Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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36 OCT. 23, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED game through five contests, putting him on pace for more than 3,300 yards this season. However, Darnold has passed for just nine touch- downs while getting picked off eight times. Con- sidered a Heisman Trophy favorite entering the season, he has shown a penchant for turnovers that has been problematic for the Trojans. The talented passer was under heavy duress through five games, getting sacked nine times. His supporting cast was not overly supportive outside of junior wideout Deontay Burnett, who led USC in catches (39) for receiving yards (507) and touch- down grabs (five) during its 4-1 start. Notre Dame's pass defense ranked 83rd in the land through five games, but its numbers are a bit misleading. The Irish held an 18-point lead at halftime against Temple, a 15-point advantage go- ing into the fourth quarter against Boston College, a 21-point cushion going into the break against Michigan State and a 31-point lead at halftime against Miami (Ohio). With such big deficits, opponents have had to go to the air with far greater frequency. Notre Dame's opponents attempted 195 passes in the first five games, an average of 39 per contest. The Irish ranked 29th in yards allowed per attempt (6.19) and tied for 31st in yards allowed per completion (10.98). Notre Dame has been disruptive against the pass, picking off five, recording 11 sacks and reg- istering 22 hurries through the season's first five games. USC has the edge on paper at this point, but if the Irish can pressure Darnold it will more than hold its own in this matchup. Advantage: USC NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. USC RUN DEFENSE USC surrendered 433 yards on the ground in its first two games before holding its next three op- ponents to just 101.0 yards per game. Junior line- backer Cameron Smith has been a key force against the run, registering 41 tackles and a team-leading 5.5 tackles for loss through five games. USC is thin up front, having to rely on a number of young players for depth, but in the early going the line has more than held its own. Former five- star recruit Rasheem Green is USC's best player on the defensive line, racking up four tackles for loss and 23 tackles in his first five appearances. The emergence of junior Josh Fatu at nose tackle solidified the line. Fatu came into the season with just 21 career tackles and 1.5 stops behind the line, but through five games in 2017 he racked up 18 tackles and five tackles for loss. Notre Dame's ground attack has been the strength of the team through five weeks, aver- aging 301.4 yards per game to rank seventh in the nation. In addition, the Irish were second in rushing touchdowns (20) and third in yards per attempt (7.14). The ability to put the ball into the end zone with its rushing attack was a driving force in Notre GAME PREVIEW: USC Redshirt sophomore defensive end Christian Rector recorded four of the 16 sacks the Trojans racked up in their first five contests. PHOTO BY JOHN MCGILLEN/USC ATHLETICS Offense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. WR 6 E. St. Brown 6-5 203 Jr. 81 Miles Boykin 6-4 225 Jr. WR 83 Chase Claypool 6-4½ 228 So. 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 181 Jr. LT 68 Mike McGlinchey 6-8 315 5th-Sr. 74 Liam Eichenberg 6-6 300 So. LG 56 Quenton Nelson 6-5 330 Sr. 75 Joshua Lugg 6-7 300 Fr. C 53 Sam Mustipher 6-2½ 305 Jr. 57 Trevor Ruhland 6-3½ 302 Jr. RG 71 Alex Bars 6-6 312 Sr. 70 Hunter Bivin 6-6 315 5th-Sr. RT 78 Tommy Kraemer 6-5½ 314 So. 72 Robert Hainsey 6-4½ 292 Fr. TE 80 Durham Smythe 6-5½ 257 5th-Sr. 86 Alizé Mack 6-5 251 Jr. WR 15 Cameron Smith 5-10½ 202 5th-Sr. 87 Michael Young 5-10 190 Fr. or 3 C.J. Sanders 5-8 181 Jr. QB 7 Brandon Wimbush 6-2 228 Jr. 12 Ian Book 6-0 208 So. RB 33 Josh Adams 6-2 225 Jr. 2 Dexter Williams 5-11 215 Jr. or 34 Tony Jones Jr. 5-11 225 So. Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. DE 93 Jay Hayes 6-3½ 290 Sr. or 98 Andrew Trumbetti 6-4 263 Sr. DT 55 Jonathan Bonner 6-4 291 Sr. 95 M. Tagovailoa-Amosa 6-2½ 293 Fr. NT 99 Jerry Tillery 6-7 306 Jr. 41 Kurt Hinish 6-2 298 Fr. Drop 9 Daelin Hayes 6-4 258 So. or 98 Andrew Trumbetti 6-4 263 Sr. Mike 5 Nyles Morgan 6-1 235 Sr. 44 Jamir Jones 6-3 240 So. Buck 48 Greer Martini 6-3½ 236 Sr. or 4 Te'von Coney 6-1 240 Jr. Rover 23 Drue Tranquill 6-2 231 Sr. 22 Asmar Bilal 6-2 230 Jr. CB 27 Julian Love 5-11 193 So. 20 Shaun Crawford 5-9 176 Jr. Stud 24 Nick Coleman 6-0 192 Jr. 17 Isaiah Robertson 6-1½ 195 Fr. Whip 21 Jalen Elliott 6-0½ 205 So. or 14 Devin Studstill 6-0 195 So. CB 7 Nick Watkins 6-1 207 Sr. 8 Donte Vaughn 6-3 206 So. NOTRE DAME DEPTH CHART Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. KO 19 Justin Yoon 5-10 192 Jr. 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 193 Fr. PK 19 Justin Yoon 5-10 192 Jr. 39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 193 Fr. P 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 210 Sr. 42 Jeff Riney 5-10 180 Jr. H 4 M. VanGorder 6-1 222 Sr. 85 Tyler Newsome 6-2½ 210 Sr. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. LS 54 John Shannon 6-2 230 So. 82 Nic Weishar 6-5 243 Sr. PR 10 Chris Finke 5-9½ 181 Jr. 3 C.J. Sanders 5-8 181 Jr. KR 3 C.J. Sanders 5-8 181 Jr. 87 Michael Young 5-10 190 Fr. Special Teams