Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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22 APRIL 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED Rutherford and K.J. Wallace — who also did some drill work at safety — to see more action. • Freshman early enrollee wide re- ceiver Jay Brunelle is sidelined while recovering from cleanup work this winter on his shoulder. • Also sidelined with injuries, al- though in uniform and working out, were senior guard Dillan Gibbons and sophomore defensive tackle Howard Cross III, who like Banks and Simon will be shelved this spring. • Junior wide receiver Joe Wilkins was not at the first practice while recovering from strep throat. • Senior wideout Isaiah Robertson still is on scholarship with the pro- gram, but tending to academic mat- ters this spring, per Kelly. POSITION CHANGES Senior Avery Davis moved from running back to slot receiver, while sophomore Hunter Spears shifted from defensive tackle to left guard. Davis began his career at quar- terback, moved to cornerback and ended up at running back last year, but was not a natural at hitting the holes. He was more effective work- Under third-year defensive coordinator Clark Lea — whose troops finished No. 5 last year in overall defensive efficiency — the reload is comprised of a veteran front seven that could consist of all seniors or fifth-year seniors, plus a secondary that would include a sixth-year senior (Shaun Crawford) and a graduate transfer (Ohio State's Isaiah Pryor). Yet the lone underclassman in the group — soph- omore safety Kyle Hamilton — might have the best chance to earn postseason honors after a stellar 2019 campaign in which he received Freshman All- America notice from multiple outlets. Most Career Tackles (Tackles For Loss, Sacks) 1. Drew White, 88 (8.0, 2.0 sacks) — Senior Mike linebacker's 80 stops last year tied for the team lead despite having had minimal previous experi- ence and missing the final 13 practices of spring following a skiing accident. 2. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, 80 (13.5, 5.5) — Speaking of coming out of nowhere, even more so than classmate White, the prototype rover (part linebacker, part safety, part nickel) was redshirted as a 2017 freshman and did not play a snap on defense in 2018 after a season- ending foot injury. 3. Daelin Hayes, 78 (14.5, 6.0) — Former five- star recruit has not yet had that one full campaign that has actualized his vast skill set. The foremost goal is a season of health at vyper with both Julian Okwara and Jamir Jones having graduated. 4. Shaun Crawford, 66 (2.5, 1.5) — Despite hav- ing been sidelined 40 games while overcoming ACL and Achilles surgeries, plus multiple torn elbow ligaments last year that kept him out of action in two contests, his presence is highly valued on a unit that is replete with youth. Crawford's four career interceptions match sophomore safety Kyle Ham- ilton's, and they are the only two players on the roster who have recorded picks at Notre Dame. 5. Ade Ogundeji, 56 (10.5, 5.5) — Began to come into his own last sea- son along the edge because of injuries to both Julian Okwara and Hayes, including tying for the team lead in forced fumbles (three). He and Hayes as graduate students could provide one of the more seasoned bookend tandems nationally. 6. TaRiq Bracy, 52 (0.0, 0.0) — Established himself well in the corner rota- tion last year as a sophomore while recording a team-high seven passes broken up and tying for the lead in fumbles recovered (two). 7. Kyle Hamilton, 41 (1.0, 0.0) — The 6-4 sophomore safety potentially might be the best pro prospect on defense. Per Pro Football Focus, his pass coverage rating when targeted was the best in the nation (minimum 15 targets). 8. Jayson Ademilola, 44 (5.5, 0.5) — Now entering his junior season after serving as the backup at tackle for first-round pick Jerry Tillery (2018) and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (2019), he provides excellent depth in the front- line rotation. 9. Jordan Genmark Heath, 42 (1.0, 0.0) — Who replaces Asmar Bilal at Buck LB this year? Juniors Shayne Simon and Jack Lamb are currently side- lined, so this is a chance for the senior to vie for the role. 10. Bo Bauer 38 (2.0, 0.0) — Much of the junior's damage has been done on special teams — where he was named the top player in 2019 — while backing up White at Mike linebacker. 11t. Kurt Hinish, 36, (7.0, 3.5) — Workmanlike senior combines with sophomore Jacob Lacey (14 tackles last year, 1.5 for loss with 0.5 sacks) to provide a stout tag team at nose tackle. 11t. Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, 36 (4.5, 0.5) — Bounced back well in 2019 after a broken foot sidelined him 11 games in 2018. With two more years of eligibility remaining, he is projected to be an anchor along the deep defen- sive interior. Note: The aforementioned Pryor recorded 45 tackles (two for loss, one sacks), six passes broken up and an interception during his career at Ohio State. — Lou Somogyi Notre Dame Pre-Spring Superlatives On Defense Senior linebacker Drew White leads all returning Fighting Irish defenders with 88 career tackles. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER