Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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THE BIG THREE The alpha group from this haul as it enters its junior year is clear: corner- back KeiVarae Russell, offensive left tackle Ronnie Stanley and defensive lineman Sheldon Day. In 13 years of college coaching, Notre Dame defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks classifies Russell with Kansas State 2003 first-round pick Ter- ence Newman as the two best corners he's coached. "I'm not saying he's going to win all those battles [versus wide receiv- ers], but there is not a player in the country he shouldn't be able to com- pete with," said Cooks, a former NFL defensive back from 1998-2001, of Rus- sell. "From what I've seen and guys that I've coached that are in the NFL, he's by far the best from a talent level." Cooks believed even last year that Russell could develop into a first round NFL Draft pick by his junior year. "He's got all the tools, but the con- sistency of challenging him to be the best he can be and to be a leader — he's got to work those techniques and those tools on a daily basis," Cooks said. "He can't just go out there be- cause he's a talented kid and expect for it to happen." Speaking of top pro prospects after their junior seasons, Stanley will be lining up this year at one of the most in-demand positions in the NFL: left tackle. He was earmarked for that po- sition from day one at Notre Dame, but started all 13 games last season at right tackle instead because he was easily one of the five best linemen on the team and a starting position had to be found for him while future first-round pick Zack Martin was en- sconced on the left side. A combination of Stanley's growth and offensive line coach Harry Hies- tand's instruction could lead to a Mar- tin-like path for the Las Vegas native two years from now. At 6-2, 290 pounds, Day possesses neither the girth of Louis Nix III for the inside or the magnificent, rangy frame of the 6-6 Stephon Tuitt, 2012-13 teammates of Day who are now pick- ing up NFL paychecks. If an apt comparison can be made to Day, it's 2004-07 Fighting Irish de- fensive lineman Trevor Laws, who was only 6-1 while also in the 290- to 296-pound range. Laws was a cham- pion wrestler whose balance and work with his hands rivaled anyone's and made him a second-round selection in the NFL Draft. From the outset, fifth-year Notre Dame defensive line coach Mike Elston and head coach Brian Kelly have lauded Day as one of the most advanced technicians they have seen in the trenches. Slowed for a good por- tion of 2013 because of a high ankle sprain, Day needs a full year of rela- tive health if the reconstruction of the Irish defensive front seven will suc- ceed in 2014. "There are always a few guys like Sheldon, who you can hang your hat on, and the other guys have to come along," Elston said this spring about his line. WHO WILL BREAK OUT NEXT? It has to begin on the defensive front