Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/705594
UNDER THE DOME American Christian McCaffrey, Stanford has the No. 2 running back unit in the country according to Phil Steele's. The Cardinal are also rated No. 4 by Athlon. No. 8 USC, No. 13 Miami and No. 26 Michigan State also figure to be strong, according to Phil Steele's. • Wide receiver/tight end: Lindy's is bullish on the Irish unit led by Torii Hunter Jr., ranking the group No. 10 in the country, higher than any of Notre Dame's 2016 opponents. Athlon ranks the Irish receivers No. 23 in the country. USC's JuJu Smith-Schuster leads a talented group for the Trojans, which Phil Steele's tabs as the fourth-best in America. Athlon slots the USC receiving corps at No. 6. Phil Steele's rates Miami No. 22 and Virginia Tech No. 25. Athlon predicts the Hokies will have the 19th-best group. • Offensive line: Depending on the publication you look at, Notre Dame could face as many as three teams with superior offensive line play to the Irish. Phil Steele's ranks ND's offensive line No. 23 in the country, behind USC (No. 1), Miami (No. 16) and Stanford (No. 21). Lindy's is higher on the Irish blockers, rating them eighth, while Athlon has them at No. 13. • Defensive line: Phil Steele's has North Carolina State's defensive line at No. 13, Michigan State's at No. 17, Stanford's at No. 18 and Miami's at No. 20, all ahead of Notre Dame's 23rd-ranked unit. Michigan State — led by Malik McDowell and Demetrius Cooper — were also tabbed as the No. 5 "Front Seven" by ESPN and the No. 5 defensive line by Lindy's. • Linebackers: The weakest posi- tion group on Notre Dame's team according to Phil Steele's, the Irish have the No. 45 linebacker unit in the country, which ranks lower than five of their 2016 opponents. Riley Bullough, Jon Reschke Notre Dame On Watch Lists • Josh Adams, RB: Qualified for the Doak Walker Award (top running back) watch list after rushing for 835 yards as a freshman. • Tarean Folston, RB: Carried just three times before tearing his ACL last season, but earned a spot on the Doak Walker watch list. Tallied 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns his first two years at Notre Dame. • Alizé Jones, TE: Named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, given to college football's best tight end. Finished 2015 with 13 catches for 190 yards. • Jarron Jones, DL: Earned a spot on the Outland Trophy watch list (best lineman). Missed the 2015 season with a knee injury. • DeShone Kizer, QB: Made the Maxwell Award (best player) and Davey O'Brien Award (top quarter- back) watch lists. Threw for 2,884 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2015. • Mike McGlinchey, OL: The 6-7, 310-pound senior from Philadelphia joined his teammate Jones on the Outland Trophy watch list. • Nyles Morgan, LB: Named to the Butkus Award watch list (top linebacker). Had just 17 tackles in 2015 while serving as Joe Schmidt's backup. • Isaac Rochell, DL: Nominated for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player). Posted 63 tackles (7.5 for loss) a year ago. • Justin Yoon, K: Named to the Lou Groza Award watch list (best kicker). Converted 15 of 17 field goals and 50 of 52 extra points as a true freshman last year. • Malik Zaire, QB: Despite missing most of the 2015 season, the senior was named to the Maxwell watch list. Was 26-of-40 passing for 480 yards with four scores and no picks before going down with a season-ending fractured ankle in game two last year.