Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 10, 2020 29 Through the first two games, Notre Dame has relied on its running game to move and score the football, often using two- and even three-tight-end sets, with junior Tommy Tremble sometimes lining up as a fullback. For Florida State, talented defensive back Ham- sah Nasirildeen is expected to return at some point this season but was held out of FSU's first two games as he continues recovery from a devastating knee injury suffered late last season. Nasirildeen led the Seminoles with 101 total tackles and three forced fumbles in 2019. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Amari Gainer is off to a solid start in 2020, leading the team in tackles (18, 3.5 for loss) through two games. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. FLORIDA STATE PASS DEFENSE With the Irish running game cranking on all cyl- inders, the staff is not overly concerned about a lack of production from the wide receivers in the passing game so far. Through the first two games, Notre Dame's wide- outs recorded only 11 of the teams 32 receptions, with fifth-year senior quarterback Ian Book mainly targeting his tight ends and running backs. Hamstring injuries limited the work of two Irish wide receivers — fifth-year senior Ben Skowronek and junior Braden Lenzy — through the first two games. But coming into the FSU contest off of two idle weeks should have these important pass catchers back to 100 percent. One touchdown pass through the first two games wasn't what Book would've expected. But with eight rushing touchdowns for Notre Dame during those first two outings — including three from Book — his passing numbers were excused. Florida State returns terrific junior defensive back Asante Samuel Jr. — a 2019 third-team All- ACC selection — after he recorded 48 total tackles last season and had 14 of his team's 51 passes bro- ken up, almost unheard of production in the latter category. Through the first two games this season, Samuel already had two interceptions — both of which he returned for more than 35 yards — to go along with two passes broken up. None of FSU's pass defense team statistics jump off the page from last season and are trending on about the same pace so far this year. The Seminoles recorded eight interceptions (89th in the country), managed 2.46 sacks a game (44th) and were 56th in pass efficiency defense last season. Advantage: Notre Dame SPECIAL TEAMS Through consistency in the kicking game and a couple of big plays in the return game, Notre Dame is getting some quality work from these units so far this season. The Irish received high marks against South Florida when sophomore linebacker Osita Ekwonu blocked a punt that freshman linebacker Jordan Botelho secured in the end zone for a third-quarter Notre Dame touchdown. With limited attempts through the early season, the Irish have still ranked at or near the top 25 in both punt and kickoff returns so far. Improving the poor special teams units from last season is another big challenge that Norvell and his staff continue to sort through. Advantage: Notre Dame COACHING Norvell and most of his staff come to Florida State from Memphis, where they turned the Ti- gers offense into one of the best in the country. Memphis finished eighth in the nation in scoring in 2019, averaging 40.4 points a game. With the experience and talent Blackman and Terry provide on offense, along with 10 returning starters on defense, Norvell has a chance to turn around this legendary program sooner than later, though the 52-10 thumping at the hands of rival Miami Sept. 26 suggest the restoration project might take some time. Kelly enters this matchup having won 20 con- secutive home games — the fourth-longest streak in the country — while his team has been practi- cally unbeatable by ACC foes, winning 15 of its last 16 regular-season conference games since 2016. Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES What was once a proud rivalry now features two programs in different places. Notre Dame remains very much in national title contention if it can control its COVID breakouts and player losses, while FSU — which went 6-7 in 2019 — is rebuilding and hoping just to reach a .500 record this season. Kelly won his last meeting against Florida State 42-13 in 2018, but had lost the previous two times — 31-27 in 2014 in a game between top-five teams, and 18-14 in the 2011 Champ Sports Bowl. Advantage: Notre Dame GAME PREVIEW: FLORIDA STATE Offense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. WR 0 Braden Lenzy 5-11½ 181 Jr. 18 Joe Wilkins Jr. 6-1½ 190 Jr. WR 3 Avery Davis 5-11 202 Sr. 13 Lawrence Keys III 5-10 173 Jr. LT 74 Liam Eichenberg 6-6 302 5th-Sr. 73 Andrew Kristofic 6-5 292 So. LG 69 Aaron Banks 6-6 330 Sr. 76 Dillan Gibbons 6-4 309 Sr. C 55 Jarrett Patterson 6-4½ 305 Jr. 52 Zeke Correll 6-3 295 So. RG 78 Tommy Kraemer 6-6 317 5th-Sr. 56 John Dirksen 6-5 306 Jr. RT 72 Robert Hainsey 6-5 290 Sr. 75 Josh Lugg 6-7 310 Sr. TE 89 Brock Wright 6-4½ 255 Sr. 24 Tommy Tremble 6-3 242 Jr. or 85 George Takacs 6-6 245 Jr. or 87 Michael Mayer 6-5 235 Fr. WR 88 Javon McKinley 6-2 215 5th-Sr. 18 Joe Wilkins Jr. 6-1½ 190 Jr. QB 12 Ian Book 6-0 206 5th-Sr. 7 Brendon Clark 6-2 212 So. RB 23 Kyren Williams 5-9 194 So. 25 Chris Tyree 5-9½ 188 Fr. or 34 Jahmir Smith 5-11 207 Jr. or 20 C'Bo Flemister 5-11 195 Jr. or 8 Jafar Armstrong 6-1 220 Sr. Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. Vyper 9 Daelin Hayes 6-4 270 5th-Sr. 29 Ovie Oghoufo 6-3 240 Jr. or 7 Isaiah Foskey 6-5 257 So. DT 95 M. Tagovailoa-Amosa 6-2½ 282 Sr. 57 Jayson Ademilola 6-3 279 Jr. NT 41 Kurt Hinish 6-2 296 Sr. 54 Jacob Lacey 6-2 293 So. SDE 91 Ade Ogundeji 6-4 268 5th-Sr. 19 Justin Ademilola 6-2 248 Jr. or 7 Isaiah Foskey 6-5 257 So. Buck 33 Shayne Simon 6-3 228 Jr. or 35 Marist Liufau 6-2 226 So. Mike 40 Drew White 6-0 227 Sr. 52 Bo Bauer 6-3 230 Jr. Rover 6 J. Owusu-Koramoah 6-1½ 215 Sr. 13 Paul Moala 5-11½ 224 Jr. CB 4 Nick McCloud 6-0½ 192 5th-Sr. 5 Cam Hart 6-2½ 207 So. CB 28 TaRiq Bracy 5-10 180 Jr. or 26 Clarence Lewis 5-11½ 192 Fr. SS 20 Shaun Crawford 5-9 180 6th-Sr. 3 Houston Griffith 6-0 204 Jr. FS 14 Kyle Hamilton 6-4 219 So. 12 DJ Brown 6-0 194 Jr. or 10 Isaiah Pryor 6-1½ 204 Gr. NOTRE DAME DEPTH CHART Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. KO 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 197 Sr. 38 Dawson Goepferich 6-2 200 5th-Sr. K 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 197 Sr. 38 Dawson Goepferich 6-2 200 5th-Sr. P 19 Jay Bramblett 6-1½ 193 So. 38 Dawson Goepferich 6-2 200 5th-Sr. LS 65 Michael Vinson 6-2 226 Jr. 44 Alex Peitsch 6-1 208 Fr. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. H 19 Jay Bramblett 6-1½ 193 So. 14 J.D. Carney 5-10 180 Sr. PR 13 Lawrence Keys III 5-10 173 Jr. 29 Kyren Williams 5-9 194 So. KR 25 Chris Tyree 5-9½ 188 Fr. or 8 Jafar Armstrong 6-1 220 Sr. Special Teams