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By TOBIAS HOONHOUT Associate Sports Editor
Even after last year’s first losing season under Brian Kelly with DeShone Kizer at the helm, Brandon Wimbush wasn’t sure if Team 129 would be his. All the talk over the first few months of the offseason was about whether Kizer would stay for his senior season or bolt for the NFL. But when Kizer announced his decision in January, the Teaneck, New Jersey, native finally knew he would have his chance.
“I mean, I didn’t even know after the season ended until the beginning of January,” Wimbush said on the experience during a press conference in April. “But I was ready to prepare myself and prepare myself to compete for another year as DeShone [Kizer] had two years of eligibility left. Didn’t know too much about what Malik [Zaire] was doing, and I hope the best for them, but I’m very excited for this opportunity.” As a consensus top-50 recruit and Under Armour AllAmerican out of high school,
Wimbush’s talent is undeniable, and his brief cameos against UMass and Pitt during the 2015 season had Irish fans excited about the future. Although he had to wait patiently for his turn behind first Zaire and then Kizer, Wimbush seems to have used his time to develop as a quarterback, as a leader and as a person. And from what his teammates and coaches have been saying, the patience seems to have paid off. “He’s definitely grown a lot,” junior running back and captain Josh Adams said
Tuesday. “I mean, he’s definitely getting a feel for things. He definitely looks more comfortable, and he’s having fun, which is an important aspect of this game that people tend to forget about is just to go out there and have fun and just to play with your teammates. “ … He definitely has that confidence. You don’t see that in a lot of young quarterbacks, but he definitely carries himself well, respectfully. He’s definitely a different type of guy that we definitely enjoy having as our quarterback,
and we can’t wait to see what he’s going to do on Saturday. Yeah, that’s definitely my guy right there.” Captain and pre-season All-American left tackle Mike McGlinchey echoed Adams’ sentiments. “He’s a kid that knows how to control his emotions,” McGlinchey said. “He’s cool, calm and collected. I think he’s the coolest kid I know, just in terms of just the aura about Brandon Wimbush. He’s going to be fine. He knows exactly what he’s going to be doing and knows
CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer
Irish junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush scrambles from the pocket during Notre Dame’s New and Gold scrimmage Aug. 20 at Notre Dame Stadium. Wimbush did not see any game action last season, but he now takes over as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback following DeShone Kizer’s departure for the NFL and Malik Zaire’s transfer to Florida.
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LAUREN WELDON and CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer
exactly what he’s capable of, and he’s going to let it shine on Saturday. We’re lucky to have Brandon because of who he is as a person and the type of player that he is for sure, and I don’t think Saturday is going to be any different for Brandon than it is on a Tuesday in the fall, either.” And although he has yet to start a game, the team is already looking to him as a leader. “Obviously we all know Brandon’s athletic ability and his ability to extend plays, get outside the pocket,” senior linebacker Drue Tranquill said. “He’s a proficient passer, got a strong arm, but I think — when I think about Brandon, I think about the intangible qualities I’ve seen in him this off-season, his ability to get a group of guys rallied around him, even a guy who hasn’t necessarily taken a lot of snaps, really any, in that regard, but guys believe in him, and you look for that in a leader.” Even among the coaching staff, there’s a sense that Wimbush’s ability to be Notre Dame’s quarterback is much more than just his talent. “I think really where it starts for most quarterbacks that I have coached is their ability to move through a poor play and get to the next play, let it go and move on to the next play, not let it affect the next one,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “He has the great ability to show, and I know you hear this quite a bit now, it’s chronicled every where, but he has a passion for the game and he’s got perseverance. I think Angela Duckworth called that in her book ‘Grit.’ He’s got grit. He’s got such a passion for what he does, and because he loves what he does, he doesn’t get down. If he makes a mistake, he fights
CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer
Junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush follows through after firing a pass across the field during Notre Dame’s New and Gold scrimmage Aug. 20 at Notre Dame Stadium. Wimbush played in two games as a freshman in 2015 while serving as DeShone Kizer’s backup.
through it and he gets to the next play. “ … That’s a great quality to have in anything that we do in life. I mean, I’d like to be better at it, too. But he does it at the quarterback position, which is a really fine trait to have for a young player.” Funny as it may sound, this waiting game isn’t even the first one for Wimbush. In high school during his time at St. Peter’s Prep, Brandon had to wait to start until his junior season. While the past two years may have been deja vu, for Wimbush, it was something he could really embrace. “I don’t think I was ready in high school to start my sophomore year or freshman
year,” Wimbush said. “Those guys who were in front of me did a great job, and then same kind of scenario here, where I had two great guys in front of me, and I was able to learn and sit back a little bit and progress and develop physically and mentally, and now I feel like I’m ready to take over the reins and do something special here.” But now that the moment is finally here, the junior is simply just embracing his role and hoping to learn from his teammates. “Yeah, it’s a whole new experience for me, especially as a starting quarterback,” he said. “I approached it kind of differently for the first two years that I was here being
behind those guys, but I’m trying to build a routine, a pregame routine or a preweek routine. It’s my first week going through it. As a starter, I told Josh [Adams] and Dexter [Williams] the other day, I was like, ‘Hey, man, I feel like a rookie, and you guys to me are seasoned veterans right now because you’ve done this,’ and I’m just trying to prepare and be on the same level as those guys, and hopefully perform to the level expectation that the rest of the offense and the team needs from me.” As it goes with all college football programs, there comes time to do away with the old and bring in the new. In many ways, Team
129 seems like a rebirth of Brian Kelly’s Irish coaching era, and Wimbush is at the front and center. But for all the positive talk and energ y leading up to the season, Saturday’s opener is where the rubber meets the road. For Wimbush, that means leading the Irish back to their winning ways. “[I’m most excited to be] singing the alma mater and the fight song at the end of it,” the quarterback said. “Knowing that we came out with a ‘W’ and just feeling the joy of a winning team and being the starting quarterback of that team.” Contact Tobias Hoonhout at thoonhou@nd.edu
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Observer File Photo
Irish sophomore cornerback Troy Pride Jr. attempts to make a tackle during Notre Dame’s 45-27 loss to USC on Nov. 26, 2016.
EMMET FARNAN | The Observer
Irish sophomore receiver Kevin Stepherson carries the ball in the open field in Notre Dame’s 30-27 win over Miami (FL) on Oct. 29, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium. Stepherson had 78 receiving yards in the win.
Observer File Photo
Irish junior running back Josh Adams turns the corner and sprints upfield during Notre Dame’s 30-27 win over the Hurricanes on Oct. 29, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium.
GRACE TOURVILLE | The Observer
Irish junior defensive lineman Jerry Tillery eludes pass protection during Notre Dame’s 34-31 loss to Virginia Tech on Nov. 19, 2016.
EMMET FARNAN | The Observer
Irish senior linebacker Nyles Morgan tackles a Hurricanes ball carrier during Notre Dame’s 30-27 win over Miami (FL) on Oct. 29, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium. Morgan started all 12 games for the Irish last season, leading the defense in tackles with 94. He recorded career-highs in sacks (two) and tackles for loss (three) against the Hurricanes last year.
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commentary
Kelly must avoid repeat of last year’s mistakes Ben Padanilam Editor-in-Chief
Last season was a disappointment for the Irish, and ever yone knows it. Even head coach Brian Kelly. It’s certainly helped temper the expectations for this year’s squad, at least outside the locker room. This team is just as talented as last year’s and has another year of experience, but it certainly doesn’t have the top-10, playoff contender expectations like it did a year ago. A 4-8 season filled w ith def lation w ill do that. People don’t easily forget the faults of bad years.
Except maybe head coach Brian Kelly. On Aug. 17, Bleacher Report published a stor y after talking w ith Kelly last season. During the interv iew, he referred to himself as an “absent professor” last season and blamed fundraising for that, say ing it “f—-d up last year’s team.” And these comments were, to say the least, interesting. A ll of last season, Kelly def lected blame and responsibilit y for his team’s shortcomings. He praised the defensive coaching one day, fired the defensive coordinator the next. He publicly called out his center and starting quarterback for not doing enough and tr y ing to do too much.
In other words, last season was ever yone else’s fault but his ow n. This past offseason, however, that mentalit y supposedly changed. For the first time in his career, Kelly had indiv idual ex it meetings w ith ever y player to discuss what went w rong and what more he could do. From there, he attended the team’s 6 a.m. strength and conditioning workouts. He made it a point of emphasis to eat more of his meals at the training table. He was taking some of the responsibilit y for what happened last season. He was tr y ing to rebuild the relationships he strained, even severed, last season. W hich brings us back to
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those comments. Maybe his comments were true. Fundraising, particularly at a school like Notre Dame, is a major responsibilit y in college football, where schools are constantly competing w ith one another in an arena driven by great wealth and the even greater facilities that wealth can build. But at this point, does it make a difference whether or not its true? And why say that now? Kelly spent all offseason tr y ing to address the lack of accountabilit y that defined last season. But in one comment, he proved that old habits do in fact die hard, and he made another excuse for the disappointment that
was last season. And not many people seemed to care. Some pundits pointed to the challenges that come w ith fundraising as legitimate, giv ing Kelly credit for his honest y. Others gave him a pass for the comments entirely. But not enough people criticized him for say ing it. This year’s Irish squad has a lot of new faces — most notably new coordinators and a new quarterback. But the position this team is in is all too similar to last year: Notre Dame has the talent to be a contender, but it is not clear whether it has the intangibles to capitalize on that talent. Leadership is one of those intangibles. It’s a trait Kelly lacked last year, even by his ow n admission. But it’s one which rejects excuses — excuses like the ones Kelly made throughout last year. Excuses like the one Kelly made in that inter v iew. And so when there’s even a hint that the mistakes of last year’s failure could creep into this year, it should be cause for concern. As the Irish enter Saturday’s game w ith Temple, it is crucial that Kelly holds himself accountable not only for the successes of his team, but also its failures. There is no deny ing that Kelly has had success running the show at Notre Dame for quite some time; but his role in last year’s letdow n can’t be ignored just because of that either. Kelly’s faults certainly shouldn’t be the only thing that defines the narrative of his career at Notre Dame. But histor y risks repeating itself if they are ignored, too. And that is why Kelly’s comments on Aug. 17 should tighten the microscope on him entering this season, not remove it. Contact Ben Padanilam at bpadanil@nd.edu The opinions in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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recruiting
Irish enjoy strong summer on recruiting trail By DANIEL O’BOYLE Sports Writer
Ordinarily, not much can be expected in summer recruiting when a team comes off a 4-8 season. Yet the Irish bolstered the recruiting class of 2018 w ith a series of major recruits over the summer. In a two-week period bet ween late July and early August, the Irish saw a f lurr y of top linebacker commitments. Three-star outside linebacker Ov ie Oghoufo, rated as the ninth-best player in Michigan in Rivals. com’s rankings, announced his commitment to the Irish on July 22, and was soon followed by two four-stars: inside linebackers Jack Lamb and outside linebacker Shay ne Simon, each rated among the top 10 players in the nation at their position. Brian Driskell, recruiting analyst for Blue and Gold Illustrated, said the Irish hit almost ever y target they needed to over the summer. “I think that when you look at it, they kind of set some markers dow n of who they have a shot w ith, and w ith ver y few exceptions they landed the guys they wanted to land,” Driskell said. “Shane Simon was the number one Rover on the board, a top player and a high-ranked guy; they really needed to add him, and they got him. The one loss they had is they lost [outside linebacker] Dallas Gant to Ohio State right after the spring game. But they countered that by going after Jack Lamb from California — and he’s actually a better player — and they got him. So, the one big loss ended up being a positive because they adjusted their board and got an even better player.” W hile defensive recruits took center stage for much of the summer, w ith fourstar defensive tack le Jayson Ademilola’s June commitment also among the major gets for Irish head coach Brian Kelly’s staff, the latest
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and highest-rated commitment came from four-star w ide receiver Kev in Austin, rated as a top 100 player in the countr y and a top 20 w ide receiver. “I think this summer has been surprising, because you don’t expect a team that has had the turmoil surrounding this team last year to be so effective on the recruiting trail, but they really have,” Driskell said. “They have the opportunit y now if they finish strong to have one of the five best classes in the countr y.” This week, Notre Dame w ill host three prospective recruits, who w ill have an opportunit y to see the Irish play at a newly-renovated Notre Dame Stadium
featuring changes such as a 5,264-square foot v ideo board. Of the three recruits, four-star defensive end Thomas Booker is the highest-rated. Booker v isited Notre Dame in the spring, but w ith Stanford also hoping to land the Baltimore native, his second v isit could be crucial for the Irish, Driskell said. “He’ll be a ver y, ver y important recruit for Notre Dame,” Driskell said. “One area where the team really has to continue to recruit well is at defensive end. He also has an offer from Stanford and I think it’s 5050 bet ween the t wo right now, but being on campus again, seeing the changes to the team, seeing what
the defense could look like w ith him in it, could make a difference.” Three-star defensive end Joseph Ossai and four-star cornerback Kyler Gordon w ill also be in attendance Saturday. Driskell said he feels both players are likely to commit to schools closer to home, but a strong v isit could make a substantial difference. “Ossai’s a ver y raw player, skinny but a good athlete,” he said. “He comes from a Catholic family and is ver y big on academics, so that part of Notre Dame w ill appeal, but right now Notre Dame is trailing TCU and Texas. I think it’ll be tough to pull him out of his home state. But any time a kid
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v isits, there’s a chance they fall in love. “Right now I think Notre Dame is sort of play ing catch-up w ith the west-coast schools for Kyler Gordon, but again when a kid v isits there’s always a chance. He’s a talented player and cornerback is a big, big need area for Notre Dame. There may not be a lot of recruits coming this week, but it’s three guys who all play positions that w ill be really important to this class.” Perhaps the most talkedabout piece of the class of 2018 w ill be four-star quarterback Phil Jurkovec. Rated as the 80th-best player in the nation and the fifth-best dual-threat quarterback, the 6-foot-5, 190-pound
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Pennsylvania native was one of the earliest Irish commits in his class, making his decision in May 2016. On Sunday, Jurkovec showed the nation why the Irish coaching staff made him a top priority, as he led Pine-Richland High School (Gibsonia, Pa.) to a dominant 41-0 victory over Wayne (Huber Heights,
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Ohio) in the GEICO ESPN High School Kickoff. In a little over a half, Jurkovec dominated the Warriors through the air and on the ground, completing 14 of 20 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 106 yards and another three scores. “He’s a four-star player right now, but his performance was
definitely that of a five-star player,” Driskell said. “You just don’t find a lot of quarterbacks who are tall, can stand in the pocket and throw the football, but are also a dynamic runner. He’s a young man who can take off and make players with designed runs and he can make plays when things break down. In today’s game, the best
quarterbacks are guys who can make plays with both their arm and their legs. Phil’s that kind of guy. I think you could also see he can elevate the play of those around him, that’s the most important trait in a quarterback. That Wayne team they beat on Sunday has gone 38-4 in the last three years, but it was a dominant win. And that’s going
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to impact the class as a whole. “When one of your best players, especially your quarterback, is able to go on national TV and play like that, it gets other people saying, ‘You know what? I’d like to play with that guy.’” Contact Daniel O’Boyle at doboyle1@nd.edu
Observer File Photo
Irish senior linebacker Nyles Morgan sacks former Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya during Notre Dame’s 30-27 win over Miami (FL) on Oct. 29, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish landed three linebacker commits this summer, which will fill the holes left by the graduation of Morgan and seniors Drue Tranquill and Greer Martini after this season. Paid Advertisement
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Notre Dame offensive players scramble to secure a loose ball during the team’s 10-3 loss to North Carolina State on Oct. 8, 2016, at Carter-Finley Stadium. There was heavy rain and wind throughout the game due to Hurricane Matthew hitting the East Coast the previous day. It was Notre Dame’s fourth loss of the season.
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Irish sophomore cornerback Julian Love fights against a block during Notre Dame’s 38-35 loss to Duke on Sept. 24, 2016
Observer File Photo
Former Irish defensive linemen Daniel Cage and Isaac Rochell attempt to break through the Duke line during Notre Dame’s loss to the Blue Devils on Sept. 24, 2016.
CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer
Irish junior running back Dexter Williams attempts to break a tackle during Notre Dame’s 38-35 loss to Duke on Sept. 24, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium. Williams rushed five times for 27 yards in the game.
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Members of the Irish special teams down a punt during Notre Dame’s 34-31 loss to Virginia Tech on Nov. 19, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium.
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HEAD T
3:30 p.m. ET | Notre Dame Stadium GRACE TOURVILLE | The Observer
OWLS PASSING Last season was rough for the Irish defense as a whole and the secondary in particular. There were blown coverages, missed tackles and nowhere near enough pressure generated to make up for the other shortcomings. But former defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder was fired midway through last season, and Irish head coach Brian Kelly elected to entrust his defense to Mike Elko — the former defensive coordinator at Wake Forest. Elko’s scheme will supposedly focus less on fancy schemes and more on talent development, which is a good sign. But holes in the secondary have remained visible all throughout summer training camp. Luckily for Notre Dame, Temple does not appear on paper to be a team that can take advantage of the weak Irish secondary. Last year, the Owls only averaged 237 yards of passing per game and are generally a run-first team. On top of that, Temple head coach Geoff Collins has said that three quarterbacks will see playing time against the Irish. None of those three quarterbacks have significant experience. Combine that with a hostile environment and the difficulty in establishing a rhthym with a three-quarterback system, the Owls passing attack may fall flat.
EDGE: Notre Dame OWLS RUSHING Temple makes no secret about its desire to run the ball. While the Owls run game will not look like the triple-option Notre Dame regularly sees with Army and Navy, the Irish front seven may have its hands full. Last season, Temple averaged 176 rushing yards per game on just over 40 attempts. Temple’s top rusher from last season — Jahad Thomas — graduated, but junior Ryquell Armstead ran for over 900 yards and 16 touchdowns in the 2016 campaign, and backups Jager Gardner and David Hood have experience as well. For the Irish front, controlling the line of scrimmage will be the key to the game on defense. Senior linebackers Greer Martini and Nyles Morgan have looked great against the run historically, but the depth
TEMPLE
CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer
of the defensive line will be tested if the Owls stick to the run game, as many expect them to do. Whether or not the freshman defensive tackles step up when called upon for the Irish is one of this game’s more important questions.
WR
(R-Sr.) Keith Kirkwood 5 1
(R-Jr.) Ventell Bryant
EDGE: EVEN
LT LG C RG RT TE
(R-Sr.) Brian Carter 55 (R-Jr.) Jaelin Robinson 77
OWLS OFFENSIVE COACHING This season is head coach Geoff Collins’ first in Philedelphia after former head coach Matt Rhule left for the head spot at Baylor. Collins has been known as a defensive mind, however, and the offense will be run primarily by offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude. Patenaude is also in his first year with the program, and how he handles a highly-talented defense remains to be seen. Notre Dame also has a number of new coaches, including defensive coordinator Mike Elko. Elko’s defense at Wake Forest consistently performed at a high level — without many top recruits. Now with a better talent pool, Elko is hoping to duplicate the results, if not surpass them, in South Bend. Elko has proven he can succeed against Power-5 offenses, but Irish fans will expect a rapid turnaround.
(Jr.) Ryquell
Armstead
7
(Jr.) Jager Gardner 21
(R-Jr.) Logan Marchi 12 (R-So.) Frankie Nutile 18 (R-Fr.) Anthony Russo 15
RB QB
In 2015, Temple kicker Austin Jones broke the school record with 23 made field goals in one season, and he made 19 straight attempts in 2016, before tearing his ACL. He currently ranks third in school history with 36 field goals to his name. The Irish had two blocked field goals returned for touchdowns last season.
(R-Jr.) James McHale 74
(R-Fr.) Matt Hennessy 58 (R-Jr.) James McHale 74
(So.) Adrian Sullivan 69 (R-Fr.)Vincet Picozzi 76
(Sr.) Leon Johnson 53 (R-Jr.) Jaelin Robinson 77
(R-Sr.) Cole Boozer 79 (R-Fr.) Kenny Yeboah 84
(R-Jr.) Ventell
Bryant
1
(R-Jr.) Brodrick Yancy 14
(Sr.) Adonis
WR
Jennings
WR
17
(R-Jr.) Marshall Ellick 10
(R-Sr.) Artrel Foster 8
(So.) Linwood Crump 11
(Sr.) Sean Chandler 3
(So.) Benny Walls 32
FS
(R-So.) Chapelle Russell 22 (R-Fr.) Isaiah Grahm-Mobley 37
CB
WILL
(R-Sr.) Sharif Finch 6
EDGE: Notre Dame OWLS SPECIAL TEAMS
(So.) Jovahn Fair
70
(R-So.) Deandre Kelly 93
(So.) Shaun Bradley 23 (R-So.) Jeremiah Atoki 19
MLB
(R-Jr.) Michael Dogbe
98
(R-Jr.) Freddie Booth-Lloyd 99
(R-Sr.) Julian Taylor 94 (So.) Karamo Dioubate 72
(Jr.) Delvon Randall 2
(Sr.) Cequan Jefferson 15
(Sr.) Jacob Martin 9
SS
(R-So.) Dana Levine 51
(So.) Sam Franklin 36 (R-So.) Jeremiah Atkoi 19
SAM
(R-Sr.) Mike Jones 10
EDGE: Temple
DE DT DT DE
(R-So.) Kareem Ali 12
CB
OWLS SCHEDULE (0-0) Sept. 2 @ Notre Dame Sept. 9 Villanova Sept. 15 UMass Sept. 21 @ USF Sept. 30 Houston Oct. 7 @East Carolina Oct. 14 @UConn Oct. 21 @ Army Nov. 2 Navy Nov. 10 @Cincinnati Nov. 18 UCF Nov. 25 @Tulsa
(Sr.) Austin Jones 29 (Fr.) Connor Bowler 18
(Sr.) Alex Starzyk 43 (So.) Aaron Boumerhi 97
(Sr.) Sean
Chandler
3
(So.) Isaiah Wright 13
PK P PR
(R-Fr.) Anthony Russo 15 (R-So.) Logan Marchi 12
(So.) Isaiah Wright 13 (R-Sr.) Mike Jones 10
(Sr.) Corey
Ben Padanilam
Marek Mazurek
Elizabeth Greason
Editor-in-Chief
Assistant Managing Editor
Sports Editor
Yes, we all remember that the Irish finished 4-8 last season. It spurred many changes, leaving the Irish with new faces at just about every major spot that isn’t head coach. So Brian Kelly and his team will certainly be motivated to start the season strong, and they have plenty of talent to do it. But the same could have been said of last year’s squad. This Notre Dame team is still fairly young, and its new faces will have its share of early growing pains. But fortunately for the Irish, they’ll face a Temple squad that lost a lot from last year’s 10-win group. With the Owls having too many unanswered questions and not enough talent to make up for it, the Irish will be able to come away with the win it wishes it had opened last season with. FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 34, Temple 21
My prediction is more a reflection of my feeling about the season as a whole rather than just the Temple game. Brian Kelly made several good hires in the offseason after he admitted he screwed up a bunch of things. But a bunch of new coaches and some new freshmen don’t make the Irish a championship contender. The secondary looks very suspect and the depth on the defensive line should be very worrying. And hey, Temple has a lot of grit. They certainly aren’t as talented as the Irish, but then again, the Irish were more talented than almost every team they played last year and still lost. I can very easily see Temple hanging around for too long in a game it has no business being in. FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 35, Temple 28
Lerch
59
(R-Sr.) Josh Lang 57
H KR LS
The Irish have too much riding on their first game of the season to drop it to Temple, who will be playing its first game under head coach Geoff Collins. Temple’s depth chart is covered in question marks, most notably at the quarterback position, where the Owls have yet to name a starter. As Notre Dame learned last season, waiting until the last second to name a starter during a quarterback battle, or not naming one at all, does not always yield results. Notre Dame has too much to prove after its abysmal 4-8 season. Junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush is ready to shine under center, and the Irish offense is prepared to help him do so. While the defense is more questionable and will still give up points, Notre Dame is a team that is ready to go and showcase all the changes it has put in place since last season. FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 34, Temple 13
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O HEAD on NBC
Notre Dame
KELLY VAUGHN | The Observer
IRISH PASSING
CB
Julian Love (So.) 35
27
Donte Vaughn (So.)
WILL DE DT DT DE
48
Greer Martini (Sr.)
4 Te’von Coney (Jr.)
Andrew Trumbetti (Sr.)
Jonathan Bonner(Sr.)
55
95 Myron Tagovailo-Amosa (Fr.)
Jerry Tillery (Jr.)
99
WR WR RT RG C LG LT TE WR
H KR LS
MLB
5
21
Jalen Elliot (So.)
14 Devin Studstill (So.)
Nyles Morgan (Jr.)
4 Te’von Coney (Jr.)
41 Kurt Hinish (Fr.)
Daelin Hayes (So.)
9
S
98 Andrew Trumbetti (Sr.)
Rover CB
S
Jay Hayes (Sr.) 98
93
7
23
24
Nick Coleman (Jr.)
17 Isaiah Robertson (Fr.)
Drue Tranquill (Sr.)
22 Asmar Bilal (Jr.)
Nick Watkins (Sr.)
20 Shaun Crawford. (Jr.)
Equanimeous St. Brown (Jr.)
6
83 Chase Claypool (So.)
11
Freddy Canteen (Gr.)
10 Chris Finke(Jr.)
Tommy Kraemer (So.)
78
72 Robert Hainsey (Fr.)
Alex Bars (Sr.)
71
66 Tristen Hoge (So.)
53
Sam Mustipher (Sr.)
57 Trevor Ruhland(Jr.)
RB QB
33
EDGE: NOTRE DAME
Josh Adams (Jr.)
2 Dexter Williams (Jr.)
7
Brandon Wimbush (Jr.)
12 Ian Book (So.)
Quenton Nelson (Sr.)
56
76 Josh Lugg (Fr.)
Mike McGlinchey (Gr.)
68
74 Liam Eichenberg (So.)
80
Durham Smythe (Gr.)
86 Alize Mack (Jr.)
15
Cam Smith (Gr.)
3 C.J. Sanders (Jr.)
4
Montgomery VanGorder (Jr.)
85 Tyler Newsome (Sr.)
3
C.J. Sanders (So.)
34 Tony Jones (So.)
54
John Shannon (So.)
82 Nic Weishar (Sr.)
PK P PR
19
Justin Yoon (Jr.)
39 Jonathon Doerer(Fr.)
85
Tyler Newsome (Sr.)
42 Jeff Riney (Jr.)
10
Chris Finke (Jr.)
3 C.J. Sanders (Jr.)
Notre Dame vs. Temple
Tobias Hoonhout
Daniel O’Boyle
Associate Sports Editor
Sports Writer
For months, this team has been waiting to make sure that last year’s disappointing campaign is only a one-time blot on Brian Kelly’s Notre Dame tenure and not the beginning of the end. And while Kelly may be in the hot seat, this team really isn’t. There’s been plenty of turnover in personnel and coaching, and maybe most importantly, there aren’t many people who think the Irish are legit contenders. But in the end, what really matters is the product on the field, and it’s clear that top to bottom, this team feels very strongly about what they are putting together. It’s a new season, with a newly renovated stadium no less, and Temple looks like a team who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 45, Temple 7
Much of the hype surrounding Notre Dame in the offseason has revolved around junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush. Unlike the previous two years, Wimbush is the undisputed starter in South Bend, after DeShone Kizer was drafted by the Cleveland Browns and Malik Zaire transfered to Florida. Like both his predecessors, Wimbush has the ability to throw and run, and his speed will be a factor in the open field. Wimbush also has a talented cast of receivers around him. Junior Equanimeous St. Brown looks to build off a stellar, breakout year and sophomore Chase Claypool and junior Miles Boykin could be nice big targets for Wimbush on the edge. Junior tight end Alize Mack also returns after being suspended for the 2016 season due to an academic issue. Looking to stop the Irish will be a Temple defense led by head coach Geoff Collins. That defense is inexperienced, however, especially up front. The Owls return only one starter on the defensive line, and their linebackers have only seven combined starts coming into 2017. Temple’s secondary has playmakers, like senior safety Sean Chandler, but Notre Dame has too much talent.
IRISH RUSHING Over the summer, Brian Kelly insisted on multiple occasions that the offense would run the ball more and that in goal-line situations, Wimbush would stand under center with a fullback in the backfield. W hether or not that promise plays out, the Irish certainly have a talented backfield. Junior Josh Adams had a solid 2016 campaign and was recently named a team captain. Second-string back Dexter Williams provides a nice change of pace with a larger build. But Irish fans may also want to keep an eye on sophomore Tony Jones, who broke out in spring sessions and has received rave reviews from the Irish coaches. As mentioned previously, Temple is inexperienced up front, and that could prove problematic for the Owls, especially against a very experienced Irish offensive line which features two likely first-round draft picks in graduate
In just four seasons with the Owls, former head coach Matt Rhule built something special, earning Temple its first and second ever 10-win seasons. More than that, he built a program that shouldn’t fall apart after his departure to Baylor and could continue to challenge for AAC titles and upset Power-5 opposition. But probably not in head coach Geoff Collins’s first year, and almost certainly not his first game. Temple is replacing too much too soon to expect a repeat of 2015’s 24-20 nailbiter: It returns only four defensive starters, loses versatile running back Jahad Thomas and still hasn’t named a replacement for quarterback P.J. Walker. It may not be a blowout, but it’s hard to see a team with this little experience run the Irish too close. FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 31, Temple 14
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student Mike McGlinchey and senior Quenton Nelson.
EDGE: NOTRE DAME IRISH OFFENSIVE COACHING Notre Dame’s 4-8 season in 2016 was due to a lot more than playcalling, but Kelly’s playcalling was suspect at times, such as choosing to throw in a hurricane during the North Carolina State game. For 2017, Kelly has said he will hand over the reigns to first-year offensive coordinator Chip Long. Long coached at Memphis previous to his hiring by Kelly and was known for operating at a breakneck pace. The Irish have had all spring to adjust to Long’s style and will look to blow by opponents, starting with the Owls. Collins is no slouch either on the defensive side of the ball. Before his job at Temple, Collins was the defensive coordinator for Florida and Mississippi State. His defenses have been ranked in the top-10 nationally in a number of different categories, and he has coached numerous NFL players.
EDGE: EVEN IRISH SPECIAL TEAMS Junior kicker Justin Yoon is 28-of-34 in career field-goal attempts, but his range does not seem to have expanded much in the offseason. Freshman Jonathon Doerer will handle kickoff duties this season, which should pin opponents further back on average. Since 2014, Temple leads the NCA A in blocked kicks with 17.
EDGE: EVEN IRISH SCHEDULE (0-0) Sept. 2 Temple Sept. 9 Georgia Sept. 16 @Boston College Sept. 23 @ Michigan State Sept. 30 Miami (OH) Oct. 7 @ North Carolina Oct. 21 USC Oct. 28 North Carolina State Nov. 4 Wake Forest Nov. 11 @ Miami (FL) Nov. 18 Navy Nov. 25 @Stanford
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Irish graduate student tight end Durham Smythe leaps into the end zone during Notre Dame’s 28-27 loss to Navy on Nov. 5, 2016, at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The touchdown against the Midshipmen was one of Smythe’s four scores on the year, as he also found the end zone twice against Army and once against Michigan State.
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Senior linebacker Nyles Morgan pursues the Trojan ball carrier during Notre Dame’s 45-27 loss to USC on Nov. 26, 2016.
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Irish junior running back Dexter Williams turns the corner on the Wolf Pack defense and looks towards the end zone during Notre Dame’s 39-10 win over Nevada at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 10, 2016.
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Irish junior wide receiver Chris Finke looks upfield for an open lane while returing a punt during Notre Dame’s 39-10 win over Nevada on Sept. 10, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium.
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Irish junior kicker Justin Yoon kicks a field goal during Notre Dame’s 17-10 loss to Stanford on Oct. 15, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium.
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Irish junior running back Dexter Williams scampers for a 59-yard touchdown run against Syracuse on Oct. 1, 2016.
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Irish junior running back Josh Adams looks upfield in Notre Dame’s 28-27 loss to Navy on Nov. 5, 2016. Adams enters his second year as the team’s starting running back and was named a team captain. Paid Advertisement
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Former Irish receiver Torii Hunter Jr. stretches out for a catch during Notre Dame’s win over Miami (FL) on Oct. 29, 2016.
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ND’s defense features new scheme, mentality By MAREK MAZUREK Assistant Managing Editor
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Irish senior linebacker Drue Tranquill pursues the ball carrier during Notre Dame’s 39-10 win over Nevada on Sept. 10, 2016.
