Notre Dame Football On The Preseason Watch Lists

Notre Dame Football

A couple of months ago, the Irish were on the brink of not having a single Notre Dame player get drafted in the 2015 NFL Draft. Fortunately, Ben Koyack was drafted in the 7th round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The last time Notre Dame had zero players get drafted was 1977 when Al Hunter failed to get drafted in the NFL Draft, but was eventually taken in the supplemental draft.

Some of us may have been disappointed with the lack of Notre Dame payers called, but others were ecstatic about what that really meant for Irish fans. Notre Dame is going to be returning the bulk of the talent on their roster this season, and that fact is evident with the number of players selected to the preseason watch lists.

Maxwell Award – Malik Zaire

The Maxwell Award is given out to the best player in the country, according to NCAA head coaches, media members and the Maxwell Football club. For Zaire, it adds an incredible amount of pressure to performing well this season, and that’s not saying that he didn’t already have a ton of pressure as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback.

Last season, Zaire completed 21 of 35 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown along with rushing for 187 yards and adding two scores on the ground. Those aren’t numbers that would usually convince voters to put a player on the preseason watch list, but many believe that Zaire is surrounded by talent that could allow him to have a break out season.

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Chuck Bednarik Award – Kei’Varae Russell, Sheldon Day, Jaylon Smith

The Chuck Bednarik award is given out annually to the best defensive player in the country, according to the Maxwell Football Club. Like Zaire, voters are showing a great deal of respect to Russell given the fact that he didn’t play a single snap last season. He was expected to be on this list last season before his suspension, so the voters have decided to put him on the list this year hoping that he can still perform at the level he was at in 2013. During his sophomore campaign, Russell collected 51 tackles, an interception and eight pass deflections.

Day didn’t finish last season the way he would have liked. He sustained several minor injuries throughout the second half of the season that hindered him from playing to his full potential. After choosing to return for his final season of eligibility, Day is prepared to have a breakout season playing with arguably the best front seven he’s been with in his career.

Smith is an athletic freak of nature. Plain and simple. Last season he tallied 112 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. His performance led to being selected as a second-team All American by Phil Steele. Smith is arguably the team’s best player on defense. His quickness, strength and vision as a linebacker is invaluable to the team. He’s looking to get better and help lead the defense to its best season yet under Smith’s leadership.

Rimington Trophy – Nick Martin

The Rimington award is presented to the nation’s best center. Nick Martin, along with Ronnie Stanley, will be the anchor of Notre Dame’s deepest offensive line corp this season. Last season, Martin started the season at center for the first three games of the season (Rice, Michigan and Purdue). He was then moved over to left guard as Matt Hegarty, now an Oregon Duck, was brought off the bench to start at center. Expected to make the move back to center pending true freshman Tristian Hodge makes some incredible impression on Brian Kelly, Martin will be on the watch to be the best center in the country this season.

Bronco Nagurski Trophy – Kei’Varae Russell, Sheldon Day, Jaylon Smith, Joe Schmidt

Joining Russell, Day and Smith on the watch list for best defensive player in the country, according to the Football Writers Association of America, is linebacker Joe Schmidt. Last season, Schmidt’s campaign was cut short due to a broken and dislocated ankle suffered against Navy. Before the injury, Schmidt led the team in tackles (65) and solo tackles (42). Schmidt undoubtedly led the defense last season. Despite his small stature, his ability to track the running back on any given run play was second-to-none. His injury gave rising true sophomore Nyles Morgan invaluable experience that will only help the Irish this season as both Schmidt and Morgan will be the most experienced inside linebackers on the team.

Outland Trophy – Ronnie Stanley, Sheldon Day, Nick Martin

The Outland award is handed to the best interior defensive or offensive lineman in the country. Along with Day and Martin, Stanley is one of the best lineman, if not the best, lineman on the team. Day can control the defensive line with ease, but Stanley is the centerpiece of the offensive line. Manning the left tackle position, Stanley was named the team’s offensive lineman of the year after allowing just one sack all of last season.

Stanley was expected to be a potential top ten pick in the NFL Draft, but he decided to return to South Bend in hopes of making a legitimate run at the College Football National Championship. If his play is anywhere close to last year’s performance, Stanley could be projected to be picked anywhere in the top ten in next year’s NFL Draft.

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