with my mental game," Yoon said. "Too much in my head — 'I'm doing this wrong, I'm doing that wrong.' Just focus on one or two things that you think are wrong. "A lot of people end up thinking, 'What if this happens, what if that happens.' You can't distrust yourself. You've got to trust that you've done this for so long. That helps me build that bubble around me to the point where I don't know what's going on." With junior Ian Book as his new holder in 2018 and junior John Shan- non returning as the snapper, Yoon has thrived so far. "He's going to be an important part of winning," Kelly summarized. ✦ "HE MAKES BIG KICKS. HIS THING IS HIS ABILITY TO TUNE OUT EVERYTHING IN THE BIG MOMENTS AND MAKE THOSE KICKS WHEN YOU NEED THEM." HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY ON YOON Special Teams News & Notes • Senior Chris Finke will be counted on a third straight season to consistently field punts and avoid the bad play. He finished 35th nationally in punt returns last year with a 6.5-yard average (on 24 attempts), highlighted by a 41-yard return at Stanford. Senior cornerback Shaun Crawford was the second option during the Aug. 15 practice. • The top kick return man remained an open audition through Aug. 15, with senior safety Nick Cole- man one of the front-runners. A new NCAA rule on kickoffs now allow the return men to fair catch a kickoff inside the 25-yard line to automatically place the ball at his own 25-yard line. • Special teams coordinator Brian Polian has stated the need of finding several "core guys" who can play on all four special teams coverage and return units. Among the best bets are sophomore line- backer Jordan Genmark Heath and junior safety Jalen Elliott. Sophomore running back Jafar Armstrong and senior safety Nicco Fertitta also could have multiple roles. Starters such as junior safety Alohi Gilman (gunner on punts), wide receiver Chase Claypool (kick return blocking) or fifth-year senior linebacker Drue Tranquill (coverage) might find roles in limited spots. Last year's top special teams figure was now graduated linebacker co-starter Greer Martini. • Among the freshmen, rover Shayne Simon has been seen with the kick return unit, and Polian said cornerback TaRiq Bracy began emerging at the point in camp when most rookies start hitting the proverbial wall. Running back C'Bo Flemister could be a dark horse on kick returns. 2018 SPECIAL TEAMS DEPTH CHART Kicker No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 19 Justin Yoon 5-10 198 Sr./1 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 200 So./3 Punter No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 214 5th-Sr./1 Walk-ons: Senior Jeff Riney (42) and freshman Jake Rittman (30) Long Snapper No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 54 John Shannon 6-2 235 Jr./3 Walk-ons: Junior Matt Bushland (46) and freshman Michael Vinson (65) Holder No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 12 Ian Book 6-0 203 Jr./3 Kickoff Returns No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 24 Nick Coleman 6-0 194 Sr./1 or 87 Michael Young 5-10 185 So./3 Punt Returns No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 180 Sr./2 20 Shaun Crawford 5-9 181 Sr./3