Blue and Gold Illustrated

UNDER THE DOME Nic Weishar Displays Grit To Complement Hands Notre Dame's tight end position in 2015 has been demarcated into two categories among its four still available scholarship players. With junior Durham Smythe — the best combination of blocking, receiving and route running at the position — shelved for the remainder of the year because of MCL injury and shoulder surgery following the win at Virginia Sept. 12, the four current tight ends are known either as "receivers" or "blockers," but not necessarily both. Sophomore Tyler Luatua and fifth‑year senior Chase Hounshell, a converted defensive lineman, are heralded mainly for their physicality as blockers, while freshman Alizé Jones and sophomore Nic Weishar have been renowned for their pass catching exploits. However, with Luatua sidelined for the UMass game Sept. 26 and also at Clemson Oct. 3 because of CHARTING THE IRISH YARDS PER PLAY A third of the way through the season, Notre Dame was averaging 7.6 yards per play. The Irish have actually increased their explosiveness each week, despite the season‑ending injuries to starting running back Tarean Folston Sept. 5 versus Texas and starting quarterback Malik Zaire Sept. 12 against Virginia. Notre Dame averaged 7.0 yards per play against Texas, 7.2 versus Virginia, 7.4 against Georgia Tech and 8.6 versus UMass. Big‑play ability has been a consistent theme among recent national champions. Dating back to 2010, the average yards per play of the last five national champions was 7.12, and only Alabama in 2011 won the title ranking outside the top 10 nationally in the category. Explosiveness is key in college football because it reduces the chance of making a drive‑killing mistake. There are several negative outcomes that can occur on a play — a fumble, an interception, an incomplete pass or a tackle for loss behind the line of scrimmage — and derail a drive's progress or, even worse, stop it altogether. But big plays skip all those negative possibilities. Senior running back C.J. Prosise and junior wide re‑ ceiver Will Fuller have excelled in this area for the Irish. Through four games, Prosise was averaging 8.1 yards per carry, including a 91‑yard touchdown run against Georgia Tech, and Fuller was averaging 20.6 yards per catch, including touchdown grabs of 66 yards against Texas, 59 yards against Virginia and 46 yards against Georgia Tech. YARDS PER PLAY AVERAGES, DATING BACK TO 2010 National Champion, Year Average Yards Per Play National Ranking Auburn, 2010 7.4 3rd Alabama, 2011 6.5 12th Alabama, 2012 7.0 5th Florida State, 2013 7.7 1st Ohio State, 2014 7.0 4th

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