Notre Dame’s football family will unite on Friday night and celebrate the 2015 season with their annual ECHOES Awards, the 95th Notre Dame football awards banquet. With a slew of recruits in South Bend on an unseasonably warm weekend, it’s a big couple of days on campus as the Irish take a brief break in their preparations for Ohio State and look back on the year that was.
Last year, Joe Schmidt was voted team MVP by his teammates, the headliner among the 15 awards given. This year, we’ll take an opportunity to make our predictions for the awards given out—going out on the rare ledge.
Below are my predictions for the annual ECHOES.
Scout Team Player of the Year: Offense — Rob Regan
Notre Dame’s SWAG team quarterback has already been heralded plenty this season for his work prepping the Irish for both Georgia Tech and Navy. But the true freshman deserves to take home some hardware Friday night after replicating Justin Thomas and Keenan Reynolds all season.
Scout Team Player of the Year: Defense — Connor Cavalaris
This one is a bit of a hunch, but Cavalaris fits the mold of a guy that deserves some kudos for his work over four seasons. The fifth-year cornerback has played in 30 games in his Notre Dame career, making two tackles against Alabama in the 2012 BCS title game. He’s chipped in two tackles this year but likely carries the load Monday through Friday on the practice field.
Newcomer of the Year: Offense — Josh Adams
The record-setting freshman averages 7.3 yards per carry and is second on the team with 757 rushing yards. He’s scored six touchdowns and provided clutch depth behind C.J. Prosise after Notre Dame got a combined three carries out of Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant combined.
Newcomer of the Year: Defense — Jerry Tillery
This one seems like a no-brainer to me as well. Tillery went from offensive line prospect to starting defensive tackle, trading starts with Daniel Cage as the Irish defense did battle without Jarron Jones. Tillery’s statistical impact may have been limited to 12 tackles and two TFLs, but he played huge in the trenches as a true freshman.
Special Teams Player of the Year — Justin Yoon
This was a toss-up between Yoon and punter Tyler Newsome, but I went with Yoon just because of his ability to step onto the field as a true freshman and deliver a consistent season. Yoon gutted his way through an early-season slump and managed to make 15 of his 17 field goal attempts and 46 of his 48 extra point attempts.
Offensive Lineman of the Year — Ronnie Stanley
Stanley looks poised to win this award for the second time in as many seasons. Notre Dame has been spoiled by the play of their left tackles the past six seasons with Stanley filling in amazingly well for Zack Martin.
Irish Around the Bend — Matthias Farley
A complete guess on my part, but I just kind of assumed that one of the many hats that Farley wears is that of an active participant in the community. I’m preparing to be wrong here, but this is kind of like those Oscar pools where you’re guessing on the animated shorts. Plus the fifth-year captain just deserves an award for his awesome career and this fits with the many hats that Farley wears.
Moose Krause Lineman of the Year — Sheldon Day
Notre Dame’s best defensive lineman was clearly Day, with the senior leading Notre Dame in TFLs and elevating the play of all those around him. I think it’s going to be a big day for the senior captain.
Father Lange Iron Cross — Nick Martin
Another hunch, but this feels like a great time to award one of Notre Dame’s toughest guys and a two-time captain. Martin worked his way through another season that presented a nagging ankle injury that could have derailed him. He didn’t let it and played great football at center all season, a position with no established depth behind him. Martin will be missed.
Pietrosante Award — Joe Schmidt
I could easily see this going to fellow linebacker Jarrett Grace, but I’ve got him slotted for some different hardware. Schmidt’s senior season wasn’t the MVP campaign that he had in 2014, but he was still at the center of the action, leading the defense and serving as the central nerve center. His physical limitations were often exposed, but he was Notre Dame’s best middle linebacker and a player too valuable to take off the field.
Rockne Student-Athlete — Jarrett Grace
Corey Robinson won this last year, otherwise I’d have put him back in this slot. But Grace deserves some type of kudos after an impressive senior season, one that could see him play a lot of football in the Fiesta Bowl, against a team many in his neighborhood grew up cheering for, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Tire Rack Play of the Year — DeShone Kizer to Will Fuller at Virginia
No play meant more to the Irish season that Kizer’s late-game touchdown pass to Fuller. Notre Dame escaped with a win over the Cavaliers, surviving the injury to Malik Zaire. Fuller showed his unbelievable playmaking ability and Kizer displayed the clutch skill-set he utilized so often this year.
Offensive Player of the Year — Will Fuller
Notre Dame’s All-American receiver makes too much sense here. One of the most dangerous players in college football, Fuller disappeared a few times this season but still managed to build on his breakout 2014 season, topping his yardage totals even with 20 less catches.
Defensive Player of the Year — Jaylon Smith
Another easy selection as Smith led Notre Dame in tackles and served as a dominant force every week. The junior put together back-to-back 100+ tackle seasons for the first time since Manti Te’o.
Next Man In Award — DeShone Kizer
Easiest selection of the show (which means I’ll end up being wrong), as Kizer exemplified what Brian Kelly’s mantra is all about, picking up the offense after Malik Zaire went down and putting together an amazing first season.
Most Valuable Player — Sheldon Day
While Smith did the most on the stat sheet, the heart of the defense was Sheldon Day, who served as Notre Dame’s only true weapon in the trenches. The two-time captain made the decision to come back to South Bend for his senior season and put together an incredible year, already named to a first-team All-American team. Day led by example, he lead at practice and he mentored the young defensive lineman who’ll try to fill his shoes.