Spring Practice

Spring practice has begun. I love this picture because it has what I think could wind up going down as the best WR duo in ND history. That's saying a lot, but watching Michael Floyd and Golden Tate together for two more years has me pretty excited! We do bring in a top prospect at WR in Shaquelle Evans who picked us over USC, Michigan, and CO. With him or Kamara as a number 3, I'd say we're in good shape there. Bring back an experienced line and a highly touted freshman OL (Chris Watt) who picked us over Penn St., BC, Iowa, and Ohio St. Throw in Kyle Rudolph who broke an ND record for receptions as a freshman TE, and my only real concern is at RB. Will it be Allen? Hughes? Aldridge? Or will our highly touted freshman (Cierre Wood) be good enough to impact as a freshman? He picked us over FL, USC, Cal, and UCLA. Even is Jimmy isn't as good as advertised, he's going to look good surrounded by all this. I still say to all you doubters, compare his stats as a soph.(25 TD 17 INT) to Quinn's (9TD 15INT).

Now you say what about the D? Well, we return 8 guys that were either starters or played significant time in certain packages. Add to that ESPN's #2 overall player in LB Manti Te'o. Manti is a Hawaiian who picked us over USC. LB Zeke Motta is ranked around top 50 overall in the different services and picked us over FL, Florida St., BC, Clemson, WV, and Wisconsin.

We'll be taking a look at the potential QB battle, RB situation, 3rd receiver spot, and how the freshmen are looking over the next couple months!

2009 Season Preview

OFFENSE

QB-Jimmy Clausen-Jr.-2008 stats: 3172 yds. 25 TD 17 INT
(Brady Quinn’s Soph. year = 1831 yds. 9 TD 15 INT)
RB-Armando Allen-Jr.-2008 stats: 585 yds.3 TD
RB-Cierre Wood-Fr.-#3 H.S. RB in the nation, #76 Rivals, #122 ESPN overall-picked ND over FL, USC, Cal, UCLA
RB-James Aldridge-Sr.
RB-Robert Hughes-Jr.-2008 stats: 382 yds. 4 TD

WR-Michael Floyd-So.-2008 stats: 719 yds. 7 TD (in 10 games)-ND freshman record, #2 freshman receiver in the nation in 2008

WR-Golden Tate-Jr.-2008 stats: 1080 yds.10 TD
WR-Duval Kamara-Jr.
WR-Shaquelle Evans-FR.-6’1’’-#3 WR in the country, #40 ESPN overall-picked ND over USC, Michigan, Colorado

TE-Kyle Rudolph-So.-2008 stats: 340 yds.2 TD-ND freshman TE record 29 catches
LT-Matt Romine-Jr.-6’5’’-292
LG-Eric Olsen-Sr.-6’4’’-303-returning starter
C-Dan Wenger-6’4’’-302-returning starter
RG-Chris Stewart-Sr.-6’5’’-337-returning starter
RT-Sam Young-Sr.-6’8’’-330-returning starter
OL-Chris Watt-Fr.-6’3’’-280-#9 H.S. OL in the nation(#77 Rivals, #68 ESPN overall)-picked ND over Ohio St., Penn St., BC, Iowa
OL-Zach Martin-6’5’’-260-#109 ESPN overall-picked ND over Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky


DEFENSE
DE-Morrice Richardson-Sr.-returning starter
DE-Ethan Johnson-So.-returning starter
NT-Ian Williams-returning starter
DT-Tyler Stockton-Fr.-4 star recruit-#193 Rivals, #31 ESPN overall-picked ND over Penn St., Pitt, USC, Tenn, Cal
LB-Harrison Smith-Jr.-returning starter
LB-Manti Te’o-Fr.-5 star recruit (#2 overall-ESPN, #12-Rivals)-picked ND over USC, OR, Tenn, UCLA, Cal
LB-Zeke Motta-Fr.-4 star recruit(#54 overall-Rivals)-picked ND over FL, FSU, BC,Clemson, Wisconson, UCLA, WV
LB-Brian Smith-Jr.
LB-John Ryan-Sr.-returning starter
CB-Raeshon McNeil-Sr.-returning starter
CB-Robert Blanton-So.
S-Sergio Brown-So.






2009 schedule

Vs. Nevada (7-5 in 2008)-returning QB and RB-lose #1 WR
@ Michigan(3-9 in 2008)-ND won 35-17
Vs. Michigan St. –lose Javon Ringer and starting QB
@ Purdue-ND won 38-21 in 2008
Vs. Washington-ND won 33-7 in 2008
Vs. USC
Vs. Boston College-ND lost 17-0 in 2008-BC loses starting QB and #1 WR
Vs. Wash. St.(neutral site)- 2-11 in 2008
Vs. Navy-ND won 27-21 in 2008-lose top 2 RBs and both QBs
@ Pitt-ND lost 36-33 in 4 OTs in 2008-lost best player (McCoy)
Vs. Connecticut-7-5 in 2008-lose starting QB
@ Stanford-5-7 in 2008-ND won 28-21 in 2008

I know it’s hard for some of you to believe, but ND will be back. I’m saying the USC game and at Pitt will be our only losses. 10-2 will put us around #10-15. We should start out 5-0 and win our last 2. Always good to start and finish strong. Then notice I have 3 senior offensive linemen and three significant defensive players as seniors on that 10-2 team. We’ll bring back 8 starters on each side of the ball

Welcome To My New ND Football Website

Season preview soon to come...