Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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of at least 20 yards, which leads the squad. Many other Fighting Irish players played crucial roles in the process of rattling off victory after victory this year to touch down in Miami Jan.�� 7 for a shot at the crystal football. And such a season wouldn���t be possible without the dirty work done in the trenches. Senior offensive tackle Zack Martin won the Offensive Lineman of the Year, and will end his career as the lone player in Notre Dame history to win the award three times. Martin is part of an offensive line that has helped the Irish average more than 200 yards per game both rushing and passing. Only two previous Irish teams can boast as much in both categories (1977 and 1970). Only two offensive lines from a Bowl Championship Series automatic qualifying conference, including Notre Dame, can lay claim to averaging at least 200 yards on the ground and 200 yards through the air while yielding 16 sacks or less in 2012. Junior nose guard Louis Nix III and soph- omore defensive end Stephon Tuitt shared the Lineman of the Year Award presented by the Moose Krause Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. Tuitt registered 12 sacks this fall and ranks third in the Football Bowl Subdivision in sack yardage (89), tied for seventh in sacks per game (1.0), tied for eighth in total sacks (12) and tied for 12th in solo sacks (10). Among FBS underclassmen, Tuitt leads the nation in sack yardage (89), ranks second in total sacks, second in solo sacks and second in sacks per contest. He posted multisack games against N a v y, P u rd u e a n d Brigham Young. Only five underclassmen over the last eight seasons have averaged more sacks per game than Tuitt did this year. Nix III is eighth on the team with 45 total stops, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks. Nix III forced a fumble and added four passes broken up. He���s also the undeniable leader in personality. ���I would like to thank my mother for this award,��� Nix said. ���She had a beautiful son, and he���s here today.��� Junior quarterback Tommy Rees captured the Next Man In Award. He was called into action off the bench for Notre Dame in seven games this season while rookie starter Everett Golson, a sophomore, continued to develop. Rees completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 294 yards with one touchdown. Against Oklahoma and Boston College, Rees entered the game for exactly one offensive play and completed an 11- and nineyard pass, respectively. The 11-yard pass against the Sooners came on third���and���10. ���The coaches here instilled trust and confidence in me,��� Rees said after the ceremony. ���People that are a part of this university have shown why this university is what it is. I���m very proud. Any way I can help ��� it���s a little different than [last year], but going 12-0 and helping this team win games and having my teammates count on me like that is pretty rewarding.��� ���