Notre Dame Football: Position report card for the Irish in Week 4

Week in and week out, the Notre Dame linebacker corps finished as one of the best units on the field. Nyles Morgan, Greer Martini, Te’von Coney, and Drue Tranquill finished as the team’s top four tacklers, recording nine, seven, seven, and six tackles, respectively. Martini also forced a fumble that would serve as one of the turning points of the game.

Outside of a 52 yard run from Lewerke on what was intended to be a typical sneak, this group held the dual-threat quarterback to only four yards on the ground. The prowess of these experienced linebackers came in handy when it came to facing an option offense that they have seen so many times over their respective playing careers.

The unit also did well in coverage as most of Lewerke’s completions were made further down the field. Senior captain Drue Tranquill even managed one of Notre Dame’s two sacks on the day. The Irish linebacker corps has continued to impress over the last few years and little has changed this season.

This group will be tested again in the coming weeks as they face off against the likes of North Carolina and USC. However, they have answered the call before and there’s little reason to doubt that they will do it again.