Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/542018
UNDER THE DOME 'TIS THE SEASON The summer months are annually the time of year for optimism among Notre Dame football faithful, but the favor- able attitude about its chances for success does not stop at the Fighting Irish borders. Head coach Brian Kelly's 2015 squad is receiving positive vibes from a number of outside sources. In each of the last five seasons, Lindy's has had Notre Dame ranked lower than Athlon, Phil Steele or Sporting News. Interestingly, heading into 2015 it is Lindy's that is highest on the Irish, ranking Kelly's team No. 7 in its national preseason rankings. Notre Dame and reigning national champion Ohio State are the only two teams in the country to have every position group ranked among the top 10 in the land by Lindy's. The Irish wide receivers, offensive line, linebackers and defensive backs are all listed in the top five. Sporting News has the Irish ranked the preseason No. 10 and Notre Dame scheduled for a Russell Athletic Bowl rematch against Texas. Athlon and Phil Steele both have the Irish at No. 12. Athlon also has the Irish pegged for the Russell Athletic Bowl, but they project the opponent to be West Virginia. Phil Steele has the Irish matched up with Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Of course, this is hardly the first time Notre Dame has received significant preseason hype. Heading into the 2011 season, both Athlon and Phil Steele had the program ranked as the preseason No. 6 team in the land, while Lindy's had the Irish at No. 19. Notre Dame finished that season 8-5 and unranked. Prior to the 2013 campaign, the Irish were ranked No. 8 by Athlon, No. 10 by Phil Steele and the Sporting News, and No. 14 by Lindy's — although start - ing quarterback Everett Golson's ineligibility that season was not yet known in a couple of cases prior to publishing. Notre Dame finished 9-4 and ranked No. 20 in the AP Poll, while checking in at No. 24 in the USA Today coaches' poll. A number of individual players are also receiving preseason accolades. Lindy's, Sporting News and Phil Steele picked senior left tackle Ronnie Stanley and junior linebacker Jaylon Smith as preseason first team All-Americans. Smith was also named to the 2015 Bednarik Award Watch List, an annual award given to the nation's top defensive player. The Fort Wayne-native was a semifinalist for the award a season ago after leading the Irish with 112 stops and nine tackles for loss. Joining Smith on that watch list are senior defensive tackle Sheldon Day and senior cornerback KeiVarae Russell — making Notre Dame the lone school represented by three players. Former linebacker Manti Te'o is the only Notre Dame player to win the award (2012). Smith, Day and Russell were also nominated for the Nagurski Trophy, which goes each year to the best defensive player in the country. They were joined by senior linebacker Joe Schmidt, making Notre Dame one of four schools with at least four players to make the cut. Te'o also won that award in 2012. Junior quarterback Malik Zaire was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, which is given each year to the top player in college football. Te'o won the award in 2012 and former Irish quarterback Brady Quinn earned the honor in 2006. Other Irish winners are Leon Hart (1949), Johnny Lattner (1952, 1953), Jim Lynch (1966) and Ross Browner (1977). Senior center Nick Martin was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, awarded to the nation's top center, while junior free safety Max Redfield was on the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, presented to the top defensive back. Martin, Stanley and Day were all named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, which is presented annually to the top interior lineman, offensive or defensive. Junior linebacker Jaylon Smith has received numerous pre- season accolades from Watch Lists and All-America teams. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA