Notre Dame Football: 3 Bold Predictions vs. Navy
By Chase Eyrich
Tranquill’s biggest game of the season
Drue Tranquill has been exactly what Notre Dame needs him to be in the first half of the season. From a solid defender to a leader, the Irish have appreciated his decision to return for one more season.
While second on the team in total tackles behind only Te’von Coney, Tranquill has been extremely consistent. You can point to the Stanford game and say he had a poor day with two tackles, but you would overlook his two pass deflections in that game.
One way or another, he gets the job done.
The one mark he hasn’t hit this season is double-digit tackles. Twice this season he’s reached nine. One of those was on a nine solo tackle performance. The Indiana native leads the team with 38 solo tackles.
This is the last half season of Tranquill’s career at Notre Dame. That’s why he was predicted as the MVP from here on out. He has all the motivation he needs to step his game up, and he has been set up well for that level of performance.
Tranquill has been extremely freed up thanks to how well Jerry Tillery has been playing. Tillery will give the title “defensive MVP” a run for it’s money when this season is all said and done.
He has 23 total pressures this season. Between him, Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem, all who have over 20 pressures, it becomes a new game for Tranquill.
These three will be able to have their hands full due to the triple option. It’s not that they aren’t up for the challenge, but they could be worn down as the game goes along.
Either way, they will be able to pave the way for Tranquill, or he will be able to back them up in a draining game.