"I'm just being a more vocal leader
and being that guy everybody looks
to," Day said of his role on the line, a
responsibility which in part led to him
being named one of four team cap-
tains. "It's not too much of a change,
but it's definitely a nice change."
Without Nix and Tuitt, another
change was to be expected. The fo-
cus of opposing defenses has turned
to Day, rather than Jones or Okwara
(each with one career start before this
season), or sophomore Isaac Rochell,
or freshmen Daniel Cage, Grant Blan-
RAISING
THE CLIFF
Sheldon Day leads a thin
defensive line, while working
to build up his own snap count
BY DOUGLAS FARMER
F
or two years Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt overshadowed
Sheldon Day. For two years, Nix and Tuitt would be lauded
as preseason All-Americans and future high NFL Draft
picks.
Day was overlooked when Nix held the point of attack against
Stanford at the goal line during the dramatic 2012 overtime finish,
and no one mentioned Day's potential as many debated if Tuitt
would set Notre Dame's career sack record.
With Nix and Tuitt now gone to the NFL, joining the Houston
Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively, Day is the only de-
fensive lineman with more than one start entering this season. No
disrespect to juniors Jarron Jones and Romeo Okwara, but they
will not be drawing much attention away from Day this season.
This is his defensive line, finally, and he knows it.
