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Position By Position Review: Notre Dame vs USC

By Matt Clark

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 14: Javon McKinley #88 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the New Mexico Lobos at Notre Dame Stadium on September 14, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 14: Javon McKinley #88 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the New Mexico Lobos at Notre Dame Stadium on September 14, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – OCTOBER 05: Chase Claypool #83 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the first half against the Bowling Green Falcons at Notre Dame Stadium on October 05, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Wide Receiver

Notre Dame Irish-Chase Claypool 6’5″, 230 pound, senior, 4 star recruit out of Abbotsford, BC.

24 receptions for 347 yards and four receiving touchdowns

Notre Dame Irish-Chris Finke 5’9″, 185 pound, graduate student, former walk-on from Dayton, OH.

Ten receptions for 137 yards and one receiving touchdown

Notre Dame Irish-Michael Young 5’10”, 190 pound, junior, 3 star recruit out of St. Rose, LA.

Four receptions for 17 yards and zero receiving touchdowns

Notre Dame Irish-Javon McKinley 6’2″, 220 pound, senior, 4 star recruit out of Corona, CA.

Eight receptions for 200 yards and three receiving touchdowns

USC Trojans-Tyler Vaughns 6’2″, 190 pound, junior, 4 star recruit out of Pasadena, CA.

31 receptions for 414 yards and four receiving touchdowns

USC Trojans-Amon-Ra St. Brown 6’1″, 195 pound, sophomore, 5 star recruit out of Anaheim Hills, CA.

24 receptions for 238 yards and three receiving touchdowns

USC Trojans-Michael Pittman Jr. 6’4″, 220 pound, senior, 4 star recruit out of Woodland Hills, CA.

35 receptions for 501 yards and four receiving touchdowns.

USC Trojans-Velus Jones Jr. 6’0″, 190 pound, junior, 3 star recruit out of Saraland, AL.

zero receptions on the season

Advantage-USC

The Trojans boast an electrifying group of wide receivers, with senior Michael Pittman Jr. leading the way. Amon-Ra St. Brown, younger brother of former Irish wide receiver and current Green Bay Packer Equanimeous St. Brown, provides USC with an elite target at the wide receiver position. Both Pittman and St. Brown were named to the Biletnikoff Award preseason watchlist, awarded to the top wide receiver in the nation. Vaughns also drew consideration, but did not make the final watchlist.  While the Irish boast solid talent at wide receiver as well, they don’t have the level of athletes that USC has, as the Trojans, outside of Alabama, have arguably the best wide receiver group in the nation.

Tight End

Notre Dame Irish-Cole Kmet 6’5″, 230 pound, junior, 4 star recruit out of Arlington Heights, IL

15 receptions for 204 yards and two receiving touchdowns

USC Trojans-Erik Krommenhoek 6’5″, 260 pound, junior, 3 star recruit out of Danville, CA

Four receptions for 75 yards and zero receiving touchdowns

Advantage Notre Dame

Cole Kmet is arguably the best tight end in the entire nation. He has completely changed the dynamic of the Irish offense since returning to the lineup after missing three games with a collarbone injury. Kmet is Ian Book’s favorite target and should continue his success against the Trojans.

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