Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 11, 2017 13 UNDER THE DOME Among the 21-man freshman class signed last February, at least eight are projected to see game action in 2017, and a few others could as well after cracking the two-deep that was re- leased Aug. 29. • The top surprise came along the defensive interior, where Kurt Hinish and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa moved ahead of juniors Micah Dew-Tread- way and Brandon Tiassum for the backup roles. Hinish is behind junior tackle Jerry Tillery, while Tagovailoa- Amosa is backing up senior Jonathan Bonner at defensive tackle. "We're not talking about 50 plays here," head coach Brian Kelly cau- tioned. "We're talking about a role that we believe that they can fulfill for us … they're strong, they possess the mental capability to handle what we're throwing at them in terms of picking up the coaching techniques." • Safety Isaiah Robertson, an early enrollee this spring, will be the No. 2 free safety and also will work on spe- cial teams. • The other safety, Jordan Genmark- Heath, will play special teams and be the fifth safety in the rotation. • On offense, the top news was right tackle Robert Hainsey was push- ing sophomore Tommy Kraemer for the starting role. His advanced tech- nique helped compensate for his rela- tively smaller frame (6-4½, 292). Since 2008, 29 of 31 offensive line- men recruited by Notre Dame have been redshirted as freshmen, but Kelly was affirmative that Hainsey would play this season. • Tight ends Brock Wright and Cole Kmet — the top two recruits in the 2017 Irish class by ranking — also were given the thumbs up to play even though they have three upper- classmen in front of them with fifth- year senior Durham Smythe, senior Nic Weishar and junior Alizé Mack. Wright has lined up as a blocking fullback in short-yardage situations. • Kicker Jonathan Doerer was slated to handle kickoffs, but leg wea- riness sidelined him in the opener. • With 12 receivers on scholarship, a three-deep was posted at those three positions, with Michael Young and Ja- far Armstrong both in the mix. Young also could be a top backup on kickoff or punt returns. • Left guard Josh Lugg also was listed behind senior All-America can- didate Quenton Nelson. However, burning a redshirt year there might be less likely with fifth-year senior Hunter Bivin (the No. 2 right guard) a potential option, if needed. Freshmen Move Into Two Deep Freshman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa earned a spot on the Irish two deep at defensive tackle. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA INTRODUCING THE LIMITED EDITION Rockne Collection AVAILABLE AT THE HAMMES NOTRE DAME BOOKSTORE http://bit.ly/2gaiRKt SHOP THE COLLECTION