Print Edition of the Irish Insider for Friday, August 31, 2018 by The Observer

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By ELIZABETH GREASON Assistant Managing Editor

It’s a rivalr y of old. Saturday’s matchup is going to look much like the storied Notre Dame–Michigan games that have been etched into the history books: dark, under the lights and rainy. When the Irish take the field against the Wolverines, it may mark a return to the good old days and recall memories of the Notre Dame student section bidding farewell to Michigan during a 31-0 shutout four years ago. But for graduate student linebacker Drue Tranquill, these four years have marked some

of the most important and inf luential of his life. Since he last played against Michigan in that famous shutout, Tranquill graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a stellar GPA in mechanical engineering. He tore his ACL. Twice. He got engaged to the love of his life: Jackie Gindt. He got married to the love of his life: Jackie Tranquill. He started his own charity, the 5th Quarter. Oh, and he has played a bit of college football and was named a team captain. Twice. Now in his fifth year on the team, Tranquill was able to graduate from Notre Dame in December of his senior year

— a semester early. “I think life can become overwhelming, but I learned from a young age from my mom that with faith in Jesus, anything is possible,” Tranquill said of the accomplishment. “So, I just took that at a young age and kind of prioritized what was important to me in life, which was getting my degree and taking advantage of that opportunity to play here at Notre Dame and obviously my relationships with my friends and my wife. So, everything kind of external to that, I kind of put to the side for four years and just kind of put my head down. Anything’s possible.”

Despite having a variety of opportunities open to him after his graduation, Tranquill eventually made the decision to stay at Notre Dame for his final year of eligibility, a decision he announced at the Echoes, Notre Dame’s annual football awards ceremony. “I think that after talking it over with my family, my wife, my coaches, it was going to be best for me to come back,” he said. “College football is my dream. It’s been a dream for me to play here, and to have another shot to win a national championship means everything to me.” A fifth season under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium

means Tranquill will have the chance to do what just two other players have done during head coach Brian Kelly’s tenure at the school. This year will mark Tranquill’s second as a captain, making him the third two-time captain under Kelly, along with former offensive linemen Mike McGlinchey and Zack Martin. The responsibility of being a captain is not one Tranquill takes lightly, especially the second time around. “It’s such an honor at a place like this. Notre Dame would go on without me and they will go on without me, so just to be able to put that

Observer File Photo

Irish graduate student linebacker Drue Tranquill surveys his opponent while his teammates look on during Notre Dame’s 21-17 victory over LSU in the 2018 Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Tranquill recorded four tackles in the game against the Tigers to give him a total of 44 tackles on the year, including 10.5 TFLs.

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‘C’ on my chest this year and represent this team means everything to me,” Tranquill said of being selected as a captain. “And like I said, this University will go on without me and do great things, but for the time being, if I can make my mark and make this place just a little bit better, that’s what I’m trying to do and that’s what I’m striving to do.” Tranquill is coming into the role this season with experience and is excited to use that experience to benefit his teammates. “I know that my outlook and perspective on the role is a little bit different,” he said. “Having some experience at it this year, knowing what worked well and what didn’t work well, I definitely bring that to the table.” While his role as a captain may not have changed between this season and last, for the second one in a row Tranquill will be tackling a completely new position — moving from rover to buck linebacker this season. Tranquill said the move to linebacker was part of the reason he stayed on for his fifth year, as he thinks he fits the position more naturally and it is where he is being projected at the next level. “That’s where my instincts lie and where I think my traits show up best,” Tranquill said. “In my nose for the football, in finding the football, my physicality, my toughness, all the things that kind of make me who I am as a player.” Moving to the buck linebacker position is just another example of the progress Tranquill has made in his time at Notre Dame since beginning with the team in 2014

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after not being very highly recruited. “I’ve come a long way,” he said. “I came from a high school where I did a little bit of everything, so to come to Notre Dame and focus in on one position and really learn ins and outs, I think just my knowledge of the game has grown so much and my knowledge of defense and the structure of defense and how it works and how 11 guys play as one has really grown here while at Notre Dame.” As a graduate student, Tranquill has the rare advantage among the members of the Irish squad of having played against Michigan before — he was present when Notre Dame sent the Wolverines back to Ann Arbor with their tails between their legs in 2014. Tranquill said he is thrilled to have the opportunity to do so once again. “It’s awesome. Last time we played them I was a true freshman and we won 31-0,” Tranquill said with a grin. “It would be awesome to be able to relive that again this year. But really looking forward to a historic rivalry and to be a part of that twice here at Notre Dame would mean a lot.” He has also taken on the responsibility of making sure the underclassmen understand the significance of the Michigan game. “I think rivalries become and mean more to you as your years go on. Whatever place you choose to go to, you kind of take part in that tradition year-in and yearout, and a lot of these guys haven’t played Michigan yet and all they have is the years passed and the stories,” he said. “To verbalize to my

guys what that meant when we beat them last [time] and what this meant in years past to play them means a lot and guys are excited and know they’re a great football team and they’re going to bring the best out of us and we’re sure going to bring the best out of them.” But when the two teams bring their best to the turf at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday night, Tranquill cannot guarantee the same 31-0 outcome as four years ago. W hat he can control, however, is his effort. Something the 6-foot-2

linebacker takes solace in is knowing that he is giving his all in every single thing he does, both on and off the field. It’s what keeps him hungry and what allows Tranquill to stay in control of each and every aspect of his life. “We always say around here, ‘effort is the price of admission.’ You can always control your effort, it doesn’t matter how talented you are,” Tranquill said. “I wasn’t a top recruit coming out of high school. I’ve been [overlooked] by plenty of people. I’ve had two ACL injuries, but

effort is something that you can control day in and day out and it’s something my coaches have really appreciated and taught me. Older guys like Matthias Farley, Joe Schmidt have taught me that as a younger player here. And that’s something I try to model here on a day-to-day basis. If I’m the captain of the football team and I’m not being consistent in that on a day-to-day basis, how can I possibly demand that from them? I’m ready to go.” Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu

Observer File Photo

Irish graduate student linebacker Drue Tranquill chases his opponent downfield during Notre Dame’s 21-17 victory over LSU on Jan. 1, 2018 in the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

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recruiting

Opening weekend crucial for Irish recruiting By JOE EVERETT Sports Editor

College football’s biggest matchup in week one w ill also feature its biggest recruiting weekend as No. 12 Notre Dame welcomes No. 14 Michigan to campus for a primetime showdow n. Joining ESPN’s College GameDay w ill be several of Notre Dame’s top remaining targets for the 2019 class as Irish head coach Brain Kelly and his staff w ill look to put the finishing touches on a class that is currently ranked No. 14 in the countr y by 247Sports Composite. The class of 2019 is already almost completed, said Dav id McKinnon, recruiting analyst for Blue and Gold Illustrated, thanks to a strong summer push by the Irish staff and their taking advantage of early official v isits. “The biggest thing you have to look at this summer is the first early official

v isit period — beginning of April through the end of June — and from those who v isited during that period [Notre Dame] earned a commitment from 43 percent of those guys,” McKinnon said. “There were pros and cons to it, but one of the biggest things was the abilit y to go out and spend time at Kelly’s lake house w ith the team. It was definitely a successful summer — they’ve taken full advantage of early recruiting period. They’re already at 17 guys, which is a huge number heading into the football season.” Three-star quarterback Brandon Clark, three-star w ide receiver Cam Hart, four-star offensive linemen Quinn Carroll and Zeke Correll and three-star running back Ky ren Williams were among those who signed during the early official v isit period. Because of future scholarship space, McKinnon says the Irish w ill only be able to sign

somewhere between one to four more players in the 2019 class. As the Irish aim to make a statement on the weekend’s biggest stage against one of their biggest rivals, several candidates for those remaining spots w ill be in the stands Saturday night. “There’s a big list of guys coming in,” McKinnon said. “Probably the most important piece for Notre Dame right now is adding another defensive end. Bralen Trice, a four-star defensive end is coming in from Arizona — he’s a big target and has Notre Dame in his top five [list of schools], with Washington, Oregon, UCL A and TCU. He’s one of the big names coming in. Enokk Vimahi is a four-star and top 100 offensive lineman from Hawaii — Notre Dame already has four offensive linemen in this class but they could add another, so he’s definitely a big target there as he comes in for his official visit. Kendall Paid Advertisement

Abdur-Rahman is an athlete hybrid coming in from Illinois for his official visit — wide receiver is another position where Notre Dame could take one more player.” Beyond the class of 2019, over a dozen recruits from the class of 2020 are set to v isit South Bend this weekend. In addition, offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger, arguably the top overall player in the class of 2021, is expected to make his way to Notre Dame at the same time. The 6’6”, 250-pounder from Clarkston, Michigan has already secured offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Sy racuse and Toledo. Notre Dame could be the sixth offer for the No. 1-ranked offensive tack le in the entire countr y. Not only is Notre Dame vs. Michigan “extremely” important for this season and for the current recruiting class, but it w ill likely also impact the immediate future of both programs, McKinnon said.

“I think it’s one of the bigger weekends,” he said. “Probably this, Stanford and Florida State w ill be their big weekends. Since Notre Dame’s 2019 class is already almost full they’ve been really able to focus on the 2020 class and tr y to get an early jump there. If you look at the 2020 list, there’s a ton of guys there … almost 15 guys alone … so yeah a lot of 2020 talent coming in [for the Michigan game]. They’ve already got three commits — four star, top-100 quarterback Drew Pyne and four-star tight ends Michael Mayer and Kevin Bauman.” “ … Notre Dame has already done a lot of good work in 2020, and this weekend will be very important in terms of building around what’s there in the class of 2020 and maybe filling up those final couple spots in the class of 2019.” Contact Joe Everett at jeveret4@nd.edu

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Michigan looks to Patterson, defense By CONNOR MULVENA Associate Sports Editor

After a disappointing year for Michigan’s football program, which ended ranked No. 27 nationally and below the S&P+ ranking projected for the Wolverines at the start of the season, head coach Jim Harbaugh and his largely veteran squad are looking to bounce back with force, starting with a trip to South Bend. The Wolverines, who were defeated by South Carolina in the Outback Bowl last season, faced a number of obstacles from the start of 2017. Michigan entered the year with a largely new defensive makeup and receiving corps, an obstacle to overcome for any young program. But, on top of this challenge, Harbaugh’s starting quarterback, Wilton Speight, who has since transferred to UCLA, suffered a serious back injury one month into the season. The Wolverines sustained a loss to then No. 15 Michigan State and were left without a key team leader. This year, Harbaugh looks to turn things around behind a new quarterback in junior transfer Shea Patterson and a stingy defensive unit led by senior captain and defensive back Tyree Kinnel. Michigan’s defense heading into the 2018-2019 season is among the top in the nation, and the unit is

led by a respected veteran in defensive coordinator Don Brown. Brown served as head coach at Plymouth State, Northeastern, and UMass in years past, and he’s served as defensive corrdinator for a number of respectable division I programs. His defensive schemes are marked most notably by an aggressive front and a unique implementation of the nickleback position. And this year, Brown certainly has the weapons to put that scheme to use. Returning at linebacker is junior Khaleke Hudson, who, in 2017, managed to top 2016 Heisman finalist Jabril Peppers’ 15 tack les for loss w ith a sterling 17. Plus, junior Rashan Gray and fifth year Chase Winov ich w ill be returning at defensive end. The dy namic combo combined for 30.5 TFLs, 14 sacks, and three fumbles last season, and experience should only help this season. With many more returning defensive players ready to take on leadership roles, Harbaugh expressed his confidence in the defensive unit in his press conference on Monday. “I think it is a well rounded defense,” Harbaugh said. “We have good players, and we have an excellent scheme, and players understand it and know it. A nd then that hustle. They hustle to the ball, guys on the ground are not on the ground long — they’re getting up and pursuing and

tack ling. That’s what you want to see out of your defense. I feel like it’s going to be a sting y defense.” Harbaugh similarly seemed confident in junior transfer and starting quarterback Shea Patterson, of whom much is expected this season by the Wolverine faithful. It was originally unclear whether or not Patterson, who transferred in from Ole Miss in the offseason, would be able to play this year, but the NCAA announced his eligibilit y for the 2018 season in April of last year. This was huge news for a Wolverine team which struggled at the quarterback position in 2017, and Harbaugh has said that Patterson has put on an impressive performance in offseason training. “Shea Patterson, he’s really been good,” Harbaugh said. “He’s really been intense and focused in practice. And you expect that out of a quarterback, you expect that out of someone who plays that position, and you expect that from all the players. But his level of focus and intensity during practice and execution has been really good. He’s the one who’s playing the best and gives our team the best chance of winning.” However, amidst this confidence, key wide receiver sophomore Tarik Black is out indefinitely with a broken foot. Last season, Black recorded

11 receptions for 149 yards and three touchdowns in only three games before sustaining a season ending foot injur y. Overall, Harbaugh remains confident in Michigan’s receiving corps. “I like the way our receivers have been coming along. It’s been a good camp. They’ve come so far in training camp and spring practice … They’ve done a great job learning and working hard ever yday to improve. I’ve seen real tangible improvement from our entire receiver group” Harbaugh said. Lastly, the Wolverines as a unit are led by senior captains Tyree Kinnel and Karan Higdon, of whom Harbaugh spoke highly. “Senior captains Tyree Kinnel and Karan Higdon, both fourth year seniors that played in their freshman, sophomore, junior and now going into their senior year. Both great guys,” Harbaugh said. “Bot h starters. Bot h have ta ken a leadership role, and t hey’re t he best of t he lot. They’ve invested a lot, like a ll seniors have. Like a ll seniors and f if t h years, t hey’ve invested t he most. They’ve had t he best attitude, a long w it h t he rest of our senior class, I feel rea lly good about our leadership.” Contact Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu

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Senior wide receiver Chris Finke finds a gap in the defense when returning a punt during Notre Dame’s 49-14 win over USC on Oct. 21. Paid Advertisement

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Irish junior running back Tony Jones Jr. looks down at a tackle during Notre Dame’s 35-14 victory over NC State on Oct. 28 at Notre Dame Stadium. Jones is set to feature prominently with the loss of Josh Adams.

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Don’t drink the Michigan Kool-Aid Tobias Hoonhout Managing Editor

“I didn’t come here to win the Florida Citrus Bowl. I came to win a national championship.” If you weren’t sure before, take it from Chip Long — here at Notre Dame, it’s all about expectations. Every year, there’s the sense in South Bend that the Irish are embarking on a quest to win it all. It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is, if defensive coordinators only last a season or how many decades it’s been since Notre Dame last captured college football’s greatest prize. To many from the outside looking in, Notre Dame represents a program handicapped by its own insistence on independence; the landscape has changed, while the Irish seem stuck in the last century. But the counter comes down to a single point — if Notre Dame wants to win a national championship, the program has the f lexibility to consistently arrange one of the toughest schedules in the country. This year, it’s no different. Once again, the Irish have elected to leave no margin for error. Brian Kelly opens his campaign with a dance with hated northern neighbor Michigan, a team that both shares Notre Dame’s talent and championship aspirations. After a three-year hiatus, the rivalry hoopla is back to such an extent that even College GameDay couldn’t resist. And while it may ultimately come down to a coin f lip, Kelly does have one trump card up his sleeve: The Irish aren’t in the Big House, they’re hosting. A big win, and one

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Irish senior running back Dexter Williams is pursued downfield during Notre Dame’s 48-37 win over Wake Forest at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 4. Williams is the only senior back on the roster, and is set to share the majority of the duties with Tony Jones Jr.

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Irish senior defensive lineman Micah Dew-Treadway looks down at his opponent during Notre Dame’s 49-14 victory over USC on Oct. 21 at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame recorded five sacks on the night against the Trojans, forcing several turnovers.

can’t help but feel that the Irish might just have the magic this year to fina— Woah! Let’s slow dow n. Honestly, can we say a win will even matter? There’s no doubt that when Notre Dame plays ranked teams under Kelly, the results are much better at home. While the Irish finished a respectable 10-3 last season, including a bowl win over then-No. 16 LSU, the team had a mixed bag of results in the marquee games of the year. Hosting Georgia, NC State and USC, Notre Dame barely lost to the eventual national runners-up and smacked the Trojans and the Wolfpack to move back into the Playoff conversation. On the road, however, the Irish couldn’t handle the pressure, first in South Beach and then Palo Alto, as the team closed out the regular season with losses to both Miami and Stanford in two of the final three games. Under Kelly, the Irish seem to have fallen into a bad pattern of starting seasons strong at home, but stumbling to the finish line on the road. Notre Dame traditionally schedules a California rivalry game in “warmer weather” at the end of the season, hitting the road to play either USC or Stanford. But over the last four seasons, the rationale hasn’t paid off — the Irish haven’t closed out the season with a win since 2012, and are 2-6 in eight tries out West under Kelly. Looking at Notre Dame’s schedule see HOONHOUT PAGE 14

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HEAD T

7:30 p.m. ET | Notre Dame Stadium Observer File Photo

WOLVERINES PASSING Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson will enter his first start at Michigan with undeniable talent but also a host of question marks. In his first start, on the road, under the bright lights of Notre Dame stadium in the biggest game of the week, how will he handle the pressure? How much will Michigan elect to open up the playbook? Patterson is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who has the potential to hurt the Irish in multiple ways, but his inexperience at Michigan may hamper his effectiveness Saturday night. Michigan’s receiving corps also maintain some question marks, especially after the Wolverines announced Sunday that projected starting wide receiver Tarik Black will miss significant time after sustaining a broken foot. While Patterson will still have talented options to throw to in sophomore Donovan Peoples-Jones and senior Grant Perry, the Wolverine’s passing game will not be at full strength against the Irish. Notre Dame’s defensive backfield has improved in talent and depth this season, especially with the additions of junior safety Alohi Gilman and freshman cornerback Houston Griffith. If an improving defensive line can consistently get after Patterson for four quarters, the Irish secondary should fare well. EDGE: NOTRE DAME WOLVERINES RUSHING Senior Karan Higdon and junior Chris Evans both return at running back for the Wolverines. The two backs have combined for 27 touchdowns and 2,718 yards in the last two years, averaging a combined 5.9 yards per carry. Michigan’s core of running backs is actually more promising than last year’s. That being said, the Wolverines lose their four star tackle Mason Cole, as he was selected 97th overall in the 2018 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Plus, all signs indicate that the Wolverines will be relying on Shea Patterson’s impressive passing abilities to attack the Irish defense, and it is surely reasonable to expect a few glitches in the ground game with a new quarterback and an unclear situation at offensive coordinator. Ultimately, Notre Dame’s defense has the skill to shut down rushing games far superior to that which Michigan is set to display this season. The Irish are simply more skilled.

Michigan

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EDGE: NOTRE DAME WOLVERINES OFFENSIVE COACHING Jim Harbaugh has yet to officially name an offensive coordinator, and by the looks of things, it is unlikely he will name one at all. Harbaugh has spoken about collaboration between himself, offensive line coach Ed Warinner, passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton, and new wide receivers coach Jim McElwain — former Alabama offensive coordinator and Florida head coach — in calling plays. It seems like an odd idea, but who knows what Harbaugh is actually thinking. In a unique system, it is certainly possible for such a set up to work. It’s certainly a strong slate of individual offensive coaches, including Harbaugh himself. That being said, it’s hard to imagine how the absence of a single offensive coordinator would be a positive when up against a stingy Notre Dame defense. The Irish defensive coaching staff should be able to trump a decentralized, and seemingly unorganized, Michigan offensive coaching staff. EDGE: NOTRE DAME WOLVERINES SPECIAL TEAMS The Wolverines’ primary place kicker, senior Quinn Nordin, is powerful, but he’s also unpredictable, missing 3 PATs last season and particularly struggling as the season progressed. On kickoffs, however, Michigan topped the country with only allowing 15 yards per return. Punter Brad Robbins does his job well, averaging over 40 yards per kick. In the return game, the Irish weren’t a factor last year, instead sticking with the safe hands of senior Chris Finke on punts and electing to utilize C.J. Sanders primarily on kickoffs, which came back to bite Brian Kelly in Stanford. EDGE: EVEN

(So.) Nico Collins 4

(R-So.) Nate Schoenle 81

LT LG C RG RT TE

(R-Sr.) Juwann Bushell-Beatty 76 (Sr.) Karan

Higdon

(Jr.) Shea Patterson

(Jr.) Chris Evans 12

(R-So.) Brandon Peters 18

(So.) Andrew Stueber 71

RB QB

(Jr.) Ben Bredeson

(So.) Joel Honigford 59

(So.) Cesar Ruiz 51 (Jr.) Stephen Spanellis 72

(Jr.) Michael Onwenu 50 (Jr.) Stephen Spanellis 72

(Sr.) Nolan Ulizio 70 (Sr.) Jon Runyan

(Sr.) Zach Gentry 83 (Jr.) Sean McKeon 84

(Sr.) Grant

Perry

(So.) Oliver Martin

(So.) Donovan

88 2

Peoples-Jones

(Jr.) David Long 22 (R-Sr.) Brandon Watson 28

(Sr.) Tyree Kinnel 23 (So.) Jaylen Kelly-Powell 16

(So.) Joshua Ross 12 (Jr.) Devin Gil 36

(So.) Oliver Martin

WLB

DE NOSE DT

(Jr.) Rashan Gary 3 (Jr.) Carlo Kemp

(Jr.) Devin Bush 10 (Gr.) Joshua Uche 6

MLB

(Jr.) Michael Dwumfour 50 (R-Sr.) Lawrence Marshall 93

(R-Sr.) Bryan Mone 90 (So.) Aubrey Solomon 5

(Jr.) Khaleke Hudson

(Sr.) Jordan Glasgow 29

Viper

(R-Sr.) Chase Winovich 15 (So.) Kwity Paye 19

(Jr.) Josh Metellus 14 (So.) J’Marick Woods 26

BUCK

SS (Jr.) Lavert Hill 24 (So.) Ambry Thomas 1

WOLVERINES SCHEDULE Sept. 1 @ Notre Dame Sept. 8 W Michigan Sept. 15 SMU Sept. 22 Nebraska Sept. 29 @ Northwestern Oct. 6 Maryland Oct. 13 Wisconsin Oct. 20 @ Michigan State Nov. 3 Penn State Nov. 10 @ Rutgers Nov. 17 Indiana Nov. 24 @ Ohio State

(Jr.) Quinn Nordin 3 (Fr.) Jake Moody

(So.) Brad Robbins 3

(Jr.) Will Hart 17

(So.) Donovan

People-Jones

(Sr.) Perry Grant 88

PK P PR

Elizabeth Greason

Joe Everett

Managing Editor

Assistant Managing Editor

Sports Editor

Notre Dame and Michigan. Michigan and Notre Dame. It’s good to be back. But, in the words of Brian Kelly: “Be careful what you wish for.” The Wolverines pose a particular challenge for the Irish — Shea Patterson is a wildcard, the Michigan defense is one of the strongest in the country and Jim Harbaugh is, well, Jim Harbaugh — but the rivalry and the marquee matchup also add an extra level of pressure on the Irish. Luckily, it seems Brandon Wimbush may have been cured of his passing woes, so Notre Dame might be able to threaten with a truly dual-threat quarterback. It will come down to how well the quarterbacks perform under the pressure and which defense can stand up to the test, but in this case, I think the Irish have the edge. The Notre Dame defense is deep enough to last a full four quarters against the Wolverines. FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 28, Michigan 24

(Jr.) Brandon Peters 18

(So.) Ambry Thomas 1

(Jr.) Camaron

Tobias Hoonhout

The last time Notre Dame was in a matchup at home this balanced? Georgia. And we all remember how that turned out. But one year removed, I can’t help but feel that the Irish have internalized the lessons they learned last year, and no one more than Brandon Wimbush. While there were plenty of ups and downs last season, a season of lessons in game maturity can go a long way. Plus, he’s not going to be alone. Notre Dame’s defense may be the most loaded unit in the country that no one seems to be talking about, and we all know that Brian Kelly’s teams are a much better bet at home than on the road. While all signs point to a defensive battle, I think the Irish will have a chance to win the game with one final drive. This time around, Wimbush has the experience to go with the talent. FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 24, Michigan 20

(So.) Brad Robbins 3

(Jr.) David Long 22

Cheeseman

(So.) Matt Baldeck 44

H KR LS

The rivalry is back. This one won’t be 31-0. Both teams are evenly matched and have many similar attributes. Both teams have deep and talented defenses, especially up front in the trenches. Both teams have questions at offensive line. Both teams have talented but somewhat inconsistent quarterbacks. It’s going to come down to three things: turnovers, who converts in the red zone, and which quarterback comes up big, especially in the fourth quarter. I expect this game will go a lot like the Georgia game last year. I think this game may very well be decided by which team is able to throw the ball more effectively. I foresee the Irish down late in the fourth quarter like they were against Georgia, and this time I think Wimbush makes enough clutch plays on the final drive to set up senior Justin Yoon for his fifth field goal of the game. FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 22, Michigan 20

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O HEAD on NBC

Notre Dame IRISH PASSING

Julian Love (Jr.)

8 Donte Vaughn (Jr.)

WILL DE DT DT DE

Drue Tranquill (Gr.)

45 Jonathan Jones (Jr.)

Adetokunbo Ogundeji (Jr.)

Jonathan Bonner (Gr.)

95 Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (So.)

Jerry Tillery (Sr.)

WR WR RT RG C LG LT TE WR

H KR LS

MLB

Alohi Gilman (Jr.)

21 Jalen Elliott (Jr.)

Te’von Coney (Sr.)

45 Jonathan Jones (Jr.)

41 Kurt Hinish (So.)

Daelin Hayes (Jr.)

42 Julian Okwara (Jr.)

Rover CB

Khalid Kareem (Jr.) 91

Nick Coleman (Sr.)

14 Devin Studstill (So.)

Asmar Bilal (Sr.)

17 Isaiah Robertson (So.)

Shaun Crawford (Sr.)

18 Troy Pride Jr. (Jr.)

Chase Claypool (Jr.)

25 Jafar Armstrong (So.)

Michael Young (So.)

10 Chris Finke (Sr.)

Robert Hainsey (So.)

69 Aaron Banks (So.)

Alex Bars (Gr.)

76 Dillan Gibbons (So.)

Sam Mustipher (Gr.)

57 Trevor Ruhland (Sr.)

RB QB

Tony Jones Jr. (Jr.)

2 Dexter Williams (Sr.)

Brandon Wimbush (Sr.)

12 Ian Book (Jr.)

Tommy Kraemer (Jr.)

75 Josh Lugg (So.)

Liam Eichenberg (Jr.)

69 Aaron Banks (So.)

Alize Mack (Sr.)

84 Cole Kmet (So.)

Myles Boykin (Sr.)

88 Javon McKinley (Jr.)

Ian Book (Jr.)

85 Tyler Newsome (Gr.)

Shaun Crawford (Sr.)

87 Michael Young (So.)

John Shannon (Jr.)

82 Nic Weishar (Gr.)

Observer File Photo

PK P PR

Justin Yoon (Sr.)

39 Jonathan Doerer (So.)

Tyler Newsome (Gr.)

42 Jeff Riney (Sr.)

Chris Finke (Sr.)

87 Michael Young (So.)

Notre Dame vs. Temple

Charlotte Edmonds

Connor Mulvena

Associate Sports Editor

It’s hard to imagine a better script if you tried. Two of the winningest programs, both entering the matchup with a lot on the line after having unraveled ast season. All that hype will result in several early mistakes – a few three-and-outs or an interception in the first quarter – as both teams work through the nerves. Experience will pay out as Brandon Wimbush will come up big pacing the Irish. I expect him to remain relatively conservative in the passing game. This game will come down to defense. You can expect the Wolverines to stage a comeback and it’ll come down to the secondary to stop their momentum. I trust the Notre Dame has learned from their previous fourth quarter meltdowns. FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 31, Michigan 28

The passing game seems to be the big question mark surrounding Notre Dame’s season. It’s no secret that senior Brandon Wimbush has a history of struggling in the pocket, and the Irish did lose two huge playmakers on the receiving end in Equanimeous St. Brown and Kevin Stepherson. Junior Chase Claypool and senior Miles Boykin are clearly solid options, and sophomore Michael Young is a promising young talent. Still, the impetus falls on Wimbush. Can he truly prove himself to be a comfortable pocket passer? There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the passing game on all fronts. The Irish have a ton of potential, but things could go wrong quite easily. If Wimbush proves himself, Notre Dame could take the edge, but with a lot of unanswered questions against a top 10 defense, things don’t bode well for the Irish. EDGE: MICHIGAN IRISH RUSHING It’s unclear whether or not senior running back Dexter Williams will take the field on Saturday, so Notre Dame will need to primarily rely on junior Tony Jones Jr. and sophomore Jafar Armstrong in the backfield. Last year, Jones rushed for 232 yards on 44 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, an acceptable stat line for his team role, but significantly shy of the production put up by past starters like Josh Adams. Jones will need to take on a larger role amidst the potential absence of Williams, and there is no reason he can’t do so. Plus, the offense can always look to Jafar Armstrong, who poses a unique receiving threat as well. And of course, Wimbush can burn any defense on the ground when he needs to. Still, despite the all of this hope amidst Williams’ potential absence, Michigan’s defense is stellar. The Wolverines’ defensive coordinator Don Brown is known for his aggressive defensive schemes and a menacing front line. Plus, junior linebacker Khaleke Hudson is a huge threat coming off a season in which he topped Jabrill Peppers’ 2016 Heisman-level play. It’ll be tough for the Irish to trump such a solid defense amidst the uncertainty of new rushers. EDGE: MICHIGAN

You’ve heard it time and time again: If Brandon Wimbush improves his pocket passing game, the Irish will be successful this season. Let’s assume that Wimbush does indeed do so. Chip Long and the offense are still up against arguably one of the best defenses in college football. Wimbush still has to deal with Khaleke Hudson. Chip long still needs to find a way to outsmart Don Brown’s unique use of the nickleback position. Notre Dame’s defense is stellar, but Shea Patterson is a wildcard. He hasn’t played a lot, but he could easily catch the defense by surprise. Plus, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is entering his fourth year at the helm, and he still has to prove some things on a national stage. I have a hard time imagining Jim Harbaugh head back to Ann Arbor a loser on Saturday night. FINAL SCORE: Michigan 28, Notre Dame 24

IRISH OFFENSIVE COACHING In his first year as offensive coordinator, Chip Long elevated the Irish offense on a number of levels. Under Long, the Irish offense rose to fifth in overall rushing in the S&P+ and the unit’s overall tempo improved considerably. The offense still struggled however — largely on the passing front — a problem which probably places more blame on Wimbush than Long, but a problem nonetheless. Nevertheless, Long managing to improve the offense to such a degree is a significantly good sign, and with a year under his belt at the helm, there’s no reason why 2018 shouldn’t prove even better, especially if Wimbush stays comfortable in the pocket. Don Brown and Chip Long are both excellent coordinators, and they’re both relatively new. It’ll be interesting to see what each staff comes up with in what is sure to be a tough battle. EDGE: EVEN IRISH SPECIAL TEAMS The Irish special teams unit has a lot of room for improvement. Although senior Justin Yoon improved his place kicking significantly last season, the Irish performed quite poorly across most special teams metrics last season. Finishing the season 117th in kickoff success rate, the Irish still have a lot of vulnerabilities that a good opposing unit could exploit. Michigan’s principal kick returner is back in Donovan Peoples-Jones, and while he returned a punt for a touchdown against Air Force, the Wolverines managed meager 85th and 109th rankings on yardage return for punts and kickoffs, respectfully. EDGE: EVEN

IRISH SCHEDULE Sept. 1 Michigan Sept. 8 Ball State Sept. 15 Vanderbilt Sept. 22 @ Wake Forest Sept. 29 Stanford Oct. 6 @ Virginia Tech Oct. 13 Pitt Oct. 27 Navy Nov. 3 @ Northwestern Nov. 10 Florida State Nov. 17 Syracuse Nov. 24 @ USC

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Irish senior safety Nick Coleman extends for a tackle during Notre Dame’s 48-37 victory over Wake Forest on Nov. 4.

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Irish graduate student linebacker Drue Tranquill gets by a defender during Notre Dame’s 21-17 victory over LSU on Jan. 1 in the 2018 Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

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Freshman defensive lineman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa blocks a defender during Notre Dame’s 33-10 victory over North Carolina.

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Members of the Notre Dame defense gather around as the play comes to an end during Notre Dame’s 24-17 win over Navy on Nov. 18 at Notre Dame Stadium.

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Irish graduate student linebacker Drue Tranquill brings down a Navy running back during Notre Dame’s 24-17 win over the Midshipmen on Nov. 18 in Notre Dame Stadium.

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Irish senior defensive lineman Jerry Tillery chases down a running back during Notre Dame’s 49-20 win over Boston College on Sept. 16 in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

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Irish boast wealth of experience By CHARLOTTE EDMONDS Associate Sports Editor

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If good things come to those who wait, then the sk y’s the limit for senior Shaun Craw ford. Lost in all the hy pe surrounding this marquee opener, perhaps nobody is more ready to take the field against Michigan than Craw ford.The four-star cornerback out of Cleveland spent his entire freshman season on the sidelines after tearing his ACL in August. He returned to the field in 2016, where he started against Texas a nd Nevada, on ly to suf fer a torn achi l les tendon, ef fect ively ending his sophomore season. Even a f ter sitt ing out t wo seasons, it beca me clea r t hat Craw ford hadn’t completely recovered, f inishing out his junior season hav ing played 12 ga mes, but on ly sta r t ing one of t hem a nd st r uggling in t he second ha lf of t he season, not even play ing in Not re Da me’s 21-17 w in over LSU in t he Cit r us Bowl. But returning at f u l l st reng t h for t he 2018 ca mpa ig n, not hing’s holding t he senior back t his t ime. “Since f reshma n yea r, t his is my f irst t ime I’ve come in w it h a f u l l spring, a f u l l of fseason,” Craw ford sa id.

Fina l ly hea led f rom his nagg ing injuries, Craw ford sa id he sta r ted to see t he numbers he was used to during t ra ining ca mp a nd felt rea l ly good about himself coming into t he season. “This t ime last yea r I’d have to go in hours before pract ice, stay a f ter pract ice to get t reat ment,” Craw ford sa id. “This yea r I ca n just wa ke up a nd go play.” Craw ford may even have a t rick or t wo up his sleeve as he was seen returning punts in t he of fseason. “Hopef u l ly I get back t here, let’s just say t hat,” he sa id. However excited he is to ma ke a n impact, he understa nds for t he tea m to be successf u l t his season it’s about more t ha n just him. Wit h t he suppor t of junior cornerbacks Troy Pride Jr. and Julian Love — players he’s gotten to watch grow over the past t wo years — Craw ford is confident that they’ll be well prepared to defend the pass game. “W hen those t wo are outside and I’m able to play inside, I think we can lockdow n any three receivers or spread set that they put on the field against us,” Craw ford said. “I’m excited. I think they’ll play that package a lot and I

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Irish junior offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer prepares to block during Notre Dame’s 49-16 home win over Temple on Sept. 2.

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think we’ll be successful.” Love also expressed his excitement to show the adjustments made on the nickelback formation. “We’ve got a lot of guys who are play makers,” Love said. “Sometimes you don’t see that in practice because guys are being smart, being safe … but I know that our defense is aggressive. You’ll get to experience that fully Saturday.” The veteran defensive unit, returning nine players from last year’s starting lineup, should be an intimidating presence in the trenches this season, Love said. “Our defensive line probably took the biggest step this offseason. That is crucial on third dow n,” he said. “There’s nothing better than a thirddow n sack.” If the Irish can dominate the defensive line, that could prove to be the X-factor against the Wolverines, who allowed 36 sacks last season, tied for 114 in the FBS. Paired w ith the Love-Pride Jr.Craw ford trio covering deep, this unit has a chance to be the staple of the 2018 season. Both Love and Craw ford understand that this marquee matchup against Michigan could potentially make or break the season, and that

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it’ll be a hard-fought battle regardless. “They’ve got athletes across the board … you’ve got to account for ever yone,” Love said. Love has been preparing to face Shea Patterson in the Ole Miss transfer’s first game calling the shots while wearing blue and maize. “He’s got a strong arm and the abilit y to scramble,” Love said. Even though Patterson excels at extending the play and is creative in the pocket, Love said the matchup w ill ultimately come dow n to the Irish making smart plays. “We have to impose our w ill and make them play our brand of football,” he said. “With Shea, you have to do that early.” Craw ford said offseason training has prepared the secondar y for whatever Patterson and the Wolverines throw at them. “We’ve increased our stamina,” he said. “I think we’ll be ready to play any number of plays they set out for us.” “If we do ever y thing right on our end, we should be singing the Victor y March.” EDDIE GRIESEDIECK | The Observer

Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu

Irish senior cornerback Shaun Crawford prepares to rush the line of scrimmage in Notre Dame’s 49-14 win over USC at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 21. Crawford recorded one tackle against the Trojans. Paid Advertisement

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Hoonhout Continued from page 7

this season, I can’t help but see deja vu rearing its ugly head. Sure, the Irish may be statistically favored in ever y game they play this year. And there’s a lot to like about Notre Dame’s matchups this season; while the Irish face a test on the road at No. 20 Virginia Tech and travelling to Northwestern is never a gimme, Notre Dame gets to face No. 13 Stanford, No. 19 Florida State and the 14th-ranked Wolverines at home. But it’s still a gauntlet, and as much as I like Brandon Wimbush’s ability

to shine and Notre Dame’s depth, experience and talent defensively, to say the Irish will head into the final weekend unscathed seems a tall order. And then there’s No. 15 USC waiting at the end of the rainbow. I’m not here to say that a win against Michigan wouldn’t do the Irish a lot of good. I’m also not here to say that Notre Dame can’t change the narrative this season — after all, Kelly and his staff have been going to great lengths this offseason to make sure the team is in good shape come November. But I am here to say that a w in against Michigan doesn’t say any thing about

what Irish team w ill show up in the big road games this season. A big w in over the Wolverines this early could even do more harm than good — ever yone knows how fast the expectations can build up when things are going well in South Bend. Until Kelly can prove that his team can handle the pressure of big road games, especially late in the year, ever y home performance should be taken w ith a grain of salt, even those that mark the resurgence of a historic rivalr y. If the same issues persist this season, maybe it’s finally time to either rev isit

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Irish junior wide receiver Chase Claypool runs a route during the Blue-Gold game on April 21 at Notre Dame Stadium. Claypool led the offense in receiving yards with 151 yards on six catches for the afternoon. Paid Advertisement

the scheduling tradition of closing out the year in California — considering Notre Dame’s license to build its ow n schedule, this isn’t impossible — or call into question Kelly’s abilit y to lead a program constantly saddled w ith the highest expectations from start to finish. So yes, it’s good to be back. But let’s really talk about expectations come Nov. 24. Contact Tobias Hoonhout at thoonhou@nd.edu. The opinions in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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Senior Justin Yoon starts his run up to kick a field goal during Notre Dame’s 21-17 victory over LSU in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1.

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