2 Tshe ob erver | FRiday, september 25, 2015 | ndsmcobserver.com Insider

COMMENTARY Notre Dame still needs to put forth a complete effort

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P vaID Ad ertisement

EMMET FARNAN | The Observer Irish senior running back C.J. Prosise pulls away from Georgia Tech redshirt senior defensive back Chris Milton during his 91-yard run in the fourth quarter of Notre Dame’s 30-22 win Saturday.

to the timing route. Jacket offense to a total Zach Klonsinski Following the intercep- of 151 yards on 11 drives, Sports Editor tion, the Yellow Jacket of- outside of the 80-yard scor- fense marched 80 yards in ing drive following the Despite all the ques- four plays to tie the game at . tions about how the Irish seven after managing only Then suddenly the wheels would fare with sophomore 44 yards on its first four came off: It looked like the DeShone Kizer as their drives combined. defense just quit, thinking starting , the To the Irish offense’s cred- it had the game was already Notre Dame offense passed it, it responded with a long won. its first big test. touchdown drive of its own A strong performance to reclaim the advantage, see KLONSINSKI PAGE 5 against Georgia Tech essen- 13-7. The defense forced a tially put the game away be- three-and-out and got the P vaID Ad ertisement fore the fourth quarter until offense the ball again at its the hiccups in the final min- own 30-yard line with 1:07 utes. Senior running back on the clock and the chance C.J. Prosise nearly eclipsed to seize momentum back go- 200 yards and scampered ing into halftime. for the longest Irish run in Then freshman tight end the history of Notre Dame Alize Jones fumbled, and Stadium. Junior receiver Georgia Tech got the ball on continued piling the Notre Dame 45-yard line up yards, and with 47 seconds and one Heisman ballots. And Kizer, timeout left in what could for the most part, managed have been a disastrous end to guide the machine and of the half for the Irish. hang on to the football. Instead the Irish defense The scary thing, though? held, and the Yellow Jackets The Irish offense is far from missed a field-goal attempt. clicking on all cylinders yet. Despite these miscues But the even scarier and a few drops from Irish thought, for opposing teams receivers, Notre Dame’s of- and the Irish faithful alike? fense didn’t miss a beat with Neither is the defense. Kizer calling the shots. The offense left some What should have Notre points on the board against Dame fans terrified, how- the Yellow Jackets on ever, is the defensive incon- Saturday, most notably sistency that again reared Kizer and junior receiver its ugly head this season. Corey Robinson failing to Against Texas, the Irish be on the same page in the defense was nearly perfect, end zone late midway the only allowing one big play second quarter. Kizer threw that set up the Longhorns’ the fade route to the back only score of the game. pylon, but Robinson read The next week in Virginia, Yellow Jacket senior cor- however, it was anything nerback D.J. White jumping but polished as it was picked the fade route and stayed apart by a sub-par Cavalier inside. White came away offense, needing Kizer and with the interception. Irish Fuller’s heroics to bail it out. head coach Brian Kelly said For 53 minutes last Tuesday there were errors Saturday, the Notre Dame on both ends of the pass: a defense again looked like bad read by Zaire and the nothing could faze it, hold- failure of Robinson to stick ing the explosive Yellow Insider ndsmcobserver.com | FRiday, september 25, 2015 | The Observer 3

By ALEX CARSON best D-line in the country,” every day with an intensity said. “The next guy steps in felt this was the way to do it Associate Sports Editor Okwara said. “We go to prac- we love. We love being around and does the same job Jarron the fastest,” Tillery said. “It’s tice with the mindset every him, so we love playing for did.” worked out for me.” Before the 2015 season even day that we have to dominate him.” For the Irish, the ‘next guy Okwara said the success started, senior defensive line- whoever we’re playing, so I “He always switches every- in’ became two: Tillery and Tillery and Cage have had man Sheldon Day introduced think it’s coming together as thing up, you always have to sophomore Daniel Cage. boils down to their work ethic the world to Terry Jillery. a defense, that’s what we do.” keep on your toes,” Rochell “We looked to Jerry and on the practice field. Never mind the fact there “I don’t think there’s a rea- said. “ … He’s really aggres- Cage and kind of uplifted “When [Tillery] came here isn’t a player by that name on son why we can’t be [the best sive, so it’s fun to play under them to make sure they played in the spring, there were a lot the Irish roster. D-line],” Rochell said. “I think his system.” at the same level Jarron did,” of things he had to work on,” “Yeah, they flipped the let- if we don’t end up being the For most of the offseason, Day said. Okwara said. “And I think ters of my name,” freshman best D-line in the country, it’s it appeared as if the start- “We always have a lot of con- he picked it up pretty well. defensive lineman Jerry Tillery because we weren’t trying to ing four on the line would be fidence in our guys that are Obviously in a starting role said during Sept. 8’s episode or we were being lazy. easy to call — but when se- next, the next man in, so we now, he has a lot on his plate, of Showtime’s ‘A Season With “We have a lot of poten- nior Jarron Jones went down didn’t really stress that much,” and I think he’s doing a great Notre Dame.’ “I don’t get it. It’s tial but I was just telling with a season-ending MCL in- Rochell said. “We knew those job of coming to practice ev- kind of stupid to me.” them my dad used to always jury in fall camp, the mixture guys had to come in and play ery day and working on the And while he introduced say, ‘Potential and a quarter changed. at a higher level. things he needs to work on to the nickname to the world in can get you a cup of coffee.’ “It was definitely a very “Jerry had to come in and be a better player. August, Day didn’t invent it, he Potential really doesn’t mean down moment for the D-line,” play like a junior or senior, he “Daniel’s the same way. He said — that honor is shared be- anything. We have potential, Day said. “We lost a brother, couldn’t play like a freshman, comes to practice with the tween senior Romeo Okwara we just have to keep grinding.” especially someone who was and he’s done well. Initially it same mindset, that he has and junior Isaac Rochell. Tillery and Okwara said trying to come back from an was tough, and it was sad be- things to work on. He also has “I think Isaac and Romeo Day, the two-time captain, is injury to then have another cause you love Jarron, but we a lot on his plate like Jerry, came up with the name, and the undisputed leader of the one, it was definitely hard for weren’t stressed over the next sharing the starting role. Jerry just kinda blew it off a unit. us.” guys in.” “They know they have to couple times, and it just kin- “He’s shown me the way,” Jones had missed the end of For Tillery, it was far from come to practice every day da stuck with him,” the se- Tillery said. “He’s been where the last season with a foot in- obvious he’d end up a defen- and work hard so they can nior captain said. “He would I want to be, he’s going where jury, but was back on track to sive lineman at Notre Dame; play like we expect them to.” mess up on a play and we’d be I want to go. He knows the po- return to the starting lineup he was considered by most a Okwara started his career as like, ‘Alright, Terry,’ or he’d do sition in and out, and that’s for the 2015 campaign. prospect on the other side of a linebacker in former defen- something good and be like, where I want to be.” “I just hated it for him be- the ball along the offensive sive coordinator Bob Diaco’s ‘Alright, Terry.’ It just kinda “Just his mindset [is big],” cause he just came back, he line. 3-4 set but moved to the de- stuck after a while.” Okwara said of Day. “Going worked really hard over the “The opportunity presented fensive line when VanGorder Tillery said the kidding to practice every day, working offseason to make a come- itself to move to defense and I took over before last season. doesn’t bother him all that on his tools. Not taking any back, so it was tough to see took it,” the freshman said. “I It’s a move Okwara seems to much. He endured plenty of breaks on any snaps. Going him go down,” Rochell said. haven’t looked back.” be enjoying. that in his childhood. into the practice with the But there wasn’t time to sulk Tillery said the opportunity “I love the D-line,” he said. “I “I grew up with three older mindset he has to dominate about the injury, Okwara said. to contribute early helped him don’t care, put me anywhere, sisters, so that’s nothing new every game.” “It’s obviously very devas- make the decision to move to but I’m loving the D-line.” to me, being teased and picked Day, who missed the tating when any of our team- the defensive line. on,” Tillery said. “ … I under- Louisville and USC games last mates go down, but … we can’t “I just wanted to help the Contact Alex Carson at stand it’s all in good fun; we’re year with a knee injury, said dwell on the past,” Okwara team however I could, and I [email protected] having fun with each other.” the toughest part of his cap- It’s the personal side of taincy was learning to lead off Notre Dame’s defensive line the field. the world sees: a bunch that “Low points — I would defi- always tries to stay on the nitely say not being out there bright side. leading them because I was “We do have fun, we have a more of a lead-by-example great time,” Rochell said. “We guy,” Day said. “So I had to sit also have our very serious back and observe and learn times, so I think you have to how to talk to the players and enjoy it while doing it; it’s such see how I could communicate a long season.” with them. Day, now in his second year “But the highs, just seeing as a captain for the Irish, sees people watch me work and the fun the group has as the seeing how much they look up best way to reach its goals. to me and mimic me — I just “We expect the highest out try and be a leader and try to of people, and if we can’t be hold everyone accountable.” positive around them, how While the defensive lineman can we get the best out of have fun with each other, they them?” the Indianapolis na- also enjoy their time on the tive said. “We definitely pro- field running defensive co- mote a positive attitude in the ordinator Brian VanGorder’s D-line room.” ever-changing schemes. And for the members of the “We definitely love him, Irish defensive line, the best especially running his de- they can be means being the fense, an NFL-style defense,” CHRIS COLLINS | The Observer top unit in the sport. Okwara said. “It’s a lot of fun, Irish senior defensive lineman Sheldon Day, left, and junior defensive lineman Isaac Rochell pursue Texas “We’re trying to be the and BVG comes to practice redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard during Notre Dame’s 38-3 victory over the Longhorns. 4 Tshe ob erver | Friday, September 25, 2015 | ndsmcobserver.com Insider

recruiting Notre Dame scheduled to Write Sports. host three-star linebacker Email Zach at By BRIAN PLAMONDON but in terms of a program fit, receiver commit, Kevin [email protected] Sports Writer he seems like another one of Stepherson, might be a name those guys that the staff is to watch as well, according Although the commitment after.” to Ivins. In his most recent front has been quiet since Both Jones and Hansford game for Jacksonville (Fla.) three-star quarterback Ian would fill a huge need for First Coast, the three-star Book pledged to the Irish in Notre Dame at the linebacker Stepherson hauled in four early August, Notre Dame is position. Another position passes for 79 yards and two P vaID Ad ertisement staying busy on the recruit- starting to show itself as one touchdowns. ing trail. of need is at running back. Finally, New York native This past weekend, Irish After taking two in from Jamir Jones has also im- coaches rolled out the red the class of 2015, the Irish pressed. Brother of current carpet for Maryland outside already have 6-foot-1, 212 Notre Dame defensive line- linebacker Aaron Hansford, pound bruiser Tony Jones man Jarron Jones, Jamir is a the lone official visitor and committed for next year. three-star talent and the sec- a four-star talent per Rivals. Jones, a three-star prospect ond-best player in New York, com. per Rivals, was thought to per Rivals. “I think when there’s only be the only running back the “He’s listed as a linebacker, one official visitor, it opens Irish would take. but I think he ultimately ends the door for the whole staff to “It’s going to be hard for up at defensive end,” Ivins get involved,” Irish recruiting them to take two this cycle, said. “He had a great start to analyst Andrew Ivins said. “If but I think with the Folston his season, a few sacks here you’re going to do an in-sea- injury, it’s more and more of and there. son official visit, it’s a huge a realistic possibility,” Ivins “Those are all guys that I advantage to be the only guy said. think Notre Dame should be on campus because … you’re Including Folston, the Irish excited about and are guys going to be the [main focus].” currently only have three that have really turned up Ivins, who covers Notre running backs on scholar- this early in the season.” Dame recruiting for Blue and ship after the highly touted Gold Illustrated, said Notre Greg Bryant departed before For more on Notre Dame Dame has solidified itself as the season started. One name recruiting, check out a school that’s going to be to watch to see if Notre Dame BlueAndGold.com. Email in the race down the stretch gets involved is three-star Andrew Owens at for the linebacker — espe- Miami commit Travis Homer, [email protected] and cially because Hansford’s Ivins said. tell him The Observer sent you. father is a huge Notre Dame For now, the Irish will make fan. Hansford is also high do with Jones and a recruit- Contact Brian Plamondon at on Oregon, Michigan State, ing class that totals 14 play- [email protected] UCLA and Florida, according ers. Although it is a crop that to Ivins. lacks a nationally recognized P vaID Ad ertisement Now the Irish staff will top talent, Ivins said he be- quickly shift its attention to lieves a number of current the only scheduled visitor for commits will move up in the this weekend’s game against Rivals rankings with strong Massachusetts, three-star showings thus far in their se- linebacker Jonathan Jones, nior seasons. who hails from Orlando, “Chase Claypool, the 10PM Saturday, September 26 Florida. Although Jones is Canadian and Rivals’ 17th-best inside line- safety, had a great start to LaFortune Ballroom backer, he is a player with a his season,” Ivins said of the lot of upside, Ivins said. four-star talent and Rivals’ “The knack on Jonathan is 196th best player. “He’s al- that he’s a little undersized,” ready scored six touchdowns Ivins said of the 6-foot, through two games, but ob- 207-pound Jones. “But he’s viously there’s some ques- athletic and can play inside tionable competition level PJ’s or outside. He might not have there in Canada.” a lot of stars next to his name, Notre Dame’s other wide Preferred

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Co-sponsored by Women’s Rugby ND/SMC/HCC Students Only Photo courtesy of Blue and Gold Illustrated, Rivals.com Three-star linebacker Jonathan Jones will be visiting campus this /saoND @saoND @sao_ND weekend. He is the only official visitor scheduled against Massachusetts. Insider ndsmcobserver.com | Friday, September 25, 2015 | The Observer 5

Klonsinski Cotinun ed from page 2

Just 122 yards, two touch- downs and an onside kick later, Notre Dame needed a sliding onside-kick recov- ery by junior receiver Torii Hunter Jr. to preserve the unsettlingly close 30-22 victory. Sure, up 30-7 with seven minutes remaining against a triple-option offense is a pretty strong position to be in. But the Notre Dame de- fense lost sight of Georgia Tech’s explosiveness and opened the floodgates for a team that put up 134 points in its first two games this season. The Irish got complacent, just as they had against Virginia two weeks ear-

EMMET FARNAN | The Observer lier. They lost the fire and Irish graduate student linebacker Joe Schmidt, right, dives in an attempt to tackle Georgia Tech redshirt junior quarterback Justin Thomas hunger that drove them during Notre Dame’s 30-22 win at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday. Schmidt led the Irish defense with 10 tackles, including two for a loss. against Texas and the first 53 minutes of the game last P vaID Ad ertisement weekend. Now the is, which defense shows up this weekend against Massachusetts? At first glance, it appears to be an easy Irish win. Of course, there never seems to be such a thing for Notre Dame. Two weeks after the Irish secondary failed to contain Virginia’s Matt Johns and Canaan Severin, the duo they face this week will pose an even greater challenge. UMass is based around a strong passing game led by graduate student quar- terback Blake Frohnaphel and senior receiver Tajae Sharpe. Sharpe hauled in the 10th-most receiving yards last season in all of the FBS, and he’s already piled up 294 yards on 22 catches this year. Frohnaphel finished 22nd overall in passing yards last season — despite not playing a bowl game or the final two games of the regular season due to injury. In short: They love to tear defenses to shreds when given the opportunity. UMass sets up as a per- fect trap game, sandwiched between Georgia Tech and a huge test in Death Valley against Clemson, so in hindsight, the final min- utes against Georgia Tech may have been the most important part of that game moving forward: The de- fense needs to use it as in- spiration to come out with its hair on fire Saturday afternoon. If it doesn’t, the Irish could be in for a stressful — and potentially catastroph- ic — day at Notre Dame Stadium.

Contact Zach Klonsinski at [email protected] The views in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. 6 Tshe ob erver | FRIDAY, september 25, 2015 | ndsmcobserver.com Insider

Hno tre dameE stadiumAD TO massachusetts EMMET FARNAN | The Observer EMMET FARNAN | The Observer MI NUtemeN PASSING MINUTEMEN OFFENSIVE COACHING The Minutemen’s best offensive weap- This is the biggest game in program his- on is graduate student quarterback Blake tory for and the Minutemen. (r-So.) Shakur Nesmith 19 Frohnapfel. In two games this season, They are four-touchdown underdogs and (Sr.) Jalen Williams 80 WR he has thrown 618 yards and four touch- only a few years removed from the FCS. downs. And that’s a continuation of last Notre Dame is only playing this game be- season, when he averaged 334.5 yards per cause Whipple’s predecessor, , game and tossed 23 scores in 10 games. The was Brian Kelly’s longtime offensive coordi- (r-Sr.) Brandon Howard 85 (r-Jr.) A.J. Doyle 15 TE Minutemen rely on him heavily, with nearly nator. But Molnar is gone, and in his absence, (r-Jr.) Tyrell Smith 77 half their offense coming through the air so the Massachusetts offense jumped from 11.7 (Jr.) Tyshon Henderson 76 LT far this year. points per game to 27.3 in a single season. The (r-Sr.) Jamal Wilson 6 (Jr.) Fabian Hoeller 73 His list of targets is thin. Senior receiver Minutemen also posted their best FBS record (Jr.) Shadrach Abrokwah 22 RB (So.) Lukas Kolter 74 LG Tajae Sharpe has caught 22 passes this sea- last year at 3-9 and hung tough against Temple (Gr.) Blake Frohnapfel 7 (Sr.) Matt Sparks 78 3 55 son for 294 yards and is climbing up the last week. But UMass did lose to Temple be- (r-So.) Austin Whipple QB (r-Sr.) Josh Bruns C program record books. After him, though, cause of a blocked extra point. (Sr.) Rodney Mills 33 (r-Jr.) Michael Boland 71 (So.) Andrew Libby 37 FB (r-Fr.) Dan DiNicola 67 RG the next closest receiver has 125. Senior For Notre Dame, Brian VanGorder’s de- (Jr.) Elijah Wilkinson 68 Rodney Mills is listed as a fullback on the fense was well prepared last week for the na- (Sr.) Ryan Johnson 70 RT Massachusetts depth chart, but he has tion’s most prolific offense in Georgia Tech. two touchdowns and 104 yards on just five catches. EDGE: NOTRE DAME (Sr.) Tajae Sharpe 1 Notre Dame, on the other hand, should (Sr.) Bernard Davis 88 WR have junior safety Max Redfield back from MINUTEMEN SPECIAL TEAMS injury to reclaim his starting spot after Perhaps the most untested unit of the sophomore Drue Tranquill took it against team, the Minutemen’s special teams have (r-Sr.) Randall Jette 4 Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets didn’t done almost nothing in 2015 through two (r-Sr.) DuVaughn Beckford 36 LCB test the Irish secondary last week until the games. Senior returner Trey Dudley-Giles game was out of reach, and Virginia ex- has no punt returns to his name. On kickoffs, (Sr.) Joe Colton 25 posed several weaknesses two weeks ago, the team is averaging under 20 yards per re- (So.) Zeke Edmonds 2 OLB (Sr.) Trey Dudley-Giles 9 so it is unclear how the unit will respond to turn. Senior kicker Blake Lucas has attempt- (r-So.) Jesse Monteiro 27 S its first legitimate passing threat of the year. ed one 34-yard field goal, which he made. (r-Sr.) Trey Seals 54 (Jr.) Enock Asante 60 Just about the only area where (Sr.) Jovan Santos-Knox 17 DE (r-So.) Shane Huber 8 EDGE: EVEN Massachusetts gets plenty of work is punt- ILB (Sr.) Robert Kitching III 92 ing. Redshirt sophomore punter Logan (r-Fr.) Jake Largay 79 NT (r-Jr.) John Robinson-Woodgett 42 MINUTEMEN RUSHING Laurent has 14 punts and an average of 40 (r-So.) Steve Casali 34 ILB Georgia Tech’s triple-option attack was yards. Only two of his kicks have ended in- (Jr.) Peter Angeh 5 (R-So.) Sha-Ki Holines 95 DT supposed to present the biggest challenge side the 20-yard line. Notre Dame has been (Sr.) Khary Bailey-Smith 21 (r-Fr.) Charan Singh 24 S of the year for Notre Dame’s front seven. pretty awful on special teams this year, but (Sr.) Kassan Messiah 3 Instead, the Yellow Jackets managed just against Massachusetts, the Irish could pass (Jr.) Peter Ngobidi 44 OLB 216 yards on 47 attempts. The Irish held for competent. them to three conversions on 15 third downs. Sheldon Day had four tackles, one EDO GE: N TRE DAME (Sr.) Kelton Brackett 1 for loss, and two quarterback hits, while the (Fr.) James Oliphant 48 RCB linebacker corps of graduate student Joe MI NUtemeN SCHEDULE (0-2) Schmidt, junior Jaylon Smith and sopho- Sept. 12 @ Colorado (L 48-14) more Greer Martini went one through three Sept. 19 Templer (L 25-23) to lead the team in tackles. Sept. 26 @ Notre Dame The possibility of a letdown against the Oct. 3 FIU (Sr.) Blake Lucas 23 (Gr.) Blake Frohnapfel 7 Minutemen is minimal. Redshirt senior Oct. 10 @ Bowling Green (r-So.) Logan Laurent 99 PK (r-Fr.) Andrew Verboys 18 H Jamal Wilson hasn’t averaged more than 40 Oct. 17 Kent State (r-So.) Logan Laurent 99 (Sr.) Trey Dudley-Giles 9 yards per game in his career, and overall, Oct. 24 Toledo (Sr.) Blake Lucas 23 P (Fr.) James Oliphant 48 KR UMass ranks 121st out of 127 in the FBS in Oct. 31 @ Ball State (Sr.) Trey Dudley-Giles 9 (r-Fr.) Nick Berus 53 rushing offense. That’s only slightly better Nov. 7 Akron (Fr.) James Oliphant 48 PR (Fr.) Peter Comaroto 59 LS than its 112th position last year. Nov. 14 @ Eastern Michigan Nov. 21 Miami (Ohio) EDGE: NOTRE DAME Nov. 27 @ Buffalo

