Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1028333
36 SEPT. 24, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. WAKE FOREST RUN DEFENSE Notre Dame was one of the nation's elite rushing teams in 2017, racking up for 269.5 yards per game and 6.3 yards per carry — numbers that ranked eighth and third in the land. The Irish have taken a major step back in 2018, at least through the first two games. Notre Dame rushed for just 124.5 yards per game and 2.8 yards per rush during its 2-0 start, and senior quarterback Brandon Wimbush went for negative yards against Ball State — the first time that has happened during his career. Notre Dame allowed 17 tackles for loss during those two games, a disturbing number that must be quickly corrected for the Irish offense. The two young backs — junior Tony Jones Jr. and sopho- more Jafar Armstrong — both need to continue improving, but Notre Dame's issues early in 2018 have largely been up front. Wake Forest ranked 89th in rushing defense last season and gave up 380 yards (8.3 yards per carry) to the Irish in 2017. Wimbush rushed for 110 yards and two scores in the game, but early in 2018 the Irish are not the same offense. The Deacons have been better against the run as well, holding its first two opponents to 110.0 yards per game and 3.1 yards per attempt. It held Towson to only 65 yards on the ground, and even though Tulane had 155 yards, the Dea- cons limited the Green Wave to just 3.7 yards per attempt. Fifth-year senior defensive tackles Willie Yarbary and Zeek Rodney combined for 5.5 tackles in the Irish's first two games. Advantage: Even Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Zeek Rodney leads a Wake Forest defense that accounted for 14 tackles for loss and eight sacks in the first two games of the season. PHOTO COURTESY WAKE FOREST GAME PREVIEW: WAKE FOREST 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 6-6 316 Jr. 75 Joshua Lugg 6-7 314 So. RT 72 Robert Hainsey 6-4½ 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 8 Jafar Armstrong 6-1 218 So. 6 Tony Jones Jr. 5-11 220 Jr. 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. 57 Jayson Ademilola 6-3 284 Fr. 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. 52 Bo Bauer 6-3 225 Fr. 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. 33 Shayne Simon 6-3 222 Fr. CB 5 Troy Pride Jr. 5-11½ 190 Jr. 35 TaRiq Bracy 5-10 170 Fr. S 21 Jalen Elliott 6-0½ 205 Jr. 24 Nick Coleman 6-0 194 Sr. 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 20 C'Bo Flemister 5-11 196 Fr. 6 Tony Jones Jr. 5-11 220 Jr. PR 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 180 Sr. 87 Michael Young 5-10 185 So. Special Teams