2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

The 2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represents the University of Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...

in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season

2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season

The 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season, play of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level, began on Thursday, September 1, 2011...

. The Fighting Irish are led by second year head coach Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly (coach)

Brian Keith Kelly is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, a position he has held since the 2010 season...

and play their home games at Notre Dame Stadium

Notre Dame Stadium

Notre Dame Stadium is the home football stadium for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. The stadium is located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States, just north of the city of South Bend....

. They compete as an independent.

Coaching changes

Kerry Cooks

Kerry Cooks is the Cornerbacks Coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.-Biography:Cooks was born on March 28, 1974 in Dallas, Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he was a team captain on the football team, and is married with two children.-Professional playing career:Cooks was...

will take over the cornerback position after coaching the outside linebackers last season. Defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, who also coaches the inside linebackers, will coach the entire linebacking corps moving forward. Chuck Martin

Chuck Martin

-External links:* *...

will focus solely on the safeties, while presumably assuming his role as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

Departing players

Star tight end Kyle Rudolph

Kyle Rudolph

Kyle Rudolph is an American football tight end for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.-Early years:...

chose to forgo his final year of eligibility, and enter the 2011 NFL Draft

2011 NFL Draft

The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...

. The Irish also lost a number of important seniors, including four year starter defensive lineman Ian Williams

Ian Williams (American football)

Ian Williams is an American football defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was signed by the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at Notre Dame.-Early years:...

, linebackers Kerry Neal and Brian Smith, cornerback Darrin Walls, running backs Robert Hughes and Armando Allen, Wide Receiver Duval Kamara, and offensive lineman Matt Romine and Chris Stewart, all to graduation. Redshirt junior quarterback Nate Montana

Nate Montana

Nathaniel Joseph "Nate" Montana is a college football quarterback for the Montana Grizzlies in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. He transferred to Pasadena City College in 2009, before transferring back to Notre Dame in 2010...

left the program in early February 2011, and transferred to the University of Montana. Junior guard Alex Bullard transferred to his hometown state of Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...

and will play for the University of Tennessee

Tennessee Volunteers football

The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....

, citing the desire to be closer to home following the loss of a family member.

Recruiting

With his first full recruiting class, Brian Kelly added 23 prospects to the football team, including the addition of five early-enrollees: defensive end Aaron Lynch, outside linebacker Ishaq Williams, offensive lineman Brad Carrico, quarterback Everett Golson, and kicker Kyle Brindza.

Award candidates

The following players were announced to award watch lists prior to the start of the 2011 season:

Braxton Cave – Rimington Trophy
Dayne Crist
Dayne Crist
Dayne Lawrence Crist is an American football quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.-Early years:Crist attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California. As a senior in 2007 he threw for 2,178 yards with 16 touchdowns and one interception in 10 games, also adding 81...

– Davey O'Brien Award
Davey O'Brien Award
The Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, named after Davey O'Brien, is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Collegiate Athletic Association quarterbacks. The...

, Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
Tyler Eifert
Tyler Eifert
Tyler Eifert is an American football tight end for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.-Early years:Eifert attended Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He played tight end and defensive back...

– Mackey Award
Michael Floyd
Michael Floyd
Michael Floyd is an American football wide receiver. He currently attends the University of Notre Dame in his senior year...

– Biletnikoff Award,, Maxwell Award
Zach Martin – Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
David Ruffer – Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
Harrison Smith – Nagurski Award, Thorpe Award
Manti Te'o – Bednarik Award , Butkus Award, Lombardi Award
Lombardi Award
The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...

, Nagurski Award,
Cierre Wood
Cierre Wood
Cierre Marcelle Wood is an American football running back. He currently attends the University of Notre Dame. He is a listed as a junior, but he will still have 2 years of eligibility after the season....

– Doak Walker Award
Doak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Year at Notre Dame	Alma mater Alma mater Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:... (Year)
Brian Kelly	Head coach	2nd	Assumption Assumption College Assumption College is a private, Roman Catholic, liberal arts college located on 185 acres in Worcester, Massachusetts. Assumption has an enrollment of about 2,117 undergraduates... (1982)
Bob Diaco	Defensive coordinator and linebackers	2nd	Iowa University of Iowa The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees... (1995)
Charley Molnar	Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks	2nd	Lock Haven (1984)
Ed Warriner	Offensive line	2nd	Mount Union Mount Union College The University of Mount Union is a 4-year private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Alliance, Ohio.Mount Union enrolls 2200 undergraduates. Approximately 50 percent are women and 50 percent are men, representing more than 22 states and 13 countries. Mount Union has an active alumni base of... (1984)
Mike Denbrock	Tight ends	2nd (second stint)	Grand Valley State Grand Valley State University Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids... (1987)
Tony Alford	Wide receivers	3rd	Colorado State Colorado State University Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and... (1992)
Tim Hinton	Running backs	2nd	Wilmington Wilmington University Wilmington University is a private educational institution, with its main campus located in New Castle near Wilmington, Delaware. It was founded in 1968 as Wilmington College and was granted university status on September 10, 2007, after approval by the Board of Trustees and the Middle States... (1982)
Chuck Martin	Safties and recruiting coordinator	2nd	Millikin Millikin University Millikin University is an American co-educational, comprehensive, private, four-year university with traditional undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, fine arts, and professional studies, as well as non-traditional, adult degree-completion programs and graduate programs in... (1990)
Mike Elston	Defensive line and special teams coordinator	2nd	Michigan University of Michigan The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan... (1998)
Kerry Cooks Kerry Cooks Kerry Cooks is the Cornerbacks Coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.-Biography:Cooks was born on March 28, 1974 in Dallas, Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he was a team captain on the football team, and is married with two children.-Professional playing career:Cooks was...	Cornerbacks	2nd	Iowa University of Iowa The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees... (2000)
Paul Longo	Strength and conditioning	2nd	Wayne State University Wayne State University Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and... (1981)

Roster

2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish roster from the University of Notre Dame Athletic Site

Quarterbacks

10 Dayne Crist
Dayne Crist
Dayne Lawrence Crist is an American football quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.-Early years:Crist attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California. As a senior in 2007 he threw for 2,178 yards with 16 touchdowns and one interception in 10 games, also adding 81...

– Senior
5 Everett Golson – Freshman
12 Andrew Hendrix – Sophomore
17 Matthew Mulevy – Senior
11 Tommy Rees
Tommy Rees (quarterback)
Thomas Kevin Rees is an American football quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.-Early years:Rees was born to Bill and Susan Rees in Los Angeles, California and grew up in Lake Bluff, Illinois. His father played college football at Ohio Wesleyan and served as an assistant coach at...

– Sophomore

Running Backs

34 George Atkinson III – Freshman
29 Patrick Coughlin – 5th Year Senior
25 Jonas Gray – Senior
33 Cam McDaniel – Freshman
49 Tyler Plantz – Sophomore
31 Cameron Roberson – Sophomore
20 Cierre Wood
Cierre Wood
Cierre Marcelle Wood is an American football running back. He currently attends the University of Notre Dame. He is a listed as a junior, but he will still have 2 years of eligibility after the season....

– Junior

Wide Receivers

14 Luke Massa – Sophomore
16 DaVaris Daniels – Freshman
41 Matthias Farley – Freshman
38 Nick Fitzpatrick – Junior
3 Michael Floyd
Michael Floyd
Michael Floyd is an American football wide receiver. He currently attends the University of Notre Dame in his senior year...

– Senior
81 John Goodman – Senior
7 TJ Jones – Sophomore
37 Eric Lee – Freshman
39 Ryan Liebscher – Sophomore
6 Theo Riddick – Junior
85 Ryan Sharpley – Senior
87 Daniel Smith – Sophomore
9 Robby Toma – Junior
1 Deion Walker – Senior

Tight Ends

80 Tyler Eifert
Tyler Eifert
Tyler Eifert is an American football tight end for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.-Early years:Eifert attended Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He played tight end and defensive back...

– Junior
88 Jake Golic – Junior
18 Ben Koyack – Freshman
86 Arturo Martinez – Sophomore
83 Mike Ragone – 5th Year Senior
82 Alex Welch – Sophomore

Offensive Line

56 Brad Carrico – Freshman
51 Bruce Heggie – Sophomore
72 Nick Martin – Freshman
62 Matt Tansey – Junior

Offensive Tackles

73 Lane Clelland – Senior
75 Taylor Dever – 5th Year Senior
77 Matt Hegarty – Freshman
74 Christian Lombard – Sophomore
71 Dennis Mahoney – Senior
70 Zack Martin – Junior
64 Tate Nichols – Sophomore
79 Jordan Prestwood – Freshman

Offensive Guards

65 Conor Hanratty – Freshman
76 Andrew Nuss – 5th Year Senior
78 Trevor Robinson – Senior
66 Chris Watt – Junior

Centers

52 Braxston Cave – Senior
57 Mike Golic Jr. – Senior

Defensive Ends

50 Chase Hounshell – Freshman
90 Ethan Johnson – Senior
89 Kapron Lewis-Moore – Senior
19 Aaron Lynch – Freshman
96 Kona Schwenke – Sophomore
69 Tony Springmann – Freshman
7 Stephen Tuitt – Freshman

Defensive Tackles

98 Sean Cwynar – Junior

Nose Guards

99 Brandon Newman – Senior
9 Louis Nix III – Sophomore
92 Tyler Stockton – Junior
94 Hafis Williams – Senior

Linebackers

93 Connor Little – Freshman

Inside Linebackers

44 Carlo Calabrese – Junior
48 Dan Fox – Junior
59 Jarrett Grace – Freshman
54 Anthony McDonald – Senior
8 Kendall Moore – Sophomore
50 Sean Oxley – Senior
36 David Posluszny – Senior
56 Anthony Rabasa – Freshman
38 Joe Schmidt – Freshman
55 Prince Shembo – Sophomore
5 Manti Te'o – Junior
53 Justin Utupo – Sophomore

Outside Linebackers

30 Ben Councell – Freshman
46 Steve Filer – Senior
45 Darius Fleming – Senior
47 Jonathan Frantz – Senior
58 Troy Niklas – Freshman
13 Danny Spond – Sophomore
1 Ishaq Williams – Freshman

Defensive Backs

35 Joe Romano – Sophomore

Cornerbacks

43 Josh Atkinson – Freshman
12 Robert Blanton – Senior
21 Jalen Brown – Freshman
4 Gary Gray – 5th Year Senior
2 Bennett Jackson – Sophomore
42 Nick Lezynski – 5th Year Senior
32 Andrew Plaska – Senior
39 Ryan Sheehan – Senior
23 Lo Wood – Sophomore

Safeties

49 Blake Breslau – Junior
40 Connor Cavalaris – Freshman
28 Austin Collinsworth – Sophomore
34 Eilar Hardy – Freshman
15 Dan McCarthy – Senior
17 Zeke Motta – Junior
24 Chris Salvi – Senior
26 Janoris Slaughter – Senior
22 Harrison Smith
Harrison Smith
Harrison Preserved Smith was an American track and field athlete who competed at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France....

– 5th Year Senior

Kickers/Punters

27 Kyle Brindza – Freshman
37 Mike Greico – Senior
97 David Ruffer – 5th Year Senior
40 Nick Tausch – Junior
35 Ben Turk – Junior

Long Snappers

60 Jordan Cowart – Junior
50 Ryan Kavanaugh – Senior

Schedule

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!colspan=12 style="background:#002b5b; color:#dcb439;"| Bowl Game

South Florida

Game Captains: Trevor Robinson, Robert Blanton

Michigan

Game Captain: Zach Martin

Michigan State

Game Captain: Ethan Johnson

Pittsburgh

Game Captain: Taylor Dever

Purdue

Game Captain: Tyler Eifert

Air Force

Game Captain: Jonas Gray

USC

Game Captain: Manti Te'o, Cierre Wood

Navy

Game Captain: Chris Salvi

Wake Forest

Game Captain: Robert Blanton

Maryland

Game Captain: Darius Fleming

Boston College

Stanford

Game Captain: Taylor Dever

Rankings

External links

Notre Dame official athletic site

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