Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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8 OCT. 14, 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Blake Fisher has spent most of this season working mainly as an anonymous cog along the Notre Dame offensive line. And that's just fine with the starting junior right tackle. Anonymity for any offensive lineman is typically better than the alternative. The highest-rated offensive line recruit for Notre Dame in 2021 since offensive guard Quenton Nelson in 2014, Fisher came out of Avon (Ind.) High School listed as the No. 1 player in the Hoosier State, and the No. 7 offensive tackle and No. 55 overall player nationally in the On3 Industry Ranking. A talented player and a quick study, Fisher arrived at Notre Dame as an early enrollee in the winter of 2021 and became only the second freshman offensive line- man to ever start a season opener at Notre Dame (Sam Young being the other in 2006). Unfortunately, a knee injury sidelined Fisher in the season opener that year and he didn't return to the lineup until the Fiesta Bowl in January 2022. Fisher was back as the full-time starter at right tackle as a sophomore in 2022. He stayed healthy and played well in all 13 games. And now in 2023, he is generating some All-America consideration. Blue & Gold Illustrated recently caught up with Fisher to discuss his season so far, his time at Notre Dame and his growth as a player. BGI: How do you maintain a steady approach with all the highs, lows and tense moments this season has provided? Fisher: "Just playing for each other, playing together. Offensively, it's just making sure we got the right snap counts, we're hearing the right things. On the line, all five are playing as one because the offense goes as we go." BGI: How would you compare Blake Fisher from last year to this year? Fisher: "Blake Fisher this year is a lot more relaxed, is a lot more confident, a lot more dialed in and clear on what he's sup- posed to be doing. I feel like this year I am playing at a really high and fast level when I'm on the field compared to last year." BGI: What other differences have you noticed between the two seasons? Fisher: "Last year was kind of like my first year after just playing two games as a fresh- man. This year, the game is a lot slower, seeing a lot more, and just having more fun with it just because I'm not stressing." BGI: What has that done for your confi- dence level? Fisher: "It has helped me play a lot faster, play at a high level, which was one of my goals this year was just to be consistent and confident in my abilities. The best thing about this season is just being able to still get better as it moves along." BGI: How hard was it to earn a starting spot as a freshman and then miss almost the entire season with an injury? Fisher: "Coming in, one of everybody's main goals is to start as a freshman and that's some- thing I did accomplish, and then I ended up get- ting hurt. So I look at that year as kind of a grow- ing and a development year, especially mentally." — Todd D. Burlage Five Questions With … NOTRE DAME JUNIOR OFFENSIVE TACKLE BLAKE FISHER Tackle Everyone Else By Jack Soble Tackling Caleb Williams will be a challenge in and of itself, but it's important to remember that USC has several playmakers who can hurt the Irish — both on offense and on special teams. Lead running back MarShawn Lloyd, a redshirt junior who trans- ferred from South Carolina, has a Pro Football Focus elusiveness rat- ing of 203.4. That's the third-best mark in the country (minimum 50 attempts), and that's just the start. The sample size is smaller, but true freshman running back Quinten Joyner's elusiveness rating is 190.5. No. 1 wide receiver Tahj Washington (a redshirt senior) averages 13.3 yards after catch per reception as Williams' favorite deep-ball target. And then there is true freshman Zachariah Branch. Branch, the No. 4 player in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking, is incomprehensibly good with the ball in his hands. Lining up primarily in the slot, he has 16 touches for 209 yards and 2 touch- downs on offense, but he's especially dangerous as a kickoff and punt returner. He's scored twice and has every trait (decisiveness, change-of-direction ability and otherworldly acceleration) you would want in a return man. Notre Dame has had some issues with its tackling. Graduate stu- dent linebackers Marist Liufau and JD Bertrand have each missed 7 tackles, per PFF. Senior safety Xavier Watts leads the team with 9. While he is an outstanding cover corner, sophomore Benjamin Morrison is a poor tackler right now. Sophomore linebacker Jaylen Sneed might have to be a DNP-Coach's Decision. If the Irish don't tackle well, they will lose to the Trojans. Score At Least 40 Points By Todd D. Burlage There's an old saying that we're all familiar with that goes, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." And that's exactly the position Notre Dame will find itself in Saturday night when USC comes to town. The Irish mainly relied on defense in its wins so far this season. Through its first six games, Notre Dame was tied for 14th nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 13.0 points a game. Good news and a great start indeed, but this Irish defense is facing an entirely different chal- lenge with USC and its high-powered offense led by junior quarterback Caleb Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and the favorite to win the award again. Through games as of Sept. 30, USC led the nation in scoring at 53.6 points a game. It was third in total offense at 555.0 yards per game and Williams was first in the country in passing efficiency and total touchdown passes with 21. This isn't a fluke. USC can pile up points on anyone, including Notre Dame, meaning the Irish need to score at least 40 points in this game if it hopes to have any chance at winning it. My colleague Jack Soble makes a great point that improved tackling is a must if Notre Dame wants to slow down one of the best offenses in college football history. But if the Irish plan on winning this one, they need to score early and often, because USC is sure as heck going to. Point ✦ Counterpoint: BESIDES CONTAINING CALEB WILLIAMS, WHAT DOES NOTRE DAME NEED TO DO MOST AGAINST USC? In his second full season as the Irish's starting right tackle, Fisher described himself as being more relaxed, confident and dialed in this year. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER The Trojans are loaded with play- makers, including redshirt senior wide receiver Tahj Washington. PHOTO COURTESY USC ATHLETICS