If you talk to your grandparents or older fans about Notre Dame football, the second phrase out of their mouth behind, “They should use more fullbacks” is the old adage, “defense wins championships.” And while cliched, the saying holds a lot of truth. In the last 10 years, the average defensive rank of the 10 national championship winners was 9.5 in their respective championship year. If you take the last 25 years, that average defensive rank of the champion jumps to seventh nationally. Unfortunately for Irish fans, young and old, the 2017 defense isn’t up to the caliber of a national champion. The secondary is young, and will start two sophomores — Julian Love and Jalen Elliott — against Temple. The defensive front has been solid against the run, but has struggled to generate much pressure. Last year, Notre Dame had a total of 14 sacks, but only eight of those sacks return to the roster in 2017, as
Isaac Rochell, Jarron Jones and James Onwualu all graduated and were drafted into the NFL. But all of the flaws of the Irish defense have been analyzed and beaten to death. As captain left tackle Mike McGlinchey said on Wednesday, “I give [the defensive line] a lot of credit because everybody, and a lot of people in this room [media], have given them a ton of crap since we’ve moved forward from last season.” While some of that “crap” has been deserved, McGlinchey’s point is a good one: This is a new team, a new season and it may not be fair to assume the fault’s of last year’s squad will plague this year’s. So what will make this year’s defense better than last year’s? Simplicity. Halfway through last season, Brian Kelly ditched defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, and with him, the more complex, pro-style defense. With the hire of Mike Elko in the offseason, Kelly made a commitment to playing a more simple, downhill style of defense. And his players have
responded positively so far. “I think it allows your players to play fast, and the defensive scheme in and of itself isn’t necessarily simple, but in terms of like the play calls you’re going in with, there isn’t a check to every type of motion,” senior rover Drue Tranquill said. “There’s a general check to how we’re going to play X or how we’re going to play Y, instead of complicating things, having to see Orbit versus Jet and having to recognize the small details within a game. “I think he greatly simplifies the responsibility for each individual player and each individual player has his own checks, but I don’t necessarily have to worry about checking for the linebackers and checking for the safeties, like the safeties check for the safeties, the linebackers check for the safeties, the defensive line for the D-line, and so it simplifies each player’s game, not necessarily the schematic of the whole defense.” More than just simplicity for simplicity’s sake, Elko’s unit hopes to turn its focus beyond memorizing a playbook and towards other aspects of the
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Irish sophomore cornerback Julian Love tracks the incoming pass and looks to make a play on the ball during Notre Dame’s 30-27 win over Miami (FL) on Oct. 29, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium.
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game, such as being aggressive and attacking the football. “[Attacking] is what Coach Elko emphasizes,” sophomore cornerback Julian Love said. “We will attack and we will create turnovers and ball disruptions. That’s what we’re trying to be known for.” “[Elko’s scheme] allows you to just line up and play your assignment, you understand it,” senior linebacker Greer Martini said. “The coaches have done an outstanding job preparing us for this game, the amount of reps we’ve taken is so much more than we have before in a game prep.” The 2016 Wake Forest defense featured two players with at least 17.0 tackles for a loss, and senior linebacker Nyles Morgan said he thinks that can be him this year. “His philosophy is getting into the backfield,” Morgan said. “The biggest thing for me, a lot of things that they’re coaching show up in film all the time. Guys getting in the backfield, guys getting TFLs, guys getting sacks. It’s exciting knowing that the things that are being preached to you and coached to you are actually
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working.” A less complicated defense will also lead to a fresher squad, according to Tranquill, as underclassmen will be able to step in, without worrying about overly-complicated schemes. “I think last year in order for guys to play, they have to understand the defense,” Tranquill said. “They have to understand the schematics behind what you’re doing, and when you have a complicated defense, not a lot of guys can grasp it, so you’ve got to leave guys out there who know what they’re doing and can make the checks and calls, but when you simplify things, it allows a lot more guys to get out on the field and keep your guys fresh.” Notre Dame will come out with an aggressive mindset on Saturday, but as Martini pointed out, the focus is first and foremost on winning. “The focus is right now, we have to beat Temple,” Martini said. “The business that we’re in is winning and so it doesn’t matter how it gets done, as long as it gets done.” Contact Marek Mazurek at mmazurek@nd.edu
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Irish senior linebacker Nyles Morgan attempts to wrap up a Miami (FL) running back during Notre Dame’s 30-27 win over the Hurricanes on Oct. 29, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium.
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Senior Drue Tranquill celebrates after a defensive stop during Notre Dame’s victory over the Hurricanes on Oct. 29, 2016. Paid Advertisement
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Senior linebacker Greer Martini brings down the Navy ball carrier during Notre Dame’s 28-27 loss to Navy on Nov. 5, 2016. Martini had a career-high 11 tackles in the Irish defeat at EverBank Field.
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Irish junior running back and captain Josh Adams looks upfield during Notre Dame’s 28-27 loss to Navy on Nov. 5, 2016, at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Adams has averaged 6.4 yards per carry over his two seasons at Notre Dame, rushing for 1,768 yards and 11 touchdowns over that time period. Paid Advertisement
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Former Irish cornerback Cole Luke battles with a Michigan State receiver for a pass during Notre Dame’s loss to the Spartans in 2016.
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Irish junior wide receiver C.J. Sanders leaps over a Blue Devils defender in Notre Dame’s 38-35 loss to Duke on Sept. 24, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium. Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder was fired after the loss.
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Irish sophomore defensive lineman Daelin Hayes guards a Michigan State receiver during Notre Dame’s 36-28 loss to the Spartans in 2016.
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Irish junior wide receiver C.J. Sanders returns a kick during Notre Dame’s 28-27 loss to Navy on Nov. 5, 2016. Junior Chris Finke will return punts this season.
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Irish sophomore safety Devin Studstill, center, stands in the way of a Michigan State ball carrier, while junior linebacker Te’von Coney, left, pursues the runner from behind.
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Former Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer stands in the pocket in Notre Dame’s 38-35 loss to Duke last season. Kizer went 22-of-37 en route to 381 yards passing.
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Owls enter season with new faces, questions By ELIZABETH GREASON Sports Editor
Just a few days before the season opener, Temple finds itself in a similar position to the one Notre Dame was in this time last year — in the midst of a struggle for the quarterback position. However, there is an added layer of interest for the Owls, as it is head coach Geoff Collins’ first season at the helm after taking over for Matt Rhule, who took the head coaching position at Baylor after leading Temple to its first two 10-win seasons. Collins — whose 23 years of coaching experience are highlighted by two years as defensive coordinator at Mississippi State followed by a stint at the same position at Florida — is looking to help the Owls pick up where they left off. This is something he believes will be made easier by the fact that he had extensive knowledge about Temple and the entire Temple philosophy due to his relationship with Rhule before accepting the head coaching job. “It was a great transition. The best thing about this program is these kids,” Collins said in a Sunday teleconference. “They’re unbelievable as far as how they work, their attitudes on a daily basis. They’re positive to be around each other, they want to get better, want to find an edge in ever ything that they do. Me and Matt Rhule have known each other for 20 plus years as well; he’s one of my best friends in the world, so I knew a lot of the things that were going on here for the last 10 years and a lot of the philosophies, a lot of the cultures that were already in existence. “Being an SEC defensive coordinator for so long, ever y year you get approached for a different job, but this was the one because I knew the background, I knew the culture, I knew the place here and I knew it was going to be a seamless transition. I came in here and the kids have been amazing. Our coaching staff has really bonded with these players. There’s a sign in ever y single coach’s room that says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” and that was a big thing for us to build that trust early. And our coaches did a fantastic job and our kids did the same thing and it’s been really, really good and really positive.” However, picking up where they left off will be slightly more difficult without quarterback P.J. Walker. And the Owls still have no clear replacement for Walker.
Instead, they have four valid options. Collins has narrowed the quarterback competition from four to two over the course of the offseason: senior Frank Nutile and junior Logan Marchi. And while he did say in a Tuesday press conference that he did know which of the two would get the starting nod Saturday, something Irish head coach Brian Kelly never admitted to last season when he found himself in the same position, he did not expand on the answer, leaving ever yone guessing as to which of the two will be under center in Notre Dame Stadium this weekend. Collins did not rule out the possibility of any of the four quarterbacks, Nutile and Marchi, as well as sophomore Anthony Russo and freshman Todd Centeio, taking snaps throughout the course of the game. “There’s two quarterbacks that are getting most of the reps, but we are also working specialized packages with some pretty unique things with some other guys, so it’s going to be exciting,” Collins said Sunday. “The team’s routing around the guys and I know our receiving corps and our running backs and our tight ends want to do their part to make sure that they complement whoever is under center throughout the game.” Collins feels confident with each of the quarterbacks’ ability to step up when called upon because of the attitude the Owls have taken in preparation for the season: Each and ever y player needs to be ready to take the field on gameday if called upon.
“I think the way our guys are preparing, really ever y guy in the program, are preparing like they’re going to play the entire game, like they’re the guy,” Collins said. “And I think that the development of a player accelerates when ever y kid in the program is thinking that way. We’re doing that at
linebacker, at DB, across the board. We want ever y single one of our kids preparing and getting ready like it’s their shot, because you never know, it might be.” Collins added that, down the line, he is not necessarily planning on selecting just one starter, and that the Owls could be rotating Paid Advertisement
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between multiple starters for the entire season. “The way college football is set up, ever y week is a different week, so obviously we will move toward that if the situation presents itself,” Collins said. “W hatever’s the best for the team and how the offense is moving. The situation at running back,
insider the situation at receiver, all of those things will come into play on a weekly basis and whatever gives us the best chance to win, if it’s one guy or two guys, we’re going to do what’s best for this program.” Quarterback is not the only question mark on the Temple depth chart. Collins is planning on starting two kickers
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and Saturday’s punter is still up in the air. “We’ve got two different kickers, one inside a certain distance and one outside a certain distance, but it will be two different kickers that will be taking those kicks for us,” Collins said. “And then for kickoffs, same situations there.” Collins noted that playing
a program with a storied histor y and reputation like Notre Dame’s in the season opener has helped Temple prepare throughout the offseason, because it has kept the entire squad with its eyes for ward and motivated. “It’s been a great preseason, we’ve got a great group of kids, they’re physical, they love playing football,”
Collins said. “We’ve got great discipline. We had a lot of bonding opportunities during preseason and we came really, really close together as a coaching staff as well. It’s always exciting to start the season with such a legendar y program that’s done a great job, great coaching staff, great players in an environment that’s one of the
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most storied environments in college football histor y. So, the spring ball, the preseason, the summer workouts, having such a good opponent to keep in your mind as you prepare has been great preparation for ever yone in the program.” Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu
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The Irish and Owls special teams units lineup up across from one another during Notre Dame’s 24-20 win over Temple at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 31, 2015, which was the last time the two programs met. Entering this season, the Owls special teams unit will feature two starting kickers, and a starting punter has yet to be named. Paid Advertisement
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Irish junior wide receiver C.J. Sanders returns a kickoff during Notre Dame’s 24-20 win over Temple on Oct. 31, 2015.