Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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ing skills. At the slot, consistency will be the operative word for Carlisle, who was shaken by setbacks last year but still possesses next-level speed and athletic skills. At tight end, Notre Dame has had six straight players drafted in the first or second round since 2006. Koyack, one of the nation's top three tight end recruits in 2011, began to come into his own in the second half of 2013 (10 catches for 171 yards and three scores). He has the skills to also have a future NFL career after becoming a prime target this season, which Kelly noted at the end of spring he could be. Martin, Hegarty and Hanratty all have starting experience along the of- fensive line and form a veteran inte- rior with fifth-year senior Christian Lombard. Martin is the ringleader and captain material, per Kelly. Defensively, seldom will one ever find a front seven that has been rav- aged by so much change and setbacks than Notre Dame's 2011 recruiting class. The secondary also has undergone change this year with the position switch of Farley to find a role, and speedster Josh Atkinson shifting back to corner from receiver. It has evolved to the point where preferred walk-on Joe Schmidt, who was placed on scholarship prior to the 2013 season, might now be the top story while becoming the team's No. 1 Mike linebacker. Like a meteor, this class made a dramatic sparkling entrance, but then also became engulfed in flames. It will have another chance to reignite its fire as 2014 seniors. ✦ Senior Class Review Players Signed In February 2011: 23 Players Available In 2014: 17 (defensive end Aaron Lynch transferred to South Florida in 2012; offensive tackle Jordan Prestwood joined the roster in August 2011 as a transfer after being an early enrollee at Florida State, but he was no longer with the Irish by the start of 2012; defensive end Stephon Tuitt, a second-round pick, tight end Troy Niklas, a second- round pick, and running back George Atkinson III, who went undrafted, left for the NFL last spring; health ailments forced defensive linemen Brad Carrico and Tony Springmann to no longer play football; and wide- out DaVaris Daniels and end Ishaq Williams' football futures are in limbo; while wide receiver Amir Carlisle, a 2012 transfer from USC, and linebacker Joe Schmidt, a preferred walk-on in 2011-12, joined the class) 2011 Recruiting Rankings: 247Sports (No. 7), Tom Lemming and Scout.com (No. 8), ESPN (No. 9) and Rivals.com (No. 10) Ben Koyack, one of the nation's top three tight end recruits in 2011, began to come into his own in the second half of 2013 with 10 catches for 171 yards and three scores. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND