Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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28 JUNE/JULY 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED Just because the other 19 red- shirted didn't mean they did not at least get their feet wet in collegiate competition. Linebackers Marist Liufau and Jack Kiser each played the NCAA maxi- mum four games allowed on spe- cial teams, with Liufau specifically pegged for the toughest opponents. Running back Kyren Williams played in the first four, including on kickoff returns, before getting redshirted. One of the top impact plays of the season came from defensive end Isa- iah Foskey, whose fourth and final appearance was saved for the reg- ular-season finale at Stanford. With the Irish trailing 17-7 in the second quarter, Foskey blocked a punt that set up Notre Dame at the Cardinal's 1-yard line, and it spearheaded a 45-24 victory. Seven of the remaining 19 played the four-game maximum limit, while eight others saw mop-up duty in at least three contests, especially the 66-14 and 52-0 blowouts of New Mex- ico and Bowling Green, respectively. BALANCE: LINE AND LINEBACKER EMPHASIS As noted, the 2019 recruiting class centered more on linemen and linebackers. With the move of Hunter Spears this spring from defensive tackle to left guard, Notre Dame has a full offensive line in this group with him and John Olmstead at guard, Zeke Correll at center, and Andrew Kristofic and Quinn Carroll (side- lined last year because of ACL sur- gery in August) as the tackles. Unlike Jarrett Patterson at cen- ter last year, none of that quintet is slated to start this season as a sopho- more because all five starters from last year return. Thus, the 2020 cam- paign serves as an incubating point of development for the five second- year offensive linemen. Rivals actually rated Carroll as Notre Dame's top prospect in the 2019 harvest, placing him No. 68, while Hamilton was No. 75 to ac- count for the school's two lone top-100 representatives (247Sports had Hamilton No. 15 and ESPN No. 165, while Carroll was No. 177 by ESPN and No. 182 in 247Sports). Correll might be good enough at center where by 2021 he could start there and possibly shift Patterson to guard or tackle (where Patterson originally began his career). Defensively, this class now features Foskey and NaNa Osafo-Mensah on the edge, and Lacey and Howard Cross III in the interior. Although listed at only 6-1, 265, Cross' emergence last season was a surprise, including shifting from end to tackle, while playing in the maxi- mum allowed four games. He is part of the reason the staff was comfort- able moving the higher-rated four- star Spears to offense. Cross did un- dergo offseason surgery that would have sidelined him this spring. For the second year in a row, Notre Dame signed four linebackers, which is why it was not deemed a need in the 2020 cycle, and none were signed. After doing some cross-training at Buck and rover, look for Liufau and Kiser to become full-time mainstays on special teams this season. On the flip side, the 2019 haul featured smaller and less-heralded groups at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end. There are only three total players at those four positions after Cam Hart moved from wide receiver to corner- back during the middle of the 2019 season. Plus, wideout Kendall Ab- dur-Rahman has to learn the wideout position — he lined up at slot in the lone spring practice — after playing quarterback in high school. That is a primary reason why land- ing star power at those positions was crucial in this past recruiting cycle with the likes of Johnson, Mayer and Tyree, among others. DEPTH: BUILDING BLOCKS The lone projected starters as sophomores in 2020 are Hamilton and Bramblett. Therefore, whatever quality depth this class can supply to the No. 2 units will be the gauge this year before embarking on what should be major roles in 2021 as juniors. One of the positions in need of im- mediate help is cornerback behind projected starters Shaun Crawford, who returned for a sixth year after missing three seasons with injury, and junior TaRiq Bracy. Consequently, the progress of KJ Wallace, Isaiah Rutherford and Hart in this class will be particu- larly crucial. Wallace was an active figure in 2019 August preseason camp, but never quite rotated into the two deep. Rutherford did not see any ac- tion, but made significant inroads over the winter. "These are great examples of guys who are going to need some time and need to continue to develop," Lea said. "Isaiah changed himself from last summer to this point, he can help you win games. In addition to being a mainstay on special teams this year, Marist Liufau will cross-train at Buck line- backer and rover. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER