Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2020 Notre Dame Football Preview
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14 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW UNDER THE DOME From 2010-19, Brian Kelly became the first Notre Dame football head coach to be in office for an entire decade that began with "0" and ended in "9" since Knute Rockne in the 1920s. Thus, this can also be referred to as the "All-Kelly Team," with 11 starters on of- fense, 11 on defense, a utility man, kicker and punter. Such teams can always prompt plenty of disagreement. Our criteria was based on four factors: impact — especially during the bet- ter seasons — production, leadership and talent. QUARTERBACK IAN BOOK (2017-19) Second-round draft pick DeShone Kizer (2014-16) had the most physical talent, but Book achieved the most, contributing vitally each year from 2017-19 while going 20-3 in a starting role plus coming off the bench to help save the 2018 Citrus Bowl win versus LSU. The lone QB captain during the decade, he passed for 6,118 yards and 57 touchdowns, and also became only the fifth Notre Dame quarterback to eclipse 1,000 career rushing yards. In 2018, he finished 17th nationally in passing efficiency — the best in the Kelly era — while helping the Irish into the Col- lege Football Playoff. Others might have been physically stron- ger, taller and swifter, but Book was the most accomplished overall — passing, running, winning, leading. RUNNING BACK/UTILITY JOSH ADAMS (2015-17) & THEO RIDDICK (2010-12) Adams' 3,198 yards on the ground were the most in the decade by an Irish player — and is fifth on the all-time chart, while his 6.7 yards per carry ranks third all time for backs who had at least 150 carries. As an all-purpose back — inside, outside, blocking, catching — Riddick is the standard in the Brian Kelly era, a slight edge over C.J. Prosise. WIDE RECEIVERS MICHAEL FLOYD (2010-11), WILL FULLER (2013-15) AND CHASE CLAYPOOL (2016-19) Floyd and Fuller were first-round selec- tions — the latter after his junior season —while Claypool was taken in the second round. The game-breaking Fuller's 30 touch- downs were the most by an Irish player dur- ing the decade, and he averaged 17.4 yards on his 144 catches. Slightest edge for 2019 Team MVP Chase Claypool over 2013 MVP TJ Jones for the third spot, mainly because of Claypool's combination of size and speed (4.42 40-yard dash at NFL Combine). TIGHT END TYLER EIFERT (2010-12) Earned the 2012 John Mackey Award as the nation's best tight end for the 12-1 Irish. The NFL first-round selection's 140 recep- tions are a Notre Dame career record. In a double-tight-end alignment, we would select Cole Kmet (2017-19), who was a second-round pick this April as only a junior. OFFENSIVE LINE RONNIE STANLEY (2012-15), QUENTON NELSON (2014-17), NICK MARTIN (2011-15), ZACK MARTIN (2010-13) AND MIKE MCGLINCHEY (2013-17) Not many teams could assemble a line in any decade comprised of four first- round NFL selections and one taken in the second (Nick Martin). Zack Martin, Nelson and Stanley are All-Pro caliber, with the for- mer two on course for Hall-of- Fame careers, while two-time All-American and two-time captain McGlinchey also is establishing himself as a premier NFL lineman. Like older brother Zack and McGlinchey, Nick Martin was a two-time captain for the Irish and has started at center three straight years in the NFL. Honorable mention: Alex Bars (2014-18) and Robert Hainsey (2017-19) were three- year starters who could play any position on the line. DEFENSIVE LINE SHELDON DAY (2012-15), STEPHON TUITT (2011-13), JERRY TILLERY (2015-18) AND LOUIS NIX (2010-13) Day's 32 stops for lost yardage (and 141 overall) were the most among Irish linemen this decade. Like Day, second-round pick Tuitt could play inside or on the edge and was the first Notre Dame defensive lineman to receive second-team AP All-America notice as a sophomore when he recorded 12 sacks. Four-year starter Tillery was the first Irish defensive lineman selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in 22 years (Renaldo Wynn in 1997). Nix often controlled the middle that made everyone around him, especially linebackers, all the more effective. Honorable mention: Khalid Kareem (2016-19), Kapron Lewis-Moore (2010-12), Isaac Rochell (2013-16) and Julian Ok- wara (2016-19). 2010-19 ALL-DECADE TEAM Guard Zack Martin (2010-13) is part of an offensive line group that is comprised of four first-round NFL selections and one in the second. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA