Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/440225
HONORABLE MENTION: QUARTERBACK EVER- ETT GOLSON — Could the Irish still have finished the regular season at least 7‑5 with sophomore Malik Zaire at quar‑ terback? Maybe. But through the first 11 weeks — and especially the initial nine — Golson's skills made one be‑ lieve the Irish had a puncher's chance against most anyone, even if he was turnover prone. MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: WIDE RECEIVER WILL FULLER As a 2013 freshman, Fuller had six catches. One year later, he was easily Notre Dame's top target during the regular season with 71 receptions for 1,037 yards and 14 touchdowns — the latter tying him with Alabama's Amari Cooper, the Biletnikoff Award win‑ ner, for third‑most TD catches in the nation this year. The 14 scoring grabs were also one shy of the single‑season school record. Fuller's 71 catches entering the bowl already were the most ever by an Irish sophomore, eclipsing the standard of 58 (for 1,080 yards and 10 scores) set by Golden Tate in 2008. Tom Gate‑ wood had 53 in 11 games in 1969 and Jim Seymour 48 during the 10‑game campaign in 1966. HONORABLE MENTION: CORNERBACK COLE LUKE — Beyond a tough finale at Los Angeles, Luke emerged as a quality cover man and tackler. He tied for the team lead in interceptions (four), and far and away had the most passes broken up with 11 (no one else had more than four) and passes defended with 15 (no one else had more than five). If 2012‑13 starter KeiVarae Rus‑ sell is readmitted into school this summer, few teams will possess a bet‑ ter corner tandem in 2015 than Luke and Russell. MOST UNDERRATED: DEFENSIVE LINEMAN ISAAC ROCHELL While joining fellow sophomores Smith and Luke as the lone players to start every game on defense, Rochell tied junior defensive lineman Shel‑ don Day in QB hurries (nine) and was tied for second in tackles for loss (7.5) while fluctuating on the edge or the interior during the 12‑game regular season. His versatility, durability and effectiveness in his first year of exten‑ sive action were valued on an injury‑ ravaged unit. HONORABLE MENTION: NICKEL/SAFETY MATTHIAS FARLEY — It hasn't always been pretty for the senior, but in his nickel role with four starts he was fifth dur‑ ing the regular season in tackles (51), second in sacks (3.5) and passes de‑ fended (five), and tied for first in in‑ terceptions (four). It should earn him a fifth season if he so desires. FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR: SAFETY DRUE TRANQUILL, DEFENSIVE END ANDREW TRUMBETTI AND LINEBACKER NYLES MORGAN Nobody was a standout like line‑ backer Jaylon Smith in 2013, corner‑ back KeiVarae Russell in 2012 or line‑ man Aaron Lynch in 2011, but each contributed in different ways. Tranquill was out of position at safety, but started three games there, moonlighted as a dime linebacker, was a regular on special teams and