2012 Statistics

ASST. COACHES

Off. Coordinator/QB Coach: Chuck Martin (4th season)
Previous: Grand Valley State Head Coach

Def. Coordinator/LB Coach: Bob Diaco (4th season)
Previous: Cincinnati Def. Coor.

Running Backs/Slot Receivers: Tony Alford (5th season)
Previous: Louisville RB Coach

Outside Receivers: Mike Denbrock (4th season)
Previous: Indiana State LB/Sp. Teams Coach

Tight Ends/Special Teams: Scott Booker (4th season)
Previous: Western Kentucky DB Coach

Offensive Line: Harry Hiestand (2nd season)
Previous: Tennessee OL Coach

Defensive Line: Mike Elston (4th season)
Previous: Cincinnati TE/Sp. Teams Coach

Co-Def. Coodinator/CB Coach: Kerry Cooks (4th season)
Previous: Wisconsin DB Coach

Safeties Coach: Bob Elliott (2nd season)
Previous: Iowa State DB Coach

    QUARTERBACK  

• The off-season academic loss of third-year sophomore Everett Golson hurts. Since his breakout game in Norman last fall Everett continued to improve in every facet. Golson will do all he can to get back into a Notre Dame uniform but that can't happen in 2013.
• The door reopens for senior Tommy Rees who already has 18 starts for the Irish to his credit including the 2011 season where he was the full-time signal caller for 12 games.
• Shaky as a starter, Rees' best suite last fall was as a relief pitcher. When the chips were down he rose to the occasion pulling his team out of the fire with late game heroics. He was considered a third down passing option as well.
• Rees gives the Irish a better passing game but his scrambling skills and ability to make plays with his feet were no comparison to Golson. Coach Kelly will have to adjust his offensive philosophy.
• The second biggest news this off-season was the transfer of heralded recruit Gunner Kiel who didn't play at all last season.
• Andrew Hendrix has taken important snaps in his ND career thus far but his role from here on out was not anticipated to be significant. With Golson gone his role as the backup now becomes crucial.
• Offensive coordinator Chuck Martin was quoted in the spring that true freshman Malik Zaire was among the most mentally advanced frosh quarterbacks Kelly has coached in 20 years. Zaire is gunning for playing time this season.
  

    RUNNING BACK  

• The top two rushers are gone in Riddick and Wood. The Irish do have three ball carriers who have rushed for at least 50 yards versus a BCS conference foe. Atkinson and McDaniel did against Miami, Amir Carlisle did as a freshman at USC.
• George Atkinson has put all his emphasis into football this off-season and has made significant leaps. He skipped track where he has already been successful to focus on the weight room and on football. Now bigger and much stronger he is clearly the first option to begin the new season.
• Coach Kelly has praised Trojan transfer Amir Carlisle this spring. Carlisle is the elusive speed back who can also double in the slot, the same dual role that Theo Riddick filled last season. If he can avoid the injury bug that has held him back Carlisle will make an impact.
• Notre Dame recruiting plucked two of the nation's premier running backs out Florida this February. Greg Bryant and Taurean Folston will each be given a chance to take handoffs when August camp arrives. By mid-season expect one of these recruits to shake up the status quo.

    RECEIVER  

• If the passing game is going to take a step forward this unit has a nice blend of experience and athleticism to make it happen.
• TJ Jones had been Mr. Reliable amassing over 110 receptions for over 1300 yards in three years as a starter. The returning leading receiver is not a game breaker but is sure-handed in crucial situations. After completing a tremendous spring, Jones will be one of the veteran leaders of this offense.
• DaVaris Daniels is primed to put up big time numbers. On his way last fall before a shoulder injury against Boston College, Daniels finished strong as one of the few bright spots in the BCS National Championship game where he responded with six catches for a career high 115 yards. Alabama had only allowed three hundred yard receivers all season.
• Daniel Smith is a better blocker than a receiver. He made four starts last fall.
• Amir Carlisle is currently at running back, but Coach Kelly could not restrain his giddiness when talking about him moving to the slot. Heralded recruit Davonte Neal transferred and now newcomer C.J. Prosise has moved from playing safety on the defense to the slot position on offense.
• Chris Brown has the top end speed to stretch the field and played in all 13 games last season as a true frosh.

    TIGHT END  

• The tight end position at Notre Dame has grown into a recent legend. Anthony Fasano, Greg Olsen, John Carlson, Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Eifert create an amazing list. None of them were small and all were much more known for their pass catching ability. That won't be the case for incumbent Troy Niklas whose high school coach thought he would wind up playing offensive tackle.
• Troy Niklas earned six starts in 2012 with the double tight-end formations. He is big with freakish strength and his best use will likely be that of a blocker.
• Big Pennsylvania product Ben Koyack has not met expectations yet but is capable enough to be utilized in the two tight end sets. Coaches say he has moved from a question mark to an asset this spring with superb hands. Big Ohio product Alex Welch is back after missing the entire 2012 season with a knee injury suffered in the preseason.
• Don't expect anyone on this roster to come close to filling the shoes of the departed Tyler Eifert in regards to the passing game.

    OFFENSIVE LINE  

• The anchor is on the left side with two seniors protecting the quarterback's blindside. All-American Zack Martin and Chris Watt at tackle and guard respectively combine to make this one of the strongest aspects on the offensive side of the ball.
• No final decisions have been made with the remainder of the group. Building depth last season was difficult with all of the close games. The first order or business was finding a starting center to replace the Rimington Trophy Finalist Braxston Cave. The battle quickly evolved into a Nick Martin (younger brother of left tackle Zack) and Matt Hegarty race with Martin taking a significant lead.
• 13 game starter Christian Lombard is back to man the right tackle spot although no final decisions will be made until former Nevada prep basketball star Ronnie Stanley is healthy. If Stanley can work his way into a starting role Lombard could moved to right guard.
• For this offense to dominate running with the pigskin they will have to show an ability to run the right side with confidence opposed to an overwhelming tendency to run behind Zack Martin and Chris Watt.
• Some have called this recent recruiting class one of the tallest and beefed up offensive lines Notre Dame has ever hauled in. The results won't likely be seen until 2014 but this will help provide insurance with the depth factor.

    DEFENSIVE LINE  

• It's been a very long time since South Bend has produced two talents the likes of Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix on the same defensive line. Both are considered potential future first round NFL Draft picks.
• Production from this unit can be directly attributed to recruiting, something previous head coach Charlie Weis failed to address with adequate numbers. This unit has gone from a liability to strength.
• Big 6'6, 322-pound defensive end Stephon Tuitt was long considered to be the run stuffer, but Tuitt looks quite comfortable too bringing pressure on quarterbacks leading the team with 12 sacks last fall.
• Nix is the 340-plus-pound anchor in the middle and is almost impossible to block. As a space eater life for linebackers on this defense should continue to be golden.
• The door is open for Sheldon Day, a former defensive tackle out of high school, to assume a major role at the other end position after an excellent spring. Day appeared in all 13 games as a true frosh last season and Kelly noted that no one on this line of scrimmage could shed blockers any better.
• Kona Schwenke is a top nose guard who at one time was considered to be the starter ahead of Nix. Tony Springmann can play any position on this front.

    LINEBACKER  

• It's not every year a team has to replace a Heisman Trophy runner-up on defense. Irish eyes will be glued on the quest to replace Manti Te'o. The good news is that the other three spots in this 3-4 alignment are all senior returning starters.
• Dan Fox and Carlo Calabrese have shared starting duties at Will over the past three seasons. Both return for their final season and will be expected to share the leadership role.
• Jarrett Grace has been groomed as the successor to Te'o. Coaches love Grace but it remains to be seen what he can do in an actual game. If he can secure the Mike position look for Fox and Calabrese to share duties again at Will. If not one will have to slide over to provide support.
• On the outside Prince Shembo is back for his final season and has been a difference maker since his freshman campaign. With his quickness Shembo has excelled behind this talented line and has the potential to be one of the stars of this entire defense.
• On the opposite side Danny Spond had a slow start last fall but eventually became a key member on this side of the ball. He represents the best linebacker in coverage.
• The New York Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2010 Ishaq Williams has yet to reach his expectations. This could be a make-or-break season for the junior.
• Both Ben Councell and Anthony Rabasa were highly touted defensive ends in high school that have found difficulty stepping up to the college level while trying to play linebacker. One of these backups could play a vital role in this rotation that keeps everyone fresh.

    DEFENSIVE BACK  

• Last year at this time Notre Dame faced the task of replacing both cornerbacks with inexperienced players. Presumed starter Lo Wood went down with an Achilles injury and the worrying began. What became a nightmare turned out to be one of the team's biggest surprises.
• This year both starters are back beginning with rising senior Bennett Jackson who is both the team's returning leading tackler and interception king. The former receiver made the transition after his freshman campaign and has never looked back.
• KeiVarae Russell came in last year as a running back but was moved to corner out of necessity due to the season-ending injury to Wood. As expected the season started out a little rough but Russell eventually turned into one of the team's biggest surprises and has plenty of room to grow.
• Lo Wood is healthy and will return to the lineup. He may be the only true cover corner on the team and will be a part of the rotation with Jackson and Russell.
• Injuries wreaked havoc at safety a year ago. Matthias Farly was an emergency replacement who was superb in run support. He has locked down one of the starting safety spots.
• Thus far there are limitations at safety with many of the answers shaking out come August. Solid depth exists to turn this into an asset otherwise coaches never would have moved C.J. Prosise to receiver.