2016 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
2016 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football | |
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Conference | Independent |
Record | 4–8 |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Mike Sanford Jr. (2nd season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread |
Defensive coordinator | Brian VanGorder (3rd season: 1–4, fired) Greg Hudson (1st season: 5–12) |
Base defense | 4–3 multiple |
Captains |
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Home stadium | Notre Dame Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BYU | – | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Army | – | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notre Dame | – | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UMass | – | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rankings from AP Poll |
The 2016 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Brian Kelly and played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. They competed as an independent. They finished the season 4–8, Notre Dame's worst record since 2007. Despite the disappointing season, athletic director Jack Swarbrick found the 2016 Irish to be a remarkable bunch, citing the team's "enthusiasm" and "willingness to practice".[1]
Before the season
[edit]2016 NFL Daft
[edit]The following former Notre Dame players were selected in the 2016 NFL draft:
Round | Selection | Player | Position | Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | Ronnie Stanley | Offensive tackle | Baltimore Ravens |
1 | 21 | Will Fuller | Wide receiver | Houston Texans |
2 | 34 | Jaylon Smith | Linebacker | Dallas Cowboys |
2 | 50 | Nick Martin | Center | Houston Texans |
3 | 74 | KeiVarae Russell | Cornerback | Kansas City Chiefs |
3 | 90 | C. J. Prosise | Running back | Seattle Seahawks |
4 | 103 | Sheldon Day | Defensive tackle | Jacksonville Jaguars |
Transfers out / departures
[edit]Notre Dame lost FS Max Redfield and CB Devin Butler in the offseason for violating team policies.
Coaching changes
[edit]Brian VanGorder was relieved of his duties as defensive coordinator. Defensive Analyst Greg Hudson took over as the Irish's Defensive Coordinator. Kelly said, "I have the utmost respect for Brian as both a person and football coach, but our defense simply isn't where it should be and I believe this change is necessary for the best interest of our program and our student-athletes.[2]
Recruiting class
[edit]Brian Kelly and the Notre Dame coaching staff accepted 23 commitments for the 2016 recruiting cycle, including two 5-stars: Daelin Hayes and Tommy Kraemer. The class included student-athletes from 11 different states, and one Canadian province.[3]
US college sports recruiting information for 2016 recruits | ||||||
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Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
Ian Book QB |
El Dorado Hills, California | Oak Ridge High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | Aug 14, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Parker Boundreaux OL |
Winter Garden, Florida | Bishop Moore High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | – | Jul 2, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Chase Claypool WR |
Abbotsford, British Columbia | Abbotsford Senior Secondary | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | – | Jul 10, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Liam Eichenberg OL |
Westlake, Ohio | St. Ignatius High School (Cleveland, OH) | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | – | Apr 19, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Jalen Elliott DB |
Richmond, Virginia | Lloyd C. Bird High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 189 lb (86 kg) | – | Jun 19, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Daelin Hayes DE/LB |
Belleville, Michigan | Skyline High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | – | Dec 10, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Jamir Jones LB |
Rochester, New York | Aquinas Institute | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | Jun 23, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Jonathan Jones LB |
Ocoee, Florida | Oak Ridge High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2016 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Tony Jones Jr. RB |
St. Petersburg, Florida | IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 219 lb (99 kg) | – | Mar 22, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Khalid Kareem DE |
Pontiac, Michigan | Harrison High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | – | Oct 23, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Tommy Kraemer OL |
Cincinnati, Ohio | Elder High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 310 lb (140 kg) | – | Oct 4, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Julian Love DB |
Westchester, Illinois | Nazareth Academy | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | –- | Mar 21, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Deon McIntosh RB |
Pompano Beach, Florida | Cardinal Gibbons High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Nov 16, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Javon McKinley WR |
Corona, California | Centennial High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | – | Jan 9, 2016 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
D. J. Morgan DB |
Norwalk, California | St. John Bosco High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | Sep 27, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Adetokunbo Ogundeji DE |
West Bloomfield, Michigan | Walled Lake Central High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 216 lb (98 kg) | – | Jul 16, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Julian Okwara DE |
Charlotte, North Carolina | Ardrey Kell High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 216 lb (98 kg) | – | Apr 14, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Spencer Perry DB |
Newnan, Georgia | IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 204 lb (93 kg) | – | Jun 29, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Troy Pride DB |
Greer, South Carolina | Greer High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Dec 24, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
John Shannon LS |
Lake Forest, Illinois | Loyola Academy | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | Mar 21, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Kevin Stepherson WR |
Jacksonville, Florida | First Coast High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 171 lb (78 kg) | – | Jun 18, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Devin Studstill DB |
Riviera Beach, Florida | Palm Beach Garden High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 189 lb (86 kg) | – | Dec 15, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Donte Vaughn DB |
Memphis, Tennessee | Whitehaven High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | Oct 12, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 13 Rivals: 12 ESPN: 16 | ||||||
Sources:
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Personnel
[edit]Coaching staff
[edit]Name | Position | Year at Notre Dame | Alma mater (Year) |
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Brian Kelly | Head coach | 7th | Assumption (1982) |
Mike Denbrock | Associate head coach/wide receivers | 7th | Grand Valley State (1987) |
Mike Elston | Linebackers/recruiting coordinator | 7th | Michigan (1998) |
Harry Hiestand | Offensive line/run game coordinator | 5th | East Stroudsburg (1983) |
Scott Booker | Tight ends/special teams coordinator | 5th | Kent State (2003) |
Brian VanGorder | Defensive coordinator | 3rd | Wayne State (1980) |
Greg Hudson | Interim defensive coordinator | 1st | Notre Dame (1988) |
Mike Sanford Jr. | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks | 2nd | Boise State (2005) |
Autry Denson | Running backs | 2nd | Notre Dame (1999) |
Keith Gilmore | Defensive line | 2nd | Wayne State (1981) |
Todd Lyght | Defensive backs coach | 2nd | Notre Dame (1991) |
Paul Longo | Director of football strength and conditioning | 7th | Wayne State (1981) |
Roster
[edit]2016 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster | ||||||||||
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Punters
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Offensive Lineman
Defensive Lineman
Kickers
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Linebackers
Cornerbacks
Safeties
Defensive backs
Long snappers
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Schedule
[edit]Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 4 | 7:30 p.m. | at Texas | No. 10 | ABC | L 47–50 2OT | 102,315 | |
September 10 | 3:30 p.m. | Nevada | No. 18 | NBC | W 39–10 | 80,795 | |
September 17 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 12 Michigan State | No. 18 |
| NBC | L 28–36 | 80,795 |
September 24 | 3:30 p.m. | Duke |
| NBC | L 35–38 | 80,795 | |
October 1 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. Syracuse | ESPN | W 50–33 | 62,794 | ||
October 8 | 12:00 p.m. | at NC State | ABC | L 3–10 | 58,200 | ||
October 15 | 7:30 p.m. | Stanford |
| NBC | L 10–17 | 80,795 | |
October 29 | 3:30 p.m. | Miami (FL) |
| NBC | W 30–27 | 80,795 | |
November 5 | 11:30 a.m. | vs. Navy | CBS | L 27–28 | 50,867 | ||
November 12 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. Army | NBC | W 44–6 | 45,762 | ||
November 19 | 3:30 p.m. | Virginia Tech |
| NBC | L 31–34 | 80,795 | |
November 26 | 3:30 p.m | at No. 12 USC | ABC | L 27–45 | 72,402 | ||
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Game summaries
[edit]Texas
[edit]
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Nevada
[edit]
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Michigan State
[edit]
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Duke
[edit]
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Syracuse
[edit]Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Notre Dame | 23 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 50 |
Syracuse | 13 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 33 |
at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: October 1, 2016
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 60 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,794
- Referee: Stuart Mullins
- TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, and Allison Williams
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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NC State
[edit]
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The Notre Dame vs NC State game was played during Hurricane Matthew[4] where the two teams combined for only 311 total yards. The only touchdown of the game was scored by NC State on a blocked punt leading NC State to win it 10–3.[5]
Stanford
[edit]
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Miami (FL)
[edit]
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Navy
[edit]
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Army
[edit]
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Virginia Tech
[edit]
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USC
[edit]
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Rankings
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Jack Swarbrick Talks Future of Brian Kelly at Notre Dame". Irish Sports Daily. December 2, 2016.
- ^ "VanGorder Relieved of Duties; Hudson Assumes Responsibilities". Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Notre Dame Announces 2016 Signing Class". Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
- ^ Neuharth-Keusch, A. J. "Hurricane Matthew turns N.C. State-Notre Dame game into 100-yard slip-and-slide". USA TODAY.
- ^ Greenstein, Teddy. "Notre Dame reeling after rain-soaked, 10–3 blooper-reel loss". chicagotribune.com.