Greg Hadley Mary Green Zach Klonsinski E ditor-in-Chief Assistant Managing Editor Sports Editor

Nothing about this game will be close, except maybe the Brian Kelly said this type of game, a “trap game” that has M assachusetts is going to be a tougher game than many score. the temptation to be overlooked, makes him nervous. Irish faithful would like to think. On paper, Notre Dame should blow out the Minutemen in If the Notre Dame that handily defeated Georgia Tech The Minutemen took Temple to the wire last week, the one of the easiest wins of the Brian Kelly era. The talent gap in all facets of the game last week shows up Saturday, his same Owls team that walloped Penn State in the opening between the two squads is almost embarrassing. DeShone nerves will be for nothing. But if the Notre Dame that trav- week of the season. UMass head coach Mark Whipple has Kizer is at home for his second start and should be getting eled to Charlottesville, Virginia, two weeks ago is the one a successful track record at the school. Graduate student comfortable. C.J. Prosise will run wild against a relatively that runs through the tunnel against the Minutemen, he quarterback Blake Frohnapfel did lead the NCAA in passing small front seven. The Irish defense will have a field day might be on to something since the Irish can exhibit a ten- last season, and the Irish pass defense has looked vulner- against an offense that is miles behind Georgia Tech’s triple dency to play to the level of their opponents — in this case, able at times already this season. option. barely out of the FCS. With Clemson on Notre Dame’s schedule next week, this But all that being said, Notre Dame has a unique ability But that shouldn’t be the case. The Irish might be looking has all the makings of a trap game for the Irish. And it would to make things more exciting than they should be. See: the forward to next week’s matchup against Clemson, but if C.J. have been if last week’s final minute hadn’t happened. final minute against Georgia Tech. So theM inutemen may Prosise and the defensive line have half the performance Notre Dame clears the taste of the Georgia Tech finish out hang around just enough to make Irish fans uneasy. they did last week, they’ll be fine, and so will Notre Dame. of its mouth, however, and runs away with it.

FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 34, Massachusetts 10 FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 37, Massachusetts 10 FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 45, Massachusetts 20 Insider ndsmcobserver.com | FRIDAY, september 25, 2015 | The Observer 7

TO HEA3:30 p.mD. on nbc N o. 6 NOtre Dame EMMET FARNAN | The Observer EMMET FARNAN | The Observer ISRI H PASSING last week against Georgia Tech, and he will DeShone Kizer wasn’t perfect last week likely only make some small adjustments 6 KeiVarae Russell (Sr.) against Georgia Tech, but he was perfectly this week WR RCB 12 Devin Butler (Jr.) adequate. One touchdown and intercep- It is unlikely Kizer will take on more in his tion each, 242 yards and 21 completions second career start. Kelly has said his funda- 9 Jaylon Smith ( Jr.) on 30 attempts will not win the Irish every mentals need improvement, even though he 4 Te’von Coney (Fr.) WLB game, but it will give them at least a chance was pleased with his performance overall. A to win them. With Kizer under center, Notre specific area of concern is Kizer’s cadence, TE 22 45 Romeo Okwara (Sr.) Elijah Shumate (Sr.) Dame’s playoff hopes are not dead quite yet. which Kelly said is slower than ’s DE 98 Andrew Trumbetti (So.) S 29 Nicky Baratti (Sr.) LT The Minutemen give up almost 400 yards and resulted in four false start penalties last 91 Sheldon Day (Sr.) per game through the air this year. While Saturday. 93 LG DT Jay Hayes (So.) 38 Joe Schmidt (Gr.) that has only resulted in two passing scores Kelly helped Kizer against the Yellow MLB 5 Nyles Morgan (So.) for their opponents, they allow 7.6 yards per Jackets by putting an increased load on C.J. 75 C Daniel Cage (So.) attempt. Kizer should have plenty of time in Prosise, who proved himself more than DT 99 Jerry Tillery (Fr.) 10 Max Redfield (Jr.) the pocket to find targets in a relatively small equal to the task. This week, however, the RG 41 M atthias Farley (Gr.) 90 Isaac Rochell ( Jr.) S Minuteman secondary. rushing load will likey be split between RT DE 55 Jonathan Bonner (So.) Meanwhile, Will Fuller is building a case Prosise, Adams and Williams to keep 17 James Onwualu ( Jr.) to be considered the best receiver in the Prosise fresh. SLB 48 Greer Martini (So.) country, with five touchdowns and 132.3 yards per game so far. He is also Notre O EDGE: N TRE DAME 36 Cole Luke ( Jr.) WR LCB 24 Nick Coleman (Fr.) Dame’s most dangerous big-play threat, with the seven longest passes of the year all IRISH SPECIAL TEAMS going to him. Freshman kicker Justin Yoon endured a 7 Will Fuller (Jr.) rough day against Georgia Tech, knocking WR 86 Equanimeous St. Brown (Fr.) EDGE: NOTRE DAME one extra point off the goalpost and flat out missing another. He did make his only field 13 Tyler Luatua (So.) IRISH RUSHING goal attempt of the game, a 29-yard chip TE 82 Nic Weishar (So.) C.J. Prosise broke record last Saturday shot, but he lacks consistency. 68 Mike McGlinchey ( Jr.) with his 91-yard touchdown, the longest run Sophomore punter Tyler Newsome aver- RT 75 M ark Harrell (Sr.) 20 in Notre Dame Stadium history. He scored aged around 40 yards per punt against the 79 C.J. Prosise (Sr.) DE Steve Elmer (Jr.) RB 33 Josh Adams (Fr.) twice more and ended with nearly 200 yards Yellow Jackets and got three touchbacks RG 62 Colin McGovern (Jr.) rushing all by himself. Prosise also has the on kickoffs, but the coverage unit allowed 72 Nick Martin (Gr.) 14 DeShone Kizer (So.) NT C 53 Sam Mustipher (So.) QB 12 Brandon Wimbush (Fr.) benefit of playing behind one of the most ex- 20-yard returns on those three returns. On 56 Quenton Nelson (So.) perinced offensive lines the Irish have had in punts, Georgia Tech had 34 yards on three DT LG 71 Alex Bars (So.) quite some time. returns, including a long of 18. 78 Ronnie Stanley (Sr.) Massachusetts allows nearly 230 yards C.J. Sanders continued to struggle on punt 70 Hunter Bivin (Jr.) LT rushing per game, which has turned into six returns, collecting seven yards on two re- rushing touchdowns allowed in two games. turns, and Amir Carlisle only had one kickoff 3 Amir Carlisle (Gr.) The only major area of concern for the return for 16 yards. WR 16 Torii Hunter Jr. (Jr.) Irish is how many carries Prosise will take 2 Chris Brown (Sr.) WR 88 Corey Robinson (Jr.) Saturday. Brian Kelly has said he wants the EDGE: MASSACHUSETTS senior to stay fresh for later opponents, and Notre Dame cannot afford another injury. IRISH SCHEDULE (3-0) Freshmen Josh Adams and Dexter Williams Sept. 5 Texas (W 38-3) back Prosise up but didn’t see the field all Sept. 12 @ Virginia (W 34-27) that much against Georgia Tech. That will Sept. 19 Georgia Tech (W 30-22) change as they develop further, Kelly said, Sept. 26 Massachusetts 14 DeShone Kizer (So.) 19 Justin Yoon (Fr.) H 4 Montgomery VanGorder (So.) PK 43 John Chereson (Jr.) starting as soon as Saturday. Oct. 3 @ Clemson Oct. 10 Navy 3 Amir Carlisle (Gr.) 85 Tyler Newsome (So.) KR 9 C.J. Sanders (Fr.) P 42 Jeff Riney (Fr.) EDGE: NOTRE DAME Oct. 17 USC 61 Scott Daly (Sr.) 9 C.J. Sanders (Fr.) Oct. 31 @ Temple LS 99 Hunter Smith (Sr.) PR 7 Will Fuller (Jr.) IRISH OFFENSIVE COACHING Nov. 7 @ Pittsburgh For some reason, Kelly seems to thrive Nov. 14 Wake Forest when working with a rookie quarterback. Nov. 21 vs. Boston College He tailored the offense to suit Kizer’s skillset Nov. 28 @ Stanford

