Countdown to Opening Game

[Brown]

Only 10 more days until opening day.

Each day I'll profile a new player:

HARRISON SMITH #22 S

CAREER: Outstanding athlete has played in 13 games (all in 2008) and registered nine starts at linebacker ... recorded 57 total tackles, including team-high 8.5 tackles for a loss and tied for team-best 3.5 quarterback sacks ... will open 2009 at free safety, where he practiced during his freshman season ... ranked by Phil Steele as the 15th-best free safety in the nation for 2009.

Harrison Smith's Biography

 

[Riddickulous]

Excellent. Nine more days!

 

[Brown]

8 more days...

Ian Williams #95 NT

CAREER: The most powerful defensive lineman on the Irish roster opens 2009 as the starting nose tackle ... tallied 85 tackles through his first two seasons while starting nine of the 25 games he has appeared ... one of just four members from his class to have played in every game of his Irish career (Armando Allen, Kerry Neal and Golden Tate are the others) ... ranked by Phil Steele as the 20th-best defensive tackle in the country for 2009.

Ian Williams Bio

 

[Brown]

I'd hate to be an opposing guard/center with that big ugly trying to get past me every play.

 

[Brown]

And then it was 7...

Sam Young #74 RT

CAREER: Notre Dame's top returning offensive lineman enters his final season with the possibility of setting the school record for most starts in a career ... has started all 38 games of his career and is the only Notre Dame offensive lineman to have started every game since his freshman year ... became the first Irish offensive lineman to make his debut as a freshman in the season opener since freshmen regained eligibility in 1972 ... veteran leader of the offense has more starts under his belt than any other player on the roster ... started 28 games at right tackle and 10 games at left tackle in his career ... started the first 15 games at Notre Dame at right tackle and started all 13 games in 2008 on the right side as well ... one of four returning starters on the offensive line in 2009 ... selected to Phil Steele's preseason All-America second team in 2009 ... ranked by Steele as the fourth-best offensive tackle in the country ... Lindy's tabbed him the seventh-best offensive tackle in 2009 preseason ... key reason why Steele ranked Notre Dame's offensive line as the fifth-best in the country.

Sam Young's Bio

 

[Brown]

slickity six days and counting...

Armando Allen #5 RB

CAREER: Lightning-quick running back who is one of the fastest players on the football team ... used in a variety of ways during his first two seasons including as a rusher, receiver and punt and kickoff returner ... recorded team-high 2,725 combined all-purpose yards (109.0 yards per game) from 2007-08 ... registered 933 career rushing yards on 220 carries and has three career rushing touchdowns ... ranks second all-time among Notre Dame running backs with 74 career receptions (25 catches behind Darius Walker's record) ... tallied 479 receiving yards and three TDs for the Irish over 2007-08... ranks third at Notre Dame with 54 career kickoff returns and is fourth in kickoff return yards at Notre Dame with 1,247 ... started 12 of the 25 games he has appeared ... named by Phil Steele as the 47th-best running back and 17th-best kickoff returner in the country for 2009.

Armando Allen Bio

 

[tankjeep]

one more dang day....go irish!!