Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1133608
88 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW DEFENSIVE LINEMEN former by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers. • Regarded as a three-star prospect, the No. 11 talent in Pennsylvania and the No. 38 defensive tackle in the land by Rivals. JAMIR JONES • DE Sr. • Rochester, N.Y. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 257 • Played in 12 games during the 2018 season and recorded 12 tackles (one for loss). • Moved from Mike linebacker to strongside end before the 2018 season. • Appeared in 12 games and finished with four stops in 2017. • Was one of 10 true freshmen to play in eight or more games during his rookie season. • Compiled 98 tackles, 6.5 sacks and an intercep- tion on defense, while also catching 43 passes for 822 yards (19.1 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns as a tight end at Aquinas Institute. • Named first-team All-State at linebacker by the New York State Sportswriters Association and tabbed as a second-team pick on the USA Today All-USA New York squad. • Listed by Rivals as a three-star recruit, the No. 2 player in New York and the No. 43 outside line- backer in the country. Year G-GS Solo Asst. Total TFL Sacks 2016 10-0 7 1 8 0.0 0.0 2017 12-0 1 3 4 0.0 0.0 2018 12-0 5 7 12 1.0 0.0 Totals 34-0 13 11 24 1.0 0.0 KHALID KAREEM • DE Sr. • Pontiac, Mich. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 262 • Started all 13 contests in 2018, and notched 42 total stops, 10.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and eight QB hurries. • Ranked second on the team in tackles for loss and QB hurries, and third in sacks. • Awarded the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week honor for his standout perfor- mance against Michigan (eight tackles, one sack and one QB hurry) in the season opener. • Played in every game during the 2017 season, and compiled 21 tackles (10 solo), 5.5 stops for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery. • Saw game action in four contests during his first season in South Bend. • Recorded 56 stops, 36 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, five forced fumbles and nine QB hurries as a se- nior at Harrison High School. • Chosen as the USA Today All-USA Michigan Defen- sive Player of the Year, and a first team All-State pick. • Tabbed as a four-star recruit, the No. 8 player in Michigan and the No. 17 strongside defensive end in the nation by Rivals. Year G-GS Solo Ast. Total TFL Sacks 2016 4-0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 2017 13-0 10 11 21 5.5 3.0 2018 13-13 23 19 42 10.5 4.5 Totals 30-13 33 30 63 16 7.5 ADETOKUNBO OGUNDEJI • DE Sr. • West Bloomfield, Mich. Ht.: 6-4½ • Wt.: 250 • Appeared in every game last year, and tallied 22 stops, 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack (which came against Clemson). • Saw action in five games in 2017, but did not record any statistics. • Redshirted in his first season in South Bend. • Finished with 18 tackles, three quarterback hur- ries, two sacks and a fumble recovery during his injury-shortened senior season at Walled Lake Central High School. • Regarded as a three-star talent by Rivals. OVIE OGHOUFO • DE So. • Lathrup Village, Mich. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 230 • Did not see the field in his first season at Notre Dame. • Compiled 106 stops, 31 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, five passes de- fended and one forced fumble as a senior, while helping Harrison High School to an 11-4 mark and the Division 3 state title game. • Earned a spot on USA Today's 2017 All-USA Michi- gan first-team defense and was selected as a Division 3-4 All-State performer by the Associ- ated Press. • Participated in Nike Football's The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Ore. • Tabbed as a three-star recruit, the No. 9 player in Michigan and the No. 40 outside linebacker in the nation by Rivals. JULIAN OKWARA • DE Sr. • Charlotte, N.C. Ht.: 6-4½ • Wt.: 240 • Played in all 13 games and made 12 starts in 2018. • Led the team in tackles for loss (12.5) and QB hurries (21), and tied for the lead in sacks (eight). In addition, Pro Football Focus had him with 61 pressures (a combination of hurries, hits and sacks), which was fourth nationally among ends. • Had a season-high eight tackles and 2.5 sacks against Northwestern, and also picked off a pass versus Michigan in the season opener. • Appeared in 12 contests in 2017, and registered 17 tackles, 4.5 stops for loss and 2.5 sacks. • Was one of nine true freshmen to play in at least eight games in 2016. • Selected to the USA Today All-North Carolina sec- ond team and picked to the North Carolina team for the 2015 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, but did not play in the game. • Regarded by Rivals as a four-start prospect, the No. 17 talent in North Carolina and the No. 18 weakside defensive end in the land. Year G-GS Solo Ast. Total TFL Sacks 2016 11-0 2 2 4 0.0 0.0 2017 12-0 10 7 17 4.5 2.5 2018 13-12 26 12 38 12.5 8 Totals 36-12 38 21 59 17 10.5 88 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Among Julian Okwara's many outstanding games last season was the 31-21 win at Northwestern when he recorded a season-high eight tackles, highlighted by 2.5 sacks. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL