Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 121 lineup by former five-star recruit Walker Lit- tle, the Pac-12 Freshman Co-Offensive Player of the Year. Senior center Jesse Burkett was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention pick last season. 3. Northwestern — The Wildcats return four starters from an offensive line that paved the way for running back Justin Jackson to rack up 1,311 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground last season. Northwestern topped 300 rushing yards in a game three times, no- tably 333 yards in its 24-23 Music City Bowl victory over Kentucky. Senior guard Tommy Doles earned honor- able mention All-Big Ten honors after the 2016 season and third-team honors in 2017. Left tackle Blake Hance has started 34 times, and the five returners have a combined 93 collegiate starts. Best Defensive Lines 1. Michigan — The Wolverines' de- fensive line is not only the best on Notre Dame's schedule, it's one of the best in the entire country. Led by a pair of standout ends, this unit was a primary reason for Michigan finishing last season third nation- ally in total defense. Fifth-year senior end Chase Winovich racked up 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2017, while fellow end Rashan Gary had 12 stops behind the line and six sacks despite constant double teams as a sophomore. Michigan must replace one interior line- man, consensus All-American Maurice Hurst. 2. Florida State — Despite losing two draft picks, the Seminoles' front four re- mains loaded. Junior end Brian Burns should benefit from the arrival of new coordinator Harlon Barnett, whose defense is predicated on pressure. Burns tallied just 4.5 sacks last season, but he registered 9.5 sacks as a true freshman in 2016. Former five-star recruit Josh Kaindoh will start opposite Burns after producing 6.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and six hurries last season as a freshman. Senior Demarcus Christmas and former five-star recruit Mar- vin Wilson line up inside for Florida State. 3. Northwestern — Head coach Pat Fitzgerald returns all but one player from his 2017 front four, highlighted by a pair of standout ends. Junior Joe Gaziano has outstanding size (6-4, 280) and is one of the top edge figures in the Big Ten after compil- ing 12.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 12 hurries last season. Sophomore Samdup Miller started op- posite Gaziano and recorded 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in his first year. North- western doesn't have the same kind of im- pact players inside as Michigan and Florida State, but it has quality depth. Best Linebackers 1. Michigan — Junior Devin Bush leads an athletic and productive group. Bush was tabbed as a preseason second-team All- American by Athlon and Lindy's after com- piling 102 stops, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and an impressive eight passes broken up in 2017. Classmate Khaleke Hudson provides the Wolverines an excellent complement at the position. Hudson posted 83 tackles, 18.5 stops for loss, eight sacks and had nine passes broken up last fall. He and Bush also combined for three interceptions. Sophomore Josh Ross is likely to be the third starter. 2. USC — The return of Porter Gustin from an injury that cost him 10 games last season gives the Trojans one of the nation's top groups. Lindy's ranks the USC lineback- ers as the nation's seventh-best crew, and se- nior middle man Cameron Smith was ranked as the top inside linebacker in the land. Gustin amassed 13 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks as a sophomore in 2016, and notched three sacks in just four games last fall before going down with an injury. 3. Northwestern — The Wildcat line- backers were a driving force for a unit that ranked ninth in the country in rush defense last season, holding opponents to 107.7 yards per game and 3.25 yards per carry. Sophomore Paddy Fisher emerged as one of the top linebackers in the land, registering 113 tackles and nine for loss to earn second- team All-Big Ten honors from the media. Senior Nate Hall has racked up 152 stops and 22.5 tackles for loss the last two seasons. Best Defensive Backs 1. Michigan — Part of what made Michi- gan so good on defense is it thrived on all three levels. The cornerbacks are considered one of the best duos in the country and are why the Wolverines boast the second-best overall secondary nationally according to Lindy's. Junior cornerbacks Lavert Hill and David Long graded out well in coverage last sea- son, with Hill earning second-team All-Big Ten honors from the league coaches. Michigan's safeties are quality run de- fenders, but must upgrade their coverage capabilities. 2. USC — The Trojans will be without standout junior cornerback Jack Jones, a former five-star recruit that was suspended for the 2018 season due to academic reasons. Even without Jones, though, the Trojans still have one of the best secondaries on the Notre Dame schedule. Senior safety Marvell Tell earned first- team All-Pac-12 accolades in 2017 after notching 85 tackles and three interceptions. Nickel back Ajene Harris is one of the top players in the Pac-12 in his role, and former five-star recruit Iman Marshall is looking to break out at cornerback. Senior Isaiah Langley or freshman Greg Johnson will be tasked with replacing Jones. 3. Pittsburgh — Technically, the Panthers return just one starter, but they have depth and surprisingly quality experience coming back in 2018. Junior cornerback Dane Jackson leads the Pitt secondary after making two picks and nine passes broken up last season, his first as a starter. Redshirt freshman Paris Ford — the brother of former Notre Dame corner Darrin Walls — will start opposite Jackson, giving the Panthers good length and athleti- cism outside. Junior Damar Hamlin started four games last season and made 41 tackles. He is ex- pected to become a force on the back end for the Panthers. ✦ Northwestern defensive end Joe Gaziano(97) emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the Big Ten last fall. PHOTO BY STEPHEN J. CARRERA/NORTHWESTERN ATHLETICS