Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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40 PRESEASON 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED down the field because of improved speed at wideout and Book's own development. "It's having players that can ag- gressively push the ball down the field on the perimeter, and I think we have those guys this year," Kelly said. "And secondly, [Book] actually feels comfortable doing it. I think we're better there in both realms, but he's not a guy that's going to always be throwing the ball into or through traffic. "He's going to check it down. He's a smart kid. He's going to make the right plays and choices." 2. Preparing For His Time Speaking of the deep ball, sopho- more reserve quarterback Phil Jurk- ovec has continued to excel in that realm while displaying elusiveness (he rushed for nearly 3,000 yards during his high school career). The shorter passing game can come with time, but the former top-100 re- cruit has reacted well and settled in better after closing the spring on a down note. "We knew what Phil was capable of," Kelly said. "We knew the talent level that was there. First year there is high expectations, a lot going on, A total of 55 players — 38 scholarship and 17 walk-ons — were on the offense when Blue & Gold Illustrated went to press Aug. 20. The number next to the class year repre- sents years of eligibility remaining. Heights and weights were updated this August by the university. Quarterback No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 12 Ian Book 6-0 212 Sr./2 15 Phil Jurkovec 6-4½ 227 So./4 7 Brendon Clark 6-1½ 217 Fr./4 Walk-ons: J.D. Carney (14) and Nolan Henry (17) Running Back No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 8 Jafar Armstrong 6-1 220 Jr./3 6 Tony Jones Jr. 5-11 224 Sr./2 34 Jahmir Smith 5-11 205 So./4 20 C'Bo Flemister 5-11 200 So./4 23 Kyren Williams 5-9 205 Fr./4 Walk-ons: Mick Assaf (32) and Cameron Ekanay- ake (16) Wide Receiver (W) No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 83 Chase Claypool 6-4½ 229 Sr./1 88 Javon McKinley 6-2 220 Sr./2 17 Isaiah Robertson 6-1½ 204 Jr./3 4 Kevin Austin Jr. 6-2 210 So./3 Wide Receiver (X) No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 184 5th/1 25 Braden Lenzy 5-11½ 180 So./4 9 Cam Hart 6-2½ 208 Fr./4 87 Michael Young* 5-10 190 Jr./2 * Incurred a broken collarbone Aug. 17 that required surgery and will sideline him at least a month. Wide Receiver (Z) No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 13 Lawrence Keys III 5-10½ 173 So./4 18 Joe Wilkins 6-1½ 194 So./4 80 Micah Jones 6-4½ 219 So./4 22 K. Abdur-Rahman 5-11½ 189 Fr./4 Walk-ons: Leo Albano (26), Greg Mailey (43), Matt Salerno (29), Conor Ratigan (86) and Arion Shinaver (27) Tight End No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 89 Brock Wright 6-4½ 246 Jr./2 24 Tommy Tremble 6-3½ 235 So./4 85 George Takacs 6-6 247 So./4 84 Cole Kmet^ 6-5½ 250 Jr./2 Walk-ons: Cole Capen (31), Jack Henige (49), John Lager (81) and Xavier Lezynski (48) ^ Broke his collarbone in practice Aug. 8, which required surgery and was projected to sideline him four to 10 weeks. Left Tackle No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 74 Liam Eichenberg 6-6 305 Sr./2 75 Josh Lugg 6-7 307 Jr./3 77 Quinn Carroll# 6-6½ 304 Fr./4 # Out for the season due to a torn ACL Left Guard No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 69 Aaron Banks 6-6 325 Jr./3 57 Trevor Ruhland 6-3½ 292 5th/1 76 Dillan Gibbons 6-4 305 Jr./3 Walk-on: Max Siegel (64) Center No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 55 Jarrett Patterson 6-5 300 So./4 61 Colin Grunhard 6-0½ 289 Jr./3 52 Zeke Correll 6-3 270 Fr./4 Walk-on: Grunhard was taking second-team reps in team drills, although Ruhland or Lugg could be next options Right Guard No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 78 Tommy Kraemer 6-5½ 319 Sr./2 56 John Dirksen 6-5½ 309 So./4 71 John Olmstead 6-4½ 280 Fr./4 Walk-on: Logan Plantz (62) Right Tackle No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 72 Robert Hainsey 6-4½ 295 Jr./2 73 Andrew Kristofic 6-5 280 Fr./4 60 Cole Mabry 6-5 286 So./4 Walk-on: Quinn Murphy (53) BGI 2019 OFFENSE DEPTH CHART Right guard Tommy Kraemer will help anchor an offensive line this year that has a complementary collection of leaders. The 6-6, 319-pound senior has started 19 games the past two seasons. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER