Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 23, 2019 7 UNDER THE DOME Chase Claypool Provided Consistency And Playmaking By Lou Somogyi Defensive end takes a hit with the graduation of Khalid Kareem, Julian Okwara and Jamir Jones, but the return of Daelin Hayes, Ade Ogundeji and some prime young talent helps allay those losses. Same at safety with a promising trio of Kyle Hamilton, Houston Griffith and Ohio State graduate transfer Isaiah Foskey. Cornerback is perhaps going to be the prime con- cern, but head coach Brian Kelly has indicated that a defense can adjust coverages and provide help, much like the 12-1 team in 2012 did when it had to convert wide receiver Bennett Jackson and fresh- man running back/slot receiver KeiVarae Russell after losing its top three players there. But so much of the offense centers on an aircraft carrier type of receiver, which is what Chase Claypool has been this year, like Miles Boykin and Will Fuller were before him. He was the constant "get out of jail" card downfield on 50-50 balls with so many acrobatic catches and, in my humble opinion, the team MVP, with the way he opened up avenues for others. Michael Young is transferring, sophomore Braden Lenzy has had some health setbacks and potential fifth-year senior Javon McKinley must emerge much more versus Power Five foes. Sophomore Kevin Austin might possess the most star power, but he will be coming off a suspension and must dem- onstrate he can first abide by the standards laid out by the school. Jordan Johnson is an exciting incoming five-star figure, but how will he adjust to the college game, including blocking like Claypool? Claypool gave so much as a receiver and will be difficult to replace. Irish Defense Backed Into Corner Minus Troy Pride Jr. By Todd D. Burlage Poking holes in wide receiver Chase Claypool as the team's most irreplaceable player next season isn't necessarily easy, especially with fifth-year senior slot receiver Chris Finke also gone and not much proven on the field behind those two. But with All-American tight end Cole Kmet expected to be back for his senior year, whoever quarterbacks Notre Dame in 2020 will inherit one of the best targets in the country. The Irish defensive backfield is a different story — and the reason why Troy Pride Jr. will be missed much more than Claypool. Sophomore TaRiq Bracy has been solid at cornerback this season with his ball- hawking skills, solid tackling and nose for the football. Beyond that in 2020? Pride is gone, Donte Vaughn is gone, Shaun Crawford also probably is gone unless he wants to try a sixth year. Highly recruited sophomore Houston Griffith is deemed better at safety, and freshman corner K.J. Wallace recorded one tackle in his allotted four games this season. Add to the 2020 cornerback quandary the losses of NFL- bound safeties Alohi Gillman and Jalen Elliott, and Pride's absence becomes magnified. Offensively, Kmet is back, the entire Irish offensive line should return, along with a full stable of running backs, which can easily absorb the loss of one wide receiver. But cornerbacks work on an island, unsheltered, playing arguably the toughest position on the field. And after having Julian Love and/or Pride patrolling one or both of the corner spots the last four years, Pride's depar- ture next season will create quite a challenge for the Fighting Irish defense. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH SENIOR OUT OF ELIGIBILITY WILL BE TOUGHEST TO REPLACE IN 2020? Legendary Irish guard Tim Grunhard is not only a perfect case study in the four-for-40 model Notre Dame sells itself on — four years spent here equal 40 successful years to come — but he's also a committed father who will forever cherish his time then and now at Notre Dame. Grunhard, the dad of current Irish junior cen- ter Colin Grunhard, knows everything about the present and past of Notre Dame football. The elder Grunhard started for the 1988 Irish na- tional championship team and graduated in 1989 before enjoying an 11-year NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. His success as an NFL player and businessman allows him to never miss any of Colin's games, which keeps his appreciation alive and well for the university he still adores. BGI: What is your fondest memory at Notre Dame? Grunhard: "Playing for and winning the na- tional championship was my favorite year of all time because there were not a lot of expectations going into the season. "It was just a bunch of guys that came together, and that's special, it doesn't happen like that. All of sudden the light just came on and we just all bought in. That was the finest moment of my football career." BGI: What are you up to now? Grunhard: "I do talk radio here in Kansas City, and I have a couple of different businesses, but I do a lot of football analysis for 810 WHB, which is the largest sports station in the area. I do that Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and I take my Fridays off so I can travel and watch the Notre Dame games." BGI: Let's talk about your son Colin. He's a walk- on but a valuable special teams member, an im- proving player and a valued teammate. Grunhard: "Colin is ecstatic about the opportu- nities that he has had. He's up to about 50 or 55 [career] plays, and they put him on some special teams. He's really excited about getting out there. "When you're on special teams, you're in the game all the time. Colin is a really hard-working kid, and the guys like him. When he goes out, there's a buzz, especially with the offensive and defensive linemen, and he takes pride in that." BGI: Have you been pleased with your son's decision to attend Notre Dame? Grunhard: "Coach [Brian] Kelly has been very, very fair. He's been great to my son, and that's all I can ask. When we decided to bring Colin up here for a visit, we knew he was going to be a walk-on even though he had other scholarship offers to some smaller schools. Coming to Notre Dame was clearly the right decision." BGI: What are your thoughts on Colin's football experience with the Irish? Grunhard: "Coach Kelly told Colin that he wanted to give him every opportunity to play, it didn't matter if he was a walk-on, and Coach Kelly has lived up to that. I can't thank him enough for giving my son an opportunity to go out and play for Notre Dame." — Todd D. Burlage Five Questions With … FORMER NOTRE DAME OFFENSIVE LINEMAN TIM GRUNHARD Grunhard's son, Colin, is a walk-on junior cen- ter for the Fighting Irish and valuable special teams player. PHOTO COURTESY TIM GRUNHARD CHASE CLAYPOOL TROY PRIDE JR.