Notre Dame Football: Counting Down Notre Dame’s Starters: #2 Cody Riggs

This year, Notre Dame’s Football team will be one of the youngest that Brian Kelly has ever had at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are making slight adjustments on Offense and Defense. The Defense will likely operate with three Cornerbacks most of the time. Here are Notre Dame’s players ranked 1-22, continuing with #2

Cody Riggs – Senior – Defensive Back

Normally when 5th year seniors decide to transfer it is because they have had to share time their whole career and are looking for a fresh start. What is not normal is for those players to decide to transfer to such a demanding school such as Notre Dame. Luckily for the Irish, senior Cody Riggs has a connection with Notre Dame dating back to when he was being recruited. With the looming suspension of KeiVarae Russell for the Irish back seven Cody will be asked to slide into the number one corner position.

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At Florida, Cody was a major contributor for the defense splitting his time between corner and safety. For Notre Dame he will be asked to spend all of his time at corner and bring a SEC style of play to the position. His years playing in the SEC against the best talent in college football right now cannot be over looked. Riggs was forced to line up one on one with top tier receivers such as Amari Cooper, Odell Beckham Jr, and many others. He will fit in to VanGorders’ 4-3 defense perfectly because of his versatility and ability to be physical with receivers on the line of scrimmage. He only recorded one interception during his time with the Gators, so if he can improve one making turnovers he will have a great year with the Irish.

Perhaps the biggest impact Cody Riggs will have on the defense this year will be his leadership and experience. Playing behind Riggs this season will be sophomores Cole Luke and Devin Butler. Proving that he had the ability to play corner on the college level, Cole Luke should fill the position opposite from Riggs. Also Cody can help with Max Redfield and his development by teaching him how to bring his game full circle.  He will put numbers in the stat sheet for Notre Dame this year, but his overall impact will not be found in the box score.