Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1165986
26 SEPT. 23, 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED NEW BLOOD MAKES A SPLASH Of the nine touchdowns Notre Dame scored against New Mexico, five came from players that have never been in the end zone before. It began when phenom freshman safety Kyle Hamilton intercepted a tipped pass from Lobos quarter- back Sheriron Jones and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown. Junior running back Avery Davis took his lone touch of the game 59 yards for a score, while senior wideout Javon McKinley had both his first and sec- ond touchdown catches. Sophomore running back C'Bo Flemister got into the act with a one- yard score and sophomore wide receiver Braden Lenzy finished the game off with a nice catch and run into the end zone on a throw from freshman signal-caller Brendon Clark — also giving Clark his first comple- tion and touchdown pass. Additionally, freshman walk-on kicker Harrison Leonard scored with his first two career extra points. Freshman running back Kyren Wil- liams played in the opener against Louisville, but had his first rush- ing attempt (for a three-yard gain) against the Lobos. The emergence of the young play- ers is a testament to not only the re- cruiting efforts of the coaching staff but also player development. Players who got their first career game action were sophomore of- fensive lineman Cole Mabry; fresh- men offensive linemen Zeke Correll, Andrew Kristofic and John Dirksen; sophomore defensive lineman Ovie Oghoufo; freshmen defensive line- men Isaiah Foskey, NaNa Osafo- Mensah, Howard Cross and Hunter Spears; freshmen wide receivers Cam Hart and Micah Jones; sophomore PARTICIPATION CHART OFFENSE QB: IAN BOOK, Phil Jurkovec, Brendon Clark, Nolan Henry RB: TONY JONES JR., C'Bo Flemister, Kyren Williams, Avery Davis, Mick Assaf WR: CHASE CLAYPOOL, Javon McKinley, Micah Jones, Cam Hart, Leo Albano WR: CHRIS FINKE, Braden Lenzy, Matt Salerno WR: LAWRENCE KEYS III, Joe Wilkins Jr., Arion Shinaver TE: BROCK WRIGHT, Tommy Tremble, George Takacs LT: LIAM EICHENBERG, Joshua Lugg LG: AARON BANKS, Dillan Gibbons, Logan Plantz C: JARRETT PATTERSON, Colin Grunhard, Zeke Correll RG: TOMMY KRAEMER, Trevor Ruhland, John Dirksen RT: ROBERT HAINSEY, Cole Mabry, Andrew Kristofic DEFENSE SDE: KHALID KAREEM, Ade Ogundeji, Justin Ademilola, Kofi Wardlow, NaNa Osafo-Mensah DT: MYRON TAGOVAILOA-AMOSA, Jayson Ademilola, Howard Cross III NT: KURT HINISH, Jacob Lacey, Ja'Mion Franklin, Hunter Spears Drop: JULIAN OKWARA, Daelin Hayes, Ovie Oghoufo, Isaiah Foskey Mike: DREW WHITE, Shayne Simon, Bo Bauer Buck: ASMAR BILAL, Jack Lamb, Jordan Genmark Heath Rover: JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH, Paul Moala Stud: JALEN ELLIOTT, DJ Brown, Patrick Pelini Whip: ALOHI GILMAN, Kyle Hamilton Field CB: SHAUN CRAWFORD, TaRiq Bracy, KJ Wallace Boundary CB: TROY PRIDE JR., Donte Vaughn, Houston Griffith, Temitope Agoro SPECIAL TEAMS Kickoff Coverage: Kyle Hamilton, Troy Pride Jr., Jalen Elliott, Jack Kiser, Alohi Gilman, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Bo Bauer, Ovie Oghoufo, Jordan Gen- mark Heath, Shaun Crawford, Jonathan Jones, Patrick Pelini, Jack Lamb, Paul Moala, DJ Brown, Houston Griffith, KJ Wallace Kick Return: Jack Lamb, Shayne Simon, George Takacs, Bo Bauer, Jack Kiser, Patrick Pelini, Jonathan Jones, Kyren Williams, DJ Brown, Jordan Genmark Heath Punt Coverage: Bo Bauer, Joshua Lugg, Brock Wright, Dillan Gibbons, Alohi Gilman, Chase Claypool, Jordan Genmark Heath, Jalen Elliott, Shayne Simon Punt Return: KJ Wallace, Jack Kiser, Jonathan Jones, TaRiq Bracy, Shayne Simon, Patrick Pelini, Houston Griffith, Bo Bauer, DJ Brown, Temitope Agoro, Arion Shinaver Kickoff: Jonathan Doerer, Harrison Leonard Placekicker: Jonathan Doerer, Harrison Leonard Punter: Jay Bramblett Long/Short Snapper: John Shannon, Michael Vinson Holder: Jay Bramblett Kick Returner: Lawrence Keys III, Kyren Williams Punt Returner: Chris Finke, Joe Wilkins Jr. NEW MEXICO GAME NOTES BY ANDREW MENTOCK AND VINCE DEDARIO Freshman safety Kyle Hamilton's first career interception also resulted in the game's initial touchdown, a 34-yard return at the 10:09 mark of the first quarter. A natural ball hawk with his instincts and rangy 6-4 frame, Hamilton is becoming a regular in the lineup. PHOTO BY ANDRIS VISOCKIS