Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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28 APRIL 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED DEFENSIVE BACKS 2018 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW L ast season, the secondary two-deep consisted of four sophomores, a true freshman, a redshirt sophomore and a junior that was in his first season as a safety. The unit will be much deeper and far more experienced in 2018. At cornerback, the Irish are led by standout junior Julian Love, who had a record-breaking per- formance last season, earning second-team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated. Classmate Troy Pride Jr. took over the starting field spot for the final four games of 2017 af- ter starting three games as a true freshman in 2016. Pride will have to hold off a hard spring chal- lenge from fifth-year senior Nick Watkins — a nine-game starter last season — and active senior Shaun Crawford. Throw in junior Donte Vaughn and the Irish have four cornerbacks re- turning with at least three career starts. There is greater concern at safety. When the defensive line stopped putting as much pressure on the quarterback late in the season, the concerns at safety were exposed. If junior Jalen Elliott and senior Nick Coleman once again emerge as start- ers, it means they improved their game. If they get beat out, it means that the new starters are better suited to make the plays needed at the position. Head coach Brian Kelly stated in December that had it not been for the NCAA not granting Alohi Gilman a waiver to play in 2017 after transferring from Navy, he would have started at safety. He now has an opportunity to make good on that this spring. Hopes are also high for sophomore Jordan Genmark Heath, who made a career-high five tackles in Notre Dame's bowl win over LSU. BY THE NUMBERS 9 Starts at safety by Devin Studstill as a freshman in 2016. He was sup- planted from the starting position at the start of last season, and this spring began with the third unit — partly a reflection of how much the competition has been upgraded the past two seasons. 12 Scholarship players in the defen- sive backfield this spring — six at corner and six at safety — meaning three full units can be formed. By the fall the count is slated to go up to 18. 20 Passes broken up by cornerback Julian Love as a sophomore, shatter- ing the 48-year school record of 13 set by Clarence Ellis in 1969 during a 10-game regular season. Love's 23 passes defended (with three inter- ceptions, two returned for scores) also set a new standard. WHO'S GONE Isaiah Robertson He is still on the roster, but the former safety has moved to rover this spring. WHO'S BACK Junior Julian Love Registered a school-record 23 passes de- fended and scored twice on interceptions. Fifth-year senior Nick Watkins/Junior Troy Pride Jr. Excellent competition across from Love. Junior Jalen Elliott Up and down as a sophomore in 2017, but he'll look for a breakout as a junior. Senior Nick Coleman Recorded 44 tackles last season while starting all 13 games. TOP NEWCOMERS Junior Alohi Gilman The Navy transfer is look- ing to supplant incumbent Nick Coleman for a start- ing spot at safety. Freshman Houston Griffith A natural athlete that could make an early push at cor- nerback or safety. Returning Returning Year-End Year Starts Passes Def./Int PD/Int 2017 45 14/5 40/7 2018 81 55/11 — POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH Troy Pride Jr. will have to hold off fifth-year senior Nick Watkins and senior Shaun Crawford for the starting field cornerback posi- tion, but the biggest battles this spring will be at safety. Starters Jalen Elliott and Nick Coleman, and their lack of impact plays has made their hold on a starting spot tenuous. Navy transfer Alohi Gilman made 76 tackles and five tackles for loss, plus broke up five passes, as a freshman starter for the Midshipmen in 2016. He'll be hard to keep off the field, and so will sophomore Jordan Gen- mark Heath, who played extensively and well in the Citrus Bowl win. Brian Kelly's Take "It's going to be so much similar to what we're do- ing, but you'll have a different voice [in first-year defensive coordinator Clark Lea]. Having experience, with confidence, guys that know the system and know the scheme, that makes this spring a little dif- ferent than last year." PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA JULIAN LOVE