The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 135 BY ANDREW HUSSEY After going 4-8 in 2016, Notre Dame rebounded by ripping off 22 victories the past two seasons and earning a College Football Playoff berth in 2018. Although the Irish lost 30-3 to Clemson in the Cotton Bowl, they had an impressive year while posting the second 12-0 regular season dur- ing head coach Brian Kelly's tenure. Notre Dame has now won 10 or more games four times in the past seven seasons. However, the Irish lost considerable talent on both sides of the ball, and must replace its lead- ing rusher, receiver and tackler from last season. Senior quarterback Ian Book, who took over as the starting quarterback in the fourth game last fall, does re- turn. Book finished the season eighth nationally in completion percentage with a 68.2 accuracy rate and be- came the first Football Bowl Sub- division quarterback to win his first five starts of a season with a comple- tion percentage of at least 70 in each game since Russell Wilson did so at Wisconsin in 2011. Three experienced targets also return this season in senior wide receivers Chase Clay- pool and Chris Finke, and junior tight end Cole Kmet. Claypool, who has 1,122 career receiving yards and posted 639 last year, could become the go-to receiver in the ab- sence of Miles Boykin, who was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. With the graduation of running back Dex- ter Williams, junior running back Jafar Arm- strong will look to build on his success from last season. He finished with 383 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, but sustained a knee injury that hobbled him midway through the season. Junior Tony Jones Jr. posted numbers similar to Armstrong, rush- ing for 392 yards and three touchdowns. Over the final nine regular-season games, the Irish scored 37.2 points per contest. With four starters returning along the offensive line and talented options at the skill posi- tions, Notre Dame should have a strong of- fense again in 2019. However, the strength of the team will be its defensive ends led by seniors Julian Okwara, Khalid Kareem and Daelin Hayes. Both Okwara and Kareem have the potential to be selected early in the 2020 NFL Draft. The duo combined for 22.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks last season to go along with 29 quarter- back hurries. Notre Dame's defensive front came in at No. 10 in Athlon Sports' national unit rankings even though the Irish have two new starters at defensive tackle. Notre Dame lost significant pro- duction in the middle of their de- fense with linebackers Drue Tran- quill and Te'von Coney graduating. The duo combined for 606 tackles, 49 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks during their college careers. Cornerback Julian Love also left early for the NFL, but Notre Dame returns the other three starters in its secondary, including the senior safety tandem of Jalen Elliott and Alohi Gil- man. Senior cornerback Troy Pride Jr. had two interceptions and 10 passes broken up in 2019, and could help replace Love's coverage abilities. Although Notre Dame lost signifi- cant talent from its 2018 team, the Irish are still projected to be ranked in the top 10 this season and could contend for the College Football Playoff again, but that will likely come down to three road trips — at Georgia, Michigan and Stanford. This will be Notre Dame's first trip to Ann Arbor since 2013, and the Irish have not won at Michigan since 2005. Notes Brian Kelly is only the fifth head coach in Notre Dame history to last 10 or more seasons … Notre Dame's defense only gave up 18.2 points per game in 2018, which was good for 13th in the nation … The Irish have won seven straight one-possession games … Quarterback Ian Book is No. 12 on Athlon Sports' Heisman watch list. ❑ Irish Want A Return Trip To The College Football Playoff 2019 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2018 Result Sept. 2 at Louisville — Sept. 14 New Mexico — Sept. 21 at Georgia — Sept. 28 Virginia — Oct. 5 Bowling Green — Oct. 12 USC W, 24-17 Oct. 26 at Michigan W, 24-17 Nov. 2 Virginia Tech W, 45-23 Nov. 9 at Duke — Nov. 16 Navy W, 44-22 Nov. 23 Boston College — Nov. 30 at Stanford W, 38-17 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Chase Claypool, Sr., WR — Finished second on the team with 639 receiving yards on 50 catches with four touchdowns last season… Averaged 13.4 yards per catch in his first three seasons at Notre Dame … Had a season- high eight catches for 130 yards against Northwestern in 2018. Defense: Alohi Gilman, Sr., S — Started all 13 games in 2018 and accumulated 95 total stops, three tackles for loss, five passes broken up and two interceptions … Se - lected as Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week af- ter making two interceptions and eight tackles against Syracuse. In 2018, senior quarterback Ian Book passed for 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns while leading Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff. PHOTO BY KATIE MEYERS/COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH MEDIA GAME 8 • NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH • OCT. 26 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: M ichigan leads 24-18-1 First Meeting: Notre Dame 8, U-M 0 (Nov. 11, 1887 in South Bend, Ind.) Last Meeting: Notre Dame 24, U-M 17 (Sept. 1, 2018 in South Bend, Ind.) Head Coach: Brian Kelly, 60-33 at Notre Dame (10th year) and 231-90-2 overall (28th year) — 20 victories from the 2012 and 2013 seasons were vacated 2018 In Review: 12-1 overall Final 2018 Ranking: No. 5 in Associated Press and coaches' polls Returning Starters: 15 (8 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2018 (Cotton Bowl vs. Clem - son, L 30-3) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Ian Book (2,628 yards, 19 TD, 7 INT) Rushing: Tony Jones Jr. (392 yards, 3 TD) Receiving: Chase Claypool (639 yards, 4 TD) Tackles: Alohi Gilman (95) Sacks: Julian Okwara (8) Interceptions: Jalen Elliot (4)