Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1158434
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com PRESEASON 2019 47 any of them. In fact, his 42-yard field goal easily traveled about 60 yards. He has an almost effortless motion in approaching the ball, yet it explodes off his leg. Later, in a scrimmage situation, Doerer 's lone field goal attempt, from 44 yards and on the left hash, was good and went well up into the stands. "Jonathan has been really consis- tent in camp," Kelly said. "I don't know if I've ever scripted this much kicking — purposely, obviously, to test them, and because we had some competition. "Jonathan has done a great job of stepping up and proving that he is going to take that job and win that job. We still have some more time, but I would say he is putting himself in a very good position." Leonard made a fine initial impres- sion on the first day of camp (Aug. 4) when he converted all five of his at- tempts, with a long of 42 yards. In a later session open to the media, he was less consistent, and both he and Doerer missed from 28 yards but bounced back afterwards. "Harrison is very steady as well, a solid kicker," Kelly said after the aforementioned Aug. 17 session. "What I liked is today we had some consistency with two kickers hitting the ball and it seemed easy. That's a good place to be." Serving as the holder was Bram- blett, a departure from fifth-year walk-on quarterback Nolan Henry, who had the role last year. Bramblett also fared well during the Aug. 17 punting drills, averaging 40.2 yards on his five attempts, with a long of 44. More significant was he continues to get impressive hang time for the coverage unit. Notable about Bramblett is he was also a productive high school quar- terback, completing 68 percent of his passes as a senior and throwing for more than 2,400 yards. In an earlier practice open to the media he punted 11 times for a 36.5 average, with decent hang time more often than not. He shanked one that traveled only 27 yards, but followed up with his longest one the next time, 47 yards with excellent hang time. In the Blue-Gold Game last April, he averaged only 34.9 yards on eight punts. Excellent hang time is going to have to be Bramblett's calling card because at this point of his career he does not possess the sheer leg strength Newsome did. The most vital stat is to produce at least a 38.0- yard net average while limiting the return yardage. Even with Newsome's leg last year, Notre Dame finished 60th among 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams with a 37.74-yard net, allowing 149 yards in returns (about 11.5 yards per game). "He's not a guy that's turning it over 55-60 yards, but he's a 4.5 to 4.6 [second] hang-time guy, which is what we're looking for," Kelly said. "This is still about consistency, and we just think he's very coachable." Bramblett comes from a coach- ing family and has excelled at quar- terback. Kelly has cited his poised make-up as a positive. "The moment is not going to be too big for him," Kelly said "We think he'll be able to bounce back from a bad kick, that he's got a short memory." With a coy approach, Kelly noted Bramblett has "a terrific arm," and also possesses the ability to rugby punt. The three return men on punts were fifth-year senior wide receiver Chris Finke, the starter the past three seasons, plus sophomore wideouts Lawrence Keys III and Joe Wilkins. There were no kickoff drills in the four practices open to media, so there is no full read on the return men there yet, especially with junior wide re- ceiver Michael Young sidelined with an injury. Young had nine of Notre Dame's 13 kick returns last year and averaged 21.2 yards on them. ✦ Kicker No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 203 Jr./2 98 Harrison Leonard* 5-10½ 203 Fr./4 Punter No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 19 Jay Bramblett 6-1½ 188 Fr./4 30 Jake Rittman* 6-2 210 So./4 Long Snapper No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 54 John Shannon 6-2 225 Sr./2 65 Michael Vinson* 6-2 224 So./4 46 Axel Raarup* 6-0½ 192 So./4 * Walk on BGI 2019 SPECIAL TEAMS DEPTH CHART Bramblett averaged 45.1 yards per punt as a prep senior and earned an invite to play in the 2019 All- American Bowl. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA