Blue and Gold Illustrated

first one with those aspirations. I'm handling the coursework and doing pretty well on the field. Why can't I have both?" He is doing well on the field as a freshman, but that wasn't necessarily the expectation. When he committed to Notre Dame in June 2013, he did so as an offensive lineman, but the two‑way athlete saw a path to imme‑ diately compete as a defensive line‑ man. He reached out to Brian Kelly with the idea, and t h e h e a d c o a c h signed off. "I don't like to admit as a man that I cry, but that was a tough one, for sure," associate head coach and wide receivers coach Mike Denbrock quipped during the spring. "Obvi‑ ously we're all in it to do what's best for our football team. But if he's do‑ ing the amazing things he's doing on defense, you can imagine what he'd be as a left tackle." Through three games, Tillery had notched four tackles and one sack, and helped to replace senior nose guard Jarron Jones, who suffered a season‑ending knee injury dur‑ ing fall camp. During that time, he nearly doubled (104 to 58) starter Daniel Cage's snap total. "I had all the confidence in the world in myself," Tillery said. "I knew what I could do. I understood that it would be a raise in compe‑ tition level, but I was ready for it. The coaches here are showing me the way, and it's been fun. "I just wanted to help the team however I could. I felt this would be the way to do it the fastest, and it's worked out for me." Tillery has immediately fit in along the defensive line both on and off the field and has been treated like the younger brother by many of the veterans. Many players on the team refer to him as "Terry Jillery," but the freshman said he got over it a while ago. "I grew up with three older sisters, so that's nothing new to me, being teased and picked on," he said. "I keep it light. I understand that's what happens sometimes. I understand it's in good fun, and we have fun with each other." Day said he values the personality Tillery has brought into the meeting room. "Just keeping Jerry positive and him just being himself and just hav‑ ing him in the room is definitely good," Day said. "He lightens every‑ thing up. For example, yesterday, we were in film, and he made a comment that had the whole room laughing. Just things like that are what you ap‑ preciate in Jerry. "Some people get their emotions wound up real quick," Day continued. "He just makes sure everybody's re‑ laxed, and seeing him have a smile on his face just enjoying football makes you enjoy the experience as well." Tillery usually enjoys the experience — and wherever it takes him. ✦ "… HE JUST MAKES SURE EVERYBODY'S RELAXED, AND SEEING HIM HAVE A SMILE ON HIS FACE JUST ENJOYING FOOTBALL MAKES YOU ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE AS WELL." SENIOR CAPTAIN SHELDON DAY ON TILLERY

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