Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1133608
DEFENSIVE BACKS BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 105 • Played for the South Carolina squad in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and participated in the Blue-Grey All-American Game, and finished with two interceptions — including one returned for a 58-yard touchdown — and eight tackles to earn MVP honors in the latter event. • Rated by 247Sports as a four-star prospect, the No. 3 senior in South Carolina, and the No. 7 cornerback and No. 95 overall prospect in the country. Year G-GS TT TFL Sacks Int. PBU 2016 8-3 12 0.0 0.0 0 0 2017 12-4 22 1.0 0.0 1 2 2018 12-12 47 1.5 0.0 2 10 Totals 32-19 81 2.5 0.0 3 12 DONTE VAUGHN • CB Sr. • Memphis, Tenn. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 210 • Has played in 30 games over his three years at Notre Dame, including 11 appearances with one start in 2018. • Recorded 13 tackles during his junior season, four of which came against Pitts- burgh. • Played in nine games and was credited with six stops in 2017. • Appeared in 10 games and made four starts in 2016, and totaled 22 tackles, an interception and six passes broken up. • Was the top performer for a Whitehaven High School defense that allowed just 13.6 points per game during his senior season, notching 40 tack- les, 12 passes broken up and four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. • Named to the All-USA Tennessee first team by USA Today and earned a spot on the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State first team as a defensive back after both his junior and senior seasons. • Tabbed as a four-star talent, the No. 6 prospect in Tennessee, and the No. 15 cornerback and No. 245 overall player in the land by Scout. Year G-GS TT TFL Sacks Int. PBU 2016 10-4 22 0.0 0.0 1 6 2017 9-0 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 2018 11-1 13 0.0 0.0 0 0 Totals 30-5 41 0.0 0.0 1 6 NEWCOMERS LITCHFIELD AJAVON • S Fr. • Baltimore Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 185 • Notched 62 tackles, one sack, one interception and two forced fumbles as a senior at Episcopal High School. • Named to the 2018 USA Today All-State first team, the 2017 Virginia Independent Schools Ath- letic Association All-State second team and the 2018 All-Interstate Athletic Conference first team. • Competed in Nike's The Opening Regional in New Jersey. • Ran the 300-meter hurdles and 4x100 men's relay for Episcopal track and field. • Regarded by Rivals as a four-star talent, the No. 4 player in Virginia, and the No. 9 safety and No. 106 overall recruit in the nation. KYLE HAMILTON • S Fr. • Atlanta Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 190 • Recorded 72 tackles, broke up eight passes, pulled down four interceptions and scored two defen- sive touchdowns as a senior at Marist School. • Added more than 1,000 total yards and 11 touch- downs on offense and special teams during his final campaign. • Named to the 2018 USA Today All-America sec- ond team and the 2018 USA Today All-State first team. • Awarded The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Re- gion 7-AAAA Special Teams Player of the Year and named to their first team as a kick returner. • Landed as a finalist for the All-American Bowl's 2018 Defensive Player of the Year. • Competed in the 2019 All-American Bowl. • Ranked as a five-star recruit, the No. 2 player in Georgia, and the No. 1 safety and No. 15 overall prospect nationally by 247Sports. ISAIAH RUTHERFORD • CB Fr. • Sacramento, Calif. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 175 • Excelled on offense and defense during his career at Jesuit High School, finishing with 50 tackles and three interceptions on defense, while adding 3,000-plus yards and 45 touchdowns on offense. • Named to the 2018 Sacramento Bee All-Metro first-team defense and the 2018 National Football Foundation All-Sac Joaquin first team. • Participated in the 2019 Polynesian Bowl and the Nike Football's The Opening Finals. • Tabbed by Rivals as a four-star talent, the No. 17 player in California, and the No. 12 cornerback and No. 110 overall player nationally. KJ WALLACE • CB Fr. • Atlanta Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 190 • Played on both sides of the ball at The Lovett School, and finished his senior season with 30- plus tackles, two interceptions and 1.5 sacks while adding 922 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense. • Excelled on defense in his junior season, notch- ing 63 tackles, intercepting a pass and breaking up 11 others. • Named a Georgia Sports Writers Association Class AAA All-State first-team defensive back. • Awarded Nike Football's The Opening Nashville Region's MVP at defensive back. • Regarded by ESPN as a four-star talent, the No. 28 prospect in Georgia, and the No. 19 cornerback and No. 218 overall player in the country. Senior cornerback Donte Vaughn tied for the team lead in passes broken up (six) during his rookie season in 2016, but he has been hampered by injuries thereafter. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA