Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 30, 2019 7 UNDER THE DOME THE FLIP SWITCH In Kelly's first nine seasons, here were some of the most notable position changes from offense to de- fense, or vice versa: 1. KeiVarae Russell — He arrived in South Bend as a running back/slot receiver, but the 2012 team was in desperate need of corners after graduating two start- ers and seeing Lo Wood suffer a preseason injury that would sideline him the entire year. Out of nowhere, Russell was a Freshman All-Amer- ican corner for the 12-1 Irish. After three days at cor- ner, Russell actually requested a move back to offense because he didn't think he could play the position, but he eventually developed into a third-round pick in the NFL Draft. 2. Troy Niklas — A regular at outside linebacker and along the line as a 2011 freshman, it was a surprise when he made the shift to tight end in 2012 with All- American Tyler Eifert already there, and sophomore Ben Koyack and junior Alex Welch projected as the future. Still, the staff needed a physical blocking presence, and the powerful Niklas made eight starts as an in-line blocker in 2012 and was a semifinalist for the Mackey Award in 2013 before turning pro as a junior and get- ting drafted in the second round. 3. C.J. Prosise — He began his career at safety, auditioned at outside linebacker, and then developed at slot receiver as a junior in 2014 when he caught 29 passes that averaged 17.8 yards, plus had 10 rushing attempts for 126 yards (12.6 per carry). Out of need, he moved to running back in 2015 and became a third-round pick after a campaign in which he rushed for 1,029 yards and 6.6 yards per carry, plus caught 26 passes for 308 yards. 4. Matthias Farley — Not on the two-deep receiving corps as a 2011 freshman, Farley surprised everyone as an 11-game starter at safety during the dramatic 2012 campaign. He and Russell were two of the top indi- vidual "where did he come from?" stories of the year. The future captain now is in his fourth NFL season (New York Jets) even though he was not drafted. 5. Bennett Jackson — A wide receiver recruit in 2010, he starred on special teams as a freshman before mak- ing the transition to corner and, with Russell, started all 13 games there during the stunning 2012 campaign. He earned a captaincy in 2013 and has hung on to fulfill his NFL dream, including making the Jets' roster with former college roommate Farley. 6. James Onwualu —A physical blocker as a freshman receiver (two catches for 34 yards) in 2013, Onwualu made the transition to linebacker the next year. As a senior captain in 2016 he recorded 77 tackles and paced the team in stops for lost yardage (11.5), fumbles forced (three) and was second in passes defended (five). He currently is on injured reserve for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. Also notable is two of the mainstays on last year's defense included tackle Jerry Tillery and safety Jalen Elliott. Tillery was originally considered an offen- sive tackle prospect, but instead became a first-round selection on defense. Elliott was renowned mainly for his work at quarterback, but eventually adjusted well on defense. — Lou Somogyi KeiVarae Russell arrived in South Bend as a running back/slot receiver, but was moved to cornerback due to the need for more depth there and went on to earn Freshman All-America honors for a 12-1 Irish squad in 2012. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS Holy Cross Village is a continuing care retirement community, sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross, with a tradition of caring, compassion and trust. Holy Cross Village welcomes people of all faiths. 54515 State Rd., 933 North, Notre Dame, IN 46556 www.holycrossvillage.com ... AND ENJOY THE GAME OF LIFE AT HOLY CROSS VILLAGE I magine making new friends and developing new talents, where everything you need to enjoy the game of life is right outside your front door. Nestled among three institutions of higher learning, Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame is a senior living community unlike anything else around. Our warm and inviting community offers: Independent Living Homes and Apartments Assisted Living Apartments Skilled Nursing Memory Care Rehabilitation Services Call (574) 251-2235 today for more information and to schedule a tour.