NOTRE DAME DISCIPLINE: Kelly has said he intends to make four of the five players arrested by state police on marijuana possession during training camp available to play. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30.
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FILE – In this December 5, 2015, file photo, Texas quarterback Tyrone Swoopes (18) eludes Baylor defensive tackle Andrew Billings (75) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Waco, Texas. Texas might keep it close at halftime, but Notre Dame will win by 3 scores and it won’t be surprising.
They have struggled the last two seasons getting to opposing quarterbacks, even with defensive coordinator Brian Vangorder’s exotic blitz schemes.
Notre Dame doesn’t have another serious Texas target this cycle outside five-star linebacker Baron Browning of Kennedale, located between Dallas and Fort Worth. However, a loss – let alone another blowout – would put Strong and the Longhorns in an early hole.
The Fighting Irish also will be debuting a new receiving corps and rebuilt offensive line. At 5Dimes, bet the Texas Longhorns +3.5 over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Texas coach Strong is keeping his big secret until game day. These are Charlie Strong’s recruiting classes.
It’s unclear who Strong will go with at quarterback – he said fans will know when Texas takes the field Sunday. At the quarterback position, Freshman Shane Buechele will take over to enhance the anemic offense of the Longhorns previous year. Texas will lean on D’Onta Foreman and Chris Warren to grind out the rushing yards behind an offensive line that loses one player so hopefully the ground game takes pressure off of the passing attack. He won’t wear it Sunday night when he walks into Darrell K Royal Stadium in Austin as a Notre Dame commitment. The Fighting Irish lost to Clemson, Stanford and Ohio State. And he has the playmakers to turn the offense around. Texas also can line up speedsters in the slot, such as redshirt sophomore Jerrod Heard and senior Jacorey Warrick.
“We’ll just call it and they’ll ball it”, Gilbert said.
In fact, he’ll see a bunch of them Sunday night.
All of that percolated last fall while Crawford’s recuperating knee kept him from showing it on the field. But the team has some proven options at the position. Quarterback Malik Zaire was almost flawless against Texas previous year, solidifying himself as an early Heisman Trophy candidate by completing 19-of-22 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns. However, he injured his ankle in Week 2, opening the door for junior DeShone Kizer to nab the starting job.
“He’s not afraid”, said senior Torii Hunter Jr., the successor to All-American Will Fuller as ND’s most hard receiver matchup.
Kelly said last season he felt a two-quarterback system was not a path to failure, whereas much coaches follow the football mantra that if you “have two quarterbacks, you have none”. Last year, playing mostly in the slot, he had two touchdowns and 363 yards on 28 catches.
Adams’ ascent was only possible after Tarean Folston went down just three carries into 2015. A year later, the youth in this Longhorn squad is more experienced and still plenty talented, but is still trying to find its way at the quarterback position.
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But clearly Swoopes has done enough behind closed-door practices to make a case to be the senior starter. After registering 61 tackles, Malik Jefferson is back to lead the defense for Texas.
