Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/167574
ally don't flip-flop a lot, but in addition to Martin the Irish have been the beneficiary of 2008-11 guard Trevor Robinson (Nebraska) and 2003-06 center Bob Morton Jr. (Texas A&M). Defensive Line: Eddie Vanderdoes (2013), Justin Trattou (2007), Lawrence Wilson (2005) Vanderdoes is a decommit of the highest order because his came after he actually signed. The five-star debuted at UCLA with six tackles (two for loss) in a 58-20 win over Nevada Aug. 31. Trattou was a huge get in 2007, but he changed his mind in January to attend Florida, where he started 32 games and was a captain in 2010. Wilson was another loss during the Willingham-Weis transition, and not even the blitz of seven Irish coaches in his home at once could change his mind from going to Ohio State, where he had a decent career that was plagued with injury problems. Epilogue: This is a classic case of taking the bad with the good with Nix, Tuitt, Lewis-Moore, Schwenke and Jones over the past five years. The Irish defensive staff probably can live with that trade-off. Linebackers: Alex Anzalone (2013), Chris Martin (2010), Blake Lueders (2010), Danny Mattingly (2013) Five-star Anzalone changed his mind from Ohio State to Notre Dame to Florida in January. The early enrollee underwent surgery this spring for a torn labrum. Mattingly's change (Oregon) came back in the summer. Another five-star, Martin had a peripatetic career while attending Cal, Florida, two junior colleges and then Kansas this spring before getting dismissed for burglary charges. Lueders missed last season at Stanford with an injury but is a "co-starter" this year to replace Anzalone Chase Thomas. Epilogue: In addition to Spond, Notre Dame managed to steal Brian Smith (Iowa) right before National Signing Day 2007 and Steve Quinn (Penn State) in 2005. Defensive Backs: Ronald Darby (2012), Brandon Harrison (2005), Marlon Pollard (2010),Bennett Okotcha (2011) Okotcha chose Oklahoma over the Irish before transferring last year to Texas-San Antonio. Pollard opted for UCLA but is now at Eastern Michigan, where he was injured last year. Harrison ended up at Michigan. Darby earned Freshman All-America notice at Florida State in 2012 while playing corner— but so did KeiVarae Russell at Notre Dame. Epilogue: The two cornerbacks that Notre Dame managed to flip were Gary Gray (South Carolina) in 2007 and LaBrose "Spiderman" Hedgemon (North Carolina) in 2003, with the latter ending up at Jackson State. The kicking game on Notre Dame's side would be rounded out with 2007 special teams kicker Brandon Walker (Louisville) and 2003 punter Geoff Price (Texas). ✦