Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
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WIDE RECEIVERS 64 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Sophomore Lawrence Keys III thrived during spring ball with his effectiveness in the slot. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★★ National Title; ★★★★ Top 10; ★★★ Top 25; ★★ Too Unproven; ★ Major Concern Starters ★★★★ The wide receivers played playoff-caliber football during the 2018 regular season, and the projected start- ing lineup in 2019 should be even better. Last season's starters entered the fall with 68 career catches, 1,041 yards and seven touchdowns. Chase Clay - pool, Chris Finke and Michael Young — the 2019 pro- jected starters — begin the new campaign with 160 career catches, 2,073 yards and 12 scores. Claypool, who had a brilliant spring, was Notre Dame's most effective receiver for much of the second half of the 2018 regular season, and Finke emerged as a steady force in the slot. Despite catching just seven passes last year, Young had two of the three longest catches by Irish wide receivers. Experience ★★★ All three starters played important roles a season ago in an improved passing attack that helped the Irish to the College Football Playoff. Claypool was strong down the stretch, and Finke was especially clutch on third down. Where the experience is more concerning is behind those two veterans. Young was a rotation regular last season, but he has only 11 career catches. Behind him the entire depth chart has merely five career receptions, all by sophomore Kevin Austin Jr. The sophomore class brings legitimate talent, especially in the way of speed, and their emergence is crucial to the unit's ultimate success. Depth ★★★★ Among the 12 scholarship receivers set to return, 10 were graded as four-star recruits by at least one recruit- ing service, including five top 150 recruits. Notre Dame can go two deep with four-stars at all three receiver spots. This is a diverse group that provides numerous op - tions. There is size with Claypool and senior Javon McKin- ley. There is precise route running with Finke, Keys and Young. There is speed and vertical talent with Austin and Braden Lenzy. Overall Grade ★★★½ If there was a bit more experience behind the top two receivers this would be a top 10 unit. Claypool enters the season coming off a superb spring and with far more past production than last year's leading wideout Miles Boykin had at this time a season ago. For this group to become a bona fide title-contending group, he must finally reach his full potential, and head coach Brian Kelly believes the senior can develop into a top-round selection. Young enjoyed his most extended period of healthy football this spring. If that continues into the fall, the unit will thrive. Beyond those two players and Finke being Finke, the difference between Notre Dame being really good or top level is what the sophomores can provide. BY THE NUMBERS 2 Years in a row a Notre Dame wide receiver was chosen in the NFL Draft after Miles Boykin was selected this spring in the third round by Baltimore. A year earlier it was Equanimeous St. Brown in the sixth round. That had not occurred for the Fighting Irish since 2002 (Javin Hunter in the sixth round and David Givens in the seventh) and 2003 (Arnaz Battle in the sixth round). 3 If senior Chase Claypool is selected in the NFL Draft this season — and head coach Brian Kelly believes the British Columbia native could be first-round timber — it would be the first time since 1994-96 that the Fighting Irish had a receiver picked three straight years. Back then it was Lake Dawson (third round, 1994), Mike Miller (fifth round, 1995) and Derrick Mayes (second round, 1996). 84 Career receptions by Claypool, the most by a returning Irish senior since TJ Jones had 111 en- tering 2013. Boykin, the top 2018 wideout, had only 18 going into his senior campaign before grabbing 59. QUOTABLE: HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY ON SOPHOMORE LAWRENCE KEYS III'S STELLAR SPRING IN WHICH HE WAS CONSISTENTLY OPEN AND A FAVORITE TARGET: "He probably doesn't get enough recognition for what he can do. He's a top-notch college receiver in the slot. He can catch screen passes, drive routes, option routes. He's a real weapon for us — as consistent as I can remember of having a true slot receiver."