Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1246464
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JUNE/JULY 2020 11 UNDER THE DOME THEY SAID IT "Notre Dame has shown it can recruit elite pros- pects along the line and at tight end, which should continue through 2022. The 2020 recruiting class includes two ESPN 300 tight ends and two ESPN 300 tackles. But new play caller Tommy Rees needs more playmakers and could have some on the way with Chris Tyree [ESPN's No. 5 running back in 2020] and Jordan Johnson [ESPN's No. 5 wide receiver]. "The Irish get quarterback Ian Book for one more year, and potential long-term answer Tyler Buch- ner arrives in 2021. A short-term key is for non- senior receivers Kevin Austin, Lawrence Keys III and Braden Lenzy to develop more consistency [Northwestern graduate transfer Bennett Skow- ronek should help, too]. Notre Dame's offensive line projects as its best since 2017, and there's plenty of depth to sustain through 2022." — ESPN's Adam Rittenberg on why Notre Dame is No. 9 in his future offense power rankings "There's really a tremendous void in the coach- ing profession. These last number of years, wom- en's basketball being on the national stage and the Final Four being the biggest stage, Muffet McGraw and Notre Dame have been a huge, huge, huge part of that. "Whoever was coming in to that job is going to have an impossible situation. How do you build on a Hall of Fame career and all those Final Fours and national championships? But I think having a former player in there, having somebody like Niele who has played there and coached there, I just think that's an amazing hire." — UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma on Muffet Mc- Graw stepping down and Niele Ivey getting hired as the successor (The Hartford Courant) "What they're getting is an athletic tight end that is going to impact their offense immediately. He's smart. He's got the capabilities to get better and better as he continues to develop. Having a lot of tight ends on your roster is one thing. Having Cole Kmet, well, that's another. "I've had Travis Kelce [at Cincinnati], Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph, Durham Smythe. I've had a number of tight ends that are doing exceedingly well and have been All-Pros in the NFL. Cole Kmet will be in line with all of those guys." — Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly on the Chicago Bears drafting tight end Cole Kmet PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM OF THE MONTH ➤ "They're getting bunk beds." — The Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 24 on Julian and Romeo Okwara becoming teammates Vintage Notre Dame Memorabilia Augie's Locker Room Check Out Our Wide Selection of ND Stadium Items, Jersey's, Helmets, Autographs and One of a Kind Rockne Items. Exclusive Joe Montana Signed Items. Voted Best Notre Dame Collectables in the Country! Stop In And See Our Vintage Helmet Display ~ 1890's To Present, And The Rockne Exhibit! 1811 South Bend Avenue South Bend IN 46637 Located Near Campus 574-277-NDND (6363) www.augieslockerroom.com FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: FACEBOOK.COM/AUGIESLOCKERROOM "He kind of reminds me of me. Not the tallest guy. Not certainly the biggest, because he's 5-9, 5-10 —180 [pounds] or 185. That was about the size I was coming into Notre Dame. But I love his speed, his agility, his ability to stop and start. He's not just a straight-line guy. He has very good hops and good vision. "And one thing I think I would say about him more than anything, I like him out of the backfield and his ability to catch the ball. Very personable young man and some - one I think can win here." — Former Notre Dame running back Reggie Brooks on incoming recruit CHRIS TYREE (The South Bend Tribune)