08-15-2014, 02:26 PM
[font=georgia]The Irish already had taken big graduation hits, including seven NFL draft picks.
They lost their two terrific DLs, Louis Nix (3rd round) and Stephan Tuitt (2nd), plus starting OLB Prince Shembo (4th) and ILB Dan Fox and their two best CBs other than Russell in Bennett Jackson (6th) and Lo Wood.Â
On offense, they lost QBs Tommy Rees and Andrew Hendrix, RB George Atkinson, top WR T.J. Jones, ace TE Troy Niklas (2nd), starting OLs Zach Martin (1st), Chris Watt (3rd) and Christian Lombard.
This leaves them without the three leading receivers last yearJones, Niklas, and Daniels--and with only seven or eight returning offensive starters. Entering this fall, only one FBS team, Utah State, had fewer than eight returning starters.
A win at South Bend seems more likely now.
They lost their two terrific DLs, Louis Nix (3rd round) and Stephan Tuitt (2nd), plus starting OLB Prince Shembo (4th) and ILB Dan Fox and their two best CBs other than Russell in Bennett Jackson (6th) and Lo Wood.Â
On offense, they lost QBs Tommy Rees and Andrew Hendrix, RB George Atkinson, top WR T.J. Jones, ace TE Troy Niklas (2nd), starting OLs Zach Martin (1st), Chris Watt (3rd) and Christian Lombard.
This leaves them without the three leading receivers last yearJones, Niklas, and Daniels--and with only seven or eight returning offensive starters. Entering this fall, only one FBS team, Utah State, had fewer than eight returning starters.
A win at South Bend seems more likely now.