BGI Special Edition

BGI Preseason 2013

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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position and in front of Grace on the depth chart. "That's a fluid situation with all those guys playing in there and getting reps," Kelly said a week into fall camp. "It won't be a twoperson rotation. It's three right now and, who knows, it could be four." It shouldn't come as a major surprise that Grace slipped behind Fox and Calabrese for first dibs in that trio of linebackers. Fox has played in every game the last three years, and he's started at the Will linebacker spot all but four games during the past two seasons. Calabrese is the current team leader in career tackles with 146 total stops. At a position often compared to the quarterback of Sophomore defensive end Sheldon Day has been praised by the defense, it's no surprise that head coach Brian Kelly for his strong technique and great Diaco and Kelly want to give stamina. photo courtesy notre dame media relations Grace time to ease into his new role. Replacing Te'o's leadership will be a committee job. Replacing his production 3. Who Is The Most Underrated Player In Notre on Saturdays will fall on a group only Dame's Lineup? slightly smaller. At the end of spring Irish defensive linemen Stephon Tuitt practice it appeared that junior Jarrett and Louis Nix III cast a long shadow — Grace was going to get the nod to step 679 pounds worth of shade — but Notre in at Mike linebacker after spending Dame's coaches don't expect their talent two seasons as an understudy. Now, it and size to keep the opposite side of the appears that his arrival will be delayed defensive line out of the spotlight this just a bit longer. season. Fox and Calabrese, the tandem that Sophomore defensive end Sheldon has shared reps at the weakside inside Day and Shembo both drew high praise linebacker position the past two years, from Kelly during the preseason. Day have taken most of the first-team reps may be the most talented defender on in the middle this season. Fox, who sat Notre Dame's roster when it comes to out the spring while recovering from shedding blocks. He doesn't have the shoulder surgery, slid over to the Mike size (6-2, 290) of his counterparts, but he

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