Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/584460
BY ANDREW OWENS O n the evening of Oct. 3, while Torii Hunter Sr. suited up for what could be the final game of an il- lustrious 19-year Major League Baseball career, his son Torii Hunter Jr. broke through in what might have been his most impressive perfor- mance as a Notre Dame receiver. Hunter Jr. caught five passes for 52 yards and scored what would have been the game- tying touchdown with seven seconds remaining had the Irish converted the subsequent two- point conversion in a 24-22 loss at Clemson. L i k e h i s f a - ther, who stayed grounded despite success throughout his years in profes- s i o n a l b a s e b a l l , Hunter Jr. chose instead to focus on a crucial drop with 5:53 left in the third quarter and the Irish trailing 21-3. "I hang my hat on making every catch that I can," Hunter Jr. said. "That's why I was still beat up about missing the ball. I hate missing the balls. One thing that I really focus on in practice is not dropping balls. "I had a couple of opportunities, and I took advantage of most of them. There were a lot of things we could've done better, me included. We're just looking forward to improving." Hunter Jr.'s drop was one of several in the close loss at Clemson, including a possible touchdown grab by junior Corey Robinson and another by Rob- inson on the first two-point conver- sion attempt. The Tigers bottled up standout junior Will Fuller, who went scoreless for the first time this season in a two-reception, 37-yard effort. "I have no idea [what caused the drops]," Hunter Jr. s a i d . " We j u s t knew we had to catch the ball, and it just wasn't hap- pening. We prob- a b l y n e e d e d t o concentrate a lot more because it was raining a lot. It required a lot more concentration, and we just didn't get it done." H u n t e r J r . ' s breakout is not a surprise to anyone that has watched the junior in action during his time in South Bend. Head coach Brian Kelly indicated in late September that the production would come if he was given the opportunity. Hunter Jr.'s snap totals were con- sistent during the season's first five weeks, ranging from 19 in the season opener against Texas to 25 against Georgia Tech and UMass. The coach- ing staff has made a conscious effort of inserting him into the lineup as often RISING UP Torii Hunter Jr. has made the most of his opportunities