Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/140903
inside linebacker nationally and the No. 31 player in California by Rivals.com … Scout.com also gave him four stars and tabbed him the nation's No. 8 inside linebacker … Played in U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Career Summary: After not playing as a freshman, his 180 special teams appearances as a sophomore were the fourth most on the team and resulted in 10 tackles … Played behind Manti Te'o most of his career and won 2008 Recruiting Class Rankings Allen Wallace (SuperPrep) — No. 2 Rivals.com — No. 2 Scout.com — No. 2 Tom Lemming (CSTV) — No. 2 ESPNU (Scouts, Inc.) — No. 9 Starters (10) Robert Blanton, CB (26 starts) Braxston Cave, C (35) Darius Fleming, OLB (36) Michael Floyd, WR (41) Mike Golic Jr., OG/C (17) Ethan Johnson, DE (37) Kapron Lewis-Moore, DE (42) Trevor Robinson, OG (40) Kyle Rudolph, TE (28) Jamoris Slaughter, S (19) Reserves (12) Lane Clelland, OT Dayne Crist, QB (10) Sean Cwynar, DL (7) Steve Filer, OLB John Goodman, WR (5) Jonas Gray, RB (5) Dan McCarthy, S Anthony McDonald, ILB Brandon Newman, DL David Posluszny, ILB Deion Walker, WR Hafis Williams, DE second monogram in 2010 mainly with special teams work (11 tackles) … Injuries sidelined him for all but four games in 2011, when he had three tackles … Joined high school teammate and quarterback Dayne Crist at Kansas to use his fifth season of eligibility after receiving his Notre Dame degrees … Overcame early-season injuries to play in eight games with three starts, while recording 29 tackles during 1-11 season. Final Analysis: Injuries and the presence of Te'o never really got his defensive career at Notre Dame off the ground, but he was able to contribute extensively in the kicking games. Brandon Newman • DL Louisville, Ky. (Pleasure Ridge Park) Prep Ranking: Labeled as a four-star recruit, the No. 2 prospect in Kentucky and the No. 22 defensive lineman nationally by Rivals.com … Scout.com also awarded him four stars and rated him as the country's No. 16 nose tackle … Played in U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Career Summary: Appeared in one game his first three seasons (Washington State in 2009), and one more (Navy) as a 2011 senior … After graduating from Notre Dame, he used his fifth year of eligibility at Ball State, where he played all 13 games, started eight and finished with 30 tackles, five stops for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception, a pass defended and a forced fumble. Final Analysis: With classmates such as Cwynar, Johnson, Lewis-Moore and Hafis Williams ahead of him, and young stars such as Louis Nix III (the successor to Ian Williams), Tuitt and Lynch coming in behind him, he was caught in a logjam throughout his career. David Posluszny • LB Aliquippa, Pa. (Hopewell) Prep Ranking: Rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 22 recruit in Pennsylvania and the No. 34 linebacker in the land by Rivals.com … Scout.com pegged him with three stars and listed him as the No. 31 weakside linebacker in the nation. Career Summary: Did not play as a freshman … Earned a monogram his sophomore year with 89 special teams appearances in 10 games (three tackles) … Played in six games on special teams as a junior, making one tackle … Saw action in 10 contests as a senior in 2011, recording four stops. Final Analysis: A safety in high school, the 6-0, 235-pounder was a "tweener" at this level, not quite possessing the speed needed at safety or the size and range for inside or outside linebacker … Special teams was where he had his best chance to play, and he made the most of it. Trevor Robinson • OG Elkhorn, Neb. (Elkhorn) Prep Ranking: Considered a four-star player, the No. 2 recruit in Nebraska, the No. 1 offensive guard nationally and the No. 37 overall prospect in the nation by Rivals.com … Ranked as a four-star prospect by Scout.com, which labeled him as the country's No. 6 offensive guard … Played in U.S. Army All-American Bowl, and joined wide receiver Michael Floyd and tight end Kyle Rudolph as a USA Today first-team All-American. Career Summary: Became only fifth freshman offensive lineman at Notre Dame since 1972 to start a game, getting the nod ahead of an injured Chris Stewart three times … Departures (1) Joseph Fauria, TE (UCLA) Note: Crist (Kansas), McDonald (Kansas), Newman (Ball State), Walker (Massachusetts) and Williams (Massachusetts) used their fifth season of eligibility elsewhere after receiving their undergraduate degrees from Notre Dame. Year-By-Year Record 2008: 7-6, Sheraton Hawaii Bowl vs. Hawaii (W, 4921). Final Rankings: unranked. 2009: 6-6. Final Rankings: unranked. 2010: 8-5, Sun Bowl vs. Miami (W, 33-17). Final Rankings: unranked. 2011: 8-5, Champs Sports Bowl vs. Florida State (L, 18-14). Final Rankings: unranked. 2012: 12-1, BCS National Championship Game vs. Alabama (L, 42-14). Final Rankings: No. 4 in Associated Press poll and No. 3 in USA Today coaches poll. Five-Year Record Overall: 41-23 (.641) Versus Big Ten: 10-5 (.667) Versus USC: 2-3 Versus Michigan: 2-3 Top-20 Finishes: 1 (2013) Top-10 Finishes: 1 (2013) Trevor Robinson, who came to Notre Dame as the nation's top prep offensive guard, became only the fifth Irish freshman offensive lineman since 1972 to start a game. photo by bill panzica 152 ✦ Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview 148-153.Class of 2008.indd 152 6/25/13 1:04 PM