Blue and Gold Illustrated

June-July 2016

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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cornerback Adonis Alexander and defensive end Houshun Gaines get- ting suspended indefinitely. Alexan- der started eight games in 2015 and had four interceptions. Summary: The Hokies, who recruited at a top-25 level from 2012-15, should be able to score points with their ex- perience on offense (eight starters re- turning). How they fare along the line of scrimmage, especially defensively, will dictate whether they can get back to the double-digit campaigns that were routine from 2004-11. AT USC • NOV. 26 QB Situation: Three-year starter Cody Kessler has graduated, so junior Max Browne — a former five-star recruit — is favored to have the advantage over redshirt freshman Sam Darnold. Darnold completed 6 of 7 passes for 63 yards with two touchdowns in the spring game, while Browne was 7-of-11 passing for 114 yards with three scores. Top Storyline: With nine returning start- ers back, the offense is expected to re- main potent, headlined by the return of the entire receiving corps, most notably JuJu Smith-Schuster, the run- ning back tandem of Ronald Jones II and Justin Davis that combined for 1,889 yards and about 6.0 yards per carry, and a powerful and veteran line anchored by Zach Banner. The defense is headlined by cor- nerbacks Adoree Jackson (the team's 2015 MVP) and Iman Marshall. The line will be completely new, although it boasts sophomores Rasheen Green and Noah Jefferson from the No. 1-rated recruiting class in 2015. Summary: This is the one game on the Fighting Irish slate where Kelly's team is the likely underdog. USC's talent can match up with most any- one in the country, but it's going to be more about leadership and resolve while attempting to stabilize its pro- gram under head coach Clay Helton, who fired four coaches (three on de- fense) after last year's six-loss season. USC opens with defending na- tional champion Alabama in Arling- ton, Texas, and then also has road trips to defending Pac-12 champion Stanford and then to Utah. Novem- ber will be a gauntlet with three teams it lost to last year: Oregon, at Washington and Notre Dame — with cross-town rival UCLA in between. How much will it have left once it faces Notre Dame? ✦ USC junior wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster hauled in 89 catches for 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, but will no longer have departed three-year starter Cody Kessler throw- ing him the ball. PHOTO COURTESY USC ATHLETICS

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