Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2020 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1264448
BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 15 UNDER THE DOME LINEBACKERS MANTI TE'O (2010-12), JAYLON SMITH (2013-15) AND DRUE TRANQUILL (2014-18) With Te'o and Smith, Notre Dame joined Alabama as the only two schools during the decade to have two Butkus Award win- ners, representing the top linebacker in college football. Te'o also was the Heisman Trophy runner-up as a senior. Two-time captain and Academic All- American Tranquill was the consummate leader at rover and Buck linebacker during Notre Dame's 22-4 run in 2017-18. Te'von Coney (2015-18) would be our next man in, and he teamed superbly with Tranquill. CORNERBACKS KEIVARAE RUSSELL (2012-13, 2015) AND JULIAN LOVE (2016-18) Running back/slot receiver recruit Russell was instead a F r e s h m a n A l l - American on the other side of the ball for the 2012 crew that advanced to the BCS National Champion- ship Game, and the Irish were 31-6 when he started. A consensus All-American in 2018, Love turned pro after his junior campaign in which Notre Dame made the College Foot- ball Playoff. He shattered the school record for career passes broken up with 39. Honorable mention: Robert Blanton (2010-11) was tremendously versatile and an exceptional tackler. Bennett Jackson, a 2013 captain, and Troy Pride Jr. (2016-19) provided plenty of clutch play. SAFETIES HARRISON SMITH (2010-11) AND ALOHI GILMAN (2018-19) The team's lone captain in 2011, Smith blossomed into a first-round draft pick and has become one of the NFL's elite safeties, with a fifth straight Pro Bowl in 2019. Navy transfer Gilman had a Tranquill-like effect in raising the games of those around him during a 23-3 run, grading out as Pro Football Focus' No. 1 safety in '18 and serv- ing as a captain in '19. Honorable mention: Jalen Elliott (2016-19), Matthias Farley (2011-15) and Zeke Motta (2010-12). KICKER & PUNTER JUSTIN YOON (2015-18) AND TYLER NEWSOME (2014-18) Both four-year starters, Yoon was the most accurate kicker (80.8 field goal percentage) with the most field goals converted (59) and the most points scored (367) in program history. Named a team captain, Newsome's 44.0 career average is second best in school history. Honorable mention: Kyle Brindza, who in 2012-13 during a 21-5 run converted 43 of 57 field goals (75.4 percent) and also handled punting duties on occasion. — Lou Somogyi Serving You Since 1988 Buy ✦ Sell ✦ Trade BeST SelecTion & priceS Notre Dame Football tickets www.NotreDametickets.com Tickets also available for other nationwide events including MlB, nFl, auto racing, nBa, all sports, concerts 800-925-2500 Call today for friendly, personal service and a Special Discount! Manti Te'o was the Butkus Award winner as the nation's top linebacker and also finished as the runner-up in the 2012 Heisman Trophy balloting. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA