Blue and Gold Illustrated

April 2017

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

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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com APRIL 2017 21 Wimbush's physical traits as a passer and runner match anyone Kelly has had at the throttle, but what will be scrutinized more closely by the staff will be his ability to direct and prepare properly. "If he goes out and throws an in- terception, he doesn't have to hang his head," Kelly said. "He does so many good things that he can have confidence that he's going to be successful. "I've been the person to stand in front of them and tell them, look, confidence is about having some fail- ures along the way. "I was the poster child for that last year. But I'm extremely confident in what we're going to do this year. … He's going to have some setbacks, but have the confidence in yourself to go. "We have to build that in him as well, and the other quarterbacks. They don't have a big résumé to fall back on." INJURY UPDATE • Senior nose tackle Daniel Cage missed the final four and a half games of the 2016 season because of a concussion. He has been cleared to play, but will need to shed some of his 329 pounds (he was listed at 315 last year). • Senior cornerback Nick Watkins, whose broken arm last August side- lined him for the year, is fully healthy and good for the spring. • Junior cornerback Shaun Craw- ford, who tore his Achilles early in game two versus Nevada, should be "extremely active," this spring, per Kelly, but will be in non-contact work. • Sophomore wide receiver Javon McKinley, who had surgery for a bro- ken fibula last Nov. 1, has a slight limp but is further along than ex- pected and partook in skeletal drills in the opening practice. ✦ Spring Superlatives Most career starts: Mike McGlinchey — 26 Left guard Quenton Nelson — who like left tackle McGlinchey was a third-team Associ- ated Press All-American last year — is second with 23. Tied for third with 16 are linebacker Nyles Morgan and safety/rover Drue Tranquill. All four are captains. Most rushing yards: Josh Adams — 1,768 The only three players to have more yards rushing going into their junior seasons at Notre Dame were Allen Pinkett, Darius Walker and current running backs coach Autry Den- son. Junior classmate Dexter Williams is a dis- tant second with 281. Most career catches: Equanimeous St. Brown — 59 He snared only one as a 2015 freshman, but similar to Golden Tate in 2008 and Will Fuller in 2014, he detonated with a huge sophomore season with 58 catches for 961 yards (16.6 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns. Most career tackles: Nyles Morgan — 158 Morgan paced the team last year in tackles (94) and sacks (four) from his Mike position. Safety/rover Drue Tranquill is second with 121, with his 79 last year behind only Morgan. Most career sacks: Greer Martini — 5 Three of them came last year as a junior linebacker. Among the linemen, senior end Andrew Trumbetti has two and junior nose tackle Jerry Tillery one, but each had none last year. Most career interceptions: Drue Tranquill — 2 No one else has more than one. Junior Shaun Crawford, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, is expected to be very active this spring, but only in non-contact work. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN EARLY ENROLLEES: BEFORE AND AFTER Here is what the heights and weights for the five early enrollees were listed at on National Signing Day, and now after eight weeks in the strength and conditioning program: RB C.J. Holmes on National Signing Day: 6-0, 200 Holmes at spring practice: 6-0 1/8, 206 S Isaiah Robertson on National Signing Day: 6-1, 195 Robertson at spring practice: 6-1½, 208 OT Aaron Banks on National Signing Day: 6-5, 320 Banks at spring practice: 6-5¾, 310 OL Robert Hainsey on National Signing Day: 6-4, 275 Hainsey at spring practice: 6-4 5/8, 292 TE Brock Wright on National Signing Day: 6-5, 245 Wright at spring practice: 6-4½, 252

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