Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
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24 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW These seasoned figures have had their moments, but which ones can explode the way Miles Boykin did last season, going from 18 career catches his first three seasons to 59 and third-round status as a senior? 1. CORNERBACK TROY PRIDE JR. Overshadowed by consensus All-American Julian Love the last two seasons, Pride actually was more effective the second half of the 2018 campaign, beyond just stats, than Love. The team's fastest player — clocked at 4.32 in the 40-yard dash at a team com- bine — maximizes that gift with fluid transition ability in coverage. The longest reception he gave up last season was 26 yards He has an opportunity to turn himself into a first-round pick if he can clean up his technique, especially lunging less, and improve his physicality. 2. Running Back Jafar Armstrong Following making the transition last year from wide receiver to run- ning back after redshirting as a 2017 freshman, Armstrong was on pace for 1,079 total yards before a knee injury and the return of senior Dexter Williams slowed his progress. The top back all spring, culminating with 156 total yards (85 rushing and 71 receiving) versus the top defense in the Blue-Gold Game, a healthy Armstrong is capable of reaching 1,500 combined yards in those categories. 3. Tight End Cole Kmet After hauling in 15 passes for 162 yards last season as a sophomore while serving as a complement to senior Alizé Mack, Kmet should domi- nate the reps and the production at tight end in 2019, and at least rival Mack's 36 receptions last year. Every Notre Dame tight end who has started a season opener since 2004 has been drafted by the NFL. With good health, Kmet will be next two years from now. 4. Left Tackle Liam Eichenberg Brian Kelly never coached a game at Notre Dame his first eight seasons without having a future first-round starter at left tackle: Zack Martin (2010-13), Ronnie Stanley (2014-15) and Mike McGlinchey (2016-17). Eichenberg displayed flashes of similar ability last fall, his first as a starter, but with two more years of eligibility remaining he can be on track to continue the remarkable streak. 5. Wide Receiver Michael Young The Destrehan, La., native made a crucial fourth-quarter touch- down grab as a freshman against his home state LSU Tigers during the 21-17 victory in the 2018 Citrus Bowl. Last year he showed big-play ability in limited snaps (seven catches for 138 yards with a 47-yard touchdown at Northwestern). A strong and healthy spring has him poised for a significant jump in production. Speedy senior Troy Pride Jr. is the top returning cornerback for the Irish after recording career highs in tackles (47), passes broken up (10) and interceptions (two) last year. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA TOP FIVE BREAKOUT PLAYERS