Drue Tranquill
FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2018, file photo, Stanford wide receiver Trenton Irwin is stopped by Notre Dame safety Jalen Elliott (21) and linebacker Asmar Bilal during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame's second-year defensive coordinator Clark Lea has spent all spring, summer and preseason looking for replacements for graduated 2018 tackle leaders Te'von Coney and Drue Tranquill. In grad student Bilal and junior Drew White he may have found two of many. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
No. 9 Notre Dame has stacked deck of youthful linebackers

By John Fineran Aug. 27, 2019 02:42 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 29, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame wide receiver Jafar Armstrong (8) runs the ball against Clemson during the NCAA Cotton Bowl football game, in Arlington, Texas. Armstrong returns to the backfield for Notre Dame. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Irish hope to ride Book's arm to second straight CFP berth

By John Fineran Aug. 15, 2019 01:52 PM EDT

Kelly, Notre Dame ready to wash out taste of playoff loss

By John Fineran Aug. 02, 2019 04:52 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame's latest run at a national title under coach Brian Kelly ended with another rude awakening. "We got a taste of what...

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly watches play against Clemson during the NCAA Cotton Bowl football game in Arlington, Texas. Nine practices into spring football practice, Brian Kelly has an idea how his Notre Dame football depth chart is settling in at running back, wide receiver and cornerback. Linebacker is another matter. “Clark is working overtime,” Kelly said of defensive coordinator Clark Lea, who oversees the position that graduated its top two inside linebackers in Te’von Coney (123 tackles) and Drue Tranquill (86) (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Linebacking corps still a question for Kelly, Lea, Irish

By John Fineran Apr. 02, 2019 02:10 AM EDT

Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Kelly's Irish resume climb for first title since 1988

By John Fineran Mar. 01, 2019 05:02 PM EST

File-This Oct. 13, 2018, file photo shows Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill celebrating after making a tackle during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh. Notre Dame defensive captain Tranquill and leading receiver Miles Boykin weren’t even Fighting Irish fans the last time they had a 12-0 regular season. Maybe that was a good thing since those current players didn’t have to suffer through how that season ended. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Notre Dame getting 1st title shot since '12 loss to Alabama

By Stephen Hawkins Dec. 27, 2018 07:02 PM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2018, file photo, Clemson's Travis Etienne (9) runs past Pittsburgh's Dennis Briggs (20) during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C. Clemson plays Notre Dame on Dec. 29 in in college football playoff semifinal in Arlington, Texas. Etienne has 1,463 yards on 176 rushes (8.3 per carry) and 21 of Clemson’s 46 touchdowns on the ground. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Playoff: Notre Dame defense preparing for prolific Tigers

By John Fineran Dec. 22, 2018 03:03 AM EST

Clemson's Wilkins wins top scholar-athlete trophy

Dec. 04, 2018 10:20 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Clemson star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins won the William V. Campbell Trophy on Tuesday night, an award honoring college football's top scholar...

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly gestures to officials during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Southern California on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Los Angeles. Notre Dame won 24-17. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Notre Dame's faith in Kelly rewarded with 12-0 season

By Joe Reedy Nov. 25, 2018 04:27 PM EST

Southern California quarterback JT Daniels throws a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Notre Dame Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
No. 3 Notre Dame rolls to 12-0 season, beats rival USC 24-17

By Greg Beacham Nov. 24, 2018 11:37 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill plays against Florida State in the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind. Tranquill, who has suffered a broken left hand and high right ankle sprain during Notre Dame’s magical mystery 2018 tour, has remarkably missed just a few plays this season. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Tranquill leads No. 3 Notre Dame to cusp of playoff berth

By John Fineran Nov. 21, 2018 03:29 PM EST

Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush (7) runs the ball against Florida State in the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Backup QB Wimbush, defense help No. 3 Irish dominate FSU

By John Fineran Nov. 10, 2018 11:10 PM EST

Pittsburgh's Qadree Ollison (30) runs out of tackle by Notre Dame's Asmar Bilal for a touchdown run during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame 10/13/2018

Oct. 13, 2018 03:59 PM EDT

FILe - In this Nov. 24, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi celebrates a touchdown against Miami during an NCA college football game in Pittsburgh. Back in 2012, Brian Kelly's Notre Dame team ran the table during the regular season to set up a showdown with Alabama for the national title. Along the way the Fighting Irish had to survive some close games, including overtime victories at home against Stanford and Pittsburgh (a triple OT affair). Now Kelly's Irish are 6-0 and ranked No. 5 and look who is waiting them this week -- the Panthers. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
No. 5 Notre Dame knocking on the door for playoff berth

By John Fineran Oct. 09, 2018 05:04 PM EDT

Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams (2) lunges forward for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Notre Dame at Virginia Tech 10/6/2018

Oct. 08, 2018 09:31 AM EDT

Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams, right, tries to turn the corner as Virginia Tech's Kahlil Ladler, left, makes the stop during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Blacksburg, Va., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. Notre Dame won 45-23. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Return of TB Williams brings big plays to No. 5 Notre Dame

By Hank Kurz Jr. Oct. 07, 2018 03:08 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame defensive lineman Jerry Tillery rushes Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in South Bend, Ind. Imagine, for a moment, basking on a beach under the hot Hawaiian sun, relaxing with friends, not a care in the world one second, wondering if the world is coming to an end the next. Such was the reality for Notre Dame senior Jerry Tillery, and more than a million others, when at 8:07 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13, a state-wide emergency alert pinged every cellphone on the Hawaiian Islands with a message that an incoming ballistic missile was heading their way.(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
Stanford at Notre Dame 9/29/2018

Oct. 05, 2018 07:58 AM EDT

Notre Dame running back Tony Jones Jr (6) celebrates as he runs in a touchdown against Ball State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Ball State at Notre Dame 9/8/2018

Sep. 20, 2018 12:02 PM EDT

Notre Dame faces Ball St in 1st meeting of Indiana schools

By The Associated Press Sep. 06, 2018 07:19 AM EDT
Ball State (1-0) at No. 8 Notre Dame (1-0), 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC) Line: Notre Dame by 34½. Series record: First meeting. ...

FILE - In this Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, file photo, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, center, walks the field as players jog around him during an open practice for the NCAA college football team at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. Michigan plays Notre Dame on Saturday, Sept. 1, to open the college football season. (AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)
No. 14 Michigan out to change narrative vs No. 12 Notre Dame

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 31, 2018 09:36 AM EDT