Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/954261
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com APRIL 2018 19 Momentum — A come-from-be- hind Citrus Bowl victory over LSU helped validate the 10-3 finish as not necessarily a great campaign, but a successful one after massive infra- structure changes in 2017. It makes the buy-in a little easier when tan- gible progress could be seen in the weight room and on the field. Healthy Competition — The re- cruiting has been consistent enough the past five years with top-10 to top- 15 classes that the roster is fortified to win at least 10 games per season, similar to 2015 (10-3) and 2017 (10-3). "We'll foster an environment where our players truly know they have an opportunity to compete for starting positions," Kelly said. Special Specialists — It's not often a team can return fourth-year starters at kicker (Justin Yoon) and punter (Tyler Newsome), the former on course to be the most accurate field goal man in school history and the latter elected as a team captain. Now, about the return game … PERCEIVED CONCERNS Finding Consistent Playmakers On Offense — Many have had their moments, most notably senior wide receiver Miles Boykin in the Citrus Bowl victory, but can week-after- week excellence — a la a Will Fuller in 2014-15, Josh Adams the first nine games in 2017, quarterback DeShone Kizer in 2015 — be achieved? It must begin with stability at quarterback. Linebacker Depth/Safety Up- grade — The Irish lost a pair of cap- tains at linebacker in Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini, and had to move current captain Drue Tranquill from rover to Buck linebacker to fill some gaps. Tranquill seemed ideal at rover, and now he will have to adjust to a new position. Plus, three of the freshmen line- backers who enrolled early to help with the reinforcements all weigh 217 pounds or less, so a lot of physi- cal and mental development is still ahead. New Voices — Clark Lea will be a first-time defensive coordinator, while Jeff Quinn will be instruct- ing an entire offensive line for the first time since 2009, when he was on Brian Kelly's Cincinnati staff that finished the regular season 12-0. Both will likely be scrutinized closely while succeeding highly respected predecessors. ✦ Fifth-year senior center and captain Sam Mustipher anchors an offensive line that boasts 65 career starts. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA NUMBER CHANGES & ADDITIONS No. 2 Jordan Genmark Heath — Sophomore safety had been No. 13. No. 3 Avery Davis — Sophomore quarterback/wide receiver had been No. 13. No. 5 Troy Pride — Junior cornerback had been No. 18. No. 6 Tony Jones Jr. — Junior running back had been No. 34. No. 8 Jafar Armstrong — Sophomore running back/wide receiver had been No. 25. No. 11 Alohi Gilman — Junior safety had been No. 12. No. 15 D.J. Morgan — Junior linebacker had been No. 32. Among the seven freshmen who enrolled early: No. 3 Houston Griffith — Cornerback/safety can share the number with Davis because one plays offense and the other defense. No. 29 Ovie Oghoufo — He and two other frosh linebackers this spring will try to settle into one position to learn. No. 31 Jack Lamb — Second of three new linebacker additions. No. 34 Jahmir Smith — After junior running back Tony Jones Jr. switched to No. 6, the new member of the backfield was issued 34. No. 52 Bo Bauer — Third linebacker that enrolled early this spring. No. 80 Micah Jones — With his 6-4½, 208-pound frame, he seems well suited at boundary receiver. No. 85 George Takacs — A cartilage injury will keep the freshman on the sidelines for the spring.