Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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12 JANUARY 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME RECEIVERS AND DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD ARE THE PRIME AREAS OF CONCENTRATION Following the regular-season finale at Stanford Nov. 30 and with no conference playoff matchup, Notre Dame coaches used that ensuing week for recruiting, especially to finalize for the early signing period that runs from Dec. 18-20. The players used that week primarily for weight training and conditioning. Once Notre Dame received the bid to the Camping World Bowl Dec. 28, where it will take on 7-5 Iowa State, the practice itinerary remained a little hazy because final exams for the first semester were the week of Dec. 16-20. In addition to working around the final exams schedule, Kelly and Co., would be functioning without offensive coordinator Chip Long, who parted ways with the program. During the December preparation, a premium is placed on getting more reps for players who will be thrust into starting roles for the first time in 2020. While the Irish are expected to be veteran- laced in most areas next season, the two primary position groups that will draw the most attention are wide receiver and the defensive backfield. The receiving corps graduates both Chase Claypool and Chris Finke, the top two targets who have combined for 190 receptions the past two seasons, while the secondary could possibly lose both starting safeties and captains Alohi Gilman (eligible for one more season) and Jalen Elliott, plus cornerbacks Troy Pride Jr. and Donte Vaughn. Corner/nickel Shaun Craw- ford could apply for a sixth season. He had indicated in September that was not in his plans, but began changing his tune later in the year. "You're looking at the position areas where there's going to be younger players needed to step in next year," Kelly said. "We'll craft and articulate areas where a senior won't play his position, but we'll put a young guy in that position and see how he handles himself with some other veterans around him. "We don't want to put a whole bunch of young guys in there right away. We'll have a day where Chase Claypool is not playing, but maybe Kevin Austin is in there with Chris Finke and Braden Lenzy. Or we'll have one of the younger freshmen D-linemen in there. That's kind of how we like to put them out there to evaluate where they are in the program." Austin was on suspension during the 2019 season and will remain so for the bowl game, but will be expected to take on a major role at the bound- ary receiver position as a junior, where he succeeds Claypool. The defensive backfield will feature 2019 Freshman All-American Kyle Hamilton at safety, with sophomore TaRiq Bracy easily the most experi- enced figure at cornerback if Crawford doesn't return. — Lou Somogyi GEORGE ATKINSON III: 1992-2019 One year after the death of his twin brother Josh to suicide on Christmas Day 2018, former 2011-13 Notre Dame running back George Atkinson III died Dec. 2, three days after his 27th birthday. The family has been beset by tragedy since the death of the twins' mother in October 2018 from Crohn's disease. In an open letter published this October by The Unsealed, Atkinson wrote he tried to "harm himself," struggled deeply after his mother's pass- ing and brother's suicide within two months of each other, and even noted getting institutionalized. "Filled with anger and guilt, I was on an emotional roller coaster and in a real dark place," he wrote. "Then, I thought about my 'why.' When I played football, helping my mom was my 'why.' She was the reason I worked so hard — I wanted to help her. Now, my daughter, who is only 2 years old, is my 'why.'" The twins were the sons of former Oakland Raiders safety George Atkin- son II, who starred for the Oakland Raiders from 1968-77. Josh enrolled as a defensive back while George III was a running back and handled kickoff returns. Both also starred in track, with George III posting a career-best time of 10.36 seconds in the 100 meters at the 2012 Big East Championships. A standout special teams performer in 2011, he was named second-team Freshman All-American by Phil Steele and was an honorable mention All- American by SI.com as a kick returner, highlighted by scoring on an 89-yard return to help defeat Michigan State and also tallying 96 yards in a loss to USC. His 915 kickoff return yards were the most in one season at Notre Dame, and he joined Raghib "Rocket" Ismail as the two freshmen in school annals to return two kickoffs for touchdowns. During the 12-1 season his sophomore year that saw the Irish advance to the BCS Championship versus Alabama, Atkinson was the third-leading rusher, behind Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood, finishing with 361 yards, 7.1 yards per carry and five touchdowns, highlighted by the game-winner in the 17-14 comeback win versus BYU. As a junior in 2013, he ranked second on the team in rushing with 93 car- ries for 555 yards, notably a career-high 148 on 14 carries with an 80-yard touchdown gallop in the 35-21 loss to Oklahoma. Suspended for the team's Pinstripe Bowl, he opted to turn pro. Although he was undrafted, Atkinson signed with the Raiders and had stints with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and the Raiders again, and was cut by the New York Jets in September 2018 after a month on the roster. — Lou Somogyi Former Notre Dame running back George Atkinson III (2011-13) died Dec. 2, three days after his 27th birthday. It was one year after the death of his twin brother Josh to suicide on Christmas Day 2018, and two years after the death of their mother to Crohn's Disease in October 2018. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA TaRiq Bracy might be the most experienced cornerback returning to the 2020 lineup. As a sophomore this season, he played in 11 games (two starts) and accounted for 32 tackles with six passes broken up, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER