Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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8 MAY 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Sophomore infielder/outfielder Niko Kavadas didn't have to look far to find where he wanted to play college baseball. Growing up in Granger, Ind., and attending Penn High School, Kavadas was a regular at Notre Dame sporting events, and knew he wanted the opportunity to wear the blue and gold himself. Through 34 games this season, Kavadas was batting .262 with a team-high 10 home runs and 31 RBI for the 13-21 Fighting Irish. He has started each game. BGI: What was it like coming to Notre Dame after growing up nearby? Kavadas: "It was really cool. I grew up going to football games and going to Purcell Pavilion for basketball games, so Notre Dame had always been an extreme goal of mine. "It's super surreal to be able to play here and play in front of my family every day. It's awesome to have them supporting me on a daily basis." BGI: How did you decide Notre Dame was the right place for you? Kavadas: "I got to know [pitching] coach [Chuck] Ristano really, really well during the re- cruiting process. A lot of guys will try and flash with you Nike contracts and a bunch of gear and stuff like that. "But I was down in Georgia and Coach Ristano said, 'I know you as a person and I know you as a player, and this is where you be- long.' At that moment, I knew Notre Dame was the perfect spot for me." B G I : W h a t a r e y o u r thoughts on the 2019 season so far? Kavadas: "The team got off to a rocky start. Some days we'd hit really well, some days we'd pitch really well, but we couldn't hit and pitch on the same days. Recently, I think we've been putting it back together and getting it going a little bit. We're starting to win a couple ball games. "This team has a lot of potential. We've beaten some good teams in Clemson and Florida State, and I hope we can continue that. Personally I think it's been a very similar story. I started off extremely slow, and as of late I've really started to find my groove, which is nice. We've started to win some ball games." BGI: What are some things you hope to im- prove on as the season con- tinues? Kavadas: "Earlier in the year, my power numbers were up from last year, which was nice. But my contact numbers were way down and I was striking out way too much. "I've made some adjust- ments to my game and I hope to continue to improve on those adjustments and become the best hitter I can possibly be." BGI: What does it mean for you to able to represent your hometown while playing at Notre Dame? Kavadas: "It's really, really cool. We have kids from my hometown coming to camps here. I had a fourth grade teacher and she came to camp the other day with her two sons. "It's really cool to meet people in the commu- nity who have had an impact on you, and then turn around and have an impact on them and their children with your new platform. It's an incredible experience." — David McKinney Five Questions With … NOTRE DAME SOPHOMORE INFIELDER/OUTFIELDER NIKO KAVADAS Defensive Line Has More Star Power And Depth By Lou Somogyi Originally I was inclined to go with the offense, because the graduation of potential first-round defensive tackle Jerry Tillery plus inexperience at linebacker could have a negative domino effect on the overall defense. Upon further review, there are three reasons why I believe the defensive front has the advantage: star power, experience and proven depth. I doubt anyone would argue that defensive end is the team's single strongest position group. Seniors Khalid Kareem and Julian Okwara contemplated turning pro, and in 2020 I believe they will be the first Notre Dame defensive end classmates to be drafted in the top three rounds since the incom- parable Ross Browner (first round) and Willie Fry (second round) tandem in 1978. Classmate Daelin Hayes will be playing on Sundays as well, and Ade Ogunde- ji's impressive ascent continues. Senior Jamir Jones could start at a lot of Power Five schools, but it would make sense to redshirt him this year. The interior boasts zero career starts, but the good news is no one is going to need to take 50-60 snaps per game. Juniors Kurt Hinish and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa have responded well in meaningful minutes, sophomore Jayson Ademilola graded out quite productively last year, and early enrollee nose tackle Jacob Lacey is more advanced than all three were as rookies, when they were regulars. One more important factor is the presence of 10th-year Fighting Irish assis- tant Mike Elston. He has cultivated a track record of consistency, motivation and development that has become contagious since returning to coach the line in 2017 after a stint with the linebackers. Offensive Line Play Will Fuel A Potent Attack By Bryan Driskell If Notre Dame is going to make another run at the College Football Playoff and compete for a championship, there is little doubt that the offense will need to improve. Notre Dame has averaged less than 35 points per game in each of head coach Brian Kelly's nine seasons in South Bend. During that stretch, no title winner averaged fewer than 35.1 points per game. Notre Dame's two best scoring seasons under Kelly came during the 2015 and 2017 campaigns, and it is no coincidence that a dominant offensive line fueled each unit. That will happen again in 2019, when four returning starters and strong depth will result in the Irish one again having an elite line. Of course the defensive line will again be stout, and Notre Dame could have the best end depth chart in the country. But the offensive line should be every bit as good, if not better. We saw flashes of excellent play last season, and the unit controlled the defense throughout the spring. Junior right tackle Robert Hainsey and senior left tackle Liam Eichenberg have a chance to become one of the nation's best tackle tandems. Junior left guard Aaron Banks showed flashes of brilliance in his six starts last season after the bye, and his combination of size, athleticism and power is unique. Especially crucial to the Irish line becoming a dominant force is senior right guard Tommy Kraemer getting back on track and sophomore center Jarrett Patterson making a smooth transition into the starting lineup. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH LINE WILL BE STRONGER FOR NOTRE DAME IN 2019? JULIAN OKWARA ROBERT HAINSEY Kavadas was hitting .262 with a team-high 10 home runs and 31 RBI through 34 games this season. PHOTO COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH MEDIA