Position By Position Review: Notre Dame vs USC
By Matt Clark
The Irish of Notre Dame, looking to keep their college football playoff hopes alive, host the Trojans of USC on Saturday night in what will be another highly anticipated matchup between perennial rivals.
Here is a position by position breakdown to provide you with everything you need to know ahead of the matchup between Notre Dame and USC.
Quarterback
Notre Dame Irish-Ian Book 6’1″, 200 pound, senior, 3 star recruit out of Oak Ridge, CA.
91 for 139 in passing attempts for 1,254 yards, 13 passing touchdowns and two interceptions, with 32 rushing attempts for 139 yards and two rushing touchdowns
USC Trojans-Kedon Slovis 6′ 2″, 200 pound, freshman, 3 star recruit out of Scottsdale, AZ.
60 for 77 in passing attempts for 732 yards, five passing touchdowns and four interceptions
Advantage-Notre Dame
Ian Book has seemingly regressed a bit from the stellar year that he had last year, lacking the confidence in the pocket and accuracy that were trademarks of his game. Regardless, Book gets the advantage over USC freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis. Slovis, who took over the starting quarterback position at USC following a season ending knee injury to JT Daniels, missed last week’s game against Washington due to a concussion. Book’s experience and ability gives the Irish a clear advantage at the quarterback position.
Running Back
Notre Dame Irish-Tony Jones Jr. 5’11”, 225 pound, senior, 4 star recruit out of Bradenton, FL.
55 rushing attempts for 381 yards and four rushing touchdowns
USC Trojans-Vavea Malepeai 6’0″, 220 pound, junior, 4 star recruit out of Aiea, HI.
70 rushing attempts for 360 yards and four rushing touchdowns
Advantage-Notre Dame
While the statistics of Tony Jones Jr. are only slightly better than those of Vavea Malepeai, the real advantage comes from the expected return of change of pace back Jafar Armstrong, who has been absent from the Irish since tearing an abdominal muscle in the first offensive series of the season for Notre Dame. Armstrong provides Ian Book and the Irish with big play ability from a speed back that has been sorely missing all season.