Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1133608
BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 61 about not taking hits that you don't need to take," he said — and his blocking also is gradually improving. "Learning how to be complete back last year has helped me this year," Armstrong said. Although Armstrong's stature might prompt him to be stereotyped with senior Tony Jones Jr. as a "power" back, his receiv- ing skills and track background also make him a breakaway threat. Prior to switching to jersey No. 8 last season, as a freshman Arm- strong donned No. 25 — the famed "speed number" at Notre Dame. It had been in the past worn by the likes of Al Hunter (1973-76), who at the time was advertised as maybe the fastest foot- ball player ever to enroll at Notre Dame, and it showed on his 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl as a freshman to help defeat Alabama 24-23 for the national title. Later, Raghib "Rocket" Ismail (1988-90), Randy Kinder (1993-96) and Tony Driver (1997-2000), all were state champion sprinters. Likewise, as a junior, Armstrong won the Kansas 4A 100-meter (10.83) and 200-meter (22.13) dashes. (An injury precluded him from running as a senior.) Interestingly, though, Irish wide receiv- ers coach Del Alexander first noted about Armstrong that "he's a seeker of contact … He's a great fit for Notre Dame because of his courage and toughness." That was unique because state sprint champions are generally athletes who run by people instead of seeking destruction. The next step in his evolution is learning how to become a "bell cow figure." Former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz (1986- 96) defined that term early in his career: "It's a back who can carry the ball 20 times on Saturday and not come to practice on Mon- day with a doctor, lawyer or agent." When queried at the end of spring if Arm- strong can become Notre Dame's next pre- mier back, Kelly didn't hesitate to concur. "He's starting to find a running back's vi- sion where he's really starting to understand how to stay perpendicular and cut," Kelly said of Armstrong's progress. "Last year he was a 45-degree cut and that was it. Now he stays square. He's just learning. We knew he was a physical player, all those backs run physical. He's taken that step up. "I've been singing the praises of Tony Jones all spring. It's too bad he couldn't play [in the Blue-Gold Game because of an injury], but he's had a great spring. I think those two guys are really going to help our running game." If nothing else, Armstrong has put himself in position to prosper like many of his prede- cessors this decade at running back. ✦ Physical Fitness Over the past four years, the lead horses in Notre Dame's running game have put up some of the more remarkable yards-per-carry averages (with at least 100 carries) in the program's annals. • In 2015, while surpassing 1,000 yards during the season, C.J. Prosise's career average of 6.92 yards per rushing attempt was second to only Reggie Brooks' 7.6 from 1989-92. • In 2017, Josh Adams averaged 6.9 yards per attempt while rushing for 1,430 yards, and he turned pro after his junior campaign. His career average of 6.65 yards per carry is No. 4 on the all-time Notre Dame chart, behind Brooks (who had 283 fewer carries than Adams), Prosise and 1922-24 legendary Four Horseman Don Miller (6.83). • Last season, Dexter Williams emerged with 995 yards rushing at 6.3 yards per carry. His career aver- age per carry of 6.37 is No. 6 on the all-time Fighting Irish chart, behind the aforementioned quartet and 1925-27 Hall of Famer Christie Flanagan's 6.39. The running back baton has now been passed to junior Jafar Armstrong (383 yards rushing in 2018) and senior Tony Jones Jr. (392), who between them rushed for 775 yards and exactly 5.0 yards per attempt, a still laudable figure but a decrease in home run potential. "Physicality" is the prime buzzword when speaking about the 2019 Notre Dame backfield. Jones' wheelhouse has been as a between-the-tackles runner with his 5-11, 227-pound frame, while Armstrong is a robust 6-1, 220 pounds. A potential third option could be 5-11, 207-pound sophomore Jahmir Smith, whose eight carries for 56 yards in this spring's Blue-Gold Game highlighted his own emphasis on a willing- ness to play head-on versus anyone — after also fighting through a hamstring injury. "Jahmir is a truck," head coach Brian Kelly said. "He would just as soon run over you than miss you, which is fine. We know what his style is." Even with sophomore C'Bo Flemister (5-11, 195) and freshman Kyren Williams (5-9, 209), who were deemed more as "scat backs," the physical nature under first-year running backs coach Lance Taylor has shown itself. "C'Bo is slippery," Kelly said. "He's low to the ground, he's got great balance, he has pretty good vision, he hits the hole well. And then you look up and you think he had [no gain] — and he had five yards. Good natural instincts at that position. "Kyren is a physical back for his size. He's a powerful kid, he's over 200 pounds, runs low to the ground, catches the football well, pretty talented back." Armstrong and Jones will be the linchpins in the 2019 backfield stable, especially after combining for 20 catches and 316 yards last season and enhancing their blocking skills this spring, but the progress by their backups "gave us confidence that if we get into a pinch we've got those guys to count on as well," Kelly said. Maybe the home-run scampers won't be as prolific in 2019, but the running attack is still expected to be well grounded. — Lou Somogyi Sophomore Jahmir Smith is likely the third option in the backfield behind the duo of Jafar Armstrong and Tony Jones Jr. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA