Blue and Gold Illustrated

Nov. 20, 2017

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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54 NOV. 20, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED I n the college football recruiting vernacular, when an incoming class at Notre Dame is regarded as a "complementary" group, the trans- lation generally is that it doesn't have much star power, especially at the glamour positions. When one reviews the original 23- man class from February 2014 that will be honored this Saturday on Se- nior Day versus Navy — along with fifth-year seniors Mike McGlinchey, Durham Smythe, Hunter Bivin and Cameron Smith — it is about as com- plementary, if not barren, as it gets when it comes to the skill positions. From that 23-man haul that was ranked as high as No. 6 by Tom Lem- ming and as low as No. 11 by ESPN and Rivals, there is a grand total of one quarterback, running back, wide receiver, cornerback or even safety — two if you include that current No. 3 quarterback and starting holder Montgomery VanGorder eventually was placed on scholarship. • Quarterback DeShone Kizer turned pro after his junior season and was a second-round pick in the NFL Draft. That prompts a popular inquiry on what the makeup of the 2017 Notre Dame team would have been had Kizer opted to return. Would that emphasis/identity on the new-found physicality been activated when you had a third-year starting QB more renowned for his passing skills? Some would contend there would be better "balance" — but balance isn't always conducive to a better overall product or team chemistry. Head coach Brian Kelly has re- peatedly been at his best with a new quarterback — i.e. Kizer as a sopho- more in 2015 — when he has been "forced," as he himself has admitted, into the more basic tenets of football. • No running backs were signed in 2014, but perhaps that aided the pursuit and signing of current junior Josh Adams, who has flourished. • Two receivers were inked in 2014. Justin Brent was the third-high- est ranked prospect the Rivals top 100 at No. 84 — behind guard Quen- ton Nelson at No. 29 and linebacker Nyles Morgan at No. 72 — while Co- rey Holmes hailed from Fort Lauder- dale, Fla., superpower St. Thomas Aquinas. Both graduated already, but foot- ball hasn't quite worked out as ex- pected. Brent has one catch in the six games he's appeared in at the Uni- versity of Nevada, while Holmes also had one grab in four games at Pur- due before recently leaving the team. • At cornerback, after sitting out last season with an arm injury, Nick Watkins has been a mainstay in his first year as a starter. Otherwise this has been as meat and potatoes as it gets with linemen and linebackers, although six of them are no longer on the team for reasons ranging from injury to transfer. The heart and soul of the 2017 campaign has been the offensive line and the defensive front seven, both replete with seniors, while se- nior punter Tyler Newsome is on the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team for his work beyond the gridiron. In addition to McGlinchey, the trio of Nelson, center Sam Mustipher and right guard Alex Bars has formed one of the most productive and powerful interior attacks at Notre Dame since 25 years ago with Aaron Taylor, Tim Ruddy and Todd Norman. Like Taylor, Nelson will be re- vered among the best ever to don the blue and gold while vying for both the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award. It might have been a first in college football, but all three seniors in the middle of the defense — linebackers Morgan and Greer Martini plus rover Drue Tranquill, who are also three of the top four tacklers — are captains as well. The leadership from this group provides much to emulate, on and off the field. Finally, the quality rotation along the defensive line has been made possible by the development and ma- turity of Jay Hayes, Jonathan Bonner and Andrew Trumbetti, who have all easily played the best football of their careers as seniors. The complementary class from four years ago merits many compli- ments, starters or not, for their lead- ership through taxing times. TIM PRISTER RECOVERING FROM HEART SURGERY A few hours prior to the Nov. 4 Notre Dame-Wake Forest game, for- mer 1982-2003 Blue & Gold Illustrated editor Tim Prister was stricken by a heart attack while picking up his press credential. He underwent bypass surgery Nov. 8 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend and began doing some walking the next day. A highly talented writer, columnist and reporter, the 1982 Notre Dame graduate and former Irish third base- man has been prominent in Fight- ing Irish athletics coverage for nearly four decades. He had been at every Notre Dame home and road football game since 1986 prior to his health setback. T h e B G I f a m i l y e x t e n d s i t s thoughts and prayers to Prister and his family for a healthy recovery and continued prosperity. ✦ A Meat & Potatoes Class With Some Late Spice THE FIFTH QUARTER LOU SOMOGYI Senior Editor Lou Somogyi has been at Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 1985. He can be reached at lsomogyi@blueandgold.com Left guard Quenton Nelson will be renowned as an all-time great in this Irish senior class. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL

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