Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Under the Dome Point ✦ Counterpoint: Who Has Been Notre Dame's Best "Next Man In" This Year? Steve Elmer Leaves No Gaps Kona Schwenke Fills Many Roles By Dan Murphy By Andrew Owens Brian Kelly and his staff have preached the "Next When senior defensive lineman Kona Schwenke Man In" philosophy to keep players ready to per- reported to Notre Dame as a freshman, he did form since long before he so as a 225-pound outside speed arrived at Notre Dame. Selrusher. Fast forward three years, dom have they utilized that and he's bulked up to 300 pounds approach more than the and become the defensive line's 2013 season. And seldom de facto utility man. has a player stepped up in The ultimate 'Next Man In' as many spots as true freshin head coach Brian Kelly's sysman Steve Elmer. tem, Schwenke had his top perThe 6-5½, 317-pound formance with the Irish Nov. 2 rookie has played in relief against Navy. With senior nose for every starting offensive guard Louis Nix III sidelined and lineman not named Martin sophomore defensive lineman this season. He is the second Sheldon Day out for most of the level of Notre Dame's depth Freshman offensive lineman Steve afternoon, Schwenke recorded chart on the line. He's pro- Elmer has seen action at right 11 tackles against the Midshipjected as a long-term starter tackle, left guard and right guard men's triple-option attack before at tackle, but has spent most this season. leaving with a high ankle sprain. Photo by Bill Panzica of his time at guard this seaSchwenke approached Kelly beson, filling in for fifth-year senior Chris Watt and fore the season to learn more about his role in his senior Christian Lombard. With Lombard out for final season at Notre Dame. He's followed up that the season, Elmer stepped into a starting role in meeting with a senior season strong enough to October and didn't miss a beat. Toward the end of pique the interest of professional scouts, per Kelly. his first start at guard, Elmer bumped out to play Regardless of whether his recent injury allows tackle when sophomore Ronnie Stanley missed a him to return to the field the rest of this season, few snaps. he is the perfect embodiment of Kelly's "Next Man His versatility — an accomplishment that is hard In" philosophy, both this season (appearances at to overstate for a freshman on the offensive line — each defensive line position) and in his career as has also helped several of his classmates preserve a whole (transitioning from speed rusher to nose their redshirts. guard). A boatload of players of Notre Dame's defense Schwenke won't be back next year because he have been called on in recent weeks to uphold the burned potential redshirt seasons in 2010 and next man mantra, but none have stepped into as 2011 after he was called upon to replaced injured many roles as Elmer, and none have taken over players on the depth chart. It would be tough to with so little drop-off from the experienced play- single out one player during Kelly's tenure that has ers they replaced. performed better as a "Next Man In."