Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2020 Notre Dame Football Preview
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Top Five Individual Performances Of The 2015 Class Quarterback Brandon Wimbush, shown here operating the zone read with class- mate and running back Dexter Williams, started in numerous victories versus ranked teams while excelling as a dual threat. His 207 rushing yards at Boston College in 2017 are a single-game school record by an Irish quarterback. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA 1. JOSH ADAMS AND BRANDON WIMBUSH VS. BOSTON COLLEGE, 2017 Never before and maybe never again will you see two Notre Dame players surpass 200 rushing yards in the same game as these two did during a 49-20 romp in Chestnut Hill. Adams racked up 229 yards and 12.7 yards per carry, while Wimbush set single-game school records at quarterback for rushing yards (207, 9.9 yards per carry) and rushing touchdowns (four). 2. Jerry Tillery vs. Stanford, 2018 Determined not to go 0-4 in his career versus the Cardinal, Tillery recorded four sacks and relentless pressure on a number of other occasions to go with stopping the run in Notre Dame's 38-17 rout of Stanford. For his efforts, he was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week. 3. Miles Boykin vs. LSU, 2018 Citrus Bowl With three top pass catchers injured or suspended in this game, and a fourth (Equanimeous St. Brown) injured early, somebody needed to emerge. Trailing 14-6 in the fourth quarter and facing third-and-19, Boykin made a sensational diving catch for 29 yards to set up an Irish touchdown. Still behind 17-14, Boykin then made a leaping one-handed grab and eluded two defenders for a 55-yard score with 1:28 left in the 21-17 triumph. 4. Dexter Williams vs. Virginia Tech, 2018 Williams had more yards rushing (202) later in the year in a win versus Florida State, but his 178-yard, three-touchdown effort in this 45-23 victory at Blacks- burg was more powerful — specifically his 97-yard scoring romp in the third quarter when the Fighting Irish led only 17-16. 5. Te'von Coney vs. USC, 2017— Versus the No. 11 Trojans, Coney played like a man possessed from the open- ing series, forcing a fumble by quarterback Sam Darnold that he recovered and recording five tackles (two for loss) in the first quarter en route to a quick lead and a dominant 49-14 win. He finished with a game-high 11 stops, and added the ferocity on special teams. 1. 24-17 vs. Michigan 2018 — This opener versus the No. 14 Wolverines was pivotal in Notre Dame's 2018 berth to the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Brandon Wimbush received the game ball for his leadership and play making, while classmates Chris Finke (leaping 43-yard touchdown), Miles Boykin (28-yard catch) and tight end Alizé Mack (26-yard diving catch to convert a third-and-long) helped stake the Irish to a quick 21-3 lead. Defensively, linebacker Te'von Coney had a team-high 10 stops and a fumble re- covery, tackle Jerry Tillery recorded a pair of sacks, and linebacker Asmar Bilal and safety Nick Coleman added four stops apiece. For good measure, Justin Yoon drilled a 48-yard field goal. The best all-around performance by the 2015 recruiting class. 2. 21-17 vs. LSU, 2018 Citrus Bowl — After losing two of the last three for a 9-3 regular-season finish, Notre Dame needed this win to regain momentum heading into the 2018 campaign. Boykin came to the forefront as the game MVP, highlighted by his spectacular 55-yard catch and run for the winning score with 1:28 left, which was preceded by a diving 18-yard catch by Finke. One running back, Dexter Williams, had a 31-yard run to set up a touchdown, while another, Josh Adams, broke the plane of the goal line for a two-point conversion that knotted the game at 14. On defense, Coney racked up 17 tackles while Tillery helped control the front against his native state school. Finally, in rainy conditions, Yoon converted 46- and 49-yard field goals that helped spell the difference. 3. 49-14 vs. USC, 2017 — Against the No. 11 Trojans, Adams romped for 191 yards and three touchdowns, highlighted by an 84-yard tally, while Wimbush added 106 yards and two more scores. He also tossed two first-quarter scoring passes, the first 26 yards to Equanimeous St. Brown. Coney was a force on defense with 11 tackles, while Tillery, nickel Shaun Craw- ford and safety Nick Coleman all helped limit USC's attack. 4. 38-18 vs. Michigan State, 2017 — On the road against a quality foe that would finish 10-3 and No. 15 in the country, Wimbush was an efficient 14 of 20 for 173 yards, with nine of his completions going to classmates, led by St. Brown (four for 61 yards). Adams and Williams combined for 96 yards rushing to go with Wimbush's 52. On defense, Crawford had a memorable strip and fumble recovery at the Irish goal line that changed momentum, while Coney, Tillery and Coleman also started. Yoon delivered from 46 yards on his lone field goal attempt. 5. 38-17 vs. Stanford, 2018 — Notre Dame ended a three-game losing streak to the Cardinal on the strength of superb senior performances. Tillery had four sacks to earn Walter Camp Player of the Week honors, while Coney contributed seven tackles and an interception. On offense, Williams roared to a 45-yard touchdown on his first carry after a four-game suspension, and finished with 161 yards on the ground. Boykin nabbed a career-high 11 passes for 144 yards and a score. Linebacker Asmar Bilal tied for second in tackles with six, while Finke added two catches for 30 yards. Top Five Wins For The 2015 Class 148 148 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW