Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 11, 2021 37 GAME PREVIEW: TOLEDO NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. TOLEDO RUN DEFENSE An embarrassment of riches for Notre Dame at running back, the Irish feature a Heisman Trophy candidate in junior starter Kyren Williams along with two terrific and proven backups with sopho- more Chris Tyree and junior C'Bo Flemister. Notre Dame also received good work during fall camp from freshman tailbacks Audric Estime and Logan Diggs. Notre Dame averaged 211.1 rushing yards per game last season, which ranked 24th nationally. And with what's expected to be a greater offensive emphasis on the running game, especially while a reworked Irish offensive line finds its footing, expect those rushing numbers to improve this season. Toledo counters with a deep and talented front seven that essentially lost nobody from its 2020 starting lineup and two-deep rotation. Led by a pair of juniors — two-time All-MAC selection Jamal Hines at defensive end and 2020 All-MAC defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson — the Toledo line features both experience and depth with 10 returning lettermen. Hines has 130 tackles and 22 tackles for loss in his career, while Johnson has made 75 stops and 15 tackles for loss for the Rockets. The Rockets linebacker group is led by All-MAC junior Dyontae Johnson, who collected 47 stops during the six-game 2020 season. Toledo allowed 129.2 rushing yards per game last season, which ranked 25th nationally in rush- ing defense. The Rockets were especially stingy on third downs, allowing only a 27.4 percent conversion rate, which easily led the MAC and was the third- best mark in the country. Advantage: Notre Dame NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. TOLEDO PASS DEFENSE With a new starting Irish quarterback in gradu- ate transfer Jack Coan throwing to a group of un- proven pass catchers beyond sophomore tight end Michael Mayer, all while working behind a rebuilt offensive line, this category will remain unsettled for Notre Dame through the early part of this season. As a true freshman, Mayer tied for the team lead last season with 42 receptions. Graduate student Avery Davis (24 catches) was the leading returning Irish wide receiver, with senior starters Braden Lenzy and Kevin Austin Jr. both looking for break- out seasons. For Toledo, Desjuan Johnson is a disruptive pass rusher who led the Rockets in 2020 with three sacks in six games. Toledo also fields a talented defensive secondary with all-conference safeties senior Tycen Anderson and sophomore Nate Bauer both back as starters. Bauer recorded two of Toledo's four interceptions last season. Anderson has 182 career tackles and has played in 45 games for the Rockets. Junior defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson earned All-MAC accolades in 2020 after producing a team-high three sacks in six games. PHOTO COURTESY TOLEDO ATHLETICS