2019 Notre Dame Football Preview

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Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview

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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 123 BY BRYAN DRISKELL College football is a fickle business, and USC head coach Clay Helton being the No. 1 coach on the hot seat according to Athlon Sports, Lindy's Sports and Street & Smith's after a 5-7 season last fall is proof of that. Helton led the Trojans to a 21-6 record in 2016-17, winning a Rose Bowl and a Pac- 12 title. USC finished the 2016 campaign ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press poll and was No. 12 in 2017. The program's offensive coordinator prior to his ascension to the top spot, Helton handed the reigns of the offense to former North Texas coordinator Graham Harrell this offseason. If Helton is going to save his job, that hire must pan out. "There's almost no way [the offense] doesn't improve," TrojanSports.com pub- lisher Ryan Young said. "The reviews from the players about Harrell's simplified Air Raid system were unanimously positive, both publicly and privately." Harrell takes over a unit with a former five-star recruit at quarterback and one of the nation's most talented wide receiving corps. "The offense is loaded with talent," Young noted. "[Sophomore] quarterback JT Daniels is much better than what he showed last season, and Harrell looks plenty capable of maximizing all the untapped potential that was wasted in 2018. "It did not seem a coincidence that USC's offense so often fell off a cliff after produc- tive first halves. It was never a question of talent, but one of scheme, organization and adjustments. … That's the beacon of hope USC fans are clinging to heading into 2019." The Trojans ranked 64th in the nation in scoring defense last fall, giving up 27.0 points per game, but the defensive front is expected to fuel a resurgence. "The defensive line is the deepest unit on the team," Young noted. "That should allow USC to rotate quite a bit up front. Red- shirt sophomores Marlon Tuipulotu and Jay Tufele have the potential to be tone setters on the interior, while the hope is that redshirt senior Christian Rector can find a comfort level being locked in at defensive end." However, a youthful secondary is a con- cern for the Trojans. "USC returns no experienced corners — none," Young said. "Safety is a bit of a different story as USC ideally has its two starters set with redshirt sophomore Isaiah Pola-Mao and sophomore Talanoa Hufanga. "Both have looked promising when healthy, but that's a big question mark. Pola- Mao missed almost all of last season with a shoulder injury and Hufanga has now broken his collarbone twice since last fall, reinjuring it in non-contact drills this spring." Reasons For Optimism • Loaded wide receiving corps • Improving defensive line • Quarterback potential Despite struggles as a true freshman, quarterback JT Daniels remains one of the most physically gifted throwers in the country … Daniels has an extremely deep and talented group of receivers to throw to, led by senior Michael Pittman … USC's young defensive line is now older and ready for a breakout campaign. Reasons For Concern • Clay Helton • Lack of experience on the back end • Questions remain up front Head coach Helton is on the hot seat and it remains to be seen if he's capable of turning it around … USC has a number of former five-star recruits in the second- ary, but the group is extremely young and untested … The offensive line still has a lot to prove. USC TROJANS GAME 6 • OCT. 12 • NOTRE DAME STADIUM X-FACTOR: Former five-star quarterback recruit JT Daniels should thrive in USC's new Air Raid attack, and if he does the Trojans could have a dangerous offense. PHOTO COURTESY USC ATHLETICS/JOHN MCGILLEN 2019 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2018 Result Aug. 31 Fresno State — Sept. 7 Stanford L, 17-3 Sept. 14 at BYU — Sept. 20 Utah L, 41-28 Sept. 28 at Washington — Oct. 12 at Notre Dame L, 24-17 Oct. 19 Arizona W, 24-20 Oct. 25 at Colorado W, 31-20 Nov. 2 Oregon — Nov. 9 at Arizona State L, 38-35 Nov. 16 at California L, 15-14 Nov. 23 UCLA L, 34-27 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Notre Dame leads 48-37-5 Last Meeting: Notre Dame 24, USC 17 (Nov. 24, 2018; Los Angeles) Head Coach: Clay Helton, 32-17 at USC and overall (5th year) 2018 Results: 5-7 overall, 4-5 Pac-12 South (tied 3rd) Returning Starters: 9 (5 offense, 4 defense) Prediction: Notre Dame 31, USC 24 RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB Vavae Malepeai (501 yards, 8 TD) Passing: QB JT Daniels (2,672 yards, 14 TD) Receiving: WR Michael Pittman (758 yards, 6 TD) Tackles: LB John Houston Jr. (67) Sacks: DE Christian Rector, DT Marlon Tuipulotu (4.5) Interceptions: S Jordan McMillan (1)

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