The Willingham Effect - Offensive Line Recruiting Under Ty and Charlie

Juniors - 3              Olsen-Soph        Wenger-Soph        Carufel           Trevor Robinson

Sophs - 4              Sullivan-Sr(5^th)   Bemenderfer-Jr       Matt Romine     Braxton Cave

Freshmen - 4        Turkovich-Jr         Stewart-Soph        Andrew Nuss       Mike Golic

                           Duncan-Jr            Taylor Dever        Emeka Nwankwo

                                                                                 (to Def)

Total - 12       

2 returning starters from ‘06. 1 departure for 2008. 1 transfer. 1 injury. 4 incoming recruits

All of Davie’s recruits are gone.  In 2007, Weis’s offensive line consists of three Willingham recruits, Weis’s seven recruits – one junior and six sophomores, and his four incoming freshmen. 

Webb suffers career-ending injury.  Carufel transfers part way into the season.  Even with those losses, Weis has recruited nine top offensive linemen in two years to Willingham’s three in three years. 

Weis uses multiple combinations of offensive linemen to find the right mix.   The quarterback is a freshman and most skill position players are underclassmen.   

Youth and inexperience show against ten bowl-bound opponents.  Remember the adages?  In 2007, Notre Dame’s opponents had the ball almost four minutes more per game and had 59 more first downs rushing.  The Irish averaged 2.1 yards per carry, converted on 31% of their third downs and gave up a record 58 sacks.     

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