Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1185700
6 NOV. 23, 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY LOU SOMOGYI D uring the preseason, there was consensus acknowledgement that defensive end was hands down the best all-around single position on the 2019 Notre Dame team when com- bining experience, star power, pro- duction and especially quality depth. The coaching staff was even dis- cussing redshirting a fifth senior de- fensive end, Jamir Jones, just to return more experience at the unit in 2020. Jones had played 206 snaps as a junior for the 2018 College Football Playoff team — yet was the fifth op- tion behind starting captains Khalid Kareem and Julian Okwara, plus po- tential future NFL prospects in Dae- lin Hayes and Ade Ogundeji. That role changed for Jones when Hayes tore his labrum during the vic- tory versus Virginia Sept. 28. Because that was only the fourth game this season, Hayes is eligible to return for a fifth season in 2020, which he already indicated he plans to do. Hayes then took on Jones' "role" while Jones became Hayes as the "third starter" along the edge. Now Jones is the starting drop end after Okwara, who has appeared in several 2020 mock drafts as a potential first-round selection, also was ruled out the remainder of this season be- cause of a fractured fibula suffered during the 38-7 victory at Duke Nov. 9. Having played the full allotment of games all four seasons, Okwara is not eligible to apply for a fifth season, and finished his senior cam- paign with 18 tackles, six for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and seven quarterback hurries, which were second only to Kareem's eight entering the Nov. 16 Navy game. What's notable is, in fewer snaps, Jones had almost identical stats: 17 tackles, six for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles. His hurries are only two, although he did make the game-changing forced fumble on Vir- ginia quarterback Bryce Perkins. The first three ends remain a vet- eran, proven group, although perhaps not possessing the sheer speed off the edge such as an Okwara or Hayes. Comprising the next three likely will be sophomores Ovie Oghoufo (6-3, 230) and Justin Ademilola (6-2, 250) at drop end and strongside end, respectively, with freshman Isaiah Foskey (6-5, 250) the wild card in sub packages. Oghoufo began asserting his pres- ence during the spring after origi- nally enrolling as a linebacker pros- pect. This and next season are ideal times for his apprenticeship behind the veterans, as it is for the stockier Ademilola, the twin brother of Irish sophomore defensive tackle Jayson. Other than freshman safety Kyle Hamilton, there might not be an un- derclassmen on the current Notre Dame roster who passes "the eye test" better than Foskey. He possesses both the prototype range and quickness — he also was a highly coveted tight end recruit — to the point where the staff has debated all year about whether or not to use him more than four games and burn a redshirt season. Because of the injury to Okwara, Foskey played his third game of the year at Duke while working in the nickel package. He can play one more game this season without losing eli- gibility, and the staff decided one of them would not be facing Navy's triple option Nov. 16. It will come against a more conventional offense run by Boston College Nov. 23, Stan- ford Nov. 30 or maybe the bowl game. UNDER THE DOME ( DEFENSIVE ) ENDS TO A MEANS A season-ending injury to Julian Okwara impacts the perimeter again Okwara's senior season come to a premature end when he suffered a fractured fibula in the 38‑7 win at Duke Nov. 9. PHOTO BY ANDRIS VISOCKIS The Fifth-Year Dimension Preserving a fifth year for a freshman is always a topic among coaches. To do that, an individual can- not play in more than four games at any time of the season. However, with someone such as freshman defensive end Isaiah Foskey, not playing him more than four games would seem counterproductive because if he becomes as good as the staff believes he can be, concerning oneself about a fifth year is as inconsequential as it was for Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem back in 2016. Such figures are primed to turn pro in year four, and in rare cases year three. So, looking toward a fifth season would seem presumptuous. "Generally speaking, there is not a fifth year for most of these guys, but that doesn't mean we have carte blanche to just throw a guy out there and take that year away," head coach Brian Kelly explained. "We want to take their best interests. "For me, it's difficult to just throw a kid in there for a sixth or fifth game and not consider the pos- sibility for a redshirt, even though the probability is they're not going to have that. It's just my way of doing business." Once a younger player appears in a third or fourth game, he is well aware of the business plan. "Generally they all know now that I'm probably not going to play them unless they're a guy like Kyle Hamilton that's definitely impacting from day one," Kelly said. — Lou Somogyi