Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE noticeable. Linebacker Jaylon Smith, running back Tarean Folston and wide receiver Corey Robinson were three rookie standouts from last season expected to enjoy sophomore success this year. But it's lesser known players such as Will Fuller, Isaac Rochell and Cole Luke who have headlined a group of active sophomores making us forget about the inactive upperclassmen. Fuller has taken Daniels' place as the team's leading wide receiver, with 19 catches for 225 yards and three touch- downs. Luke has filled in admirably for Russell at cornerback and helped the Irish build one of the best scoring defenses in the country (10.3 points allowed per contest). And Rochell has more than adequately filled in for Williams at defensive end and made Notre Dame a premier defense at stop- ping the run (99.0 yards allowed per game through three contests). Logic suggests a coach in his fifth year would have his recruiting rhythm situated to where the stars are aligned and balanced throughout his classes. But because of injury, transfer, attrition and now suspension, Kelly's team has gone from very old to very young in just one season. After losing 12 of 22 offensive and defensive starters from last year, only four Irish starters this season — fifth-year senior safety Austin Col- linsworth, senior tight end Ben Koy- ack, fifth-year senior offensive tackle Christian Lombard and fifth-year se- nior cornerback Cody Riggs — are out eligibility after this campaign. In what almost sounded like a dis- claimer, Kelly outlined during the pre- season just how young his team would be, a declaration that felt more like an early excuse for failure than any kind of recipe for success. "We have a lot of inexperienced players playing for us this year," Kelly said. "And they'll get that opportunity playing the toughest schedule in the country. We will grow up quickly." They really had no choice. Notre Dame returned only two play- ers from its 2013 defensive front seven — Smith at linebacker and junior line- man Sheldon Day — and also lost six of its top eight tacklers from last sea- son. The entire left side of its offensive line had to be replaced, and with Dan- iels suspended, the top three receivers from last year were gone as well. But when asked in the preseason about his level of concern over the heavy roster turnover and youth movement, Kelly said the massive lineup overhaul didn't have him los- ing any sleep. "I think in years past I probably would have," he said, "but then my eyes tell me something different when I watch them. They have an edge to them." One man's misery is another 's op- portunity. And as painful as the time has been for the five suspended play- ers, their absence has strangely helped create a renewed hope for this season, and many more to come. ✦ Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com