Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/181992
an early enrollee and already has carved a niche as an exceptional blocker. Against Michigan State, he made key blocks on a jet sweep and bubble screen, and also drove a Spartan defender past the goal line to help spring running back Cam McDaniel on the go-ahead sevenyard scoring run. "James is a warrior," Denbrock praised. "He's fearless. There's not a block that he doesn't feel like he can make, whether it's on a linebacker or a safety or a corner. … He's got that intrinsic toughness about him that you love in a football player. You don't have to encourage him to be tough; that's just the way he's built." "Physically he is far beyond a freshman in terms of his strength," head coach Brian Kelly echoed. Fuller was not an early enrollee and appeared to be an ideal redshirt candidate because of the numbers glut at receiver. However, the staff believed Fuller had too much to offer right away. His first career catch, a 37yard over-the-shoulder grab, set up a score against the Spartans. "We have one other guy on the team who can gas it the way he Personnel Notes • Sophomore safety Elijah Shumate has taken on more of a role as the nickel back — where he played last season — in Notre Dame's sub defensive package. Freshman Cole Luke had been in that role, and will still be one of the top defensive backs. "Cole does a nice job in man-toman coverage, so we moved him on the outside and moved Shumate inside," head coach Brian Kelly said. "It's a fluid situation." • Freshman Max Redfield moved up to the No. 2 spot at field safety for the Oklahoma game, behind Shu- can, and that's [sophomore] Chris Brown," Denbrock said "… I would put him a little bit farther ahead of where Chris Brown was at this time last year. If you ask to do something very specific on a specific play, he can pick it up and put it down with the best of them." "We knew Will had great speed, but he tracks the ball so well," Kelly said. "… He's got to continue to get stronger." The group didn't necessarily arrive with collective star power, but it is already scaling some heights as freshmen. mate. The boundary safety position features the rotation of senior Austin Collinsworth and junior Matthias Farley. • Although freshman running back Greg Bryant has seen action on special teams, he is trying to work into becoming the fifth option at the crowded position after not playing against Michigan State Sept. 21. "We're trying to get to five [running backs]," Kelly said. "… We have him scripted into certain plays. It's just really the flow of the game and the circumstances in trying to get him in."