2017 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
American college football season
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The 2017 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their eighth year under head coach Brian Kelly, the Irish compiled a 10–3 record, outscored opponents by a total of 445 to 279, and were ranked No. 11 in both the AP and Coaches Polls. In six games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 15 Georgia, No. 7 Miami (FL), and No. 20 Stanford, and defeated No. 11 USC, No. 14 NC State, and No. 16 2017 LSU Tigers football team, the latter in the Citrus Bowl.[2]
| 2017 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football | |
|---|---|
| |
Citrus Bowl champion | |
| Conference | Independent |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 11 |
| AP | No. 11 |
| Record | 10–3 |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Chip Long (1st season) |
| Offensive scheme | Spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Mike Elko (1st season) |
| Base defense | 4–2–5 |
| MVP | Quenton Nelson |
| Captains |
|
| Home stadium | Notre Dame Stadium[1] |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Army | – | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 11 Notre Dame | – | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UMass | – | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BYU | – | 4 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rankings from AP Poll | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Brandon Wimbush (1,870 passing yards), running back Josh Adams (1,430 rushing yards), wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (33 receptions for 515 yards), kicker Justin Yoon (7 points scored), and linebacker Te'von Coney (116 total tackles).[3] Offensive linemen Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson were consensus first-team picks on the 2017 All-America college football team.
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2 | 3:30 p.m. | Temple | NBC | W 49–16 | 77,622 | ||
| September 9 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 15 Georgia | No. 24 |
| NBC | L 19–20 | 77,622 |
| September 16 | 3:30 p.m. | at Boston College | ESPN, ESPNU | W 49–20 | 44,500 | ||
| September 23 | 8:00 p.m. | at Michigan State | FOX | W 38–18 | 74,023 | ||
| September 30 | 5:00 p.m. | Miami (OH) | No. 22 |
| NBCSN | W 52–17 | 77,622 |
| October 7 | 3:30 p.m. | at North Carolina | No. 21 | ABC | W 33–10 | 57,000 | |
| October 21 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 11 USC | No. 13 |
| NBC | W 49–14 | 77,622 |
| October 28 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 14 NC State | No. 9 |
| NBC | W 35–14 | 77,622 |
| November 4 | 3:30 p.m. | Wake Forest | No. 3 |
| NBC | W 48–37 | 77,622 |
| November 11 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 7 Miami (FL) | No. 3 | ABC | L 8–41 | 65,326 | |
| November 18 | 3:30 p.m. | Navy | No. 8 |
| NBC | W 24–17 | 77,622 |
| November 25 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 21 Stanford | No. 8 | ABC | L 20–38 | 47,352 | |
| January 1, 2018 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. No. 17 LSU | No. 14 | ABC | W 21–17 | 57,726 | |
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Before the season
Before the 2017 season began, quarterback DeShone Kizer and defensive end Isaac Rochell were selected in the 2017 NFL draft. Other key players transferred from the program, including quarterback Malik Zaire (to Florida), offensive lineman Tristen Hoge (to BYU), and offensive lineman Parker Boudreaux (to UCF). Inbound transfers included safety Alohi Gilman (from Navy).[citation needed]
The months prior to the season also saw numerous changes in the coaching staff, as assistant head coach Mike Denbrock left for Cincinnati, offensive coordinator Mike Sanford Jr. became head coach at Western Kentucky, and Bob Elliott left for Nebraska. New hires and positions changes included:
- Mike Elko – hired as defensive coordinator
- Chip Long – hired as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach
- Brian Polian – returned as special teams coordinator
- Clark Lea – hired as linebackers coach
- DelVaughn Alexander – hired as wide receivers coach
- Tom Rees – returned as quarterback coach
- Tyler Santucci – hired as defensive analyst
- Matt Balis – hired as director of football performance [citation needed]
Rankings
Game summaries
Temple
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owls | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
| • Fighting Irish | 21 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 49 |
- Date: September 2, 2017
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 3:42 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 17 minutes
- Game attendance: 77,622
- Game weather: Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 9 MPH
- Referee: Jeff Heaser
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
On September 2, Notre Dame defeated Temple, 49–16. The Irish tallied 606 yards of offense including 422 rushing yards. Three Notre Dame backs gained over 100 rushing yards: Josh Adams (161 yards), Dexter Williams (124 yards) and quarterback Brandon Wimbush (106 yards).
Georgia
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • No. 15 Bulldogs | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| No. 24 Fighting Irish | 3 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
- Date: September 9, 2017
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 7:44 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 36 minutes
- Game attendance: 77,622
- Game weather: Temperature: 67 °F (19 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: E 7 MPH
- Referee: Matt Austin
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
On September 9, Notre Dame lost to Georgia, 20–19. With 3 minutes, 34 seconds left to play, the Bulldogs took a one-point lead on a 30-yard field goal by kicker Rodrigo Blankenship. On The Irish's final drive, Georgia linebacker Davin Bellamy strip-sacked quarterback Brandon Wimbush, and linebacker Lorenzo Carter recovered the fumble with 1:27 left to seal the victory. For the Bulldogs, Jake Fromm made his first career start at quarterback in place of the injured Jacob Eason.
Boston College
(Holy War)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Fighting Irish | 7 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 49 |
| Eagles | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
- Date: September 16, 2017
- Location: Alumni Stadium
Chestnut Hill, MA - Game start: 3:41 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 26 minutes
- Game attendance: 44,500
- Game weather: Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Weather: Partly Sunny • Wind: E 1 MPH
- Referee: Stuart Mullins
- TV announcers (ESPN and ESPNU): Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Todd McShay (sideline)
On September 16, Notre Dame defeated Boston College, 49–20. Quarterback Brandon Wimbush rushed for 270 yards with four touchdowns, breaking a record for the most rushing yards by a Notre Dame quarterback. Also, running back Josh Adams rushed for 229 yards in three quarters. It was the first time in Notre Dame football history that two players rushed for more than 200 yards in a single game.
Michigan State
(Megaphone Trophy)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Fighting Irish | 14 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
| Spartans | 7 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 18 |
- Date: September 23, 2017
- Location: Spartan Stadium
East Lansing, MI - Game start: 8:17 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 34 minutes
- Game attendance: 74,023
- Game weather: Temperature: 84 °F (29 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: SE 5 MPH
- Referee: Gary Patterson
- TV announcers (Fox): Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft (sideline)
On September 28, Notre Dame defeated Michigan State, 38–18. The Irish scored on their opening drive, a seven-play, 78-yard drive that was capped off by quarterback Brandon Wimbush's 16-yard touchdown run. Notre Dame added to their lead three minutes later with a 59-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Julian Love go to up 14–0 over the Spartans. The Irish defense forced three turnovers in the game, all of which the Irish converted into touchdowns. The Irish offense racked up 5.8 yards per play, including rushing for 182 yards against the Spartans defense that came into the game in the top 10 in rush defense.
Miami (OH)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RedHawks | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| • No. 22 Fighting Irish | 28 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 52 |
- Date: September 30, 2017
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 5:18 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 16 minutes
- Game attendance: 77,622
- Game weather: Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: E 6 MPH
- Referee: Jerry Magallanes
- TV announcers (NBCSN): Paul Burmeister, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
On September 30, Notre Dame defeated Miami (OH), 52–17. On the second play from scrimmage, running back Josh Adam ran 73 yards for a touchdown. Another Adams touchdown run—this one a 59-yarder—was bookended by two Miami turnovers that the Irish converted into 14 points. The 28-point first quarter marked the most points for the Irish in a single period since 2005. The victory was the 900th win in Irish program history.
North Carolina
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • No. 21 Fighting Irish | 0 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 33 |
| Tar Heels | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
- Date: October 7, 2017
- Location: Kenan Stadium
Chapel Hill, NC - Game start: 3:36 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 28 minutes
- Game attendance: 57,000
- Game weather: Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Overcast • Wind: SE 7 MPH
- Referee: Gary Patterson
- TV announcers (ABC): Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard and Allison Williams (sideline)
On October 7, Notre Dame defeated North Carolina, 33–10. After a scoreless opening period, quarterback Ian Book found receiver Cameron Smith for a six-yard touchdown pass. On the second play of the next offensive series, running back Josh Adamas scored on a 73-yard touchdown run. Later in the game, running back Deon McIntosh added two rushing scores for the Irish who gained 341 of its 487 total yards on the ground. Book made his first career start at quarterback in place of the injured Brandon Wimbush (right foot).
