Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/998819
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN After sharing time at strongside end last year, junior Khalid Kareem made significant advancements at the position this spring. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL QUOTABLE: JUNIOR KHALID KAREEM ON HIS FULL-TIME ROLE AT STRONGSIDE END AFTER SHARING TIME WITH JAY HAYES LAST YEAR: "Just being consistent, working to get my reps up, my stamina. It's just a faster pace. I'm used to it now because I got a few reps my freshman year. "I've got to build my body up to withstand the reps … and just getting confidence from my reps." Starters ★★★ ½ Three of Notre Dame's returning starters along the front four were ranked as Rivals250 players coming out of high school. Senior Jerry Tillery was quite productive last season, leading the line with nine tackles for loss while pacing the entire defense with 4.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hurries. Tillery is expected to emerge as one of the top interior linemen in the country this season. If juniors Daelin Hayes and Khalid Kareem, who have the athleticism and potential to be impact players, perform with greater third-year consistency like Tillery did last season, the 2018 line should thrive collectively. Nose guard Jonathan Bonner provides steadiness while doing a lot of the dirty work in the middle. Experience ★★★ ½ The returning linemen have played a combined 4,400 snaps. Three have at least 699 career snaps and six have a minimum of 329 career snaps. The interior is especially deep with experienced play- ers. Tillery has played 1,680 snaps and made 27 starts in his career, taking at least 351 snaps in each of his three seasons. Bonner has played 873 career snaps, and Tagovailoa-Amosa took 329 as a freshman. There is a little less experience on the edge, with Hayes leading the way at 699 career snaps, followed by Okwara (340) and Kareem (302). Junior Ade Ogundeji is the lone player along the two deep with fewer than 150 career snaps, but his progress this winter and spring were as pronounced as anyone. Depth ★★★★ If Okwara and Ogundeji were the listed starters at end while Tagovailoa-Amosa and Hinish were starting inside, there would be reason for optimism. That speaks volumes about the depth in 2018. Defensive line coach Mike Elston was going to play a two deep this season regardless of the talent level of his backups. It's become the nature of the position and the modern game. What makes Notre Dame's 2018 line unique is that unlike his previous units, Elston will be able to bring experienced players off the bench that add playmaking ability to the lineup. That depth also means for the first time in years, Notre Dame won't have to force its fresh- man class onto the field. Overall Grade ★★★ ½ In May, ESPN wrote about the primary strength of each of its preseason top-25 teams, and the publication named Notre Dame's defensive line as the team's top positive. Notre Dame brings back a strong group of starters and its best depth chart of the Brian Kelly era. If the Irish are going to play championship-caliber defense, they will need the line to continue improving on the production built last year. The young unit in 2017 had the third best season for a Kelly defensive line in tackles for loss (39) and sacks (16.5), and the expectation is that in year two of the current system that output will increase. Breakout seasons from Hayes and Kareem are es- sential to Notre Dame becoming one of the nation's premier defenses. BY THE NUMBERS 2 Current Fighting Irish junior defensive ends whose older brothers are with the NFL's New York Giants as of this June: Julian Okwara (Romeo, 2012-15) and converted linebacker Jamir Jones (Jarron at offensive tackle after playing nose guard at Notre Dame from 2012-16). 13 Quarterback hurries produced last year by then sophomores Julian Okwara (seven) and Khalid Kareem (six) to rank second and third on the team in that category despite not having starting roles. Both could be in the lineup in passing situations with fellow juniors Daelin Hayes and Ade Ogundeji 544 Snaps taken last season by drop end Daelin Hayes (about 42 per game), the second most to Jerry Tillery (702) along the defensive line. It was an important step for Hayes because durability had been a prime question mark after having undergone several previous shoulder surgeries. PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★★ National Title; ★★★★ Top 10; ★★★ Top 25; ★★ Too Unproven; ★ Major Concern 86 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW