Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2015 RECRUITING ISSUE which he finished events that required a 400-meter swim, 11-mile bike ride and then a three-mile run. It helped redefine his body and his future role. While practicing for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio in late December, Tillery told The New Orleans Times-Picayune that his future at Notre Dame would be on defense, which elicited immediate surprise to everyone but Tillery and Dawson, who played him on offense and de- fense as a senior. "My body composition is changing a little bit," Tillery explained. "I'm in a lot better shape than I was my sopho- more year and even my junior year. I've gotten a lot better on defense." As an LSU alum, Dawson said a for- mer Tiger who reminds him the most of Tillery is 6-6, 306-pound Michael Brock- ers, the No. 14 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft after his junior year follow- ing two years where he gradually as- similated into the college game. BGI FILM ANALYSIS: JERRY TILLERY Strengths Instincts … Exceptional hands … Strong at the point of attack and has the ability to plug the gap … Engages blockers and looks to position himself from the snap … Will make a decision and stick to it … Quick for his size with lateral movement … Uses natural size to disrupt pass- ing lanes. Areas For Improvement Not great against the pass … Needs to get pad level down and utilize lower body strength … Fails to wrap up ball carriers and drive them into the ground … Had limited moves to get around blockers on a stunt … Has room to put on weight and will need to before he sees the field.