Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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and as low as 21st by ESPNU. On paper it had the lowest collective ranking among the seven Notre Dame classes from 2006-12. class better than the two who had the most playing time and impact in the first two seasons: wide receiver TJ Jones and quar- terback Tommy Rees. Both have excelled on occasion more than No two players epitomize the overall FIRST-HALF LEADERS 86) also had 12 victories as a starter prior to his junior year, but he also was part of seven defeats compared to Rees' four. There is a long history of standout Notre Dame quarterbacks who struggled as soph- omores, from Joe Montana (1975) and Tony Rice (1987) completing 42 percent of their passes to Jimmy Clausen (2008) tossing 17 interceptions. Joe Theismann (1969) even tossed 18 as one might have originally envisioned, but neither is deemed a big-time prospect for the next level. Jones' 18 career starts are the most in the junior class, ahead of Rees' 16, and both have demonstrated they can be capable, productive major college players. Cynics, however, might respond with the inquiry "Would they be starters at the SEC powers, or many other BCS conference schools?" The 5-11 Jones does not possess the size of a Michael Floyd or check out as well in combine workouts as Irish sophomore and good friend DaVaris Daniels, who split time this spring with Jones at the X receiver spot despite not seeing action last season while developing his physical and mental game. Still, Jones has built enough of a dossier with his 61 career receptions to be one of 48 nominees on the 2012 Biletnikoff Award Watch List. His 33 receptions last year aver- aged a modest 9.7 yards per catch — a fig- ure that must appreciably improve if Notre Dame's passing attack is to become more of a vertical threat and legitimately "spread" out opposing defenses. No Notre Dame quarterback has been the a junior, in only 219 attempts (once per 12 passes). While Rees' 19 turnovers last season (14 interceptions and five fumbles) are classi- fied as unacceptable by the staff, there was nobody on the 2011 roster who was better at running the offense, calling the right checks, or making the correct reads. "His accuracy has always separated him- self from the guys he's been competing against," noted offensive coordinator Chuck Martin in an interview for Blue & Gold Illus- trated's 2012 preview magazine. Putting the ball most consistently where starter in more victories prior to his junior season than Rees (12). Steve Beuerlein (1983- that don't release balls quickly," Martin said. "Tommy's ball at times gets there just as quick, if not quicker, because of his release. Some people decide slower than Tommy and then the release is longer than Tommy. Now, their arm looks better — but the ball doesn't get there as quick or on time." A popular target of critics because he is not considered an NFL prospect and is also AUGUST 2012 33 it needs to be with a .644 career completion percentage compensates for arm strength that is considered the weakest among the four Irish scholarship quarterbacks. How- ever, Martin said Rees' arm is not a major issue among the staff. "There are some guys with strong arms