According to a report from Irish Illustrated earlier on Tuesday, Notre Dame senior to be Sheldon Day will be returning to Notre Dame after receiving a “stay in school” grade from the NFL Advisory Committee. Day had previously stated that he would not make a decision until after the Music City Bowl which Notre Dame won earlier in the day on a last second field goal by Kyle Brindza.
Getting Day, a captain for the 2014 Irish, back in 2015 would be a huge boost for a defense that likely will now return 10 of 11 starters while possibly being bolstered by the potential returns of Ishaq Williams and Keivarae Russell who were suspended for the 2014 season.
The Notre Dame defense was ravaged by injuries in 2014 with just three players starting all 13 games for the Fighting Irish. Day battled his own injuries for the second year in a row. A MCL injury suffered in the crushing loss to Northwestern cost Day the Louisville and USC games before returning to the lineup against LSU and registering a key fumble recovery.
With Day back, Notre Dame will return it’s entire starting defensive line along with the depth that was built by necessity when a number of underclassmen such as Daniel Cage, Grant Blankenship, and Jay Hayes – were thrust into action. Add in players like Jonathan Bonner and Jhonny Williams who were able to retain their redshirts this year and the defensive line could be a strength in 2015.
Assuming Day does indeed return, the only potential senior whose status remains in limbo is Ronnie Stanley. Some mock drafts have pegged Stanley as a potential first round pick while others have him as a mid round pick which ought to make for a tough decision for Notre Dame’s starting left tackle. If Stanley does end up returning like Day, the Irish will return all five players who started on the offensive line that paved the way for 263 yards on the ground against the SEC’s top rated defense on Tuesday.
Beast period.!!!!
I haven’t seen anyone ask why ND didn’t use the 2 QB approach earlier in the season. It might have helped in November.
Neal ’58
Neal Sweeney class of ’58??? How’ve you been??
Watching Jarron Jones hobble around yesterday after the game was a poignant reminder that this DL is close. Isaac Rochell is a warrior but he is a wrecking crew as a DE, and belongs there rather than DT. Cage, Hayes, Matuska, bonner and Mokwuah will provide outstanding depth.
The 2015 defense will be very intriguing. And the scrip will flip from this year. Other than Shaun Crawford and a safety, it’s hard to see any frosh getting playng time on defense.
All I have to say is YES!