Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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20 APRIL 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED ascend dramatically in 2021. The pro- jected trio to start in 2020 were juniors Kevin Austin Jr., Braden Lenzy and Lawrence Keys III, who combined for 13 catches last season while battling an assortment of health setbacks. Five-star freshman Jordan Johnson played all of 26 snaps while not yet displaying the "traits" necessary to aid the cause, per Kelly. Could he be this year as a sophomore what Wil- liams was at running back in 2020? Maybe, but when all is said and done, more needs to be done than said with this entire group. 10. CORNERBACK The most pronounced gaps be- tween established top-10 program Notre Dame and superpowers Ala- bama, Clemson and Ohio State the past several years have been at quar- terback and on the edge, specifically wide receiver and cornerback. It re- mains the same entering 2021. McCloud — a graduate transfer from North Carolina State — helped bolster Notre Dame's back end in 2020, but he is gone and at some point more emergence is needed from eight players here who have, technically, four years of eligibility remaining. Clarence Lewis was a top surprise as a freshman last year while moving ahead of junior TaRiq Bracy at field corner. ✦ Most Career Rushing Yards 1. Kyren Williams, 1,151— Enjoyed a remark- able sophomore season with 1,125 rushing yards, 5.3 yards per carry and 13 scores. 2. Chris Tyree, 496 — The game-breaker 's rushing total was the seventh-most by a Notre Dame freshman. 3. C'Bo Flemister, 461 — He has quietly tal- lied 10 touchdowns the past two seasons, five apiece. Most Career Passing Yards 1. Jack Coan, 3,278 — The Wisconsin graduate transfer has completed passes at a 68.0-percent clip, with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Most Career Catches 1. Michael Mayer, 42 — Last year, the prized tight end recruit was the first at Notre Dame to lead the team (or tie for it) in catches as a rookie. 2. Avery Davis, 39 — Former quarterback, cor- nerback and running back took over as the start- ing slot receiver last year and caught 24 passes for 322 yards and two scores. 3. Kyren Williams, 35 — In addition to his running, he became a safety valve option out of the backfield. 4t. Braden Lenzy, 18 — Yearlong health set- backs limited the speedster to seven catches for 63 yards and one score last season. 4t. Lawrence Keys III, 18 — Like his classmate Lenzy, injuries took a toll on him in 2020 while playing behind Davis and snaring five passes. Most Career Tackles (Tackles For Loss, Sacks) 1. Drew White, 144 (17.0, 3.5) — The middle linebacker returns for his fifth season and is captain material. 2. Kyle Hamilton, 104 (5.5, 0) — The All-American safety as sopho- more is premier pro prospect and led the team in stops last year with 63. He also has the most career passes broken up (12) and intercep- tions (five). 3. TaRiq Bracy, 76 (2.0, 0) — Enter- ing his senior year, he will attempt a bounce-back campaign after losing the starting field corner job to fresh- man Clarence Lewis last year. 4. Bo Bauer, 64 (6.5, 1.0) — Senior complement to White in the middle came into his own last year as a ju- nior, and remains a special teams mainstay. 5. Kurt Hinish, 55 (14.5, 5.5) — Re- turns for a fifth season after starting all 25 games the past two seasons at the demanding nose tackle position. 6. Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, 53 (10.5, 3.0) — Combines with class- mate Hinish in defensive interior to provide vet- eran leadership and toughness. Clarence Lewis and TaRiq Bracy (above), who each made six starts in 2020, lead the way for an inexperienced group of cornerbacks. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN Mike Elston, Brian Polian Switch Roles The first position switch for Notre Dame in 2021 came on the coaching staff. Less than a week after the National Signing Day on Feb. 3, head coach Brian Kelly announced that defensive line coach Mike Elston has added roles as the defensive run game coordinator and recruiting coordinator, while special teams coordinator Brian Polian will also serve as the associate head coach. Elston and Polian are effectively switching places. Elston was the associate head coach from 2018-20 and was previously the recruiting coordinator from 2017-18. Polian served as the recruiting coordinator the last three seasons. No assistant coach held the defensive run game coordinator title last season. "These were two very beneficial moves as we continue to develop our staff," Kelly said in a released statement. "As special teams coordinator, Brian Polian engages with a lot of the team on a regular basis and in implementing game- day decisions. "He is essential in helping us understand NCAA legislation, and in building relationships within and beyond our program." This is the fourth time in his coaching career Elston has held the recruiting coordinator title, with the first coming at Eastern Michigan (2002-03). He also held that role for Kelly at Cincinnati (2007-08) and Notre Dame (2015-17). "Likewise, Mike Elston has done a tremendous job in recruiting and is a natu- ral fit in that role," Kelly said. "He has had success designing and organizing our recruiting efforts, and we look forward to him leading us there. "Additionally, his expertise with the defensive line can assist us in our run game preparation and coordination." In other coaching news, graduate assistant Chris Watt, a three-year starting left guard for the Irish from 2011-13 who assisted offensive line coach Jeff Quinn last season, has been hired by Tulane as its offensive line coach. He is reunited there with former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long (2017-19), who was hired by the Green Wave this past December. — Patrick Engel ELSTON POLIAN Spring Superlatives