IRISH & OPPOSITION DEPTH CHARTS: Notre Dame vs. Wake Forest – Dual-Column Depth Charts

Saint Joseph's Lake with Golden Dome and Basilica of the Sacred Heart in the Distance

[click here to jump directly to depth charts]

Notre Dame and Wake Forest depth charts follow below in a responsive layout, with parallel dual columns on a regular desktop or laptop view; with smaller screens, columns might jump down and stack up.  Keep in mind that Brian Kelly sometimes features extensive rotation at some positions.  This year, right tackle, especially, is a shared position.  … Alizé Mack is still listed at tight end, even though he reportedly is out with a concussion. … There has been some minor reshuffling at wide receiver for Notre Dame …. Notre Dame has some size advantage, especially where their offensive line faces Wake’s defensive line (although, even within the same team, an offensive line often might be a bit bigger than their defensive counterparts ) …. However, Wake is still a moderately good-sized team, appropriate to a winning program from a power conference …. like Notre Dame, Wake has some decent height in the secondary …. Wake might be a bit small at tight end …. like Notre Dame, Wake does not have especially tall quarterbacks, except for a back-up … Notre Dame’s running backs are not necessarily quite as big or tall as during the power running days of the Lou Holtz era, yet they are getting closer …. while there is no Flanker position on the depth chart, one interesting feature to watch might be whether Brian Kelly and Chip Long can work any wide receivers into the running game ….
 

NOTRE DAME OFFENSE

QB
7 *Brandon Wimbush 6-1 3/4 228 Jr./2
12 Ian Book 6-0 1/8 208 So./1
4 *Montgomery VanGorder 6-1 3/8 222 Sr./3

RB
33 JOSH ADAMS 6-2 1/8 225 Jr./3
2 Dexter Williams 5-11 215 Jr./3
or 34 Tony Jones 5-11 225 So./1
38 Deon McIntosh 5-10 5/8 193 So./1

WR
6 EQUANIMEOUS ST. BROWN 6-5 203 Jr./3
81 *Miles Boykin 6-4 225 Jr./2

WR
83 *Chase Claypool 6-4 3/8 228 So./2
10 *Chris Finke 5-9 1/2 181 Jr./2
or 15 Cam Smith 5-10 1/2 202 Gr./4

WR

29 Kevin Stepherson 6-0-1/4 185 So./2
15 Cam Smith 5-10 1/2 202 Gr./4
87 Michael Young 190 Fr./1

TE
80 DURHAM SMYTHE 6-5 1/2 257 Gr./4
86 *Alizé Mack 6-4 3/4 251 Jr./3
82 Nic Weishar 6-4 3/4 243 Sr./3
or 89 Brock Wright 6-4 1/2 254 Fr./1
or 84 Cole Kmet 6-5 1/2 256 Fr./1

LT
68 MIKE MCGLINCHEY 6-8 315 Gr./4
74 Liam Eichenberg 6-6 300 So./1

LG
56 QUENTON NELSON 6-5 330 Sr./3
75 Josh Lugg 6-7 300 Fr./1

C
53 SAM MUSTIPHER 6-2 1/2 305 Sr./3
57 Trevor Ruhland 6 -4 302 Jr./2

RG
71 ALEX BARS 6-6 312 Sr./3
70 Hunter Bivin 6-6 315 Gr./4

RT
78 Tommy Kraemer 6-6 314 So./1
72 Robert Hainsey 6-5 290 Fr./1

WAKE FOREST DEFENSE

CB
4 Amari Henderson 6-1 185 R-So.
24 Ja’Sir Taylor 5-10 180 Fr.

FS
2 Cameron Glenn 6-1 200 R-Jr. 37
Thomas Dillon 5-10 180 R-Jr.

SS
12 Luke Masterson 6-2 210 R-Fr.
20 Coby Davis 5-11 185 Fr.

CB
21 Essang Bassey 5-10 185 So.
13 Malik Grate 6-0 170 R-Fr.
5 Cedric Jiles 5-10 180 Grad.

BUCK
6 Jaboree Williams 6-0 245 Sr.
23 Justin Strnad 6-3 230 R-So.

MIKE
50 Grant Dawson 6-1 225 R-Sr.
35 Nate Mays 6-1 225 R-So.
42 Jake Simpson 6-0 210 Fr.

ROV
34 Demetrius Kemp 6-1 220 R-Jr.
30 Ja’Cquez Williams 6-2 210 R-Fr.

DE
53 Duke Ejiofor 6-4 275 R-Sr.
18 Carlos Basham, Jr. 6-5 275 R-Fr.

DT
93 Zeek Rodney 6-1 305 R-Jr.
54 Elonte Bateman 6-2 290 R-Fr.
56 Deon Young 6-1 315 Grad.

DT
48 Willie Yarbary 6-2 285 R-Jr.
90 Sulaiman Kamara 6-2 290 R-Fr.

DE
14 Wendell Dunn 6-3 250 R-Sr.
51 Chris Calhoun 6-4 250 Jr.

NOTRE DAME DEFENSE

CB
27 JULIAN LOVE 5-11 193 So./2
20 Shaun Crawford 5-9 1/8 176 Jr./2
18 Troy Pride Jr. 5-11 1/2 187 So./2

FS
24 Nick Coleman 6-0 1/8 192 Jr./2
17 Isaiah Robertson 6-1 1/2 195 Fr./1

SS
21 Jalen Elliott 6-0 1/2 205 So./2
or 14 DEVIN STUDSTILL 6-0 1/4 195 So./2

CB
7 Nick Watkins 6-1 207 Sr./3
8 Donte Vaughn 6-2 3/4 So./2

DE
9 Daelin Hayes 6 -3 3/4 258 So./2
or 98 ANDREW TRUMBETTI 6-4 263 Sr./4
42 Julian Okwara 6-4 1/2 240 So./2

BUCK
48 Greer Martini 6-3 5/8 236 Sr./4
or 4 TE’VON CONEY 6-1 1/8 240 Jr./3

MIKE
5 NYLES MORGAN 6-1 235 Sr./4
44 Jamir Jones 6-3 1/8 240 So./1

ROV
23 DRUE TRANQUILL 6-2 231 Sr./3
22 Asmar Bilal 6-2 230 Jr./2

DT
55 Jonathan Bonner 6-3 3/4 291 Sr./3
95 Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa 6-2 1/2 293 Fr./1
97 Micah Dew-Treadway 6-4 1/8 305 Jr./2

NG
99 JERRY TILLERY 6-6 3/4 306 Jr./3
41 Kurt Hinish 6-1 3/4 298 Fr./1
77 Brandon Tiassum 6-4 305 Jr./2

DE
93 Jay Hayes 6-3 5/8 290 Sr./3
or 98 ANDREW TRUMBETTI 6-4 263 Sr./4
53 Khalid Kareem 6-4 266 So./2
91 Adetokunbo Ogundeji 6-4 3/8 256 So./1

WAKE FOREST OFFENSE

QB
10 John Wolford 6-1 200 Sr
2 Kendall Hinton 6-0 195 R-So.
12 Jamie Newman 6-4 235 R-Fr.

RB
22 Matt Colburn II 5-10 200 Jr.
5 Arkeem Byrd 6-1 190 R-Fr.
21 Isaiah Robinson 5-10 220 R-Jr.
26 Christian Beal 5-10 180 Fr.

WR
7 Scotty Washington 6-5 225 R-So.
15 Cortez Lewis 6-1 205 R-Jr.

WR
1 Tabari Hines 5-10 175 Jr.
88 Steven Claude 6-2 195 R-So.

WR
9 Chuck Wade, Jr. 6-0 200 Jr.
17 Alex Bachman 6-0 190 Jr.

TE
85 Cam Serigne 6-3 240 R-Sr.
86 Jack Freudenthal 6-3 230 R-So.
41 Devin Pike 6-6 250 Sr.

LT
75 Justin Herron 6-5 290 R-Jr.
60 Taleni Suhren 6-5 290 R-Fr.

LG
74 Phil Haynes 6-4 305 R-Jr.
79 Sean Maginn 6-3 280 Fr.

C
70 Ryan Anderson 6-6 305 R-Jr.
71 Nathan Gilliam 6-5 290 R-So.

RG
68 Patrick Osterhage 6-4 290 R-Jr.
58 Tyler Watson 6-5 290 R-Fr.

RT
73 Jake Benzinger 6-7 295 R-So.
63 Je’Vionte’ Nash 6-3 285 R-Fr.

NOTRE DAME SPECIAL TEAMS

PK
19 **Justin Yoon 5-10 192 Jr./3
39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 193 Fr./1

KO
19 **Justin Yoon 5-10 192 Jr./3
39 Jonathan Doerer 6-3 193 Fr./1

P
85 **Tyler Newsome 6-2-1/2 210 Sr./3
42 Jeff Riney 5-10-3/4 180 Jr./3

LS
54 John Shannon 6-2 230 So./1
82 **Nic Weishar 6-4-3/4 243Sr./3

HLD
4 *Montgomery VanGorder 6-1-3/8 222 Sr./3
85 **Tyler Newsome 6-2-1/2 210 Sr./3

PR
10 *Chris Finke 5-9-1/2 181 Jr./2
3 **C.J. Sanders 5-8 181 Jr./3

KR
3 **C.J. Sanders 5-8 181 Jr./3
87 Michael Young 5-10 190 Fr./1

WAKE FOREST SPECIAL TEAMS

PK
7 Mike Weaver 6-1 190 R-Sr.
48 Dom Maggio 6-3 185 So.

KO
7 Mike Weaver 6-1 190 R-Sr.
48 Dom Maggio 6-3 185 So.

P
48 Dom Maggio 6-3 185 So.
7 Mike Weaver 6-1 190 R-Sr.

H
48 Dom Maggio 6-3 185 So.
10 John Wolford 6-1 200 Sr.

LS
52 Dayton Diemel 5-10 215 So.
15 Garrett Wilson 6-3 210 Jr.

PR
1 Tabari Hines 5-10 175 Jr.
17 Alex Bachman 6-0 190 Jr.

KR
9 Chuck Wade 6-0 200 Jr.
1 Tabari Hines 5-10 175 Jr.

IRISH NEWSLINK: “Adams Hauls In Maxwell Semifinalist Honors; Irish RB leads the nation with seven runs of at least 60 yards this season.” – UND

Golden Dome in Bright Sunlight

DEPTH CHART: Notre Dame vs. North Carolina State – Dual-Column Depth Charts

File Photo of Basilica of the Sacred Heart and Golden Dome at University of Notre Dame, with Trees in Foreground

[#NotreDame and North Carolina State depth charts appear below, side-by-side in parallel dual columns in a regular computer view; on a smaller view screen, the responsive layout will cause the columns to jump down and stack up.]

NOTRE DAME OFFENSE

QB
7 *Brandon Wimbush 6-1 3/4 228 Jr./2
12 Ian Book 6-0 1/8 208 So./1
4 *Montgomery VanGorder 6-1 3/8 222 Sr./3

RB
33 JOSH ADAMS 6-2 1/8 225 Jr./3
2 Dexter Williams 5-11 215 Jr./3
or 34 Tony Jones 5-11 225 So./1
38 Deon McIntosh 5-10 5/8 193 So./1

WR
6 EQUANIMEOUS ST. BROWN 6-5 203 Jr./3
81 *Miles Boykin 6-4 225 Jr./2

WR
15 Cam Smith 5-10 1/2 202 Gr./4
87 Michael Young 190 Fr./1
or 3 **C.J. Sanders 5-8 181 Jr./3

WR
83 *Chase Claypool 6-4 3/8 228 So./2
10 *Chris Finke 5-9 1/2 181 Jr./2

TE
80 DURHAM SMYTHE 6-5 1/2 257 Gr./4
86 *Alizé Mack 6-4 3/4 251 Jr./3
82 Nic Weishar 6-4 3/4 243 Sr./3
or 89 Brock Wright 6-4 1/2 254 Fr./1
or 84 Cole Kmet 6-5 1/2 256 Fr./1

LT
68 MIKE MCGLINCHEY 6-8 315 Gr./4
74 Liam Eichenberg 6-6 300 So./1

LG
56 QUENTON NELSON 6-5 330 Sr./3
75 Josh Lugg 6-7 300 Fr./1

C
53 SAM MUSTIPHER 6-2 1/2 305 Sr./3
57 Trevor Ruhland 6 -4 302 Jr./2

RG
71 ALEX BARS 6-6 312 Sr./3
70 Hunter Bivin 6-6 315 Gr./4

RT
78 Tommy Kraemer 6-6 314 So./1
72 Robert Hainsey 6-5 290 Fr./1

NORTH CAROLINA STATE DEFENSE

NIC
24 Shawn Boone 5’10 206 Sr.
13 Stephen Morrison 5’11 201 R-Jr.

LC
21 Nick McCloud 6’0 189 So.
20 Bryce Banks 6’2 192 RS-Fr.

SS
31 Jarius Morehead 6’1 217 RS-So.
22 Isaiah Stallings 6’4 220 RS-Fr.

FS
34 Tim Kidd-Glass 6’1 202 So.
or 14 Dexter Wright 6’2 232 RS-Jr.

RC
5 Johnathan Alston 6’0 210 RS-Sr.
or 2 Mike Stevens 5’11 190 Sr.

MLB
4 Jerod Fernandez 6’0 227 RS-Sr.
10 Louis Acceus 6’0 216 Fr.

WLB
58 Airius Moore 6’0 235 Sr.
or 3 Germaine Pratt 6’3 235 RS-Jr.

FE
35 Kentavius Street 6’2 287 Sr.
or 45 Darian Roseboro 6’4 287 Jr.

N
98 B.J. Hill 6’4 315 Sr.
90 Shug Frazier 6’3 316 RS-Fr.

T
27 Justin Jones 6’2 312 Sr.
or 91 Eurndraus Bryant 6’1 325 Jr.

BE
9 Bradley Chubb 6’4 275 Sr.
39 James Smith-Williams 6’4 247 RS-So.
95 Tyrone Riley 6’6 285 RS-So.

NOTRE DAME DEFENSE

CB
27 JULIAN LOVE 5-11 193 So./2
20 Shaun Crawford 5-9 1/8 176 Jr./2
18 Troy Pride Jr. 5-11 1/2 187 So./2

-O
24 Nick Coleman 6-0 1/8 192 Jr./2
17 Isaiah Robertson 6-1 1/2 195 Fr./1

SS
21 Jalen Elliott 6-0 1/2 205 So./2
or 14 DEVIN STUDSTILL 6-0 1/4 195 So./2

CB
7 Nick Watkins 6-1 207 Sr./3
8 Donte Vaughn 6-2 3/4 So./2

DE
9 Daelin Hayes 6 -3 3/4 258 So./2
or 98 ANDREW TRUMBETTI 6-4 263 Sr./4
42 Julian Okwara 6-4 1/2 240 So./2

BUCK
48 Greer Martini 6-3 5/8 236 Sr./4
or 4 TE’VON CONEY 6-1 1/8 240 Jr./3

MIKE
5 NYLES MORGAN 6-1 235 Sr./4
44 Jamir Jones 6-3 1/8 240 So./1

ROV
23 DRUE TRANQUILL 6-2 231 Sr./3
22 Asmar Bilal 6-2 230 Jr./2

DT
55 Jonathan Bonner 6-3 3/4 291 Sr./3
95 Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa 6-2 1/2 293 Fr./1
97 Micah Dew-Treadway 6-4 1/8 305 Jr./2

NG
99 JERRY TILLERY 6-6 3/4 306 Jr./3
41 Kurt Hinish 6-1 3/4 298 Fr./1
77 Brandon Tiassum 6-4 305 Jr./2

DE
93 Jay Hayes 6-3 5/8 290 Sr./3
or 98 ANDREW TRUMBETTI 6-4 263 Sr./4
53 Khalid Kareem 6-4 266 So./2
91 Adetokunbo Ogundeji 6-4 3/8 256 So./1

NORTH CAROLINA STATE OFFENSE

QB
15 Ryan Finley 6’4 210 RS-Gr.
2 Jalan McClendon 6’5 221 RS-Jr.

RB
7 Nyheim Hines 5’9 197 Jr.
or 25 Reggie Gallaspy II 5’11 225 Jr.

H
1 Jaylen Samuels 5’11 228 Sr.
28 Dylan Parham 6’4 224 RS-Fr.

X
3 Kelvin Harmon 6’3 213 So.
19 C.J. Riley 6’4 204 RS-Fr.

Z
12 Stephen Louis 6’2 217 RS-Jr.
86 Emeka Emezie 6’3 209 Fr.
8 Maurice Trowell 5’11 196 RS-Jr.

S
11 Jakobi Meyers 6’2 203 RS-So.
6 Gavin Locklear 5’10 195 RS-Sr.

TE
48 Cole Cook 6’6 250 Gr.
42 Dylan Autenrieth 6’4 242 RS-Fr.

LT
53 Tyler Jones 6’3 300 RS-Jr.
64 Peter Daniel 6’6 305 Gr.
72 Philip Walton 6’7 305 RS-So.

LG
70 Terronne Prescod 6’5 331 RS-Jr.
71 Joe Sculthorpe 6’3 307 RS-Fr.

C
65 Garrett Bradbury 6’3 298 RS-Jr.
71 Joe Sculthorpe 6’3 307 RS-Fr.

RG
50 Tony Adams 6’2 315 Sr.
66 Josh Fedd-Jackson 6’3 336 Fr.

RT
54 Will Richardson 6’6 322 RS-Jr.
67 Justin Witt 6’6 296 RS-Fr.
74 Emanuel McGirt, Jr. 6’6 300 RS-So.

IRISH NEWSLINK: “Brian Kelly Talks Notre Dame Offensive Line” – Blue & Gold Illustrated/Rivals

Notre Dame Stadium Facade

IRISH NEWSLINK: “McGlinchey: ‘I blew it on the last play’” – NotreDame.247Sports

Football on Turf Near Yard Marker

“Notre Dame had one chance to drive the field and steal a late victory from Georgia. However, the Irish turned the ball over and dropped a close one to the Bulldogs. …”

IRISH NEWSLINK: “Former football player sues Notre Dame, Brian Kelly alleging negligence led to spine damage” – Indianapolis Star/ USA Today

Artist's Rendition of Spine, Brain, Nervous System, adapted from image at nih.gov

IRISH NEWSLINK: “Ex-Notre Dame player suing school, Brian Kelly for negligence” – NotreDame.247Sports

Artist's Rendition of Spine, Brain, Nervous System, adapted from image at nih.gov

IRISH NEWSLINK: “Notre Dame’s Daelin Hayes works to carry big spring into fall” – Chicago Tribune

Saint Joseph's Lake with Golden Dome and Basilica of the Sacred Heart in the Distance

Daelin Hayes raced around from the left side and nearly got to quarterback Brandon Wimbush on the first play of Sunday’s scrimmage. The sophomore defensive end made a habit of getting into the backfield during Notre Dame’s spring camp. He’s hoping to carry it over to this fall. “You try to move…

IRISH NEWSLINK: “Inside Notre Dame QB Brandon Wimbush’s journey to the top of the depth chart” – South Bend Tribune/ ND Insider

File Photo of Word of Life Stone Mural Mosaic, Featuring Christ with Arms Upraised, On the Hesburgh Memorial Library at Notre Dame

“… And now the deal gets real and the lights get bright, and the only conventional tangibles Wimbush has on his college résumé are five passing attempts and seven runs spread over two cameos two years ago. Are we there yet? The college football world is about to find out. …”

IRISH NEWSLINK: “Notre Dame Football’s Backfield is LOADED in 2017” – uhnd

Golden Dome in Bright Sunlight

“For all of the consternation over Brian Kelly’s preference for a passing game, Notre Dame has actually had a few years under his tenure where the Irish were a bonafide running team. Think 2011, 2012, and 2015. With an experienced offensive line that looks like it could be one of the nation’s best, the Irish have the kind of backfield needed to be a running team again this year. In fact, Notre Dame’s backfield is straight up loaded this year. …”

IRISH NEWSLINK: “Notre Dame’s Middle Men” – Blue and Gold Illustrated/Rivals

"We're # 1" Moses Sculpture at Notre Dame

“When it comes to discussing Notre Dame’s 2017 offensive line, the conversation generally steers into two directions. One is whether the left side with graduate student/tackle Mike McGlinchey and senior guard Quenton Nelson — both consistently placed in the first round of 2018 mock drafts — comprises the best in the nation. The other is right tackle, where fledgling sophomore Tommy Kraemer has won the job as the one new starter along the line from 2016 and is Notre Dame’s highest ranked recruit from the past three classes. And then there are seniors Alex Bars and Sam Mustipher at right guard and center, respectively. …”

IRISH NEWSLINK: “Notre Dame Roster & New Number Updates” – Blue and Gold Illustrated 7.14.17

Saint Joseph's Lake with Golden Dome and Basilica of the Sacred Heart in the Distance

“A total of 113 football players — 84 on scholarship and 29 walk-ons — are projected to partake in the team’s opening practice that is scheduled to be at the Culver Academies on Tuesday, August 1. …”

IRISH NEWSLINK Chicago Tribune: “Notre Dame grants QB Malik Zaire’s release, with conditions”

File Photo of Word of Life Stone Mural Mosaic, Featuring Christ with Arms Upraised, On the Hesburgh Memorial Library at Notre Dame

“Malik Zaire’s days as a Notre Dame quarterback are over. The school granted his request to be released from his scholarship and to seek a transfer …. Zaire …  has one remaining season of eligibility … expected to graduate in December and would be eligible to play next fall as a grad student. … Florida, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin are among the potential destinations …. Michigan State had been on that list, but Notre Dame reportedly would block him from transferring there or to any other school on the 2017 schedule except for North Carolina. …”

IRISH NEWSLINK AP/Fox: “Notre Dame DL Tillery apologizes for actions vs. USC”

File Photo of Football on Turf with Yardlines

“Notre Dame defensive lineman Jerry Tillery has tweeted an apology for kicking USC running back Aca’Cedric Ware in the helmet while Ware was on the ground with an apparent head injury and stomping on the foot of USC offensive tackle Zach Banner while he was on the ground.”

 

IRISH NEWSLINK ESPN: “Notre Dame DL Jerry Tillery apologizes for dirty play vs. USC”

Football on Turf Near Yard Marker

“Notre Dame defensive lineman Jerry Tillery apologized Monday for his actions in Saturday’s loss at USC, in which the sophomore appeared to nudge one injured Trojans player in the head and step on the foot of another during a fourth-quarter drive. ….”

IRISH NEWSLINK NBC: “Tillery apologizes for actions during USC game”

Football Next to Football Field

“‘I want to take full responsibility for my actions on Saturday. I am truly sorry. I acted in a way that was out of character for me. What I displayed in those two instances were completely unbecoming and not indicative of the kind of player or person I am. My actions in those two instances do not represent what my family or Notre Dame has molded me to be. I want to especially apologize to Aca’Cedric, Zach, their families and anyone else affected by what I did. I assure you I will learn and grow from this moment and become a better man because of it.'”

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Kelly prepared for unique Senior Day send-off” – NBC

Notre Dame Stadium Facade

“… while Brian Kelly will greet and appreciate 28 seniors who’ll run out of the tunnel in the season’s final home game, he’s hopeful that this won’t be goodbye for most. … while Jarron Jones, James Onwualu, Isaac Rochell, Cole Luke, Mark Harrell, Scott Daly and Avery Sebastian are saying goodbye, there’s plenty of eligibility remaining. … ‘We don’t have as many seniors that have used up their eligibility,’ Kelly explained when asked about the emotions of the upcoming weekend. ‘I’m crying right now because I don’t have Will Fuller. He didn’t have a senior day. Jaylon Smith, Ronnie Stanley, Kavari Russell, is that enough? … then there’s a number of guys that have eligibility remaining. … it’s a lot grayer as to who is a senior and who’s not a senior.’ … a source of optimism, especially for a staff looking to build on the tail-end of the season. … decisions on staying or going will be left until later …”

Click here for NBC: “Kelly prepared for unique Senior Day send-off” 

 

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Shrinking senior classes at Notre Dame mean perpetual youth movement” – South Bend Tribune/ND Insider ……. #NOTREDAME #FOOTBALL

Notre Dame Campus Montage

“… just eight ND players who will run out of the tunnel … are exhausting their eligibility …. Only six of them came to Notre Dame as recruited high school prospects. … Increasingly, a share of the elite seniors on a five-year track and true juniors are going to cannonball into the NFL Draft pool early. … of the 13 ND three-and-out juniors in the 26 years the NFL Draft rules have allowed them, eight have happened [under] Brian Kelly … and five have come in the past three drafts. … those blocked on the depth chart by younger players often will seek grad transfers or will put the “40-year decision” mantra to work before their NCAA clock elapses. … on top of that, there’s … medical hardships, transfers and dismissals.”

Click here for South Bend Tribune/ND Insider: “Shrinking senior classes at Notre Dame mean perpetual youth movement”

 

IRISH NEWSLINK UND: “Smythe Joins Ranks of Irish Veterans; The Journey of the Tenacious Tight End”

File Photo of Word of Life Stone Mural Mosaic, Featuring Christ with Arms Upraised, On the Hesburgh Memorial Library at Notre Dame

#NOTREDAME #FOOTBALL: “My first year was a big transition for me, a guy coming from central Texas up to northern Indiana, away from my family and then just jumping into college,” Smythe says. “I think at first I was in shock because of the academic load and the athletic load and the time management required for all those things. I think there’s going to be at least a small transition for anyone. But I became pretty comfortable pretty quickly because of the family atmosphere here.”

IRISH VIDEO: Inside Notre Dame Football – Syracuse Recap, Looking Ahead to North Carolina State

"We're # 1" Moses Sculpture at Notre Dame

Brian Kelly and Jack Nolan recap the Irish victory over Syracuse and look ahead to Notre Dame’s upcoming game at North Carolina State.   A Make-A-Wish Foundation wish is fulfilled; and there are some closer looks at some Notre Dame players.

Notre Dame DB Drue Tranquill Out For Season with ACL; Sixth Irish Player Lost

Notre Dame Stadium Facade

Sophomore Irish defensive back Drue Tranquill, who played a dynamic partial game in a dramatic win over Georgia Tech, is out for the season with a torn ACL to his right knee.

Tranquill likely will undergo surgery in a few weeks, having already had surgery for a torn ACL on his other knee about a year ago.  According to a Notre Dame release:

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly announced that sophomore safety Drue Tranquill will be out for the remainder of the 2015 season. Tranquill suffered a torn ACL to his right knee in the victory over No. 14 Georgia Tech on Saturday. Tranquill underwent surgery for a torn ACL on his left knee in November 2014.

At his Sunday press conference, Kelly said that there was a hope for some pre-surgery rehab, apparently to help tee up the surgery more effectively, pushing back the new surgery for about two weeks.

Here is a tweet issued by Notre Dame Football media affairs personnel (it might take a moment to load).

[article continues below ad]

Tranquill is a 6-2, 225-pound sophomore safety from Fort Wayne.  He played extensively as a freshman, including starting three games as a freshman before suffering a season-ending injury against Louisville, a game in which he also had an interception.  Tranquill reportedly started against Georgia Tech because he brought hard-hitting to the contest.

Against Georgia Tech, Tranquill had 4 solo tackles, including 2 tackles for loss, and a pass break-up that helped prevent a touchdown and forced a Georgia Tech field goal attempt that was missed.

Tranquill majors in Engineering, one of the more demanding majors at Notre Dame.

While some media might be quick to jump on the cliche of someone supposedly injuring himself while celebrating, a view of the replay during the game made it look unlikely that Tranquill did so.  After participating in a dramatic play, Tranquill simply jumped straight up off the ground in celebration.  There was nothing unusual about his movement to suggest that it could have caused an otherwise healthy knee to suddenly become injured.  It seems more likely that a latent potential for the injury had somehow been building without the fact being realized, and the injury simply picked that moment to reveal itself. Or perhaps the injury started wanting to emerge during the previous play, and the player jumping in celebration just happened to be the next time that he exerted himself with the knee.

One recalls former Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist’s second season-ending injury, which occurred when Crist was simply running out-of-bounds in a natural manner, without being hit, only to then go down with a season-ending injury.  Likewise, Crist’s injury seemed to be something that had been building, and was not actually caused by Crist running out-of-bounds at that moment.

As mentioned above, Tranquill actually had his other knee operated on about a year ago.  One gathers that the former surgery must have been completely successful, and Tranquill must have demonstrated that he had healed and rehabbed completely from it, to play as strongly as he was.  So perhaps there is hope that, after the surgery on the second knee, Tranquill will also rehab successfully and return to the same dynamic intensity and athleticism.

Links & Further Reading

Notre Dame loses S Drue Tranquill (ACL), its sixth player out for season – CBS 9.20.15

Notre Dame safety Drue Tranquill out for season with torn ACL – Sports Illustrated 9.20.15

Notre Dame safety suffers season-ending knee injury – AP/Fox Sports 9.20.15

Drew Tranquill – player bio – UND.com

NEWSLINK Fox Sports: “Notre Dame safety Tranquill injures knee after pass breakup”

Golden Dome in Bright Sunlight

Notre Dame safety Drue Tranquill sustained a right knee injury while celebrating a pass break up just before halftime against Georgia Tech.

Coach Brian Kelly said it was too early to know how bad the injury is, but that he wasn’t optimistic. Notre Dame already has lost four starters, including quarterback Malik Zaire and running back Tarean Folston, to season-ending injuries and another player who was expected to contribute.

NEWSLINK Chicago Tribune: For Notre Dame it’s win some (games) and lose some (players)

Golden Dome in Bright Sunlight

Brian Kelly’s evaluation of DeShone Kizer’s first start?

“Good. There’s a lot to get better,” the Notre Dame coach said of his redshirt freshman quarterback after the Irish’s 30-22 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday.

And safety Drue Tranquill’s right knee?

“Doesn’t look good,” Kelly said, adding Tranquill will undergo an MRI on Sunday. “We’re not optimistic at this point.”

NEWSLINK South Bend Tribune: CJ Prosise thriving in Notre Dame’s backfield

File Photo of Word of Life Stone Mural Mosaic, Featuring Christ with Arms Upraised, On the Hesburgh Memorial Library at Notre Dame

C.J. Prosise grinned at the hypothetical.

What if Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly had dreamt up this running back experiment earlier in the senior’s career?

“Well it’s definitely great so far,” Prosise understated after rushing for 198 yards on 22 carries and three TDs Saturday in his third game at his new position and only second start there.