Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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10 NOV. 7, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME UNDER THE DOME ISAIAH PRYOR BIDING HIS TIME When a college football player becomes a graduate transfer, especially from a power- house such as Ohio State, the opportunity for more playing time is often a primary goal. For Former Buckeyes safety Isaiah Pryor, who graduated in two and a half years and has at least two years eligibility remaining, it was only part of the equation to enroll at Notre Dame last winter. "It had a lot to do with the education," the Lawrenceville, Ga., native said. "I am working on getting my master's [in finance]. I'm a little halfway through with that. That was very im- portant to me, making sure I was set up for life after football at a great institution." Not winning a starting position right away at safety this year didn't affect his competitive drive, and his shift to rover this month has been embraced. He was a standout in the fourth quarter at Pitt, including a strip sack, and he could be in line to succeed potential first-round pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah next year. "It was something I was comfortable doing, going in there playing more of a hybrid posi- tion, covering, blitzing … helping out the team any way I can," he said, adding that he had experience with the position in high school. While playing on all four special teams units, Pryor has become a mainstay in that area, which was important to him. "I was always, growing up, understanding how important special teams is," Pryor said. "It's a very crucial part of the team. It's some- thing that shouldn't be taken lightly, especially because most of the time it could be the dif- ference between winning and losing the game. "I take it very seriously, and I try to do my hardest to make sure that I get my job done, make sure everyone's doing what their sup- posed to do and being a leader anywhere I can." — Lou Somogyi Personnel News & Notes During preparation for Georgia Tech, the receiving corps remained in flux despite the return of junior slot receiver Lawrence Keys III — who made a reserve appearance at Pitt Oct. 24 — from concussion protocol. However, junior wide receiver Braden Lenzy re-injured his hamstring — which has been a lingering problem for him — late in the game at Pittsburgh. Per head coach Brian Kelly, that injury will sideline him versus Georgia Tech and Clemson, and perhaps even Boston College Nov. 14. Last year, Lenzy averaged 23.1 yards on his 11 catches and 15.4 yards on his 13 rushing attempts. Through five games this season, while battling his ham- string issue, his six catches have been good for 63 yards (10.6 yards per catch) and his three carries for eight yards (2.7 yards per attempt). "He has been a warrior, tough and gritty," Kelly said. "Most guys who have great speed don't handle it the way he has handled it. … We need to think about getting him right before we get him into a competitive situation." • With junior wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. (re-break of his foot, out for the season) and Lenzy both shelved, freshmen Jordan Johnson, Xavier Watts and Jay Brunelle were striving for an opportunity to contribute at wideout. Johnson, a five-star recruit who was not even on the travel list to Pitt, made an impression on fifth-year senior quarterback Ian Book during Tuesday's practice for the Georgia Tech outing. "Jordan Johnson was doing an unbelievable job," Book commented to the media after the session. "He took pride in being up there and knowing the plays for this week, and he had some unbelievable catches. That's what we need to see." For his part, Book is not reluctant to throw to capa- ble freshmen. Rookie tight end Michael Mayer paced the team in receptions with 12 for 153 yards with two scores, after snaring five for 73 yards and a touchdown from Book in the romp at Pittsburgh. "He's fun to play with," Book said. "I know when the ball's in the air, he's go- ing to go make a play on it. He's somebody that loves the game, somebody that wants to learn a lot and keep getting better. "He's really, really good. He's going to play football a long time." • Jun ior n ose tackle Ja'Mion Franklin put his name into the transfer por- tal during the week of prep- aration for the Georgia Tech game. Franklin has seen action in just two games and has not recorded any statis- tics this year. He was not on the travel roster for the 45-3 victory at Pittsburgh on Oct. 24. — Lou Somogyi and Patrick Engel Leading up to the Georgia Tech game, freshman Jordan Johnson was impressive in practice and earned high praise from fifth- year senior quarterback Ian Book while the Irish explored options to bolster their depleted receiving corps. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS Pryor, a graduate transfer from Ohio State, is a mainstay on all four of the Irish special teams units and has seamlessly made the switch to rover, where he picked up a strip sack in the win at Pitt. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS