Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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ing attack. With the amount of tal- ent Notre Dame is stacking up in the backfield, creating clear paths at the front could lead to a big year on the ground for the Irish. Having a trust- worthy protector on your blind side is also a nice gift for a new quarter- back trying to adjust to the college game. 9. DE KAPRON LEWIS-MOORE What Tuitt brings in raw talent, defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore contributes in experienced and un- derstated ability. The fifth-year se- nior took some time to feel comfort- able at Notre Dame, but there's no doubt that he's confident in his role as the grizzled veteran on the young Irish defensive line. He quietly accumulated 140 tackles in his first three seasons on the field despite missing half of last year due to knee surgery. Lewis-Moore says he hasn't had a problem with his knee since the spring and feels stronger than he did a year ago. If he can get back to the 60-plus tackles he had as a junior, he'll finish his career as one of only a dozen de- fensive linemen in the past 60 years at Notre Dame with more than 200 career tackles. derwhelming results make Riddick a player to approach with cautious optimism in his senior season. He is visibly rejuvenated by returning to his natural position at running back after making 84 catches in a two-year stint at receiver. The breakout performance that 10. RB THEO RIDDICK Back-to-back seasons with un- Notre Dame was hoping for in Rid- dick's sophomore and junior years never materialized in the slot. He had promising games, but often got lost in the shuffle behind Floyd and Eifert. Now he'll be left to create his own Fully recovered from a foot injury that cost him the final four games of the 2011 season, fifth-year senior center Braxston Cave is back to lead the offensive line. in the experience department to a veteran one. His 22 previous starts at center will ease the transition for Notre Dame's new quarterback even more than Martin's experience at left tackle. He, along with fifth-year se- nior Mike Golic Jr. and Watt, should be able to get themselves into the proper protection schemes without much help from the signal-caller. His upper body strength also so- opportunities at any spot on the field that he can. The new combination role is tailor-made for Riddick's ex- perience, but now he'll be fighting established running back Cierre Wood for touches in the backfield, while trying to hold off youngsters like Atkinson and transfer student Amir Carlisle. son changes Notre Dame's offensive line from a middle-of-the-pack unit 34 PRESEASON 2012 11. C BRAXSTON CAVE Getting Cave back for a fifth sea- PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA electrifying player he might become for the Irish. So far those sneak peeks have been tantalizing enough that Notre Dame has to find a way to get him on the field, and we had to find a way to get him on this list. With Wood and Riddick in the lidifies the left side of the line as a bona fide people mover in the run game. The simplified zone blocking schemes under new coach Harry Hiestand should give the chance to spring the running backs loose on the second level. Nothing that Cave does will show up directly on the score sheet, but he's a big factor in Notre Dame's identity as a team that can run the ball. showed a couple glimpses of the 12. RB GEORGE ATKINSON III The sophomore track star has only backfield, Atkinson will need to work hard for his touches. He'll be featured on kick returns again and has improved his receiving skills enough that the Irish staff has dis- cussed splitting him out wide in cer- tain situations. Atkinson is a fully coiled spring whether he's returning kickoffs or taking handoffs. He has the ability to be the difference between win- ning or losing a close game. That means his potential to break loose at any moment could provide a game-sealing touchdown, or his in- consistency with hanging on to the football could derail a crucial drive. It's a risk that Notre Dame seems willing to take. ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED