Evaluating the Fifth Year Candidates
By Andrew Hall
Dan Fox, Inside Linebacker
Nov. 3, 2012; South Bend, IN, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers tailback Ray Graham (1) runs the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Dan Fox (48) pursues in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 29-26 in triple overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Dan Fox made some critical plays this season as the Inside Linebacker who played beside the best Defensive player in the country in Manti Te’o. Fox was fourth on the team in tackles with 57. He has slowly progressed since he moved from Safety to Linebacker. Fox is one of the fastest, if not the fastest, Linebacker that Notre Dame has. This season was easy to see that he was becoming more instinctual as a player. If he returns next season, he may be the leading tackler on the team. Fox coming back is not a certainty. But, it is more assured than his fellow Inside Linebacker Carlo Calabrese. Calabrese has more career tackles than Fox. However, Fox can do it all for Notre Dame. Calabrese is better at stopping the run.