Blue and Gold Illustrated

Nov. 14, 2020

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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38 NOV. 14, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED Through seven contests, Jurkovec was averaging 267.9 passing yards per game with 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Arguably, Jurkovec's most memorable game this season came Oct. 31 when he led the Eagles to a 28‑10 lead in the first half at Clemson before the top‑ranked Tigers clawed back for a 34‑28 win. Sophomore wide receiver Zay Flowers (32 catches for 536 yards and five touchdowns), junior tight end Hunter Long (41 catches for 478 and three scores) and junior wide receiver CJ Lewis (18 catches for 285 yards and four touchdowns) provide a productive and reliable receiving trio. Despite uninspiring sack and interception num‑ bers for Notre Dame so far this season, its ability to limit "chunk" plays in the passing game remains the strength of a defense that has hovered near or inside the top 10 most of this season in each of the big‑four categories: rushing defense (eighth, 93.7 yards allowed per game), pass efficiency de‑ fense (seventh, 100.59 rating), total defense (sixth, 267.2 yards allowed per game) and scoring defense (fourth, 10.3 points allowed per game). Irish safeties — sophomore Kyle Hamilton and sixth‑year senior Shaun Crawford — provide a reliable and steadying force in the Notre Dame secondary. Advantage: Even NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. BOSTON COLLEGE RUN DEFENSE After a quick start where Notre Dame had at least one 100‑yard rusher in each of its first four games, the Irish running game has cooled off some in recent weeks, though it still ranked second in the ACC and 11th nationally with 231.0 yards per game heading into its matchup against Clemson Nov. 7. The formula for Notre Dame hasn't changed this season: sophomore Kyren Williams gets the bulk of the carries with junior C'Bo Flemister and freshman Chris Tyree — all three of whom have enjoyed at least one 100‑yard rushing game this season — serv‑ ing as capable reserves. Book also provides timely ground production to complement the trio. Two BC linebackers — fifth‑year senior Max Rich‑ ardson and junior Isaiah McDuffie — have been terrific so far this season. Those two entered play against Syracuse last weekend tied for first in the ACC with 69 total tackles. Notre Dame remains one of only three confer‑ ence teams to average more than 200 rushing yards a game, while the Eagles have remained in the middle of the conference pack this season at stopping the run (156.9 yards allowed per game). Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. BOSTON COLLEGE PASS DEFENSE Much room for improvement remains as Notre Dame continues its search for better continuity and a deep downfield threat within its wide re‑ ceiver group. No Irish pass catcher averaged more than 50 yards per game during the 6‑0 start. The good was that six different Notre Dame pass catchers averaged at least 20 receiving yards per game through the first six outings. Freshman tight end Michael Mayer continues building his case as a first‑team selection for the 2020 Freshman All‑America Team, and fifth‑year senior wide receiver Javon McKinley is showing better consistency after a here‑today‑gone‑tomor‑ row start to his season. Led by McDuffie at linebacker and fifth‑year se‑ nior defensive end Maximilian Roberts working off the edge, the Boston College sack rate is slightly im‑ proved this season from last year, and its youthful secondary recorded six interceptions through seven games after tallying 10 all of last season. Advantage: Notre Dame SPECIAL TEAMS The highlights for Notre Dame through its first six games remained the two touchdowns scored off blocked punts and not making any notable mistakes on its kick coverage units. Junior kicker Jonathan Doerer remains reliable for the Irish, and Notre Dame's kick return game has been adequate with Tyree getting the bulk of the work bringing back kickoffs. With no touchdown returns allowed or recorded and nothing particularly noteworthy on the BC stat sheet, there is not much to report with its special teams, although the Eagles did allow a blocked kick this season. Advantage: Notre Dame COACHING Kelly has thrived in these settings, winning nine of his last 10 road games against ACC foes since 2016 by an average of 30.1 points per outing. First‑year Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley takes over an Eagles program that went to six bowl games in seven seasons under former head coach GAME PREVIEW: BOSTON COLLEGE Offense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. WR 11 Ben Skowronek 6‑3 220 5th‑Sr. 18 Joe Wilkins Jr. 6‑1½ 190 Jr. WR 3 Avery Davis 5‑11 202 Sr. 18 Joe Wilkins Jr. 6‑1½ 190 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. 8 Jafar Armstrong 6‑1 220 Sr. 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 20 C'Bo Flemister 5‑11 195 Jr. 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. or 24 Jack Kiser 6‑1½ 227 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. 10 Isaiah Pryor 6‑1½ 204 Gr. 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 32 Matt Salerno 6‑0½ 196 Jr. 13 Lawrence Keys III 5‑10½ 173 Jr. KR 25 Chris Tyree 5‑9½ 188 Fr. or 8 Jafar Armstrong 6‑1 220 Sr. Special Teams

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