Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/605097
UNDER THE DOME KeiVarae Russell By Andrew Owens Heading into the season, senior cornerback KeiV‑ arae Russell looked to be just as unlikely a fifth‑year returner as left tackle Ronnie Stanley, but that out‑ look has become somewhat murky this year. The Everett, Wash., native has underperformed during most of the 2015 season, which makes the grade the NFL Draft Advi‑ sory Board will give him un‑ predictable. If he received a mid‑round grade, wouldn't it be better to return to South Bend and try to el‑ evate his stock in 2016? Junior cornerback Cole Luke will almost certainly be back next year — you can never rule out a college player's decision to turn pro early — but the depth chart after his name has lots of questions and few answers. Russell returning would give Notre Dame one of the top cornerback duos in the nation while allowing current freshmen Nick Coleman and Shaun Crawford and others the opportunity to continue to develop. Another fifth‑year possibility on defense is senior nose guard Jarron Jones, whose preseason injury made returning to school in 2016 a near certainty. However, sophomore Daniel Cage has filled in ad‑ mirably in his role and so has freshman Jerry Tillery. The Irish currently possess defensive line depth they don't necessarily have in the secondary. Russell seemed set on turning pro after his junior year, prior to the academic investigation knocking him out of the 2014 season, and he might be ready to turn pro no matter the circumstances. But it might be mutually beneficial for him to come back one last season. Jarron Jones By Bryan Driskell Notre Dame has been good on defense during the 2015 season, but the absence of senior nose guard Jarron Jones has certainly been notice‑ able. Prior to going down late in the 2014 cam‑ paign, Jones was playing as well as anyone on the Notre Dame defense. His knee injury in August took one of Notre Dame's top defenders out of the lineup. N e x t s e a s o n , N o t r e Dame will lose defensive tackle Sheldon Day and d e fe n s i v e e n d R o m e o O k wa ra to g ra d u at i o n . Through 10 games this year, Day and Okwara have combined for 69 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and 20 quarterback hurries. Should Jones decide to re‑ turn for a fifth season, he would help ease that loss in a number of ways. The most obvious factor is that Jones — if healthy — is an extremely gifted defender that can be disruptive in the pass game and can shut down the opposition ground attack. Getting Jones back in the rotation — along with the return of 2015 starter Daniel Cage — would give the Irish a chance to get excellent production up the middle next fall. His return would also allow Notre Dame to shift freshman Jerry Tillery over to the three‑technique position, where he can team with sophomore Jay Hayes to give the Irish depth and talent at the position vacated by Day. Jones could help the Irish defensive line con‑ tinue its strong play, and if he can get back to full strength his return could help make the line even better than it is right now. Point ✦ Counterpoint: EXCLUDING RONNIE STANLEY, WHICH POTENTIAL FIFTH-YEAR RETURNER WOULD BOOST THE 2016 TEAM THE MOST? RUSSELL JONES