Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MAY 2019 27 who played two years, they got to see the great leadership from [Quen- ton Nelson], and really carried it on even last year with Sam and Alex. "So there's been great tradition right now with leadership in there, and it goes down the line." Hainsey was a spring standout, and Eichenberg entrenched him- self on the backside. Kraemer had a down year in 2018, but he showed up this spring in better shape, and his play reflected it. Junior guard Aaron Banks entered the spring ses- sion with a lingering injury, but the healthier he got the better he played. Beyond the returning starters, the spring period saw the depth chart get older and much deeper. "This is the first time we've had some solid, good depth," Long said. "Spring ball we had 14 guys rotat- ing and practicing. Most times [we] had 10. To see a Josh Lugg improve, I can't really say one person hasn't gotten better. "Their physicality, their get off and their overall knowledge and experi- ence of the offense has been really good to see and really consistent level week in and week out during spring ball. "They're going against a pretty good front, too. It makes you excited to have a good, veteran group, guys who played a lot … it builds excitement." Quality depth provides a coach with more than just numbers to guard against injury. It also provides a level of competition that keeps ev- eryone sharp, forcing players to stay at their best. "You go to practice and it's the next guy in," Long said. "There are no off days, that's the big things about it. If you don't want to practice, you don't feel like it, you can be knocked off the depth chart that day, and the guys know that. "Our room is all about consistency and effort in practice, and execution and production. You're not doing that, next guy up, we're Notre Dame." CHASE CLAYPOOL EMERGES AS A FORCE Long and head coach Brian Kelly have not been shy about the need to add more playmakers to the offense. Recruiting is a big part of that, but the talent currently on campus has shown that enticing options are al- ready on the roster. Last spring it was Miles Boykin who emerged as the go-to weapon on the outside, but this spring senior Chase Claypool has been even better. "The one thing that held Chase back just a little bit was that we would see three or four of those plays and then maybe a bit of a drop- off," Kelly said of Claypool's emer- gence. "He has reached a new mental toughness level where he can do that play in and play out." Claypool has been a nightmare for Irish cornerbacks this spring, so much so that standout senior corner Troy Pride Jr. became frustrated with the plays his teammate was making. Kelly reminded Pride that he was facing a special talent. "I grabbed Troy after practice and I said, 'You're going up against — that kid could be a first-round draft pick,'" the coach said. "'These are the kind of days that certainly you want to win some of those matchups, but they're only going to make you better.'" Claypool wasn't alone. Fifth-year senior Chris Finke has been steady all spring — plus junior Michael Young remained healthy and impactful, flashing big-play potential all spring. WORK STILL TO BE DONE The spring has seen veterans be- come leadership and young players step up and show playmaking skills. Long knows, however, that there is still a lot of growth needed before the offense is prepared to take a much- needed leap forward. "We've got a lot of work to do," Long stated. "… All of our guys [need to] keep pushing, keep building. "Explosive plays. I can't really know that's going to happen until game day, but that's one of our big- gest goals. Yards after catch, yards af- ter [contact], being able to create out there one-play drives. That's one of our huge goals, and obviously taking care of the ball and no penalties." ✦ Quarterback No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 12 Ian Book 6-0 208 Sr./2 15 Phil Jurkovec 6-4½ 225 So./4 Walk-ons: J.D. Carney (14) and Nolan Henry (17) Running Back No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 8 Jafar Armstrong 6-1 220 Jr./3 6 Tony Jones Jr. 5-11 227 Sr./2 34 Jahmir Smith 5-11 207 So./4 20 C'Borius Flemister 5-11 195 So./4 23 Kyren Williams 5-9 209 Fr./4 Walk-ons: Mick Assaf (32) and Cameron Ekanay- ake (16) Wide Receiver (X) No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 87 Michael Young 5-10 190 Jr./2 25 Braden Lenzy 5-11½ 184 So./4 80 Micah Jones 6-4½ 215 So./4 Wide Receiver (Z) No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 182 5th/1 13 Lawrence Keys 5-10½ 172 So./4 18 Joe Wilkins Jr. 6-1½ 190 So./4 Wide Receiver (W) No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 83 Chase Claypool 6-4½ 229 Sr./1 4 Kevin Austin 6-2 210 So./3 88 Javon McKinley 6-2 215 Sr./2 17 Isaiah Robertson 6-1½ 202 Jr./3 Walk-ons: Leo Albano (26), Greg Mailey (43), Matt Salerno (29) and Arion Shinaver (27) Tight End No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 84 Cole Kmet 6-5½ 255 Jr./2 89 Brock Wright 6-4½ 250 Jr./2 24 Tommy Tremble 6-3 237 So./4 85 George Takacs 6-6 255 So./4 Walk-ons: Cole Capen (31) and Xavier Lezynski (48) Left Tackle No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 74 Liam Eichenberg 6-6 305 Sr./2 73 Andrew Kristofic 6-5 275 Fr./4 60 Cole Mabry 6-5 273 So./4 Left Guard No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 69 Aaron Banks 6-6 325 Jr./3 75 Joshua Lugg 6-7 310 Jr./3 76 Dillan Gibbons 6-4 308 Jr./3 Walk-on: Max Siegel (64) Center No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 68 Jarrett Patterson 6-4½ 300 So./4 57 Trevor Ruhland 6-3½ 293 5th/1 52 Zeke Correll 6-3 275 Fr./4 Walk-on: Colin Grunhard (61) Right Guard No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 78 Tommy Kraemer 6-5½ 319 Sr./2 56 John Dirksen 6-5 310 So./4 71 John Olmstead 6-4½ 280 Fr./4 Right Tackle No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 72 Robert Hainsey 6-4½ 298 Jr./2 77 Quinn Carroll 6-7 285 Fr./4 BGI Post-Spring 2019 Offense Depth Chart