Julian Love
FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly watches play against Clemson during the NCAA Cotton Bowl football game in Arlington, Texas. Nine practices into spring football practice, Brian Kelly has an idea how his Notre Dame football depth chart is settling in at running back, wide receiver and cornerback. Linebacker is another matter. “Clark is working overtime,” Kelly said of defensive coordinator Clark Lea, who oversees the position that graduated its top two inside linebackers in Te’von Coney (123 tackles) and Drue Tranquill (86) (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Linebacking corps still a question for Kelly, Lea, Irish

By John Fineran Apr. 02, 2019 02:10 AM EDT

Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams talks to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Kelly's Irish resume climb for first title since 1988

By John Fineran Mar. 01, 2019 05:02 PM EST

Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa throws during the first half the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Clemson, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
AP Top 25 Heat Check: Wrapping up 2018 with eye toward 2019

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 08, 2019 12:30 PM EST

Notre Dame All-America CB Love to skip junior season for NFL

By The Associated Press Jan. 04, 2019 07:43 PM EST
Notre Dame All-America cornerback Julian Love and tight end Alize Mack are forgoing their final seasons of eligibility and entering the NFL draft. Both...

Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross (8) escapes a tackle attempt by Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman, right, as Ross reaches the end zone for a touchdown in the first half of the NCAA Cotton Bowl semi-final playoff football game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Notre Dame title drought extends with another big bowl loss

By Stephen Hawkins Dec. 29, 2018 08:04 PM EST

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) celebrates after their 30-3 win against Notre Dame in the NCAA Cotton Bowl semi-final playoff football game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Lawrence lights up Notre Dame, No. 2 Clemson cruises 30-3

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 29, 2018 07:49 PM EST

Notre Dame safety Jalen Elliott, left, is unable to stop Clemson running back Travis Etienne (9) from reaching the end zone for a touchdown in the second half of the NCAA Cotton Bowl semi-final playoff football game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson advance to title game

By The Associated Press Dec. 29, 2018 05:24 PM EST

No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Notre Dame in Cotton for title shot

By The Associated Press Dec. 28, 2018 12:30 PM EST
Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas: No. 3 Notre Dame (12-0) vs. No. 2 Clemson (13-0), Saturday, 4 p.m. EST (ESPN) Line: Clemson by 12½. ...

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2018, file photo, Clemson's Travis Etienne (9) runs past Pittsburgh's Dennis Briggs (20) during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C. Clemson plays Notre Dame on Dec. 29 in in college football playoff semifinal in Arlington, Texas. Etienne has 1,463 yards on 176 rushes (8.3 per carry) and 21 of Clemson’s 46 touchdowns on the ground. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Playoff: Notre Dame defense preparing for prolific Tigers

By John Fineran Dec. 22, 2018 03:03 AM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2018, file photo, Northern Illinois defensive end Sutton Smith (15) reacts after sacking Buffalo quarterback Tyree Jackson (3) during the second half of the Mid-American Conference championship game, in Detroit. Smith was named to the 2018 AP All-America NCAA college football team, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018.(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
2018 AP All-America Team List

By The Associated Press Dec. 10, 2018 12:01 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Alabama defensive back Deionte Thompson (14) celebrates after Mississippi State place kicker Jace Christmann (47) missed a field goal-attempt during the first half of a game, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Thompson was named to the 2018 AP All-America NCAA college football team, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
AP All-America team: Tide leads with 4 of 10 CFP players

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 10, 2018 12:00 PM EST

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray poses with the trophy after winning The Davey O'Brien Award for being the top quarterback in college football, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Latest: Tagovailoa leads Murray 2-1 in POY awards

Dec. 06, 2018 07:46 PM EST

Southern California quarterback JT Daniels throws a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Notre Dame Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
No. 3 Notre Dame rolls to 12-0 season, beats rival USC 24-17

By Greg Beacham Nov. 24, 2018 11:37 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill plays against Florida State in the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind. Tranquill, who has suffered a broken left hand and high right ankle sprain during Notre Dame’s magical mystery 2018 tour, has remarkably missed just a few plays this season. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Tranquill leads No. 3 Notre Dame to cusp of playoff berth

By John Fineran Nov. 21, 2018 03:29 PM EST

Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush (7) runs the ball against Florida State in the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Backup QB Wimbush, defense help No. 3 Irish dominate FSU

By John Fineran Nov. 10, 2018 11:10 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2017, file photo, Notre Dame's Julian Love watches during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College in Boston. Love can’t wait to get to Ryan Field. The junior cornerback for No. 3 Notre Dame played his high school football at Nazareth Catholic Academy in suburban Chicago, about 30 miles from the Northwestern campus in Evanston. He will be going up against Northwestern’s receivers and talented senior quarterback Clayton Thorson on Saturday night. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
Homecoming: No. 3 Notre Dame CB Love eager for Northwestern

By John Fineran Nov. 01, 2018 02:48 PM EDT

FILe - In this Nov. 24, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi celebrates a touchdown against Miami during an NCA college football game in Pittsburgh. Back in 2012, Brian Kelly's Notre Dame team ran the table during the regular season to set up a showdown with Alabama for the national title. Along the way the Fighting Irish had to survive some close games, including overtime victories at home against Stanford and Pittsburgh (a triple OT affair). Now Kelly's Irish are 6-0 and ranked No. 5 and look who is waiting them this week -- the Panthers. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
No. 5 Notre Dame knocking on the door for playoff berth

By John Fineran Oct. 09, 2018 05:04 PM EDT

Virginia Tech's Jarrod Hewitt (55) grabs Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) by the face mask and is called for a personal foul during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, in Blacksburg, Va. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP)
Williams runs No. 6 Irish past No. 24 Hokies, 45-23

By Hank Kurz Jr. Oct. 06, 2018 11:58 PM EDT

Notre Dame's Alize Mack (86) reaches for a pass as Notre Dame's Drue Tranquill (23) defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. The pass was incomplete. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Notre Dame at Wake Forest 9/22/2018

Oct. 02, 2018 12:20 PM EDT

Notre Dame running back Tony Jones Jr (6) celebrates as he runs in a touchdown against Ball State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Ball State at Notre Dame 9/8/2018

Sep. 20, 2018 12:02 PM EDT