Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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corners have the skill set to be effective. "I kind of just want to be a lock- down corner now," Luke said. "I did play some top receivers and I had a few balls caught [on me], so I'm trying to minimize that. "I'm comfortable with the game plan that we have and the scheme that we use and run. I don't have to think dur- ing the play as much. So, when I get the call, it's just there, it's processed, and I can just go play ball. … We kind of just need to take it to the next level overall. We need that mentality that once we go on the field, no balls are going to get caught on us." Luke is used to working with the ultra-elite. Among his mentors are his uncle Darren Woodson, a five-time Pro Bowl performer at safety with the Dal- las Cowboys (1992-2004). Then there is first-year Irish defensive backs coach Todd Lyght, a two-time consensus All- American cornerback at Notre Dame who also achieved Pro Bowl status in his 12 years in the NFL. Lyght's background doesn't lend him to be easily impressed, but his first spring working with Luke had him projecting a promising future. "A tremendous player," Lyght said of Luke. "He's a guy that can make seven-plus interceptions in a season [Lyght was the last to do so at Notre Dame with eight in 1989] if he can stay healthy. He's a really smart, instinctive player. "He's really good out of his breaks, does a good job communicating with the safeties and linebackers, and talks about what offenses are trying to do and what they need to do to stop it. His game could really go to the next level." With Russell having gained re-ad- mittance this summer, the tandem of the 2012 Freshman All-American and Luke was ranked by Athlon Sports this preseason as the fifth-best corner com- bination in the country (behind Vir- ginia Tech, Florida, LSU and USC). It might also project as the best at Notre Dame since the 8-0 start in 2002, when the secondary was the center- piece of that team, featuring consensus first-team All-American Shane Walton at one corner and third-team Associ- ated Press All-American Vontez Duff at the other. Safeties Gerome Sapp and Glenn Earl also had NFL careers. The personalities of Russell and Luke complement each other. Russell is a gregarious chatterbox whose energy enlivens a huddle. Luke is more stoic while providing a calming influence. "What we're seeing with him more than anything is his maturation in terms of the game and technique," head coach Brian Kelly said of Luke this spring. "Cole's not necessarily a guy that is prepared to take over as a vocal leader … he's leading by consis- tency in his work." Such work just might help Notre Dame "corner" the defensive market more in 2015. ✦ "HE'S A GUY THAT CAN MAKE SEVEN-PLUS INTERCEPTIONS IN A SEASON IF HE CAN STAY HEALTHY. HE'S A REALLY SMART, INSTINCTIVE PLAYER." DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH TODD LYGHT ON LUKE