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All Irish Hands On Deck At Corner

Freshman KeiVarae Russell (pictured) is getting prepared to see action with all the other Irish cornerbacks. Who were the best ever Irish freshman corners?

Lou Somogyi

    • No Bobby Taylor in '92?

      coachcft

    • Interesting article. Thanks, Lou.

      Pangborn86

    • Coachcft,

      It's mentioned in the article that Bobby Taylor played free safety in 1992. He moved to cornerback the following year when Tom Carter (who also began at free safety as a freshman) went pro after his junior year and was drafted in the first round.

      Lou Somogyi

    • It would certainly be preferable for Russell to apprentice more off the field than on, though one hopes he might be that rare precocious talent who can step right in. But, it is corner, and that's asking a lot. At the very least, it's comforting to know the Irish have someone like him available for the next four years.

      HamOnWry22 ●

    • Barkley, Landry Jones, D Robinson......and new cornerbacks. How do I say this - not good.

      jimlafrance

    • I'm scared!

      bill2018

    • Darrin Walls started 2 games at CB his FROSH year according to UND.com. I was pretty sure he started. According to the link he started 2 games and played in 8, I am pretty sure that one of the games he started was against Ga Tech playing against Calvin Johnson. Idk which other game he started.

      Also, to pick on Lou some more biggrin

      "1984 was Ivory Covington, who started one, the 1995 Fiesta Bowl in which the Irish lost 41-24 to Colorado.

      How did Ivory Covington come in to ND in 1984 and start in 1995?, that's quite a long ND career biggrin

      UND.COM - University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site - Football

      The University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site, partner of CBS College Sports Networks, Inc. The most comprehensive coverage of Notre Dame Fighting Irish athletics on the web.

      www.und.com

      parrott84

    • SINCE 1984 was Ivory Covington , STARTED the 1995 bowl game

      TX Irish

    • Parrott84,

      Darrin Walls played in the opener against Georgia Tech versus Calvin Johnson, but he never started at corner that season. Mike Richardson started all 13 games at one slot, and other saw Ambrose Wooden start the first three and Terrall Lambert the last 10 during the 10-3 season.

      Walls did play at nickel, which is technically not a corner slot, although we might be splitting hairs. That can be a safety (Jamoris Slaughter) too, and it's not full time. The bio for Walls in und.com did not list him as a starter at nickel, even though they usually say that.

      The thing with Walls is after he played the wrong technique in the fifth game (versus Purdue) on an 88-yard touchdown, he barely played in the final 7 games, totaling only 6 minutes and 48 seconds of action.Thus, I couldn't put him in the top 5 group.

      And thanks for the assist TX Irish.

      Lou Somogyi

    • Lou,

      The page I linked to just had him listed as a starter for MSU and Purdue. Apparently he didn't start against Ga Tech until the second half or something like that. I just remembered him being lined up against C. Johnson.

      parrott84

    • If, and I mean IF, teams get ahead of ND, and if they try to sit on the lead by running the ball, they will play into our D's strength, we will catch up and win.
      If ND is way ahead, like by more than 2 TD's, the game is not in the bag, because they will be passing almost every down to catch up, playing into our D's weakness. So we can never let up on the gas.
      We may see some high scoring games this year. And some heart-attack specials.

      dave83nd

    • Parrott84,

      If memory serves me correctly, he was lined up against Calvin Johnson even in the first quarter, although he didn't start.

      He was a nickel starter versus MSU and Purdue, but not at corner, where you had Mike Richardson and Terrail Lambert. It's technically different. Again, I might be splitting hairs there, but I was going on more of the two classic corner spots as I did with the others.

      Lou Somogyi

    • Although we may be weaker at corner, I feel we are better overall on the rest of the defense, therefore with more pressure from the rest of the defense it will greatly help out the corners .I know there will be times the corners will be on that island ,but I have a feeling they will have some help close by. Corner can be the toughest spot on defense but the rest of the defense can make them look great at times or really bad. Where is Shane Walton when you need him.

      TX Irish

    • After losing Darby in the recruiting battle I stated I expected KeiVarae Russell to be shifted to CB. I'm not surprised he has impressed. He is very athletic and physical. I expect him to compete at a high level all year long. Atkinson and Brown have spent a year and a half in the program so they should be ready also. The days of Freshman not being ready to compete are over.

      Same goes for QB1. It may be Golson's first start but the last two BCS Championship games have had first year starters at QB in the game for Alabama and Oregon. Not that I think the Irish are Championship caliber, but I think we put too much emphasis on starting first year starters. These guys are going to be ready.

      adernbach

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      LIShamrock

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      Hodges

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