Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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4. Safety Max Redfield Stats: Posted 64 tackles (two for loss) and one sack to go along with an interception and two passes broken up entering the Notre Dame's bowl game. Season: Redfield struggled again to meet the lofty expectations of a Rivals five-star recruit and lost his starting role to fifth-year senior Matthias Farley at times. He has admitted on occasion how difficult de- fensive coordinator Brian VanGorder's scheme is to master. His senior season in South Bend will be critical. 5. Kicker Justin Yoon Stats: Converted 46 of 48 point after tries and 15 of 17 field goal attempts during the regular season. Season: Yoon struggled with acclimating to college football early in the season, but did not miss a regular season field goal attempts after week two. His season long was 52 yards. Notre Dame did not depend on Yoon to make any game-winners, but as a freshman starter he stood in the shadows in 2015, which usually is a good thing for specialists. 6. Tight End Durham Smythe Stats: Registered two receptions for 13 yards in two games. Season: Smythe scored on the fake field goal against Virginia before suffering injuries later in the game that knocked him out for the remainder of the regular season. In his place, the Irish relied on freshman Alizé Jones, sophomores Nic Weishar and Tyler Luatua, and fifth-year senior Chase Hounshell. 7. Running Back C.J. Prosise Stats: Totaled 156 carries for 1,032 yards (6.6 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns, plus 26 receptions for 308 yards and one score during the regular season. Season: Few — if anyone — could have asked for a better season from Prosise, who adeptly transitioned from slot receiver to running back this year. He gave Notre Dame its best home run threat in the backfield in several years and has one year of eligibility remaining. 8. Offensive Lineman Quenton Nelson Stats: Played in 11 games with 10 starts during the regular season. Season: An ankle sprain suffered at Clemson held Nelson out against Navy and forced him to come off the bench against USC after backup Alex Bars suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Returning starters Ronnie Stanley, Nick Martin and Steve Elmer were the known commodities on the line heading into the season, and Nelson (and right tackle Mike McGlinchey) stepped in to form one of the nation's best of- fensive lines. 9. Cornerback Cole Luke Stats: Recorded 35 tackles (one for loss), two interceptions and four passes broken up. Season: Luke has quietly put together a pair of strong seasons as a starting cornerback. However, he was not immune to the bouts of inconsistency that plagued the secondary throughout the season. He did take another step forward and should receive more recognition as a senior. 10. Safety Elijah Shumate Stats: Posted 57 tackles (6.5 for loss), one interception and two passes broken up. Season: Shumate was consistently the strongest piece in the secondary this season. Head coach Brian Kelly lamented midseason that Shumate's eligibility would expire at the end of the season. — Andrew Owens