Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1133608
BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 29 Most of the top position changes in the Brian Kelly era since 2010 have involved two areas: defensive backfield and offensive line. That has been the case again this year with three of the five notable position changes involving those two groups. Along the offensive line, sophomore left tackle Jarrett Patterson was shifted to center, continuing the recent tradition of aligning someone with zero snapping experience to that position. The same occurred with former tackle/guard Nick Martin (2013-15) and for- mer guard recruit Sam Mustipher (2016-18), both of whom became captains. In the defensive backfield, former quarterback/running back Avery Davis and former safety/nickel Houston Griffith are at cornerback, specifically to help allay the early entry into the NFL of 2018 con- sensus All-American Julian Love. In other changes, Asmar Bilal followed the lead of Drue Tranquill in 2018 by moving from his starting rover spot to Buck linebacker, where he will be in tighter quarters to make plays. Finally, in another tweak, senior wide receiver Chase Claypool has moved from the field side to the bound- ary position where Miles Boykin and Equanimeous St. Brown have been the top pass catchers the past three years. The first major position change in Kelly's ca- reer involved Harrison Smith in the spring of 2010. Smith had been the backup Sam linebacker for Darius Fleming the previous year, but Kelly declared "if [Smith] can't play safety, then he can't play." In 2012, Smith became a first-round pick at safety and today is one of the four or five best at his position in the NFL. Since then, here were some other notable moves that were beneficial. • Theo Riddick from slot receiver the previous two years to his original running back position as a senior in 2012, and he now enters his seventh year in the NFL. • Troy Niklas in 2012 was shifted from outside linebacker to tight end, even though the Irish had an All-America candidate in Tyler Eifert. Niklas was a second-round pick after his junior year in 2013. • In 2011, Matthias Farley was a speedster at wide receiver who redshirted, but then was moved to safety in 2012. He is now in his fifth year in the NFL. • Running back/slot receiver KeiVarae Russell received an audition at cornerback in August 2012 because the Irish were desperate for warm bodies there — and then became a Freshman All-Amer- ican while starting all 13 games. He developed into a third-round pick in the NFL Draft. • In 2015, former safety and wide receiver C.J. Prosise moved to running back, eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards that season and became a third-round selection. • Somewhat of an overshadowed move was 2013 freshman wide receiver James Onwualu first moving to safety the next season and eventually to outside linebacker. He became a captain and enjoyed a strong 2016 campaign, includ- ing pacing the team in tackles for lost yardage (11.5), but everything became mitigated with a 4-8 finish. Onwualu is currently with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. Last season, in addition to Tranquill's move to inside linebacker, wideout recruit Jafar Armstrong was stationed at running back, where he debuted as a sophomore last season with 383 rushing yards (5.3 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns, while also snagging 14 receptions for 159 yards. Kelly has referred to him as potentially the next Riddick with his versatile skills. Meanwhile, former safety Jordan Genmark Heath, who was moved to Buck linebacker late last spring, will be vying for a starting role in place of Tranquill. MAKING ONE'S POSITION CLEAR Senior Asmar Bilal is making the transition from rover to Buck linebacker this season. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL