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of the offense enhances their efforts. Next to Tuitt and Nix, Martin is Notre Dame's best 2014 NFL prospect. 5. Senior Cat linebacker/defensive end Prince Shembo — Relatively overshadowed last year, Shembo still finished fifth in tackles (51), second in tackles for loss (10.5), second in sacks (7.5) and first in quarterback hurries (12), while playing his hybrid role where he might be in the threepoint stance in some defensive packages and off the line in others. Although at 6-2 he doesn't possess the prototype range of a pass rusher off the perimeter, his strength, technical skills and drive have maximized his output. Top Five Games Head coach Brian Kelly will attempt to lead Notre Dame to a double-digit victory total two consecutive years for only the fifth time in its storied history. photo by bill panzica Top Five Players 1. Senior nose guard Louis Nix III and junior defensive end Stephon Tuitt — Separating one from the other would be unjust. Both are projected in multiple 2014 NFL Mock Drafts as first-round picks — including Nix No. 7 and Tuitt No. 13 on the "Big Board" of ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. Their ability to control the line of scrimmage enabled Notre Dame to finish No. 2 nationally last season in scoring defense (12.77 points per game), seventh in total defense (305.46 yards per game) and 11th in rushing defense (105.69). Statistics don't really define their overall value, but in 2012 they combined for 97 tackles, 20.5 of which were behind the line of scrimmage (with 14 sacks), 12 quarterback hurries and four forced fumbles. Nix broke up a team-high five passes, and there were hidden contributions in how they opened up lanes for linebackers to clean up with tackles. 3. Fifth-year senior left tackle Zack Martin and fifth-year senior left guard Chris Watt — In the same way Nix and Tuitt are inevitably linked on one side of the line of scrimmage, so too are Martin and Watt on the other side. Nothing was more bread-and-butter in last year's Fighting Irish attack than a stretch sweep, or other forms of running, to the left. The 189.38 yards rushing per game by Notre Dame in 2012 was the best since 2000 — and 50 yards more per game on the ground than any other Irish team since 2004. Each has started every game the past two seasons (and Martin all three years since 2010), and their chemistry and knowledge 1. Sept. 7 at Michigan — Stanford is probably the best opponent on the 2013 schedule, but no game defines a Notre Dame campaign better than the early-season result against the Wolverines. The series is 14-14-1 since its renewal in 1978. In the 15 years Notre Dame did not lose, it finished 137-42-3 (.761 winning percentage), never had a record worse than 6‑6, won at least nine games 10 times and finished in the Associated Press top 10 seven times. In the 14 years the Fighting Irish lost to the Wolverines, their final record was 92‑77‑1 (.544), with six losing seasons, 11 with a minimum of five defeats and none with less than three losses. With the series coming to a halt after the 2014 contest and some offseason verbal sparring, most notably Michigan head coach Brady Hoke commenting at an alumni event about Notre Dame being "chicken," there should be plenty of emotional fervor. Michigan has won five of the last seven, including three straight at home. 2. Nov. 30 at Stanford — The Cardinal's 35-5 record the past three seasons is the same as Alabama's. Stanford also is 7‑1 in its last eight meetings against USC and Notre Dame, with the lone defeat occurring in overtime at Notre Dame last October when the Cardinal disputed a Fighting Irish goal-line stand on the game's final play. Head coach David Shaw's program is a popular preseason top-five choice again, and BCS postseason implications could be on the line in this finale. 3. Sept. 28 vs. Oklahoma — Notre Dame has an amazing 9-1 advantage in this series, including last year's 30-13 victory at Norman. This can't be sitting to well in Sooner Nation. Head coach Bob Stoops' team might be sitting where Notre Dame was prior to 2012 — unrest, questions at quarterback, labeled as underachievers … Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview ✦ 21 20-27.Season Preview-Superlatives.indd 21 6/25/13 8:46 AM