USC
(Jeweled Shillelagh)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 11 Trojans | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| • No. 13 Fighting Irish | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
- Date: October 21, 2017
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 7:43 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 10 minutes
- Game attendance: 77,622
- Game weather: Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Partly Cloudy • Wind: SSE 9 MPH
- Referee: Jeff Heaser
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
On October 21, Notre Dame defeated No. 11 USC, 49–14. The Irish defense started the game forcing a USC turnover on the Trojans' first offensive play of the game. The Irish forced three turnovers and took a commanding 28–0 lead at halftime. Running back Josh Adams had 191 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including an 84-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The Irish rushed for a total of 377 yards and averaged eight yards per carry during the game. With this victory, Notre Dame earned the largest margin of victory in the USC rivalry in a half century. The last time was 51–0 in 1966.
NC State
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 14 Wolfpack | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| • No. 9 Fighting Irish | 7 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
- Date: October 28, 2017
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 3:41 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 26 minutes
- Game attendance: 77,622
- Game weather: Temperature: 40 °F (4 °C) • Weather: Cloudy and Chilly • Wind: W 12 MPH
- Referee: Gary Patterson
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
On October 28, Notre Dame defeated NC State, 35–14. Coming into the game, NC State had a six-game winning streak, and the Irish had a five-game winning streak. NC State had the sixth best rushing defense in the country, andr Notre Dame ahd the sixth best rushing offense. In the first quarter, both offenses struggled to move the ball, but the Wolfpack got on the board first with a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone to give NC State a 7–0 lead. Notre Dame responded with a two-play drive capped with a touchdown pass by Irish quarterback Brandon Wimbush, who threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Durham Smythe. The teams traded scores in the second quarter, but the Irish took a 21–14 lead with another touchdown pass by Wimbush, this time an 11-yard pass to wide receiver Kevin Stepherson. Before the first half ended, the Wolfpack was threatening to score, as they had the ball at the Irish 35-yard line. On third and 10, the Irish were able to get a sack on quarterback Ryan Finley to push the Wolfpack out of field-goal range. After halftime, the Irish started to take control with a 69-yard interception return for a touchdown by Irish cornerback Julian Love giving the Irish a two-touchdown lead. Josh Adams put the game away with a 77-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
Josh Adams finished the game with 202 rushing yards, and the Irish as a team finished the game with 318 rushing yards. That was more than twice as many rushing yards that the Wolfpack defense had allowed on the year, as the previous most was 133 rush yards by Furman. This was the sixth straight game the Irish had won by 20 points or more. This was also the first time since 2012 that the Irish had two wins over opponents ranked in the top 15 in a season and the first time since 1989 that they did it in consecutive weeks. It was also the sixth time the Irish ran for 300 yards or more in a game this season.
Wake Forest
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demon Deacons | 3 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 37 |
| • No. 5 Fighting Irish | 7 | 24 | 10 | 7 | 48 |
- Date: November 4, 2017
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 3:41 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
- Game attendance: 77,622
- Game weather: Temperature: 43 °F (6 °C) • Weather: Light Rain and Chilly • Wind: ESE 10 MPH
- Referee: Jeff Flanagan
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
On November 4, Notre Dame defeated Wake Forest, 48–37. Though the Irish defense gave up a season-high 580 yards of offense and 37 points, the Irish rushed for 380 yards and racked up 710 total yards of offense, 10 yards shy of tying the school record. This was the seventh time in nine games during the 2017 season that the Irish rushed for over 300 yards.
Miami (Florida)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 3 Fighting Irish | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| • No. 7 Hurricanes | 14 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 41 |
- Date: November 11, 2017
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens, FL - Game start: 8:16 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 17 minutes
- Game attendance: 65,326
- Game weather: Temperature: 78 °F (26 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: ENE 13 MPH
- Referee: Jerry Magallanes
- TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor (sideline) and Tom Rinaldi (sideline)
In a highly anticipated matchup, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Miami Hurricanes met in a crucial game that had major College Football Playoffs implications for the winner. Miami prevailed in a one-sided contest in which the Hurricanes defense shut down the high powered offense of Notre Dame, including Josh Adams. Coming into the game, the Irish had just two turnovers in the previous six games, including no turnovers during that span when quarterback Brandon Wimbush started. They turned it over four times in the contest that was turned into 24 points for the Hurricanes. A pick six by True Freshman Trajan Brady just before halftime gave Miami a commanding 27–0 lead at halftime and Notre Dame never recovered. The Irish had just 109 yards rushing (averaged 324 yards a game coming in), 8 points (averaged 41 points a game) and just 261 total yards of offense (averaged 440). With this loss, the Irish dropped out of the College Football Playoff conversation.
Navy
(Rip Miller Trophy)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midshipmen | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| • No. 9 Fighting Irish | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
- Date: November 18, 2017
- Location: Notre Dame Stadium
South Bend, IN - Game start: 3:41 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 2 hours and 54 minutes
- Game attendance: 77,622
- Game weather: Temperature: 41 °F (5 °C) • Weather: Rain • Wind: N 19 MPH
- Referee: Adam Savoie
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie and Kathryn Tappen (sideline)
Notre Dame's match against historic rival Navy proved to be a competitive game for the Irish, with Notre Dame ultimately prevailing 24–17. After Navy took a 17–10 lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Zach Abey to Craig Scott in the 3rd quarter, Navy finished the game with a missed field goal, an interception, and a turnover on downs, all in Irish territory. The Irish went ahead in the 4th quarter with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Wimbush to wide receiver Kevin Stepherson to close out the game. A week after giving up 41 points, the Irish defense held Navy to just 17 points, despite Navy controlling the game clock 42:42 to 17:18.
Josh Adams ran for 106 yards on 18 carries. Josh Adams topped 3,000 career yards and now has the 4th highest single season rushing total in Notre Dame history at 1,337. He needs 101 yards next weekend against Stanford to break the record.
Stanford
(Legends Trophy)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 9 Fighting Irish | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| • No. 20 Cardinal | 7 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 38 |
- Date: November 25, 2017
- Location: Stanford Stadium
Stanford, CA - Game start: 5:14 p.m. PST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 20 minutes
- Game attendance: 47,352
- Game weather: Temperature: 68 °F (20 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NNE 5 MPH
- Referee: Chris Coyte
- TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Maria Taylor (sideline)
Heading into the 4th quarter, the Irish had a 20–17 lead in a tightly contested game, but back to back turnovers by the Irish turned the game around in a hurry, as the Cardinal took advantage and turned both turnovers into touchdowns. Less than five minutes into the final quarter, the Cardinal had a 38–20 lead. The Irish tried to play catch up for the rest of the quarter, but a turnover on downs and an interception at the goal line halted any comeback bid.
LSU (Citrus Bowl)
(Citrus Bowl)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • No. 14 Fighting Irish | 0 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 21 |
| No. 16 Tigers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 17 |
- Date: January 1, 2018
- Location: Camping World Stadium
Orlando, FL - Game start: 1:07 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 21 minutes
- Game attendance: 57,726
- Game weather: Temperature: 53 °F (12 °C) • Weather: Overcast • Wind: N 17 MPH
- Referee: Cooper Castleberry
- TV announcers (ABC): Mark Jones, Rod Gilmore and Quint Kessenich (sideline)
With the Irish trailing 17–14 with less than 2 minutes to play, quarterback Ian Book connected on a 55-yard touchdown pass to tight end Miles Boykin, giving the Irish an improbable lead late in the game. The Irish defense forced LSU to turn the ball over on downs on the next series, securing Notre Dames first bowl win on New Year's Day since January 1, 1994.[5]
The game started out fast for the Irish, as quarterback Brandon Wimbush connected on a 35-yard pass to receiver Equanimeous St. Brown on the first play of the game to the LSU 40 yard line. The drive later stalled as the Irish were stuffed on 4th and 1. The Irish offense sputtered for most of the first half, punting on five straight possessions. The Irish defense made a key goal line stand in the second quarter, as Notre Dame stopped LSU twice at the Irish 1 yard line, forcing LSU to kick a field goal (which missed), keeping the score tied 0–0. With Brandon Wimbush struggling to move the offense, quarterback Ian Book came in to relieve him. A field goal at the end of the half gave the Irish a 3–0 lead. In the second half, two Irish turnovers gave LSU momentum, including scoring a touchdown to give the Tigers their first lead of the game. In the 4th quarter, LSU extended its lead to 14–6 with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Danny Etling to Derrius Guice on 3rd and goal. On the following possession, Book connected on a 29-yard pass to Miles Boykin on 3rd and 19 to extend the drive. Five plays later, The Irish got their first touchdown of the game with a 6-yard touchdown pass by Book to Michael Young Jr. Running Back Josh Adams ran for a two-point conversion to tie the game. The Tigers retook the lead with a 17-yard field goal with 2:03 left in the game.
The victory gave Notre Dame 10 wins on the year.
Scoring summary
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Personnel
Players
| 2017 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 | 8th | Assumption (1982) |
| Mike Elston | Defensive line/assistant head coach | 8th | Michigan (1998) |
| Brian Polian | Special team coordinator/recruiting coordinator | 6th | John Carroll (1997) |
| Harry Hiestand | Offensive line/run game coordinator | 6th | East Stroudsburg (1983) |
| Mike Elko | Defensive coordinator | 1st | Pennsylvania (1999) |
| Chip Long | Offensive coordinator/tight ends | 1st | North Alabama (2005) |
| Autry Denson | Running backs | 2nd | Notre Dame (1999) |
| Todd Lyght | Pat and Jana Eilers family defensive backs | 2nd | Notre Dame (1991) |
| DelVaughn Alexander | Wide receivers | 1st | USC (1995) |
| Clark Lea | Linebackers | 1st | Vanderbilt (2004) |
| Tom Rees | Quarterbacks | 1st | Notre Dame (2013) |
| Tyler Santucci | Defensive analyst | 1st | Stony Brook (2010) |
| Matt Balis | Director of football performance | 1st | Northern Illinois (1996) |
| Bill Rees | Director of scouting | 1st | Ohio Wesleyan University (1976) |
Recruiting
| Back | B | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB | |||
| Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E | |||
| Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K | |||
| Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB | |||
| Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB | |||
| Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |
The Fighting Irish signed a total of 21 recruits.
| College recruiting (2017) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
| Dillan Gibbons OT |
Clearwater, Florida | Clearwater Central Catholic HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 311 lb (141 kg) | Apr 4, 2015 | |
Recruit ratings: Scout:  Rivals:  247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Brock Wright TE |
Cypress, Texas | Cy-Fair HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | Jun 26, 2015 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Joshua Lugg OT |
Wexford, Pennsylvania | North Allegheny HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 293 lb (133 kg) | Aug 14, 2015 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Cole Kmet TE |
Arlington Heights, Illinois | St. Viator HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | Oct 2, 2015 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Avery Davis QB |
Cedar Hill, Texas | Cedar Hill HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | Mar 19, 2016 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| David Adams LB |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Central Catholic HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Mar 20, 2016 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Kurt Hinish DT |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Central Catholic HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 283 lb (128 kg) | Mar 21, 2016 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Drew White LB |
Fort Lauderdale, Florida | St. Thomas Aquinas HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Mar 21, 2016 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Isaiah Robertson S |
Naperville, Illinois | Neuqua Valley HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Apr 15, 2016 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Jonathon MacCollister DE |
Orlando, Florida | Bishop Moore HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 238 lb (108 kg) | Jun 17, 2016 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| CJ Holmes RB |
Cheshire, Connecticut | Cheshire Academy | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Jul 8, 2016 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Robert Hainsey OG |
Monroeville, Pennsylvania | IMG Academy | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 276 lb (125 kg) | Jul 10, 2016 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Darnell Ewell DT |
Norfolk, Virginia | Lake Taylor HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | Jul 15, 2016 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Michael Young Jr. WR |
Destrehan, Louisiana | Destrehan HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Jul 20, 2016 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Aaron Banks OT |
El Cerrito, California | El Cerrito HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 315 lb (143 kg) | Dec 9, 2016 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Jordan Genmark Heath S |
San Diego, California | Cathedral Catholic HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Jan 26, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Jonathan Doerer K |
Charlotte, North Carolina | South Mecklenburg HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 188 lb (85 kg) | Jan 29, 2017 | |
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals:  247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Jafar Armstrong WR |
Shawnee Mission, Kansas | Bishop Miege HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Jan 29, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah S |
Hampton, Virginia | Bethel HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 197 lb (89 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa DE |
Kapolei, Hawaii | Kapolei HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Kofi Wardlow DE |
Washington, D.C. | St. John's College HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | Feb 1, 2017 | |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: | ||||||
Sources:
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Statistics
Passing
- Brandon Wimbush - 136 of 175 (49.5%) for 1,870 yards, 16 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 121.4 passer rating
- Ian Book - 46 of 75 (61.3%) for 456 yards, 4 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 119.3 passer rating
Rushing
- Josh Adams - 1,430 yards on 206 carries, 6.9-yard average, 9 touchdowns
- Brandon Wimbush, 803 yards on 141 carries, 5.7-yard average, 14 touchdowns
- Deon McIntosh - 368 yards on 65 carries, 5.7-yard average, 5 touchdowns
- Dexter Williams - 360 yards on 39 carries, 9.2-yard average, 4 touchdowns
- Tony Jones Jr. - 232 yards on 44 carries, 5.3-yard average, 3 touchdowns
- Ian Book - 207 yards on 37 carries, 5.6-yard average, 0 touchdowns
Receptions
- Equanimeous St. Brown (WR) - 33 receptions for 515 yards, 15.6-yard average, 4 touchdowns
- Chase Claypool (WR) - 29 receptions for 402 yards, 13.9-yard average, 2 touchdowns
- Kevin Stepherson (WR) - 19 receptions for 359 yards, 18.9-yard average, 5 touchdowns
- Miles Boykin (WR) - 12 receptions for 253 yards, 21.1-yard average, 2 touchdowns
- Durham Smythe (TE) - 15 receptions for 244 yards, 16.3-yard average, 1 touchdown
- Alize Mack (TE) - 19 receptions for 166 yards, 8.7-yard average, 1 touchdown
- Chris Finke (WR) - 6 receptions for 102 yards, 17.0-yard average, 0 touchdown
- Josh Adams - 13 receptions for 101 yards, 7.8-yard average, 0 touchdowns
Scoring
- Justin Yoon (K) - 97 points, 55 of 55 PAT, 14 of 18 field goals
- Brandon Wimbush (QB) - 86 points, 14 touchdowns, 1 two-point conversion
- Josh Adams (RB) - 56 points, 9 touchdowns, 1 two-point conversion
- Kevin Stepherson (WR) - 30 points, 5 touchdowns
- Deon McIntosh (RB) - 30 points, 5 touchdowns
- Dexter Williams (RB) - 30 points, 5 touchdowns
- Equanimeous St. Brown (WR) - 24 points, 4 touchdowns
Tackles
- Te'von Coney (LB) - 116 total tackles, 56 solo tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks
- Nyles Morgan (LB) - 92 total tackles, 35 solo tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks
- Drue Tranquill (LB) - 85 total tackles, 44 solo tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks
- Greer Martini (LB) - 75 total tackles, 39 solo tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 0 sacks
- Julian Love (CB) - 68 total tackles, 45 solo tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, 0 sacks
- Jerry Tillery (DL) - 56 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 9.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks
Awards and honors
Notre Dame's offensive line led the way for the third best rushing offense in the country at 6.7 yards per carry[6] and won the Joe Moore Award as the best offensive line in college football.[7] Two of the offensive linemen, tackle Mike McGlinchey and guard Quenton Nelson, were consensus first-team picks on the 2017 All-America college football team.[6] Nelson was also voted by his teammates as the team's most valuable player; he was the first offensive lineman to receive the honor since 1975.[8]
Several Notre Dame players were either finalists or semi-finalists for national awards: Nelson, finalist for the Outland Trophy;[9] Josh Adams, semi-finalist for the Doak Walker Award;[10] Drue Tranquill, finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy;[11] and Montgomery VanGorder, finalist for the Peter Mortell Award.[12]