Blue and Gold Illustrated

BGI April 2019

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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28 APRIL 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED DEFENSIVE BACKS 2019 SPRING FOOTBALL OVERVIEW O utside of cornerback Julian Love, the Notre Dame secondary was one of the top question marks head- ing into the 2018 season. Now Love is off to the NFL and three starters return from one of the nation's most productive defensive backfields. With Love gone, the mantle of leadership on the perimeter of the defense falls on Troy Pride Jr., and he'll be tasked with playing at the same level Love did last season, and that he demon- strated late last fall. Along with running back, the safety posi- tion was perceived, on paper, as perhaps the weak link on the team entering the 2018 campaign. But the arrival of Alohi Gilman and the emergence of Jalen El- liott as a playmaker quickly turned it into a strength, aided by the instruction of first-year safeties coach Terry Joseph, who was assigned specifically to that position group so that Todd Lyght could work exclusively with the cornerbacks. The Irish safeties had just five passes de- fended all season in 2017, a number the unit surpassed by the end of game two in 2018. Now the combination of Gilman and Elliott has added leadership responsibilities to their proven playmaking ability. Sophomores Paul Moala and Derrik Allen will attempt to nail down the backup roles, while classmate D.J. Brown is working there as well after practicing at corner last season. After playing mostly nickel as a freshman, Houston Griffith will compete for the starting boundary slot along with former quarterback/running back Avery Davis and sophomore Noah Boykin. Once he returns from a shoulder injury, expect senior Donte Vaughn to enter the fray. Sophomore TaRiq Bracy is a gifted cover player who could win a permanent role in the nickel defense or possibly force his way into the starting lineup. BY THE NUMBERS 6 Finish nationally in 2018 for Notre Dame in pass efficiency defense, its highest ever since the NCAA first started using the stat in the early 1990s. Senior cornerback Troy Pride Jr., both starting safeties and most of the top pass rushers will return this season while trying to rival last year's output. 37.5 Percent completion allowed by Pride when opponents threw his way the final six games in 2018 — plus he allowed a measly 4.6 yards per tar- get attempt. Both of those numbers eclipsed All-American Julian Love. In the College Football Playoff loss to Clemson, the Tigers challenged Pride unsuccessfully early before going the opposite way, especially after Love missed the decisive second quarter because of an injury. 1,857 Total snaps taken by Jalen Elliott (934) and Alohi Gilman (923) last season, which ranked one-two on defense, and behind only center Sam Mustipher (954) and tackles Robert Hainsey (938) and Liam Eichenberg (937). However, Elliott and Gilman were also regulars on special teams, meaning they likely eclipsed 1,000 total snaps apiece. WHO'S GONE Julian Love Following a consensus All-America season, he took his talents to the NFL a year early. WHO'S BACK Senior Troy Pride Jr. The Irish staff is expecting him to re- place the All-America production it lost with Love. Senior Jalen Elliott After registering 11 passes de- fended as a junior, the much-im- proved safety has emerged as a leader on defense during the offseason. Senior Alohi Gilman Made a major impact with his leadership and playmaking in 2018, racking up 94 tackles, seven passes defended and three forced fumbles. Returning Returning Year-End Year Starts PD/Int. PD/Int. 2018 81 55/11 44/10 2019 66* 39/13 — * Does not include Alohi Gilman's 12 starts at Navy in 2016 Brian Kelly's Take "Avery Davis is going to stick his nose in there. He's a real good tackler for us. He can play in- side and out, nickel or corner. We don't have a lot of those guys." POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH A huge void was left at boundary cornerback when Julian Love departed early for the NFL. Senior Troy Pride Jr. is tasked with replacing the All-America level produc- tion, but someone will have to replace Love at his specific position because the coaching staff prefers to keep Pride, one of the fastest players in college football, on the field side where there is more ground to cover. Sophomore Houston Griffith moved to boundary corner after playing safety/nickel as a freshman, and he'll get first crack at the opening because senior Donte Vaughn is sidelined after undergoing shoulder injury this winter. Converted running back/quar- terback Avery Davis will also compete in the boundary, as will sophomore Noah Boykin. ALOHI GILMAN PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL

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