Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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SEASON KICKOFF: WIDE RECEIVERS News & Notes potentially the next stellar Irish receiving target. In 2010, Jones became the first Irish freshman ever to catch touchdown • It wasn't too long ago that current junior TJ Jones was trumpeted as passes in each of his first two games en route to a quality rookie campaign that saw him grab 23 passes for 306 yards and three scores. Jones improved statistically to a degree as a sophomore with 38 catches, but similar to classmate/quarterback Tommy Rees, he wasn't quite classi- fied on the outside as possessing the star power to help carry the program to heights beyond 8-5. "I'm just trying to capitalize off last year," said the 5-10, 190-pound Jones. "From sophomore to freshman, I did a little better. I'm just trying to open that margin more." His points of emphasis include being more physical and becoming a factor in downfield traffic. "Everyone can make the open catch, but the great ones make the contested catches," he said. "… Just being able to go up and fight for the ball, knock hands down in the middle of a route, and when I get my hands on ball, hold on to it." • While the passing combination of Rees to Jones rose as freshmen and maybe depreciated — and was some- times unappreciated — as sophomores, a new tandem of sophomore quarter- back Everett Golson and sophomore wideout DaVaris Daniels is expected to provide their impact now after using their 2011 freshman years as humble learning experiences. Both finished the spring with a flour- ish, with Daniels nabbing 29- and 18- yard catches in the Blue-Gold Game. "Love the progress, love the matu- rity" Denbrock said of the 6-2 Daniels, whose workout numbers have been touted highly by Kelly. "He's really had a good attitude about himself, has gotten mentally and physically tougher, and has put himself in position to be a huge contributor. "When a guy is a freshman, he's trying to feel his way along and see a fifth season in 2012), Sean Cwynar and Hafis Williams — but the majority of attention was on the dynamic new youngsters that included redshirt freshman Louis Nix III and elite recruits Aaron Lynch (now at South Florida) and Stephon Tuitt. Head coach Brian Kelly is not anticipating the type of powerful impact at receiver in 2012 that Nix, Lynch and Tuitt provided as rookies along the 2011 defensive front, but he singled out the frosh receivers as ones who need the greatest sense of urgency to provide assistance immediately. Sophomore DaVaris Daniels didn't see the field as a freshman, but after reportedly taking a step forward during the offseason he could provide the deep threat Notre Dame needs to open up its offense this fall. whether there is true opportunity for him or not that he can seize a hold of. I don't know if DaVaris recognized that or saw that a year ago. I think he does see opportunity in front of him right now, and he's going very hard to make sure he's part of the mix." • The last Notre Dame football player to don No. 19 earned Freshman All-America honors in 2011. However, when defensive end Aaron Lynch opted to transfer to the University of South Florida this spring, that number became available again. "I was just ecstatic that it was open because when I played NCAA [Foot- ball, a video game by EA Sports], I always picked No. 19 for some reason," said Neal, who wore No. 3 in high school. "It happened to be open here, and I finally get to wear No. 19. My fa- vorite player is [Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl receiver] Miles Austin, and he wears No. 19. I just like the way it looks on a jersey, and I think it looks good on me." The highly publicized Neal makes no grandiose exclamations about his 50 PRESEASON 2012 PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND no question about that," Kelly said of the trio. "There's not a freshman that's going to be an All-American this year [like Lynch in his class]. I think they are going to be role players and help us win." "We need some of those receivers to give us some time, his staff created a new dynamic this year when he had the freshmen room with veterans. Neal roomed with Toma, Brown with Goodman, and Ferguson with Jones. Each rookie lauded the invaluable assistance the veteran For a two-week period during August camp, Kelly and A MENTORING PROGRAM freshman year goals and says his foremost objective is to be "coachable." — Lou Somogyi provided with not only helping them with the playbook and other on-field instruction, but also mentoring them on what to expect once school began Aug. 21. "It's a big help," Neal said. "Not only is Robby my mentor on the field, he also is my roommate. We talk at night, we go through the playbook together at night, he helps me through the game and through life — what the BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED