Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Denson (running backs), Todd Lyght (defensive backs), Mike Sanford (of- fensive coordinator/quarterbacks) and Keith Gilmore (defensive line). With Gilmore's hiring, 2010-14 Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston was shifted to linebackers coach, while 2014 outside linebackers coach Bob El- liott is now an administrative assistant for head coach Brian Kelly. "If you said that I could put together the staff that I've been able to put to- gether under these circumstances, and you would have to push back spring ball a little bit, you'd have to put a little bit more on the other coaches in recruiting to put this staff together, I said I would take it any day," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. The last time Kelly had to replace three assistants was after the 2011 cam- paign, and the Irish responded with a 12-1 record. He did not mask his dis- content at last year's trio of assistants taking seemingly "lateral" positions, but believes change again will pay off in the long run. "We didn't lose them because of any reasons that have to do with fi- nances or not providing them with the opportunities necessary for them to be successful," Kelly said. "People leave for [personal] reasons. … All I know is that it has provided me and Notre Dame with the kind of staff that I couldn't be more pleased with. "Sometimes those things happen for reasons. It's opened up a door for us that we could have never opened un- less those things happened." Spring break was from March 7-15, which allowed the players to go home before starting drills March 18. Notre Dame traditionally practices on Mon- days, Wednesdays and Fridays in the spring, with scrimmage situations usually held on Saturdays. The lone break from March 18 through April 18 is Easter vacation April 3-5. The first junior day for high school recruits in the 2016 cycle will be March 21, and the annual coaching clinic — headlined by Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien and former University of Texas head coach Mack Brown (1998-2013) — will be held March 26-28. Pro day will be March 31, when the Irish football team won't practice. Three of the primary personnel themes or issues entering spring prac- tice are: • The return of 18 of a possible 22 starters on offense and defense, which ranks among the highest in the Foot- ball Bowl Subdivision. It is also the An overview of the Notre Dame players who lead the experience-laden team as they prepare for the opening of spring practice March 18. MOST CAREER STARTS 1t. LB Jaylon Smith and OT Ronnie Stanley, 26 — Smith started all 13 at Sam linebacker in 2013 and all 13 at Will linebacker in 2014, while Stanley started all 13 at right tackle in 2013 and all 13 at left tackle in 2014. Spring Superlatives