Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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58 PRESEASON 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. MICHIGAN RUN DEFENSE On paper, Notre Dame actually has the advantage over Michigan. The Fighting Irish ranked seventh nationally in rushing yards per game (269.3) and third in yards per attempt (6.25) last fall. The issue for the Irish is that All- American offensive linemen Quen- ton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey are gone to the NFL, and running back Josh Adams (1,430 yards in 2017) also must be replaced. Senior quarterback Brandon Wimbush (803 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground) returns, and so does three-year starting line- men Alex Bars and Sam Mustipher. Notre Dame should still be good at running the football, but repeating last season's success could prove dif- ficult. Critical to the Irish is getting their new-look line working together, which should help an inexperienced backfield get settled. Michigan ranked 18th in rushing yards allowed per contest (120.9) and 22nd in yards allowed per rush (3.49) in 2017, but it gave up 197.5 yards per game in its four games against opponents that finished the season ranked in the top 25 — all losses. The Wolverines lose defensive tackle Maurice Hurst — who was graded out by Pro Football Focus as the nation's best player at any posi- tion — to the NFL. Michigan must also replace linebacker Mike McCray, who was second on the defense with 84 tackles a season ago. Despite those losses, Michigan returns an extremely talented front seven that is led by Lindy's Sports first-team All-Americans Rashan Gary at defensive end and Devin Bush at linebacker. Michigan also re- turns second-team All-Big Ten defen- sive end Chase Winovich (18 tackles for loss in 2017) and third-team All- Big Ten linebacker Khaleke Hudson (18.5 tackles for loss). Advantage: Even NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. MICHIGAN PASS DEFENSE Michigan wasn't the only pass offense to struggle last season. The Notre Dame aerial attack ranked 102nd in yards per game (178.9) and tied for 48th in yards per completion (12.8) in 2017. Getting Wimbush to play more ef- ficiently and consistently is an abso- lute must for the Irish in 2018. Wim- bush will need some help, something he rarely got from the receiving corps last season. Michigan had the No. 1-ranked pass defense (150.1 yards allowed per game) and the fourth-ranked pass efficiency defense (103.71 rat- ing). The Wolverines benefitted from playing a schedule with very few quality passing attacks. Michigan faced only one offense that ranked in the top 25 in passing yards per game and just three in the top 50. All told, eight of Michigan's 13 opponents ranked 76th or lower in passing of- fense. The Wolverines, however, have one of the best cornerback tandems Notre Dame will face in juniors Lavert Hill and David Long. Both corners were named to the preseason All-Big Ten first team by Athlon Sports. The Wolverines tied for seventh in sacks last season (3.23 per game) while the Irish ranked 83rd in sacks Junior linebacker Devin Bush returns after pacing Michigan's stout defense with 102 tackles last season. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Offense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. WR 81 Miles Boykin 6-4 228 Sr. 4 Kevin Austin 6-2 210 Fr. LT 74 Liam Eichenberg 6-6 308 Jr. 55 Jarrett Patterson 6-4½ 290 Fr. LG 71 Alex Bars 6-6 315 5th-Sr. 76 Dillan Gibbons 6-4 313 So. C 53 Sam Mustipher 6-2½ 306 5th-Sr. 57 Trevor Ruhland 6-3½ 295 Jr. RG 78 Tommy Kraemer 6-5½ 316 Jr. 75 Joshua Lugg 6-7 314 So. RT 72 Robert Hainsey 6-5 295 So. 69 Aaron Banks 6-6 319 So. TE 86 Alizé Mack 6-5 247 Sr. 84 Cole Kmet 6-5½ 258 So. WR 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 180 Sr. 88 Javon McKinley 6-2 219 Jr. WR 83 Chase Claypool 6-4½ 227 Jr. 87 Michael Young 5-10 192 So. QB 7 Brandon Wimbush 6-2 222 Sr. 12 Ian Book 6-0 203 Jr. RB 6 Tony Jones Jr. 5-11 220 Jr. 8 Jafar Armstrong 6-1 218 So. Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. DE 53 Khalid Kareem 6-4 265 Jr. 91 Ade Ogundeji 6-4½ 255 Jr. DT 99 Jerry Tillery 6-7 305 Sr. 95 M. Tagovailoa-Amosa 6-2½ 285 So. NT 55 Jonathan Bonner 6-4 295 5th-Sr. 41 Kurt Hinish 6-2 295 So. DE 9 Daelin Hayes 6-4 265 Jr. 42 Julian Okwara 6-4½ 241 Jr. Mike 4 Te'von Coney 6-1 240 Sr. 45 Jonathan Jones 5-11½ 227 Jr. Buck 23 Drue Tranquill 6-2 235 5th-Sr. 2 J. Genmark Heath 6-1 225 So. ROV 22 Asmar Bilal 6-2 225 Sr. 30 J. Owusu-Koramoah 6-1½ 215 So. CB 5 Troy Pride Jr. 5-11½ 190 Jr. 20 Shaun Crawford 5-9 181 Sr. S 24 Nick Coleman 6-0 194 Sr. 21 Jalen Elliott 6-0½ 205 Jr. S 11 Alohi Gilman 5-10½ 202 Jr. 3 Houston Griffith 6-0 205 Fr. CB 27 Julian Love 5-11 193 Jr. 8 Donte Vaughn 6-3 211 Jr. NOTRE DAME DEPTH CHART Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. K 19 Justin Yoon 5-10 198 Sr. 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 200 So. P 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 214 5th-Sr. 42 Jeff Riney 5-11 181 Sr. KO 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 200 So. 19 Justin Yoon 5-10 198 Sr. H 12 Ian Book 6-0 203 Jr. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. LS 54 John Shannon 6-2 235 Jr. 46 Matt Bushland 6-2 210 Jr. KR 24 Nick Coleman 6-0 194 Sr. or 87 Michael Young 5-10 185 So. PR 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 180 Sr. 20 Shaun Crawford 5-9 181 Sr. Special Teams GAME PREVIEW: MICHIGAN