Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com APRIL 2019 23 WIDE RECEIVERS 2019 SPRING FOOTBALL OVERVIEW N otre Dame returns a unique blend of battle-tested experience in crucial situations and promising but unproven youth at wideout. Veterans Chase Claypool and Chris Finke lead the group after combining for 99 receptions for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns last season. Now a senior, Claypool is moving to the boundary position, which is where Notre Dame's leading receiver has lined up each of the last two seasons (Miles Boykin and Equanimeous St. Brown). The expectation is that the 6-4½, 229-pound Claypool can step into that role, which generally requires a bigger, physical presence. There is little doubt he has the talent, possessing elite size, quality athleticism and top-notch ball skills. All he has lacked is focus, which has kept him from being as con- sistently dominant as Notre Dame needs him to be in 2019. Finke needs to repeat his 2018 season in which he be- came one of the more consistent and reliable receivers. He caught at least two passes in each game, and when quarterback Ian Book needed a play to be made on third down he usually looked for Finke. A strong spring from junior Michael Young could put him in position to become a larger element of the offense next season. Young, who caught just seven passes last season (for 138 yards), brings a unique skill set to the offense it mostly lacked last fall. Notre Dame's sophomores — Kevin Austin, Braden Lenzy, Lawrence Keys III, Joe Wilkins Jr. and Micah Jones — will get plenty of reps this spring. At least two of them emerging as playmaking threats is needed for Notre Dame to get the home run production it lacks for now from its receiving corps. BY THE NUMBERS 2 Years in a row a Notre Dame wide receiver would get selected in the NFL Draft if Miles Boykin is chosen this spring after a phenomenal NFL Combine. Last year it was Equanimeous St. Brown in the sixth round. That has not occurred for the Fighting Irish in consecutive years since 2002 (Javin Hunter in the sixth round and David Giv- ens in the seventh) and 2003 (Arnaz Battle in the sixth round). 4 Freshman receivers who were redshirted in 2018, a record for one season at Notre Dame at that specific position: Micah Jones, Law- rence Keys III, Braden Lenzy and Joe Wilkins Jr. A fifth, Kevin Austin, did catch five passes for 90 yards but took only 43 snaps the final seven games, and six over the last three. 12.5 Yards per catch averaged by Notre Dame last season, the lowest figure since 2011. That was a by-product of quarterback Ian Book's school-record 68.15 completion percentage, compiled mainly on quick, short throws. Among the 268 completions overall, five did go for more than 40 yards, the longest a 66-yard screen to Michael Young in the win at Wake Forest. WHO'S GONE Miles Boykin After totaling only 18 catches his first three sea- sons, he detonated as Notre Dame's top target in 2018, leading the offense with 59 receptions for 872 yards and eight scores. WHO'S BACK Senior Chase Claypool Although Boykin was the team's leading receiver overall, he was the most productive down the back stretch, pacing the offense with 30 catches for 431 yards in the final six games of the regular season. Fifth-Year Senior Chris Finke Notre Dame's most steady player last season, with 65.3 percent of his 49 receptions going for a first down. Returning Returning Year-End Year Starts Yards/TD Yards/TD 2018 10 1,059/8 2,310/15 2019 28 2,273/13 — Brian Kelly's Take "We think [Kevin Austin] can move back and forth. He's got length and speed. Ideally, the com- bination of Mike [Young] and Austin, and the com- bination of Austin and [Chase] Claypool, give us a three-man rotation at X and W right now until we find that fourth receiver." POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH Senior Chase Claypool in the boundary and fifth-year senior Chris Finke at slot have two spots locked down, but the third wide receiver position and the rest of the rotation is up for grabs this spring. Junior Michael Young gets first crack at the field receiver (X) spot. Young is a dynamic athlete that caught two of the three longest passes on the season (a 66-yard screen and 47- yard touchdown) from the wideout position. Sophomores Braden Lenzy, Lawrence Keys III and Kevin Austin possess the speed and after-the-catch skills the offense lacked in 2018, but desperately needs in the lineup. CHASE CLAYPOOL PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL