2016 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
American college football season
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The 2016 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their seventh year under head coach Brian Kelly, the Irish compiled a 4–8 record and outscored opponents by a total of 371 to 334. They were ranked No. 10 in the preseason AP poll, but dropped out of the poll after losing two of the first three games. They played two games against ranked opponents, losing to No. 12 Michigan State and No. 12 USC.[1] Despite the disappointing season, athletic director Jack Swarbrick found the 2016 team to be a remarkable bunch, citing the team's "enthusiasm" and "willingness to practice".[2]
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–8
Headcoach
- Brian Kelly (7th season)
OffensivecoordinatorMike Sanford Jr. (2nd season)
| 2016 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conference | Independent |
| Record | 4–8 |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Mike Sanford Jr. (2nd season) |
| Offensive scheme | Spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Brian VanGorder (3rd season; first 4 games) Greg Hudson (interim; remainder of season) |
| Base defense | Multiple 4–3 |
| MVP | DeShone Kizer |
| Captains |
|
| 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 team's statistical leaders included quarterback DeShone Kizer (2,925 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns), running back Josh Adams (933 rushing yards), wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (58 receptions for 961 yards), kicker Justin Yoon (83 points scored), and linebacker Nyles Morgan (93 total tackles).[3]
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| |||||||
Before the season
Before the season began, several Notre Dame players were selected in the 2016 NFL draft, including offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, wide receiver Will Fuller, linebacker Jaylon Smith, center Nick Martin, cornerback KeiVarae Russell, running back C. J. Prosise, and defensive tackle Sheldon Day. The Irish also lost free safety Max Redfield and cornerback Devin Butler in the offseason for violating team policies.[citation needed]
Also, Brian VanGorder was relieved of his duties as the team's defensive coordinator and replaced by Greg Hudson. 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."[4]
Rankings
Game summaries
At Texas
Notre Dame at Texas
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 10 Fighting Irish | 7 | 7 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 47 |
| • Longhorns | 7 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 50 |
- Date: September 4, 2016
- Location: Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium
Austin, TX - Game start: 7:42 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 4 hours
- Game attendance: 102,315
- Game weather: Temperature: 91 °F (33 °C) • Weather: Mostly Cloudy • Wind: SE 8 MPH
- Referee: Gary Patterson
- TV announcers (ABC): Joe Tessitore, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe (sideline)
| Statistics | ND | TEX |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 22 | 26 |
| Total yards | 444 | 517 |
| Rushing yards | 206 | 237 |
| Passing yards | 238 | 280 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:42 | 27:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | Passing | DeShone Kizer | 15/24, 215 yards, 5 TD |
| Rushing | Tarean Folston | 18 rushes, 88 yards | |
| Receiving | Equanimeous St. Brown | 5 receptions, 75 yards, 2 TD | |
| Texas | Passing | Shane Buechele | 16/26, 280 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | D'Onta Foreman | 24 rushes, 131 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | John Burt | 6 receptions, 111 yards, TD |
Nevada
Nevada at Notre Dame
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Pack | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| • No. 18 Fighting Irish | 0 | 25 | 14 | 0 | 39 |
- Date: September 10, 2016
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 3:42 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 25 minutes
- Game attendance: 80,795
- Game weather: Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Partly Cloudy • Wind: W 12 MPH
- Referee: Jeff Maconaghy
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
| Statistics | NEV | ND |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 16 | 21 |
| Total yards | 300 | 444 |
| Rushing yards | 99 | 239 |
| Passing yards | 201 | 205 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:28 | 33:32 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | Passing | Tyler Stewart | 10/23, 113 yards, INT |
| Rushing | James Butler | 17 rushes, 50 yards | |
| Receiving | Andrew Celis | 1 reception, 68 yards | |
| Notre Dame | Passing | DeShone Kizer | 15/18, 156 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Josh Adams | 10 rushes, 106 yards | |
| Receiving | Equanimeous St. Brown | 6 receptions, 85 yards |
No. 12 Michigan State
Michigan State at Notre Dame
(Megaphone Trophy)
(Megaphone Trophy)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • No. 12 Spartans | 0 | 15 | 21 | 0 | 36 |
| No. 18 Fighting Irish | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
- Date: September 17, 2016
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 7:44 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 31 minutes
- Game attendance: 80,795
- Game weather: Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: W 6 MPH
- Referee: Dan Capron
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
| Statistics | MSU | ND |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 22 | 19 |
| Total yards | 501 | 401 |
| Rushing yards | 260 | 57 |
| Passing yards | 241 | 344 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 37:57 | 22:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | Passing | Tyler O'Connor | 19/26, 241 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Gerald Holmes | 13 rushes, 100 yards, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | Donnie Corley | 4 receptions, 88 yards, TD | |
| Notre Dame | Passing | DeShone Kizer | 20/37, 344 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Josh Adams | 12 rushes, 29 yards | |
| Receiving | Torii Hunter Jr. | 5 receptions, 95 yards |
Duke
Duke at Notre Dame
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Blue Devils | 14 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 38 |
| Fighting Irish | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
- Date: September 24, 2016
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 3:40 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 14 minutes
- Game attendance: 80,795
- Game weather: Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C) • Weather: Mostly Cloudy • Wind: ENE 9 MPH
- Referee: Riley Johnson
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
| Statistics | DUKE | ND |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 24 | 24 |
| Total yards | 498 | 534 |
| Rushing yards | 208 | 153 |
| Passing yards | 290 | 381 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 30:35 | 29:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | Passing | Daniel Jones | 24/32, 290 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jela Duncan | 21 rushes, 121 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Anthony Nash | 6 receptions, 123 yards, 2 TD | |
| Notre Dame | Passing | DeShone Kizer | 22/37, 381 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | DeShone Kizer | 11 rushes, 60 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Equanimeous St. Brown | 6 receptions, 116 yards, TD |
Vs. Syracuse
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Syracuse Orange
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighting Irish | 23 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 50 |
| Orange | 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 |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
At NC State
Notre Dame at NC State
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighting Irish | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| • Wolfpack | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
- Date: October 8, 2016
- Location: Carter–Finley Stadium
Raleigh, NC - Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 4 hours
- Game attendance: 58,200
- Game weather: Temperature: 69 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Hurricane Matthew • Wind: NE 18 MPH
- Referee: Jeff Heaser
- TV announcers (ABC): Dave Pasch, Greg McElroy, and Tom Luginbill (sideline)
| Statistics | ND | NCST |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 10 | 14 |
| Total yards | 113 | 198 |
| Rushing yards | 59 | 157 |
| Passing yards | 54 | 41 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:41 | 32:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | Passing | DeShone Kizer | 9/26, 54 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Josh Adams | 14 rushes, 51 yards | |
| Receiving | Equanimeous St. Brown | 3 receptions, 30 yards | |
| NC State | Passing | Ryan Finley | 5/12, 27 yards |
| Rushing | Matt Dayes | 23 rushes, 126 yards | |
| Receiving | Matt Dayes | 3 receptions, 14 yards |
The Notre Dame vs NC State game was played during Hurricane Matthew[5] 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.[6]
Stanford
Stanford at Notre Dame
(Legends Trophy)
(Legends Trophy)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Cardinal | 0 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 17 |
| Fighting Irish | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
- Date: October 15, 2016
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 7:40 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 17 minutes
- Game attendance: 80,795
- Game weather: Temperature: 69 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Mostly Cloudy • Wind: S 9 MPH
- Referee: Michael Batlan
- TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
| Statistics | STAN | ND |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 18 | 16 |
| Total yards | 296 | 307 |
| Rushing yards | 176 | 153 |
| Passing yards | 120 | 154 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:51 | 27:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford | Passing | Ryan Burns | 10/19, 120 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Bryce Love | 23 rushes, 129 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Michael Rector | 3 receptions, 34 yards | |
| Notre Dame | Passing | DeShone Kizer | 14/26, 154 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | DeShone Kizer | 11 rushes, 83 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Torii Hunter Jr. | 4 receptions, 70 yards |
Miami (FL)
Miami (FL) at Notre Dame
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricanes | 0 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 27 |
| • Fighting Irish | 17 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
- Date: October 29, 2016
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 3:40 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 38 minutes
- Game attendance: 80,795
- Game weather: Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Overcast • Wind: WSW 9 MPH
- Referee: Jeff Flanagan
- TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
| Statistics | MIA | ND |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 20 | 20 |
| Total yards | 306 | 411 |
| Rushing yards | 18 | 148 |
| Passing yards | 288 | 263 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 33:25 | 26:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | Passing | Brad Kaaya | 26/42, 288 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Mark Walton | 18 rushes, 45 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Stacy Coley | 7 receptions, 81 yards | |
| Notre Dame | Passing | DeShone Kizer | 25/38, 263 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Josh Adams | 12 rushes, 94 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Kevin Stepherson | 2 receptions, 78 yards |
Vs. Navy
Notre Dame vs Navy
(Rip Miller Trophy)
(Rip Miller Trophy)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighting Irish | 10 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| • Midshipmen | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
- Date: November 5, 2016
- Location: EverBank Field
Jacksonville, FL - Game start: 11:40 a.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 5 minutes
- Game attendance: 50,867
- Game weather: Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Partly Cloudy • Wind: ENE 13 MPH
- Referee: Jerry Magallanes
- TV announcers (CBS): Carter Blackburn, Adam Archuleta and Jenny Dell (sideline)
| Statistics | ND | NAVY |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 21 | 21 |
| Total yards | 370 | 368 |
| Rushing yards | 147 | 320 |
| Passing yards | 223 | 48 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:07 | 33:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | Passing | DeShone Kizer | 19/27, 223 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Josh Adams | 12 rushes, 73 yards | |
| Receiving | Torii Hunter Jr. | 8 receptions, 104 yards, TD | |
| Navy | Passing | Will Worth | 5/8, 48 yards |
| Rushing | Will Worth | 28 rushes, 175 yards, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | Jamir Tillman | 4 receptions, 41 yards |
Vs. Army
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Knights | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| • Fighting Irish | 21 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 44 |
- Date: November 12, 2016
- Location: Alamodome
San Antonio, TX - Game start: 3:39 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 2 hours and 55 minutes
- Game attendance: 45,762
- Game weather: Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C) • Weather: Indoors • Wind: N/A
- Referee: Stuart Mullins
- TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
| Statistics | ARMY | ND |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 10 | 31 |
| Total yards | 242 | 476 |
| Rushing yards | 229 | 261 |
| Passing yards | 13 | 215 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:38 | 34:22 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army | Passing | Malik McGue | 2/3, 13 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Darnell Woolfolk | 11 rushes, 95 yards | |
| Receiving | Christian Poe | 1 reception, 9 yards | |
| Notre Dame | Passing | DeShone Kizer | 17/28, 209 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Tarean Holston | 13 rushes, 84 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Kevin Stepherson | 5 receptions, 75 yards, TD |
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech at Notre Dame
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Hokies | 0 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 34 |
| Fighting Irish | 10 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
- Date: November 19, 2016
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 3:40 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 22 minutes
- Game attendance: 80,795
- Game weather: Temperature: 36 °F (2 °C) • Weather: Cloudy and Snow Flurries • Wind: WNW 20 MPH
- Referee: Duane Heydt
- TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
| Statistics | VT | ND |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 25 | 22 |
| Total yards | 419 | 449 |
| Rushing yards | 152 | 200 |
| Passing yards | 267 | 249 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 32:45 | 27:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Jerod Evans | 22/29, 267 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jerod Evans | 18 rushes, 67 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Isaiah Ford | 7 receptions, 86 yards | |
| Notre Dame | Passing | DeShone Kizer | 16/33, 235 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Josh Adams | 13 rushes, 100 yards, 2 TD | |
| Receiving | Equanimeous St. Brown | 6 receptions, 90 yards |
At No. 12 USC
Notre Dame at USC
(Jeweled Shillelagh)
(Jeweled Shillelagh)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighting Irish | 7 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 27 |
| • No. 12 Trojans | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
- Date: November 26, 2016
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles, CA - Game start: 3:42 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 39 minutes
- Game attendance: 72,402
- Game weather: Temperature: 63 °F (17 °C) • Weather: Partly Cloudy and Rain • Wind: E 5 MPH
- Referee: Ron Cherry
- TV announcers (ABC): Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Todd McShay (sideline)
| Statistics | ND | USC |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 23 | 23 |
| Total yards | 408 | 412 |
| Rushing yards | 154 | 207 |
| Passing yards | 254 | 205 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:57 | 31:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | Passing | DeShone Kizer | 17/32, 220 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Josh Adams | 17 rushes, 180 yards | |
| Receiving | Equanimeous St. Brown | 7 receptions, 94 yards, TD | |
| USC | Passing | Sam Darnold | 19/29, 205 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Ronald Jones II | 16 rushes, 134 yards, TD | |
| Receiving | Adoree' Jackson | 1 reception, 52 yards, TD |
Personnel
Roster
| 2016 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team roster | ||||||||||
|
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Punters
|
Offensive Lineman
Defensive Lineman
Kickers
|
Linebackers
Cornerbacks
Safeties
Defensive backs
Long snappers
| ||||||||
Coaching staff
| Name | Position | Year at Notre Dame | Alma mater (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
Recruiting class
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.[7]
| College recruiting (2016) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Hometown | School | 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 |
Recruit ratings: Scout:  Rivals: (79) | ||||||
| Parker Boudreaux OL |
Winter Garden, Florida | Bishop Moore High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | – | Jul 2, 2015 |
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals:  (80) | ||||||
| Chase Claypool WR |
Abbotsford, British Columbia | Abbotsford Senior Secondary | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | – | Jul 10, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (82) | ||||||
| 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 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (85) | ||||||
| Jalen Elliott DB |
Richmond, Virginia | Lloyd C. Bird High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 189 lb (86 kg) | – | Jun 19, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (78) | ||||||
| Daelin Hayes DE/LB |
Belleville, Michigan | Skyline High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | – | Dec 10, 2015 |
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals:  (81) | ||||||
| Jamir Jones LB |
Rochester, New York | Aquinas Institute | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | Jun 23, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (72) | ||||||
| Jonathan Jones LB |
Ocoee, Florida | Oak Ridge High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2016 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (78) | ||||||
| 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 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (79) | ||||||
| Khalid Kareem DE |
Pontiac, Michigan | Harrison High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | – | Oct 23, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (83) | ||||||
| Tommy Kraemer OL |
Cincinnati, Ohio | Elder High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 310 lb (140 kg) | – | Oct 4, 2014 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (83) | ||||||
| Julian Love DB |
Westchester, Illinois | Nazareth Academy | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | –- | Mar 21, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (79) | ||||||
| Deon McIntosh RB |
Pompano Beach, Florida | Cardinal Gibbons High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Nov 16, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (79) | ||||||
| Javon McKinley WR |
Corona, California | Centennial High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | – | Jan 9, 2016 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (79) | ||||||
| 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 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (79) | ||||||
| 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 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (78) | ||||||
| Julian Okwara DE |
Charlotte, North Carolina | Ardrey Kell High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 216 lb (98 kg) | – | Apr 14, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (80) | ||||||
| Spencer Perry DB |
Newnan, Georgia | IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 204 lb (93 kg) | – | Jun 29, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (80) | ||||||
| Troy Pride DB |
Greer, South Carolina | Greer High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | – | Dec 24, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (73) | ||||||
| John Shannon LS |
Lake Forest, Illinois | Loyola Academy | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | Mar 21, 2015 |
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals:  (68) | ||||||
| Kevin Stepherson WR |
Jacksonville, Florida | First Coast High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 171 lb (78 kg) | – | Jun 18, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (78) | ||||||
| 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 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (77) | ||||||
| Donte Vaughn DB |
Memphis, Tennessee | Whitehaven High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | – | Oct 12, 2015 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (80) | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: 13 Rivals: 12 ESPN: 16 | ||||||
Sources:
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Statistics
Passing
- DeShone Kizer - 212 of 361 (58.7%) for 2,925 yards, 26 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and a 145.6 passer rating
- Malik Zaire - 11 of 23 (47.8%) for 122 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions, and a 106.7 passer rating.
Rushing
- Josh Adams - 933 yards on 158 carries, 5.9-yard average, 5 touchdowns
- DeShone Kizer - 472 yards on 129 carries, 3.7-yard average, 8 touchdowns
- Tarean Folston - 334 yards on 77 carries, 4.3-yard average, 2 touchdowns
- Dexter Williams - 208 yards on 39 carries, 5.1-yard average, 3 touchdowns
Receiving
- Equanimeous St. Brown (WR) - 58 receptions for 961 yards, 16.6-yard average, 9 touchdowns
- Torii Hunter Jr. (WR) - 38 receptions for 521 yards, 13.7-yard average, 3 touchdowns
- Kevin Stepherson (WR) - 25 receptions for 462 yards, 18.5-yard average, 5 touchdowns
- C.J. Sanders (WR) - 24 receptions for 293 yards, 12.2-yard average, 2 touchdowns
- Josh Adams (RB) - 21 receptions for 193 yards, 9.2-yard average, 1 touchdown
- Chris Finke (WR) - 10 receptions for 122 yards, 12.2-yard average, 2 touchdowns
- Durham Smythe (TE) - 9 receptions for 112 yards, 12.4-yard average, 4 touchdowns
Scoring
- Justin Yoon (K) - 83 points, 44 of 46 PAT, 13 of 17 field goals
- Equanimeous St. Brown (WR) - 54 points, 9 touchdowns
- DeShone Kizer (QB) - 48 points, 8 touchdowns
- Josh Adams (RB) - 36 points, 6 touchdowns
- Kevin Stepherson (WR) - 30 points, 5 touchdowns
- C.J. Sanders (WR) - 24 points, 4 touchdowns
- Durham Smythe (TE) - 25 points, 4 touchdowns
Awards and honors
Junior quarterback DeShone Kizer was won the team's most valuable player award. Wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown was named Offensive Player of the Year, and linebacker James Onwualu was named Defensive Player of the Year. Defensive lineman Isaac Rochell was selected as Lineman of the Year.[8]