A few final notes as Notre Dame puts Nevada in the rearview mirror and sets its sights on a pivotal clash with Michigan State on Saturday:
— Junior nose guard Daniel Cage deserves plenty of praise for his play through Notre Dame’s first two games. Against Nevada, he barged through the Wolf Pack’s offensive line and forced what looked like a fumble, but was ultimately ruled a pass break-up. He also was credited with the tackle of Notre Dame’s fourth-and-one stuff on Nevada’s first drive of the game, which set the tone for an Irish defense that only allowed three points with its first-stringers in.
“This was the best game he's played since he's been at Notre Dame,” coach Brian Kelly said.
Cage previously had a “bit of an issue” with sleep apnea that’s been corrected, Kelly said, allowing him to get adequate rest. And with that better rest has been two games in which the former three-star recruit has been a force in the middle of the Irish defensive line.
— Sophomore receiver C.J. Sanders got the game ball for his efforts against Nevada, which were highlighted by his 24-yard punt return that set up his seven-yard touchdown reception. With Nevada backed up into its own end zone, Sanders caught that punt near midfield — which is awfully dangerous territory for the speedy, shifty returner.
“I’m loving it, because I know the guys in front of me are going to put it all on the line for me,” Sanders said of those short-field returns. “I know if they take care of their job, I’ll make something happen, and they always do.”
With Sanders, Notre Dame has emerged from the dark ages on punt returns, going from 2.19 yards per return in 2012 (120th in FBS) to 7.96 yards per return in 2015 (70th) with two touchdowns, and now — in a small sample size — 22.5 yards per return in 2016 (9th).
— Sophomore running back Dexter Williams showed an impressive burst after getting into Saturday’s game midway through the third quarter. With Malik Zaire quarterbacking the Irish offense behind the first-team offensive line, Williams patiently waited for his blocks to develop and dashed 24 yards for what almost was a touchdown (he punched in his score from one yard out on the next play).
Getting Williams consistent carries may be difficult with Josh Adams and Tarean Folston ahead of him, but with more runs like he had against the Wolf Pack, Williams could carve out some carries in the Irish offense going forward.
— Zaire got that aforementioned series with the first-team offensive line in an effort by Kelly to help keep the redshirt junior ready in case he’s needed in a higher-leverage situation than garbage time.
“Anytime you can give him that opportunity to continue to work with that unit I think it just keeps him sharp,” Kelly said. “If he's called upon he obviously continues that repertoire of working with that group.”
— Redshirt junior receiver Torii Hunter Jr. will go through a controlled full practice on Tuesday as part of his last step in the team’s concussion protocol, Kelly said Sunday. He’s expected back for Michigan State.
— For more wrapping up Nevada and looking ahead to Michigan State, Mike Monaco and I broke it all down on the Still Independent Podcast: