Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/187176
top players of the game By tom loy Fifth-year senior inside linebacker Dan Fox made seven tackles, recovered a fumble and returned an interceptions 14 yards for a game-clinching touchdown with 1:08 to go in the game. Photo by Bill Panzica Offense: TJ Jones During Notre Dame's 37-34 victory over Arizona State, the senior wide receiver made several big plays and finished with eight catches for 135 yards (16.9 yards per reception) and one touchdown. Prior to the start of the season, head coach Brian Kelly called Jones a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft. Many scoffed at the remark, but Jones continues to prove that the Irish coach may be on to something. Defense: Dan Fox The fifth-year linebacker had his best game of the season against the Sun Devils, and it couldn't have come at a better time with junior Jarrett Grace going down with a broken leg. Fox notched the first fumble recovery of his career during the third quarter and returned it six yards to set up a touchdown. Then, with a little more than a minute to go in the game, he sealed the win for Notre Dame by making his first career interception and returning it 14 yards for a touchdown that extended the Irish lead to 37-27. He also finished second on the team in tackles with seven (four solo). Special Teams: Kyle Brindza The junior kicker/punter struggled the previous week against Oklahoma, but he bounced back in a very big way against Arizona State. Brindza connected on 3 of 4 field goal attempts, including a school-record-tying 53-yarder in the third quarter. Brindza was also terrific in the punting game, averaging 50.5 yards on his only two attempts. Just prior to Fox's interception, Brindza's punt pinned the Sun Devils at their own 1-yard line.