Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 131 ers listed as top-five seniors for the draft at their respective positions: cornerback Troy Pride Jr. (No. 3), senior safety Jalen Elliott (No. 5) and fifth-year senior outside linebacker Asmar Bilal (No. 5). Senior Ian Book (No. 10) was named to the top 10 of the preseason Heisman Watch list made up entirely of quarterbacks. Fall oppo- nents Jake Fromm (No. 3) of Georgia and Shea Patterson (No. 6) of Michigan also made the cut. In the outlet's positional rankings, Book was ranked the No. 16 signal-caller in the land. Senior Tommy Kraemer (No. 5 guard), se- nior Alohi Gilman (No. 6 safety) and Pride (No. 8 cornerback) were likewise included in the preseason listing of the best players in the country at their positions. Lindy's also included a list of 10 hot assis- tants who could become head coaches in the near future, with offensive coordinator Chip Long at No. 6. "It's about time for the offensive mind who blended a bunch of different parts into a play- off team," they wrote. "He is entering his 10th season as a Power Five assistant." Three Notre Dame contests were ranked among the top 10 non-conference games na- tionally — at Georgia Sept. 21 topped the countdown, at Michigan Oct. 26 checked in at No. 3 and at Stanford Nov. 30 was ranked No. 6. The Irish defensive line and secondary were each ranked as the country's sixth best at their position groups, while the wide receivers/tight ends checked in at No. 10. STREET & SMITH'S Notre Dame's highest preseason ranking came from Street & Smith's, which predicts the Irish to finish No. 7. The magazine projects the Irish to square off against the Florida Gators in the Orange Bowl. Four of the team's 2019 regular-season op- ponents also made the top 25: No. 3 Georgia, No. 11 Michigan, No. 22 Stanford and No. 25 Virginia. The outlet appears confident in the players who will surround quarterback Ian Book. "The Irish will have new pieces in Book's supporting cast on offense," they wrote. "… Upperclassmen Jafar Armstong and Tony Jones Jr. will likely split carries early in the year. Notre Dame loses its top receiver in Miles Boykin, but Chase Claypool, Chris Finke and tight end Cole Kmet are capable targets in the passing game. The offensive line, which will revolve around 6-6, 300-pound seniors Tommy Kraemer and Liam Eichenberg, should, as usual, be a strength." The publication named Kraemer a preseason first-team All-American, as well as the team's best NFL prospect. Street & Smith's believes the back end of the defense, considered a weakness heading into last season, will thrive in 2019. "Safety should be a strength as seniors Alohi Gilman, the top returning tackler, and Jalen El- liott, who led the Irish with four interceptions, are both back as starters," they noted. Street & Smith's believes the Irish could once again make a playoff push. "Notre Dame will look to get to double-digit wins for the fourth time in five seasons against a tough schedule," it wrote. "… The lack of a conference championship game continues to be a talking point, but the Irish would be in the CFP hunt again even with one loss." ✦ Crystal Ball: Notre Dame Predictions Publication Preseason Rank Projected Bowl Athlon Sports No. 9 Cotton Bowl vs. Central Florida Lindy's Sports No. 9 — Street & Smith's No. 7 Orange Bowl vs. Florida What They're Saying About The Irish Athlon Sports: "Last year's team was by far the best of Brian Kelly's time in South Bend. They're athletic all over again, and the entire team identity was redefined by Ian Book. They changed over coaches and schemes, but it's re- ally all about that quarterback. "For the first time, they could be lethal in both the run and the pass from that position. As long as he stays healthy and builds on his passing, they will be a playoff contender again this season." Lindy's Sports: "Whereas significant person- nel losses following the 10-victory 2015 season left the Irish short on experience a year later — when the Irish fell to 4-8 — Notre Dame seems to be in a more rock-solid place after a playoff berth last year. Concerns about the middle of the defense aside, Brian Kelly and his staff have blanketed the recruiting trail, allowing for a relatively full cupboard in the 10th year of his regime." Street & Smith's: "Kelly has renovated the program around coordinators Chip Long and Clark Lea, leading to a 22-4 record over the last two seasons. Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State and Oklahoma are the only Power Five schools with better records during that stretch." Preseason All-Americans G Tommy Kraemer — Street & Smith's (first team) S Alohi Gilman — Athlon (first team) DL Julian Okwara — Lindy's (second team); Athlon (third team) Irish Players In Lindy's National Positional Rankings Player Rank QB Ian Book 16 G Tommy Kraemer 5 DE Julian Okwara 6 CB Troy Pride Jr. 8 S Alohi Gilman 6 Blue & Gold Illustrated Staff Predictions Lou Somogyi Bryan Driskell Regular-Season Record 10-2 10-2 Bowl Game Orange Bowl Cotton Bowl Team MVP Chase Claypool Khalid Kareem Breakthrough Player Jafar Armstrong Jack Lamb Most Anticipated Game Georgia Michigan Upset Alert USC Virginia Tech Opponent on the Rise Virginia Virginia Tech Opponent on the Decline Stanford Navy Coach of the Year Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Jeff Brohm, Purdue CFP Championship Game Alabama vs. Clemson Clemson vs. Georgia Todd Burlage Steve Downey Regular Season Record 10-2 9-3 Bowl Game Cotton Bowl Gator Bowl Team MVP Alohi Gilman Julian Okwara Breakthrough Player Jafar Armstrong Chase Claypool Most Anticipated Game Georgia Georgia Upset Alert USC USC Opponent on the Rise Navy Virginia Opponent on the Decline Virginia Tech Navy Coach of the Year Ed Orgeron, LSU Tom Herman, Texas CFP Championship Game Ohio State vs. Alabama Clemson vs. Alabama