Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BY DAN MURPHY E very Thursday afternoon this fall before Carroll High School's walk- through practice, linebacker Drue Tranquill and a pair of fellow seniors gathered their teammates to talk about leadership. One of the three took the lead each week, selecting a character trait and asking questions to draw the rest of the team into a conversation. The Fort Wayne prospect said the dis- cussions helped his team grow closer in the middle of a 9-3 season that ended with a loss in the Indiana 6A regional. It also helped him to grow as an influential figure. "It got the guys thinking about intan- gibles," he said. "It was a good oppor- tunity for leaders and seniors to speak to younger guys and really show them the importance of those intangibles. You kind of have to find those, dig those out and develop those." Tranquill got the idea to start these ses- sions from a similar weekly ritual at Ath- letes With Purpose, the year-round foot- ball training company that has worked with him and other Irish players such as Tyler Eifert, John Goodman and Jay- lon Smith in recent years. The crowd on Thursdays grew until the locker room was full most weeks. "It was a tremendous help to the pro- gram," Carroll coach Doug Dinan said. "We'll miss Drue as a player without question, but we'll miss as much his leadership and his inspiration." It leads Dinan and others to believe that he'll make an impact with Notre Dame no matter where he plays. At 6-2, 210 pounds, Tranquill is a large defensive back and an undersized line- backer. He's a tweener. His speed would make him an asset at either spot, but it's not yet clear where he will land. Born in Alabama and raised in Tennes- see, Tranquill saw baseball as his future sport for most of his life. He played cen- Drue Tranquill Fits With Irish Wherever He Lands Tranquill, who could play safety or linebacker for Notre Dame, has turned heads with his explosive speed (4.49 40-yard dash time) since switching his focus away from baseball a year ago. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS