Career Stats: Notre Dame Pass Catchers And The Balancing Act

Since 1970, Notre Dame has had two wide receivers selected in the first round of the NFL Draft: Tim Brown in 1988 (No. 6 overall) and Michael Floyd in 2013 (No. 13 overall).

This spring, Will Fuller could become the third in the last 47 years to achieve that status. Brown caught three times more passes than anyone else his senior year with the Irish, and Floyd snared a single-season school-record 100 as a senior in 2011.

Meanwhile, Fuller’s 1,258 receiving yards last season, with a remarkable 20.3 yards per catch, were not only more than double of his nearest teammate (Chris Brown had 597), but Fuller also grabbed more touchdown passes (14) than the rest of the team combined (11).

Losing such a stellar playmaker that the opposing defense had to account for or game plan around is often categorized in the ensuing season prognostications as “a major concern.”

Or is it?

The year after Floyd’s graduation, Notre Dame had one of its best-balanced, share-the-wealth passing attacks ever while improving from 8-5 to 12-1. Tight end Tyler Eifert and wide receiver TJ Jones had 50 receptions apiece; running back Theo Riddick, a former slot receiver, grabbed 36 while averaging more than 10 yards per catch; wideouts DaVaris Daniels and Robby Toma snatched 31 and 24, respectively; and reserves such as wide receiver John Goodman and tight end Troy Niklas also hauled in touchdown passes at meaningful times in games (and Brown as a freshman hauled in a pivotal 50-yard reception in the win at Oklahoma).

Meanwhile, sans Tim Brown, the 1988 Fighting Irish pass attack likewise became better balanced with more players to account for when opposing defenses lined up, aiding its improvement from 8-4 with Brown to 12-0 and the national title the next season without him.

Only two players caught more than six passes for Notre Dame in 1987 (Brown and running back Mark Green), while the next year it had seven with only three completions separating the top four pass catchers on the squad. The top two flankers that year combined for 22 catches that averaged 18.6 yards, the top two running backs 21 for 14.8, the top split ends 17 at 25.5, the top two tight ends 16 for 14.8, and the top two fullbacks 13 for 15.6.

That’s not inferring that Brown or Floyd wouldn’t have been welcomed back by the Notre Dame coaches had they had another year of eligibility remaining. If it were up to Brian Kelly — if he were asked, “Would you rather have Fuller on your 2016 team as a senior?” — we’re confident he would answer yes 100 times out of 100.

However, sometimes when a team or a coach is “forced” to look beyond one player, it can create a harmonious, galvanized and improved effect, provided the recruiting has been consistently quality over the years. At Notre Dame, that has been the case under Kelly, which is why newbies at receiver in 2016 — from sophomores Equanimeous St. Brown, Miles Boykin and CJ Sanders, to incoming freshmen Kevin Stepherson (an early enrollee), Chase Claypool and Javon McKinley — can still provide an optimistic outlook.

However, the first opportunity to help uplift the passing attack will be presented to the veterans. Statistically, these are the top pass catchers returning with their career data:

1. Corey Robinson, 65 for 896 yards and seven touchdowns — He dropped from 40 catches in 2014 to 16 in 2015, but still has nearly twice as many grabs as anyone else on the team. Theories to his stats dropping significantly have included the 2016 Notre Dame student body president possibly spreading himself too thin with other interests. If he can provide a complementary consistency the way Chris Brown did in 2015, that would bode well.

2. Torii Hunter Jr., 35 for 428 yards and three touchdowns — Hunter began to become more prominent as a junior while splitting time at slot with the graduated Amir Carlisle. He seems to be in his career development where C.J. Prosise was after his junior campaign. Again, if his senior year can match the production Prosise had at running back, the Irish offense should continue to be a strength. Kelly wants to see more production from the slot position, and Hunter is maybe the most primed figure on the team for a potential 50-catch output.

3. Tarean Folston, 23 for 225 yards and one touchdown — Back from 2015 ACL surgery, he became a good check-down option as a 2014 sophomore with 18 grabs for 190 yards. His reliable hands and open-field ability make him an appealing safety valve.

4. Alizé Jones, 13 for 190 yards and no touchdowns — Had several huge moments as a freshman tight end and might be in line as one of the top three targets on the team because of fewer veteran receiving options. He might most resemble the vertical threat at the position that Eifert did, and we could see his catch total at least doubling this season.

5. Josh Adams, seven for 42 yards and one touchdown — Joins Folston as appealing screen option out of the backfield, and at running the wheel route.