Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/145833
Mathias Farley, who apprenticed as a wide receiver on the scout team as a freshman, came out of nowhere to start 11 games at safety and make 49 tackles in 2012. Photo by Bill Panzica Stanley for the fifth starting spot along the line. If Stanley becomes the No. 1 right tackle, the current incumbent, senior Christian Lombard, might even shift inside to right guard. At 309 pounds of better distributed weight since enrolling, Hanratty provides more girth than the 295-pound Golic, and his motor might be his prime asset for now. "He really plays hard," offensive line coach Harry Hiestand said. "… He just gives everything he's got on every snap." Quality Depth Outside linebacker Ben Councell, cornerbacks Jalen Brown and Josh Atkinson, safety Eilar Hardy, and in- side linebackers Anthony Rabasa and former preferred walk-on Joe Schmidt are not currently in line for prominent roles, but each provides much-needed depth for the Irish defense. Councell, a top-150 recruit amongst various recruiting services, might be the poster boy of how far the program has come the past three years under Kelly and his staff. At 6-4, 248 pounds and fleet afoot, Councell fits the classic profile of what the coaches are looking for at the drop linebacker position. Yet senior incumbent Spond just might be the most technically sound and assignmentcorrect player on defense, and incoming five-star recruit Jaylon Smith will knock on the door for playing time.