Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Jamoris Slaughter, running backs Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick, of- fensive tackle Zack Martin and center Braxston Cave, among many others. The intrigue usually is centered E BY LOU SOMOGYI veryone knows the linchpins of Notre Dame's 2012 football team: linebacker Manti Te'o, tight end Tyler Eifert, safety consistency they demonstrated this spring. About 220 pounds when he was recruited, Schwenke was listed at 284 last year but felt out of sorts with his sudden weight gain, was fundamen- tally unsound and fell behind fresh- men such as Aaron Lynch, Stephon Tuitt and Chase Hounshell. According to Kelly, Schwenke was more on the new faces who could make significant inroads after hav- ing seen minimal to no playing time a year earlier on offense or defense. Most often they are sophomores, a la nose guard Louis Nix in 2011. He was not in physical condition to play as a freshman in 2010, but last year he paced the line in tackles (45). Sometimes it's a junior, like Will linebacker Dan Fox last season seiz- ing a starting role after playing ex- clusively special teams the year prior. And every now and then, a senior or fifth-year senior might have his Cinderella campaign, like running back Jonas Gray last year. Who are some of those prospects up to 294 this spring and caught up with his growth spurt while improv- ing his conditioning (like Nix last year) and fundamentals. spring, the six-foot Jackson, also a hurdler on the indoor track team, clearly separated himself as the team's top cornerback. He will play the boundary side, where he gener- ally lines up against the opponent's top receiver and adds a physical component against the run. Cornerbacks coach Kerry Cooks, Ten up-and-comers that are primed to emerge in 2012 SPRINGING FORWARD in 2012? Here's a look at our top 10, based in great part on least impact in 2011: Kona Schwenke surprisingly took 33 snaps the entire year along a thin defensive line. Last year as a sophomore, the snap 1. NG KONA SCHWENKE As a 260-pound freshman in 2010, count was 44 while playing only against Purdue, Wake Forest and Maryland during the regular season. In 2012, Schwenke might get 33 to 44 snaps again — this time, maybe per game. By the first week of spring prac- tice, Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston singled out Schwenke as the most improved member of his corps. By the third week, head coach Brian Kelly stated Schwenke was starting ahead of incumbent and classmate Nix at nose guard. The validation of Schwenke's work came prior to the Blue-Gold Game, when he and fifth-year senior wide receiver John Goodman were se- lected as the game captains by the staff because of the improvement and Junior Kona Schwenke has adjusted to his big- ger, stronger body and is expected to make a major impact in the middle of Notre Dame's defensive line next fall. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND www.BLUEANDGOLD.com move in front of you, but there's not really much I can do about that but play harder and make the coaches see that I'm improving," said Schwenke of rebounding from last year. "I think I'm a lot more physical now, and I'm a lot better at taking on double teams and just being in my gap and doing what I'm supposed to do." "We feel really good at that posi- "It's frustrating to see people tion," Kelly said of the Schwenke- Nix tandem. "It took time to grow into his body. The shame of it is … we had to play him as a true fresh- man. He really should be a guy with three years of eligibility left. He's really come on from that physical standpoint, and I think he'll be simi- lar to [2011 senior] Sean Cwynar, if not better." speed and tackling skills were evi- dent during his 2010 freshman cam- paign when he was named Notre Dame's Special Teams Player of the Year. Prior to his sophomore season 2. CB BENNETT JACKSON Jackson's nose for the football, back as I've ever coached … he has speed, he's long, he's athletic, he can flip his hips," Cooks said. "The part that he's missing is experience … he's still got to grow." Jackson had 65 snaps at corner last season, about five per game. He sat out the spring game while recovering from a shoulder injury. "Bennett is as talented a corner- All-American seemed ready for more action last season, but bided his time behind fifth-year senior Taylor Dever. This spring, the junior Lombard 3. OT CHRISTIAN LOMBARD The former USA Today first-team started out as the replacement for graduated right guard Trevor Rob- inson, while classmate Tate Nichols worked at right tackle. By the second half of the spring, Lombard was en- trenched at right tackle again while fifth-year senior Mike Golic Jr. and sophomore Nick Martin were sta- tioned at right guard. Lombard bulked up to 309 pounds he was switched from receiver to cornerback to begin grooming for a starting role once Gary Gray and Robert Blanton graduated after the 2011 campaign. Halfway through the and his versatility is a huge bonus to a line that appeared to round into form by the end of spring. "I know the plays to a tee," Lom- who played in the NFL from 1998- 2000 and is in his 10th season of coaching, has noted Jackson's vocal presence in practice, but is even more impressed with his physical skill set. bard said. "It's not a thought about, 'What am I doing on this play?' It's about my technique, concentrating on being more consistent and playing confident." MAY 2012 21