Alex Carson Brian Plamondon Associate Sports Editor Sports Writer For in-game If there’s concern for Notre Dame this week, it’s As the injuries mount for the Irish, they might soon that Massachusetts’s biggest strength, throwing the take a toll on this resilient team. It won’t be this week- updates and stats football, correlates with Notre Dame’s biggest weak- end against Massachusetts, however. Notre Dame ness so far, its secondary. If Minutemen quarterback opened as 28.5-point favorites, and it should win by at from the press box Blake Frohnapfel can connect with Tajae Sharpe for least that much against an 0-2 Minutemen team. big gains, they could put up enough points to keep Don’t get me wrong, Mark Whipple’s squad showed Saturday, follow us the game a little more interesting than Irish eyes may some fight last week in hanging with a very good Temple want it to be. team. Still, they are overmatched in every facet against on Twitter at But even if Frohnapfel plays well, the Irish should a talented and well-coached Notre Dame team. dominate the other facets of this game. Success will I almost think Georgia Tech scoring two late touch- @ObserverSports be determined by whether or not freshman quarter- downs last week was good for the Irish, who will sharp- back Brandon Wimbush is able to see the field, and en their focus so as to avoid a letdown against an inferior at the end of the day, he will in a comfortable Irish opponent. Look for freshman backup quarterback triumph. Brandon Wimbush to undoubtedly see time this week.

FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 37, Massachusetts 20 FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 49, Massachusetts 10 8 Tshe ob erver | Friday, September 25, 2015 | ndsmcobserver.com Insider Irish special teams facing early struggles

By GREG HADLEY will break out. E ditor-in-Chief “Yeah definitely,” Carlisle said when asked if he thought Through three games, he could return a kick for a Notre Dame’s special teams touchdown. “That’s my goal: unit has put itself in the to take one back. I have con- spotlight enough to last all fidence that I will be able to of 2015. do that this year. I have con- It started with an unsteady fidence in the guys blocking hold and near-fumble on for me and in [special teams a punt against Texas, then coordinator Scott] Booker’s continued with a fake field scheme.” goal and a missed chip shot As a returner, Carlisle at Virginia, and most recent- has also helped to men- ly manifested itself with an tor freshman punt return- errant extra point and all of er C.J. Sanders. Thus far, seven return yards on seven Sanders has only collected punts against Georgia Tech. 54 yards on nine returns, The No. 6 Irish have a wide but Carlisle said he believes range of experience on spe- Sanders is also primed for a cial teams, with freshmen breakthrough. at kicker and punt returner “It only takes one,” Carlisle and seniors at kick return- said. “It only takes one to EMMET FARNAN | The Observer er, long snapper and kickoff Irish freshman kicker Justin Yoon winds up for a field goal attempt during Notre Dame’s 30-22 win over coverage. see STRUGGLES PAGE 9 Georgia Tech. Yoon is 4 for 6 on field goals this year but missed an extra point Saturday. So far, those players have come together put up mid- P vaID Ad ertisement dling numbers. The Irish are 120th in the FBS in kickoff returns and 84th in punt returns. When defending, they rank 82nd in punt coverage and 30th on kickoffs. Freshman kicker Justin Yoon is four for six on field goals, 63rd in the coun- try, and behind 80 other kickers who have yet to miss an extra point. But as the first month of a season comes to a close, head coach Brian Kelly is still hopeful for what lies ahead. “No, I’m not concerned,” Kelly said when asked about Yoon. “He’s still working through some fundamen- tals. Justin is such a consci- entious kid. He’ll clean up a couple of the mistakes he made and make the adjust- ments necessary. Not con- cerned in the least bit.” OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Kelly’s confidence extends to his kickoff return team, too. JUST EAST OF THE “We were able to make the adjustment that I wanted Within the Overlook at Notre Dame Apartment Community on kickoff return [against Georgia Tech],” he said. “So yeah, I’ll be anxious to see where we go this week with VISIT US THIS WEEKEND! Open to the public. IVY RD HOURS it.” The new Café at the Overlook at Notre Dame is MON – SAT: 8 am – 10 pm

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CAITLYN JORDAN | The Observer Irish freshman receiver C.J. Sanders sprints upfield after fielding a punt during Notre Dame’s 34-27 victory over the Cavaliers on Sept. 12.

full faith of the team. S truggles “It’s not too much, ‘You Cotinun ed from page 8 gotta do this, you gotta do this,’” Carlisle said. “But’s take it back. Sometimes it’s it just ‘Good job. You’re do- not going to be there. … But ing a great job.’ We’re all all it takes is one hole to really supportive of the break through and change specialists.” the game and the momen- Carlisle is not the only se- tum. As a punt returner, we nior leader on special teams. really believe in C.J. Sanders. Graduate student Matthias We believe he can get the job Farley doesn’t see the field done. often on the defensive side, “C.J.’s a great athlete. I tell where he is a cornerback, him just to be instinctual but he plays frequently on and to trust your God-given kickoff coverage and return. gifts and let that manifest it- In that role, he has become self on the field.” a team captain and a men- Carlisle also expressed tor to younger players who confidence in Yoon and receive limited playing time sophomore Tyler Newsome, with his positive attitude, who handles punts and according to Kelly. kickoffs for the Irish. Even “I don’t try to make a role though the two have expe- for myself,” Farley said. “I rienced some rough patches just try to control what I can early on in the season — in control, which is my atti- P vaID Ad ertisement addition to his missed extra tude and my effort and those point, Yoon ricocheted an- things I can change, wheth- other off the goalpost against er I’m [playing] a hundred Georgia Tech, and Newsome snaps a game or none.”/end ranks 90th in the country in touchback percentage — Contact Greg Hadley at Tom DeLuca Carlisle said both have the [email protected] HYPNOTIST

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CAITLYN JORDAN | The Observer Irish graduate student receiver Amir Carlisle carries the ball during Notre Dame’s 38-7 win over Texas at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 5. 10 Tshe ob erver | FRiday, September 25, 2015 | ndsmcobserver.com Insider E xplosive duo highlights Minutemen offense

By MARY GREEN watch list. He joined his quarter- Assistant Managing Editor back on the all-MAC first team last season after pulling in seven Sandwiched between games touchdowns and accumulating against then-No. 14 Georgia Tech 1,295 all-purpose yards. Sharpe and current No. 11 Clemson, no has racked up 294 receiving yards one would blame Brian Kelly for so far this season, though oppos- taking a week off for this week’s ing teams have kept him from game against MAC member finding success in the end zone Massachusetts to focus on a with no scores. showdown with the Tigers next Kelly said the Irish defense had weekend. to make a drastic switch in prac- But that’s exactly what the Irish tice this week between preparing head coach isn’t going to do. for Georgia Tech’s triple-option “These are the games that offense to one that prefers to air it concern me the most, where ev- out much more often. erybody else thinks that they are “It will be a big transition for us going to be easy games,” Kelly defensively,” he said. “You know, said Tuesday. “This is going to be Frohnapfel, Tajae Sharpe, two a difficult game. … I know what very dangerous players. Blake is a we need to do. We’ve got to play very good quarterback, throws it well against them. So it’s not a well, has got escapability. Stands breather for me, and I don’t count in the pocket. Knows what he’s anything. doing. And I think Tajae Sharpe, “It would be nice that all those one of the better receivers we’ll things happen, but I don’t go into see all year.” the game thinking that way. I go Minutemen head coach Mark into the game that we have got to Whipple said his offense — which be prepared for everything.” converted just three of its 17 third- Photo courtesy of Robert Rigo and the Massachusetts Daily Collegian While the Notre Dame defense down opportunities last week Massachusetts graduate student quarterback Blake Frohnapfel scans the field during the Minutemen’s 25- put up its best effort of the sea- against Temple — will be focused 23 loss to Temple on Saturday. Frohnapfel has thrown for 618 yards and two scores this season. son in thwarting Georgia Tech’s on the essentials this week to try triple-option offense last week, to find a way to crack the strong on and that’s kind of what we on the road against Penn State at Whipple said. “It’s a huge game, it will have to deal with the best Irish defense. are spending a lot of time on this the expansive Beaver Stadium, and I think we’ll be excited, but I quarterback it has faced so far “We’re trying to find ways to week being ready for that and for which holds more than 107,000 thought we’d be excited for Penn this season in UMass graduate make first downs, and certainly everything they do.” fans at full capacity. State last year, and we weren’t, so student Blake Frohnapfel. this week will probably be I would While Massachusetts typically However, Whipple said he we’ve got to get our guys moti- Last season for the Minutemen think a lot more difficult than last faces smaller MAC programs won’t use the tradition and setting vated and kind of get the Temple (0-2), Frohnapfel, a graduate- week,” Whipple said. in its conference games, the against the nation’s No. 6 team to game out, and it certainly would student transfer from Marshall, Whipple heads the offensive Minutemen are no strangers to motivate his squad this weekend. be a big win for us.” passed for 3,345 yards in only attack, arriving at Massachusetts settings as large as the one they “They don’t give trophies, na- 10 games, averaging nearly 350 after stints with Miami (Fla.), will face Saturday at Notre Dame tional championships. We’re not Contact Mary Green at yards per game, alongside 23 and Stadium. Last year, they lost 48-7 getting any rings for the game,” [email protected] touchdowns to bring his passing , where he efficiency to 132.2. He was named served as the team’s P vaID Ad ertisement the 2014 all-MAC first-team quar- coach and won a with terback, a title he is on track to in 2006. claim for a second straight year in “They have got a good quarter- 2015. back, very solid offensive line and Frohnapfel has thrown for some receivers that can create 618 yards and two touchdowns some problems,” graduate stu- through Massachusetts’ first two dent linebacker Joe Schmidt said. games, losses to Colorado and “And really, they have a coordi- Temple. nator that was in the NFL, and Lining up as Frohnapfel’s main he knows how to challenge a de- target downfield is senior receiver fense with concepts. So there are Taje Sharpe, who was named to things that we need to make sure the preseason Biletnikoff Award that we’re aware of and working

Photo courtesy of Robert Rigo and the Massachusetts Daily Collegian Massachusetts head coach Mark Whipple meets with the media following his team’s 25-23 loss to Temple on Saturday. Insider ndsmcobserver.com | FRIDAY, september 25, 2015 | The Observer 11

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