Notre Dame’s New ‘Day’ Along The Defensive Line With Isaac Rochell

Next to filling the void left by 2015 Butkus Award winner Jaylon Smith at linebacker, the most formidable task to undertake for the 2016 Notre Dame defense might be finding a Sheldon Day-like figure along the line.

Day’s combination of leadership while serving as a two-time captain, versatility in his ability to play on the edge or inside, and production with team highs in tackles for loss (15.5), quarterback hurries (13) and forced fumbles (two) last year made him a standout.

Nevertheless, not having a significant drop-off along the 2016 line, if any, is doable for at least two reasons. One is the return of Day’s classmate, fifth-year senior Jarron Jones, at nose guard, after being shelved the entire 2015 regular season because of a torn MCL. His presence provides instant girth (6-5½, 315 pounds), experience and playmaking skills to the position, while also allowing sophomore Jerry Tillery to align at perhaps a more natural slot at three-technique.

Equally important is the presence of senior defensive end/tackle Isaac Rochell — possibly the most underrated and overshadowed Notre Dame player the past two seasons.

• The strongside end Rochell has been just as versatile as Day, having also started at nose tackle when needed or lining up just about anywhere in the interior.

“You’re always in situations where you have to be able to move around,” Rochell said. “Who knows what will happen, but I know we have a lot of really good guys at very specific positions, like Jarron at nose. I do in a way see myself being at one position consistently, but you never know.”

• His durability has been tremendous, starting 25 of the 26 possible games the last two seasons, and playing in all 26. Day had entered his senior year having missed seven starts because of injury issues, while in other games he was slowed by lingering wounds.

“I can’t attribute it to anything else other than being blessed,” said Rochell, whose 783 snaps last year (60 per game, which may have taken a toll by the end of the season) were the most among the linemen.

• Rochell is a little rangier at 6-3½, 290 pounds, while the quicker Day was more compact at 6-2, 285. Day was more explosive off the ball, but the powerful Rochell even last year did 28 reps of the 225-pound bench press (Day did 21 at this year’s NFL Combine).

“It’s kind of pointless if you’re really strong and can’t put it into football terms,” said Rochell, humbly downplaying his strength.

• Entering his senior season, Day had 96 tackles, 16.5 stops for loss and 3.5 sacks. Rochell has more tackles (112), slightly fewer stops for loss (15) and the same amount of sacks (3.5). His seven QB hurries last year were second to Day’s 13.

Unlike Day, though, Rochell did not submit any paperwork to the NFL after his junior season to see where he stood. The McDonough, Ga., native — whose brother Matt is graduating this spring from the Air Force Academy after starting three years as an offensive lineman — had virtually no curiosity about his NFL standing, even though a professional football career is in the making.

“I knew I wanted to come back, first off to get my degree, and second, I want to put myself in the best position [for the future],” Rochell said. “I don’t want to go into a situation where it’s kind of iffy. Who knows what is going to happen? I want to feel confident in the process so it’s not stressful.

“I wouldn’t come to spend three winters up here and be in the snow for three years, to not get my degree. It’s a blessing to be here and I believe there is a reason I’m here. I think one of the reasons is to get my degree, so I’m not going to waste an opportunity that has been given.

“I don’t think about [the NFL] that much. If I do, I try to squash it because we have a mission here and a focus here, and my job right now is to be on a team that’s going to potentially win a national championship. All that [other] stuff is not in the forefront of my mind.”

The return of Rochell, Jones, Tillery and junior weakside end Andrew Trumbetti, a regular in last year’s lineup while backing up the graduating Romeo Okwara, makes the line the perceived strength of the 2016 defense, at least on paper. However, replacing the leadership of Day is an intangible that can’t be measured. Like tackle Mike McGlinchey on offense, Rochell might be a best bet on defense to take on a captaincy for the Fighting Irish in 2016. His personality is different from Day’s, but it can be effective in its own right.

“The biggest thing Sheldon did was he was just the best at what he did,” Rochell said. “You kind of had no choice but to listen to him and follow him. He was charismatic and you trusted him. Last year we had a close D-line and we want to maintain that culture where we trust each other.

“I just want they guys to be able to trust me and know that I have their backs. Everything else kind of feeds out. You can’t force yourself into a role, nor can anybody else force you into a role. It’s just a matter of feeling it out, working hard and building trust. … I think I’m just inherently in a position where I have to assume that role.”

Physically and mentally, Rochell is primed to have the same strong senior year impact that Day did in 2015.

“Everybody has an individual job,” Rochell said. “I want to be best defensive lineman in the country.”

It’s something he aspires toward, day by day.