Blue and Gold Illustrated

UNDER THE DOME The "Third" Linebackers When talking about Notre Dame's 2015 linebackers, the attention first centers on All‑America candidate and Butkus Award front‑runner Jaylon Smith at Will, and then 2014 team MVP Joe Schmidt at Mike. Through the first four games, Smith and Schmidt were one‑two in tackles with 29 and 28, respectively. Playing in the shadows as the "third" line‑ backers at Sam are junior James Onwualu (14 tackles, three for loss) and sophomore Greer Martini (16 tackles, eight solo, one for loss). A receiver as a freshman in 2013, the 6‑1, 220‑pound Onwualu is used more against the spread and pass‑oriented teams, while the 6‑2½, 240‑pound Martini is a run stuffer who started against Georgia Tech's triple option and was second on the team in tackles with eight while helping shut down the Yellow Jackets. "We'd like them to be two in one," Irish head coach Brian Kelly said of the duo. "We'd like Greer to have maybe James' athletic ability, and then we'd have James to maybe have Greer's football intelligence." Last year was an apprenticeship for Onwualu after switching from offense, auditioning at safety and then moving to linebacker. "What we're seeing from James is a better awareness of his position, how to play fast but not out of control," Kelly said. "Many times last year he would play fast but out of control. He would just miss a blitz. He would just miss a tackle. He's starting to make those plays. … Some of that football knowledge is starting to click in for him." Meanwhile, Martini possesses a football acumen that has consistently put him in position to produce. "He's worked really hard on his strength, his physicality and with the knowledge that he has at that posi‑ tion, which is one of the major pluses that we thought he had when we recruited him," Kelly said. "It's made him a better football player." Last year, the nickel alignment was practically Notre Dame's base defense, which meant 2014 nickel back Matthias Farley often was in the lineup instead of the Sam linebacker. This season in the defensive sub package situations, especially on third down, there are different roles. For the most part, senior cornerback KeiVarae Russell has moved to nickel in the sub package, while junior Devin Butler has been the corner opposite classmate Cole Luke. Kelly hinted that might not always be the personnel inserted in other sub packages. It could even involve linebacker Smith moving to defensive end or Sam, or being creative on where to line up starting linemen Sheldon Day and Isaac Rochell. "We're still evolving there," Kelly said. "There's going to be a sub package or two each and every week. It's finding the right rotation of guys. "… And then it is, 'All right, what's their third down scheme? What are they looking to do on third down? And we're going to match the pieces accordingly?'" There's more to a name at linebacker than just Sam, Mike and Will. Junior Sam linebacker James Onwualu made 14 tack- les, including three for loss, in Notre Dame's first four contests. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA

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