The 2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their second year under head coach Brian Kelly, the Irish compiled an 8–5 record, outscored opponents by a total of 380 to 269, and were unranked in the final AP and Coaches Polls. They lost the two opening games against unranked South Florida and unranked Michigan, the rivalry game with USC, and the two final games against No. 4 Stanford and No. 25 Florida State, the latter in the Champs Sports Bowl.
Wide receiver Michael Floyd led the team with 100 receptins for 1,147 yard and was selected as the team's most valuable player for the second consecutive year. The team's other statistical leaders included quarterback Tommy Rees (2,871 passing yards), running back Cierre Wood (1,102 rushing yards), linebacker Manti Te'o (128 total tackles), and kicker David Ruffer (77 points scored, 47 of 47 extra points, 10 of 16 field goals).
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Schedule
Preseason Before the season started, Kerry Cooks took over as cornerback coach after coaching the outside linebackers the previous season. Defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, who also coached the inside linebackers, became coach of the entire linebacking corps. Chuck Martin was assigned responsibility for the safeties and as recruiting coordinator.
Also prior to the season, tight end Kyle Rudolph chose to forgo his final year of eligibility and entered the 2011 NFL draft. Other players lost to graduation included defensive lineman Ian Williams, cornerback Darrin Walls, and running backs Robert Hughes and Armando Allen. Redshirt junior quarterback Nate Montana left the program in early February 2011, and transferred to the University of Montana.
Also prior to the season, the following players were named to award watch lists: Braxston Cave – Rimington Trophy Dayne Crist – Davey O'Brien Award, Maxwell Award Tyler Eifert – Mackey Award Michael Floyd – Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award Zack Martin – Outland Trophy David ruffer – Groza Award Harrison Smith – Nagurski Award, Thorpe Award Manti Te'o – Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, Nagurski Award, Cierre Wood – Doak Walker Award
Game summaries South Florida
Game Captains: Trevor Robinson, Robert Blanton "No. 16 Irish Drop Season Opener To USF, 23–20." UND.com. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
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
Source:
Wake Forest
Game Captain: Robert Blanton
Maryland
Game Captain: Darius Fleming
Despite the game being played only 12 miles from the Maryland campus, both end zones read "Notre Dame" and the majority of the fans in attendance were supporting the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame wore their green jerseys along with large green shamrocks on their side of their gold helmets.
Boston College
Stanford
Game Captain: Taylor Dever
Florida State
Game Captain: Michael Floyd
Rankings
Personnel Players 2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish roster from the University of Notre Dame Athletic SiteQuarterbacks 10 Dayne Crist – senior 5 Everett Golson – freshman 12 Andrew Hendrix – sophomore 17 Matthew Mulevy – senior 11 Tommy Rees – sophomore
Running backs 34 George Atkinson III – freshman 29 Patrick Coughlin – 5th Year Senior 25 Jonas Gray – senior 33 Cam McDaniel – freshman
31 Cameron Roberson – sophomore 20 Cierre Wood – junior
Wide receivers 14 Luke Massa – sophomore 16 DaVaris Daniels – freshman 41 Matthias Farley – freshman 38 Nick Fitzpatrick – junior 3 Michael Floyd – senior 81 John Goodman – senior 7 T. J. 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 – 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 Stephon 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 Jamoris Slaughter – senior 22 Harrison Smith – 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 Kavanagh – senior # Incoming Transfer, Must sit out a year
Coaching staff Name Position Year at Notre Dame Alma mater (Year) Brian Kelly Head coach 2nd Assumption (1982) Bob Diaco Defensive coordinator/linebackers 2nd Iowa (1995) Charley Molnar Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks 2nd Lock Haven (1984) Chuck MartinSafeties /recruiting coordinator 2nd Millikin (1990) Mike Elston Defensive line / special teams coordinator2nd Michigan (1998) Ed Warinner Offensive line 2nd Mount Union (1984) Mike Denbrock Tight ends 2nd (second stint) Grand Valley State (1987) Tony Alford Wide receivers 3rd Colorado State (1992) Tim Hinton Running backs 2nd Wilmington (1982) Kerry Cooks Cornerbacks 2nd Iowa (2000) Paul Longo Strength and conditioning 2nd Wayne State University (1981)
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.
Statistics Passing Tommy Rees - 269 of 411 (65.5%) for 2,871 yards, 20 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and a 133.4 passer rating. Andrew Hendrix - 18 of 37 (48.6%) for 249 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, and a 133.4 passer rating. Dayne Crist - 15 of 24 (62.5%) for 164 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception, 111.7 passer rating
Rushing Cierre Wood - 1,102 yards on 217 carries, 5.1-yard average, 9 touchdowns Jonas Gray - 791 yards on 114 carries, 6.9-yard average, 12 touchdowns Andrew Hendrix - 162 yards on 25 carries, 6.5-yard average, 1 touchdown
Receptions Michael Floyd (WR) - 100 reeptions for 1,147 yards, 11.5-yard average, 9 touchdowns Tyler Eifert (TE) - 68 receptions for 803 yards, 12.7-yard average, 5 touchdowns Theo Riddick (WR) - 38 receptions for 436 yards, 11.5-yard average, 3 touchdowns T.J. Jones (WR) - 19 receptions for 207 yards, 10.9-yard average, 3 touchdowns Robby Toma (WR) - 19 receptions for 207 yards, 10.9-yard average, 1 touchdown Cierre Wood (RB) - 27 receptions for 189 yards, 7.0-yard average, 0 touchdowns
Scoring David Ruffer (K) - 77 points, 47 of 47 PAT, 10 of 16 field goals Jonas Gray (RB) - 72 points, 12 touchdowns Michael Floyd (WR) - 60 points, 10 touchdowns Cierre Wood (RB) - 54 points, 9 touchdowns Tyler Eifert (TE) - 30 points, 5 touchdowns George Atkinson III (RB) - 24 points, 4 touchdowns
Tackles Manti Te'o (LB) - 128 total tackles, 62 solo tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks Harrison Smith (DB) - 90 total tackles, 53 solo tackles Robert Blanton (DB) - 70 total tackles, 48 solo tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack Gary Gray (DB) - 67 total tackles, 48 solo tackles Darius Fleming (LB) - 55 total tackles, 24 solo tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks
Awards and honors Wide receiver Michael Floyd was selected by his teammates as the team's most valuable player. It was Floyd's second consecutive year with the honor. Floyd was also a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
Tight end Tyler Eifert was a finalist for the John Mackey Award.
All-Americans George Atkinson III, KR Hon. Mention Tyler Eifert, TE 2 2 Hon. Mention 3 1 Hon. Mention 3Michael Floyd, WR Hon. Mention Hon. Mention Manti Te'o, LB 2 2 2 2 2 2†denotes consensus selection. NCAA recognizes AP, AFCA, FWAA, SN and WCFF 1st teams for consensus selectionsSource:
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