2018 Notre Dame Football Preview

2018 Notre Dame Football Preview

Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview

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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 53 RUNNING BACKS NOTABLE DATA The rushing average of 269.5 yards per game last year ranked seventh nationally and was the best at Notre Dame in 21 years — Lou Holtz's last season as the Fighting Irish head coach in 1996. Including bowl games, it marked only the third time since 1997 Notre Dame finished a season above 200 rushing yards. The others were 207.6 in 2015 and 208.1 in 1998. There have been only three times in history Notre Dame finished in the Associated Press top 10 (1957, 1964 and 2005) with a rushing average of less than 200 yards, and in 1957 and 1964 they averaged 190.9 both times. Last year, nobody in the final top 10 averaged less than 170 yards, and the top seven were: Alabama (250.6), Georgia (258.4), Oklahoma (217.8), Clemson (194.1), Ohio State (243.2), Central Florida (198.7) and Wisconsin (222.9). No. 10 Auburn — which upset both Alabama and Georgia — was at 218.3. QUOTABLE: JUNIOR RUNNING BACK TONY JONES JR. ON HIS OBJECTIVES THIS SEASON: "Staying healthy and just being a leader more than I was last year — and just controlling my emotions. Be a more complete back, more of a leader and be more effective. … When things would get tough [last year], I would get mad. I guess I would be very hard on myself. "… I think I'm just ready to contribute in the run game, the pass game, just be an every-down back. I don't have to look at Coach [Brian Kelly] on third down and him bringing me out because he doesn't have faith in me." 2017 VS. 2018: STOCK UP OR DOWN? Josh Adams finished his career fifth all time in rushing yards at Notre Dame, amass- ing 3,198 in just three seasons. Losing him a year early to the NFL puts Notre Dame in a precarious position. To make matters worse, Deon McIntosh and C.J. Holmes were kicked off the team during the offseason. Junior Tony Jones Jr. and senior Dexter Williams were rotation players last fall, but neither could stay healthy. Jones missed a game and didn't get back to full speed until midseason, while Williams missed three games and was hobbled during three others. There is smoke about Williams possibly missing time early in the season because of a suspension, adding to the woes at running back, which has been trending in the wrong direction unless some of Notre Dame's young players can surprise. X-FACTOR The last time Notre Dame faced a troubling running back depth chart situation (2015), a wide receiver was moved there in hopes of shoring it up. That turned out well, with converted wideout C.J. Prosise rushing for 1,032 yards and 11 touchdowns while developing into a third-round pick in the NFL Draft. Notre Dame is hoping a similar move will pay huge dividends in 2018. Former wide receiver Jafar Armstrong cross-trained at running back in the spring and plans to spend even more time playing in the backfield this fall. Armstrong has always been a wideout — but he has a running back frame, possessing a thick lower body and a strong core. The staff is hoping the explosive Armstrong can bring some big- play ability to the position. FRESHMAN OUTLOOK Notre Dame has a pair of rookies that will push for snaps this fall. Enrolling early gave Jahmir Smith a jump-start on learning the playbook. Smith spent the spring showing off a blend of power and elusiveness, but if he wants to earn action as a freshman he'll need to do a better job holding on to the football. Classmate C'Borius Flemister needs work from a technique standpoint, but he's a slashing back with enough athleticism to help out early if the need arises. DID YOU KNOW? Through the first eight games last year, run- ning back Josh Adams, who turned pro follow- ing his junior year, had eight runs that covered at least 59 yards before getting slowed in the final five contests. Overall, Adams had 13 jaunts of at least 59 yards in his career (12 of 60 or more) — easily the most in school history. To put that into context, the sec - ond most 50-yard runs at the school are six by Reggie Brooks in 1991-92. In the eight total seasons under Irish head coaches Ty Will - ingham (2002-04) and Charlie Weis (2005-09), the Irish had three runs of 50 or more yards — and two of them were off quarterback scrambles. Senior Dexter Williams has demonstrated break - away skills, but also has been an enigma throughout his ca- reer with various setbacks. SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS Listed after the class year is the years of eligi- bility remaining. 6 Tony Jones Jr. (5-11, 220), Jr./3 2 Dexter Williams (5-11, 203), Sr./1 8 Jafar Armstrong (6-1, 213), So./4 34 Jahmir Smith (5-11, 200), Fr./4 20 C'Borius Flemister (5-11, 190), Fr./4 Hobbled last year by an ankle injury, junior Tony Jones Jr. will be expected to take on a much greater role in 2018. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA

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