Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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30 PRESEASON 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED played on the prep level, which led to him getting ranked by Rivals as the nation's No. 233 overall player. In order for Notre Dame to enhance a run defense that is coming off the worst three-year stretch in school his- tory, Hayes will have to become that type of player. Andrew Trumbetti was ranked as one of the nation's top 100 players by ESPN and 247Sports coming out of high school, and impressed as a true freshman, tallying 22 tackles, 5.5 stops behind the line and one sack as a rota- tion player. Over the next two seasons, though, he had just three total tackles for loss and a sack. Trumbetti was not able to play with the authority and consis- tency needed to be productive. Whether he can change that in games remains to be seen, but he was a standout in fall camp. Trumbetti is set to play both end positions, serv- ing as a swing player that provides impact plays whenever he is in the game. When he signed with Notre Dame, it was expected that Jonathan Bonner would play on the outside, but the addition of 46 pounds has resulted in him moving inside. He took control of the defensive tackle position in the spring and maintained his grip on the position in the fall. Bonner is the least heralded line- man in the class, but he could be the most important to the defense's suc- cess. The Chesterfield, Mo., native has recorded just 12 tackles and one sack during his career, but he is the most experienced defensive tackle on the roster at this point. The lack of experience and depth at the position puts even greater pressure on Bonner to not only stay healthy, but also to produce on a level he has yet to show in college. If Bonner can't stay healthy and generate plays, the interior will be- come more reliant on freshmen, which is not a recipe for making vast improvements against the run. SECOND-LEVEL STANDOUTS Notre Dame has seven captains in 2017, and three of them play on the second level of the defense and come from the 2014 class. Mike linebacker Nyles Morgan, Buck linebacker Greer Martini and rover Drue Tranquill are being asked to provide leadership and production on defense. Morgan led Notre Dame with 94 tackles and four sacks last season, his first as a full-time starter. Rivals.com's No. 5 linebacker nationally when he came out of Crete (Ill.) Monee, Morgan was solid but unspectacular last sea- son, and now expectations are much greater for his final campaign. No inside linebacker during former coordinator Brian VanGorder's tenure at Notre Dame tallied double digits in tackles for loss, and Morgan's four sacks were the most in a single season over the last three years. During new defensive coordinator Mike Elko's three years at Wake Forest, he had at least one inside linebacker with at least 10 tackles for loss each season. His 2016 starting Mike line- backer — Marquel Lee — tallied a re- markable 20 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks last season. Morgan will be given every oppor- tunity to become a similarly impactful player this fall, and it would seem he is poised for a breakout season. He slimmed down to 235 pounds, drop- ping 10 pounds from last fall, and his new physique has come with added explosiveness. It will be needed because Morgan will be asked to attack offenses to a far greater degree in Elko's defense. Martini quickly took hold of the starting Buck spot, beating out nine- game starter Te'von Coney. He showed off his playmaking ability in the Blue- Gold Game, notching two tackles for loss and a sack while breaking up two passes. He and Morgan were a strong one-two punch inside during fall camp, and the expectation is that the combination will anchor the Irish defense. On the outside, Tranquill has adapted to the rover position quite seamlessly. An excellent athlete with good size (listed at 6-2, 231 pounds), he often looked uncomfortable having to After two disappointing seasons, defensive end Andrew Trumbetti is looking to become a key figure in the line rotation. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA