Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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time. Folston rushed for just 165 yards (3.9 yards per carry) in the first five games of the 2014 season, but totaled 637 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and five touchdowns on the ground over the next six contests. In Notre Dame's Music City Bowl victory over LSU, Folston showed he could grind out yards. The leadership and toughness he displayed demon- strated he was ready to become the go-to back for the Irish. If Folston can carry over his late season production — and attitude — he will provide the ground attack with the spark it needs to excel. Meanwhile, Luke was expected to serve as the primary backup behind assumed starters KeiVarae Russell and Cody Riggs when fall camp began. After Russell was suspended, Luke was thrust into the starting lineup and tasked with replacing Notre Dame's top defensive back. It was immediately obvious that Luke was up to the challenge. He was good in the early going but took his play to an elite level in Notre Dame's 17-14 win over Stanford. His two in- terceptions and overall dominance of Cardinal wideout Ty Montgomery — a third-round pick of the Green Bay Packers — were instrumental in the victory. Over the next six games he was as good as anyone on the Irish de- fense and finished the season with an exceptional performance against LSU. Luke concluded the year with 15 pass breakups, the best mark at Notre Dame since 1978. He is in position to raise his play to an even higher level this fall and will be joined in the lineup by Russell, who returns from suspen- sion. The duo could give the Irish one of the best cornerback tandems in the entire country. For the Irish defense to truly emerge Rochell could be a driving force to- wards the much-needed improve- ment. His first season as a starter was relatively successful. Early on, Rochell displayed potential on the edge, re- cording 3.5 tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries in the first six games. He was strong against the run all season, but was not as productive over the second half of the season, fin- ishing with just four tackles for loss and two hurries in the final seven tilts. Rochell's slimmed down frame and the arrival of new defensive line coach Keith Gilmore has the Georgia native poised for a breakout season. This spring, he showed improved quick- ness, and Gilmore has already had a positive impact on his pass-rushing repertoire. If Rochell can carry those early re- turns under his new coach into the fall, he will become the much-needed disruptive force up front for the Irish, either on the interior or the edge. NEW LEADER Injuries, off-the-field issues and turnover problems have made the quarterback position a tenuous one during Kelly's tenure. Throughout the last year, Malik Zaire has battled Everett Golson for the starting position. Golson won the job a season ago, but it was Zaire who started and earned MVP honors in the bowl victory over LSU. The battle between the two quarterbacks raged throughout the spring, but when the