Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1143622
18 AUGUST 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED play tackle for the Irish and he's cross- trained at center, but he will also get a chance to push Banks for the starting left guard job during fall camp. Lugg is a naturally gifted player who has labored to find his ideal position, but he looked far more comfortable at guard during the spring than we've ever seen him at Notre Dame. The battle between Banks and Lugg increases the odds that Notre Dame gets strong play at left guard. Fellow 2017 signee Dillan Gibbons has struggled to stay healthy, but if he gets on track from an injury stand- point, he will likely end up in the two-deep this season. PLAYMAKING POTENTIAL Armstrong is a dynamic athlete who can make plays as a runner and receiver, and if he is as good as the Irish coaches think he can be, the offense will get a lot of production from the backfield. The junior runner won't be the lone 2017 signee expected to be a play- maker in the offense. Notre Dame signed two of the nation's three best tight ends in the class, and that tan- dem is anticipated to have a major role in 2019. Cole Kmet showed promise as a sophomore, hauling in 15 passes for 162 yards as the team's No. 2 tight end. He did that while playing on a tender ankle that he injured in the season's second game, and he spent the spring splitting time between football and baseball. Kmet began playing baseball again this spring, but decided early on to instead focus all of his efforts on the gridiron. The junior will have a chance to become a household name by sea- son's end, in part because he is uncommonly athletic for a 6-5½, 255-pounder. He combines that with top-notch length and ball skills, mak- ing him a potential matchup night- mare for both linebackers and safeties. Brock Wright was the nation's No. 1-ranked tight end in the 2017 class per Rivals, and he also has a chance to become a regular contribu- tor this fall. Known as a blocker his first two seasons, he slimmed down during the spring and has improved as a route runner. If he elevates his production as a pass catcher, Wright will have a chance to play a bigger role this sea- son. If Wright comes even close to living up to his prep billing, the Irish could end up having one of the coun- try's premier tight end groups. Despite catching only seven passes last fall, then-sophomore Michael Young had two of the three longest receptions posted by Irish wide re- ceivers. He ran an unofficial 4.48 during spring testing, and Irish fol- lowers saw that speed in flashes last season. Notre Dame will be counting on Young to provide big plays on a more consistent basis this season. Rivals ranked Isaiah Robertson as the No. 202 overall player in the country coming out of high school, and Notre Dame recruited him to play safety. He was a special teams contributor as a true freshman, but moved to linebacker the following spring and then to wide receiver in the fall, where he is currently buried on the depth chart. FRONT SEVEN DEPTH Tagovailoa-Amosa isn't the lone 2017 defensive tackle signee expected to start for the Irish this season. Pitts- burgh native Kurt Hinish has been a part of the rotation the last two years and is projected to become the team's starting nose tackle in 2019. Hinish plays with good leverage and has been quick off the ball the last two seasons, but as a young player there were times when he struggled with the physical rigors of the position. Going into his third sea- son, he has more size and strength, and he's more prepared for the phys- icality involved. Notre Dame must improve its run defense in 2019, and for that to hap- pen both Hinish and Tagovailoa- Amosa must take leaps forward. If that happens, the Irish front four could be truly outstanding. After losing starters Drue Tranquill and Te'von Coney to the NFL, Notre Dame must replace 1,716 snaps, 209 Tight end Cole Kmet showed promise with 15 receptions for 162 yards in 2018, and is expected to become a top player in the 2019 offense. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL