Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1133608
148 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Players In Class — 23 • Rivals Ranking — No. 11 Name Pos. Starts Alex Bars OL 32 Three-year starter, team captain and a crucial part of the nation's best offensive line in 2017. Grant Blankenship DL 0 Showed promise as a freshman but ended up transferring after 2015. Jonathan Bonner DL 27 Wasn't a flashy figure, but started all 26 games during the team's recent 22-4 run. Justin Brent WR 0 Could never crack the rotation before graduating and transferring to Nevada after the 2016 season. Jimmy Byrne OL 0 Couldn't get a spot on a deep and talented offensive line, but left Notre Dame with his degree. Daniel Cage DL 11 Solid rotation man at nose tackle his first three years before a concussion ended his career prematurely. Jay Hayes DL 13 A strong run defender in 2017 before becoming a grad transfer at Georgia in 2018. Kolin Hill LB 0 Earned a pass-rushing role in 2014 and then transferred to Texas Tech prior to 2015 season. Corey Holmes WR 4 Like Brent, saw limited time before becoming a grad transfer (Purdue) following the 2016 campaign. DeShone Kizer QB 23 Posted prolific numbers in his two years as a starter prior to leaving early for the NFL. Tyler Luatua TE 4 Injuries ended his career early, but before that he earned a role as a run blocker. Greer Martini LB 17 A team captain and option specialist, he finished his career with 191 tackles. Pete Mokwuah DL 0 Similar to Byrne on offense, could never quite crack the competitive defensive line rotation. Nyles Morgan LB 28 Started parts of three years and earned the role of team captain as a senior in 2017. Sam Mustipher OL 38 Three-year starter, team captain, Sports Illustrated All-American in 2018 and an outstanding student. Quenton Nelson OL 36 One of the best guards in Notre Dame history, a unanimous All-American in 2017. Tyler Newsome P 0 Finished his career as a team captain, ranking second all time in yards per punt average. Nile Sykes LB 0 Transferred to Indiana prior to his freshman season. Drue Tranquill LB 41 Two-time captain started at three different positions, and was a superb student. Andrew Trumbetti DL 12 Four-year rotation player at end and a solid contributor. Nick Watkins CB 10 Injuries limited his full potential, and he was a grad transfer at Houston in 2018. Nic Weishar TE 5 Caught 18 passes during his career (four touchdowns) as a rotation figure. Jhonny Williams DL 0 Never took a snap at Notre Dame and transferred to Toledo after 2014 season. Class Of 2014 Summary NFL Draft Picks • Quenton Nelson — Indianapolis Colts, first round, No. 6 overall, 2018 • DeShone Kizer — Cleveland Browns, second round, No. 52 overall, 2017 • Drue Tranquill — Los Angeles Chargers, fourth round, No. 130 overall, 2019 Team captain Alex Bars was part of one of the best offensive line classes in Notre Dame history. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL His time as a starter was brief, but quarterback DeShone Kizer was prolif- ic on the ground and through the air. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA