Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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44 PRESEASON 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED The bad news for the Irish is that four new offensive linemen will be starting together for the first time in this game. With Williams and Tyree both back to lead a deep stable of talented run- ning backs, expect the Irish run game to be the staple of its offense, but uncertainty looms over any season opener, especially given the offensive personnel overhaul. And following the departure of graduated quarterback Ian Book — who was the third on the team last season with 485 rushing yards — production in this category could slip, depending on how long it takes for the Irish line to find its footing. That said, FSU was miserable at stopping the run last season, allow- ing 199.2 yards per game, which ranked 97th in the country. The Seminoles' defense does return its top three tacklers, all linebackers. Redshirt sophomore Amari Gainer — picked by Athlon as an All-ACC third-team preseason selection — paced FSU with 65 tackles. Redshirt senior Emmett Rice added 61 stops and led the team with 7.5 tackles for loss, while redshirt freshman Ste- phen Dix Jr. had 45 tackles in 2020. Rice suffered a leg injury in the spring and his availability for this game remained questionable through camp. Notre Dame averaged 211.1 rush- ing yards per game last season, which ranked 24th nationally. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. FLORIDA STATE PASS DEFENSE With a new starting quarterback in graduate transfer Jack Coan throw- ing to a group of unproven pass catchers beyond sophomore tight end Michael Mayer, and a rebuilt offensive line, this category brings much uncertainty to start the season. Irish head coach Brian Kelly admit- ted to growing impatient while wait- ing for a "transformational" season from his group of senior wide receivers — Lawrence Keys III, Joe Wilkins Jr., Kevin Austin Jr. and Braden Lenzy — a quartet that all of ND Nation is still waiting to see emerge. Book didn't have the biggest arm, but he was efficient and clutch as a passer, finishing last season with GAME PREVIEW: FLORIDA STATE Redshirt sophomore linebacker Amari Gainer was tabbed as a preseason All-ACC third-team selection by Athlon after leading the Seminoles in tackles (65) in 2020. PHOTO COURTESY FLORIDA STATE ATHLETICS Offense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. WR 4 Kevin Austin Jr. 6-2 215 Sr. 5 Joe Wilkins Jr. 6-1½ 195 Sr. WR 0 Braden Lenzy 5-11 3 ⁄8 182 Sr. 13 Lawrence Keys III 5-10 3 ⁄8 176 Sr. WR 3 Avery Davis 5-11 202 Gr. 2 Xavier Watts 5-11¾ 195 So. LT 54 Blake Fisher 6-6 335 Fr. 79 Tosh Baker 6-8 307 So. LG 52 Zeke Correll 6-3 295 Jr. 50 Rocco Spindler 6-4 5 ⁄8 300 Fr. C 55 Jarrett Patterson 6-4½ 307 Sr. 73 Andrew Kristofic 6-5¼ 295 Jr. RG 62 Cain Madden 6-2½ 310 Gr. 56 John Dirksen 6-5 1 ⁄8 306 Sr. RT 75 Josh Lugg 6-6 7 ⁄8 305 Gr. 76 Joe Alt 6-7 5 ⁄8 305 Fr. TE 87 Michael Mayer 6-4½ 251 So. 85 George Takacs 6-6 247 Sr. QB 17 Jack Coan 6-3¼ 223 Gr. 10 Drew Pyne 5-11½ 200 So. RB 23 Kyren Williams 5-9 199 Jr. 25 Chris Tyree 5-9½ 190 So. Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. SDE 95 M. Tagovailoa-Amosa 6-2½ 268 Gr. 9 Justin Ademilola 6-1¾ 255 Sr. NT 41 Kurt Hinish 6-1¾ 300 Gr. 56 Howard Cross III 6-0 7 ⁄8 275 Jr. or 54 Jacob Lacey 6-1 5 ⁄8 275 Jr. DT 57 Jayson Ademilola 6-3 280 Sr. 99 Rylie Mills 6-5 1 ⁄8 283 So. Vyper 7 Isaiah Foskey 6-5 260 Jr. 17 Jordan Botelho 6-2½ 245 So. Mike 40 Drew White 6-0¼ 228 Gr. 52 Bo Bauer 6-2¾ 233 Sr. Will 8 Marist Liufau 6-2¼ 229 Jr. 27 JD Bertrand 6-1 230 Jr. or 33 Shayne Simon 6-2¾ 233 Sr. Rover 24 Jack Kiser 6-1 5 ⁄8 222 Jr. 10 Isaiah Pryor 6-1½ 217 Gr. or 13 Paul Moala 5-11½ 222 Sr. CB 5 Cam Hart 6-2½ 205 Jr. 11 Ramon Henderson 6-1 190 So. CB 6 Clarence Lewis 5-11½ 193 So. 28 TaRiq Bracy 5-10 1 ⁄8 177 Sr. S 3 Houston Griffith 6-0¼ 202 Sr. 16 KJ Wallace 5-10¼ 185 Jr. S 14 Kyle Hamilton 6-4 220 Jr. 22 Justin Walters 6-0 5 ⁄8 188 Fr. NOTRE DAME DEPTH CHART Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. K 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 197 Gr. 98 Harrison Leonard 5-10 3 ⁄8 193 Jr. P 19 Jay Bramblett 6-1½ 197 Jr. 98 Harrison Leonard 5-10 3 ⁄8 193 Jr. KO 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 197 Gr. LS 65 Michael Vinson 6-2 230 Sr. or 44 Alex Peitsch 6-1 1 ⁄8 210 So. H 19 Jay Bramblett 6-1½ 197 Jr. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PR 29 Matt Salerno 6-0 5 ⁄8 199 Sr. or 13 Lawrence Keys III 5-10 3 ⁄8 176 Sr. or 25 Chris Tyree 5-9½ 190 So. or 21 Lorenzo Styles Jr. 6-1 1 ⁄8 195 Fr. KR 25 Chris Tyree 5-9½ 190 So. or 13 Lawrence Keys III 5-10 3 ⁄8 176 Sr. or 0 Braden Lenzy 5-11 3 ⁄8 182 Sr. or 21 Lorenzo Styles Jr. 6-1 1 ⁄8 195 Fr. Special Teams