Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Under the Dome Point ✦ Counterpoint: Who Is The Best Individual Player Among Notre Dame's 2013 Opponents? Trent In The Trenches By Dan Murphy Van Noy Leads The Pack By Andrew Owens Notre Dame faces its fair share of All-Americans Although Notre Dame has crossed paths with and future pros each year. This season has brought some of the nation's most talented players this some disappointments (Devin Gardner and Mar- season, one in particular stands out from the Irish qise Lee) and some surprises (Aaron Donald). No slate: BYU senior linebacker Kyle Van Noy. one who has lined up against As Irish fans have witnessed the Irish so far, though, has had in 2012 and 2013, Van Noy a year like Stanford outside lineis an unstoppable force in backer Trent Murphy. the middle of the Cougar dePrior to playing Cal on Satfense. His presence lifts the urday, Murphy led the nation entire defense and gives BYU with 12 sacks and was second a chance to win any game it in tackles for loss with 18 toplays. tal. At times, the biggest thing The 2013 All-America cankeeping the fifth-year senior BYU senior linebacker Kyle Van Noy didate, who is also on the from getting to the quarter- is the only Football Bowl Subdivision Bednarik Award, Nagurski back has been his teammates player to record a stat in every Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombeating him there. Despite hav- defensive category the past two bardi Award, Lott IMPACT Troing to share the wealth during seasons, and needed only to cause phy and Walter Camp Award the "party in the backfield," a fumble and block a kick in the watch lists, is second nationMurphy has put up remarkable final three games to do it for a third ally among active players with numbers in his final college straight year. 26 career sacks. photo courtesy byu season. Through 10 games this seaHe also has one of the better backstories of an son, Van Noy registered 56 tackles, including a Irish opponent this season. From Mesa, Ariz., Mur- remarkable 15 for loss and four sacks. He is just phy was raised by his 6-7 bodybuilding father. He as strong against the pass as he is the run, with wrestled a 400-pound steer to impress his friends seven passes broken up and two interceptions in high school. When Cardinal head coach David recorded this year. His safety, two fumble recoverShaw was asked about the nastiest player on his ies and 11 quarterback hurries show that No. 3 is stingy defense he said Murphy was in a category simply a playmaker. by himself. After being the only Football Bowl Subdivision A year ago against the Irish, Murphy led Stanford player to record a stat in every defensive catwith 10 total tackles, including 2.5 behind the line egory the past two seasons, Van Noy needs only of scrimmage and 1.5 sacks. For all the attention to cause a fumble and block a kick in BYU's final Stanford's countercultural, plodding offense re- three games to do it for a third straight year. As ceives it's a tough defense that has brought them a result of his versatility and strong play, he will to the BCS in back-to-back-to-back seasons. And likely be one of the first linebackers chosen in the the toughest of that group is Murphy. 2014 NFL Draft.