Notre Dame Football: Ranking Irish's Top Performers from 2014 Regular Season

While Notre Dame awaits its postseason destination, the stench coming from the Irish's November performance still hangs in the air. A 7-5 record came after the Irish started 6-0, a young and injury-depleted roster crashing. That collapse has done its best to shake the foundation of a program that appeared on solid footing. 

That's still likely the case. But a four-game losing streak and a blowout loss to USC—the worst of the Brian Kelly era—has Irish fans questioning everything, including their head coach. 

But the season wasn't all disappointment. We saw numerous young players emerge, including a sophomore class that looks like it has what it takes to lead Notre Dame into the College Football Playoff.

The offense scored more points than any Irish offense since Charlie Weis' 2005 team, doing so with mostly underclassmen at skill positions and all but Ben Koyack and Christian Lombard returning.

While defensive struggles in first-year coordinator Brian VanGorder's system saw the Irish give up more than 30 points in seven straight games to end the season, when the unit was healthy it performed well. 

Let's take a look back and rank the regular-season's top performers.

Honorable Mention

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The following players just missed the cut:

Isaac Rochell, DE: 12 games, 37 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, one sack

Ben Koyack, TE: 12 games, 29 catches, 305 yards, 10.5 YPC, two TDs

Cody Riggs, CB: 10 games, 33 tackles, one INT, three PBU

C.J. Prosise, WR: 12 games, 26 catches, 482 yards, 18.6 YPC, two TDs

Chris Brown, WR: 12 games, 35 catches, 499 yards, 14.3 YPC, one TD

Jarron Jones, DT: 11 games, 40 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, two blocked kicks

10. Matthias Farley

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Matthias Farley: 12 games, 51 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, four INTs

All Farley did was make plays this season. After a spring where it looked like he was being put out to pasture and buried on the cornerback depth chart, the senior (he has a fifth year of eligibility remaining) ended up being one of the defense's best performers. 

Playing limited snaps, Farley was in the top five for total tackles, tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with interceptions. He became the team's primary nickelback out of necessity and will likely serve as the team's third safety in the bowl game with Austin Collinsworth likely done for the season and Max Redfield's status after a broken rib still uncertain. 

Farley cemented his place on the 2015 roster with an impressive season.

9. Corey Robinson

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Corey Robinson: 12 games, 40 catches, 539 yards, 13.5 YPC, five touchdowns 

Robinson was named a first-team Academic All-American on Thursday, the first true sophomore to do so since 2008. He combined an impressive second season with a 3.83 grade-point average in liberal studies, one of the most rigorous curriculums on campus. 

On the field, Robinson played through an early-season thumb fracture, not missing a game with an injury that made his job much more difficult. That didn't stop him from being dominant at times, scoring two touchdowns on eight catches against Florida State (a third touchdown was controversially called back). 

Growing past the program-listed 6'4", Robinson is a mismatch in space and has improved as an overall route runner. He'll be a huge part of the offensive plans for next season.

8. Sheldon Day

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Sheldon Day: 10 games, 38 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, one sack 

The junior defensive lineman shifted inside for the 2014 season, playing a tackle position that's better suited for Day's skill set. And while Day's numbers are certainly respectable, they don't necessarily measure his true impact. (If there was a stat for almost tackles and sacks, Day would lead the team.)

That being said, for the second year in a row, Day's regular season was plagued by injuries. An MCL strain kept him off the field for the Louisville and USC games, further gutting a defensive line that badly needs him. 

Brian Kelly and the coaching staff believe Day has what it takes to be among the finest defensive linemen in the country. But his production has yet to show that. After being named a captain before the season, Day will have a senior year to produce at the level many have projected for him.

7. Everett Golson

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Everett Golson: 12 games, 3,355 passing yards, 60.1 percent, 29:14 TD:INT, eight rushing TDs 

For as bad as the bad has been, it's not necessarily fair to call Golson's season a failure. Notre Dame's quarterback had one of the most productive (from a points perspective) seasons in all of college football, accounting for 29 passing touchdowns, while also leading the Irish with eight rushing scores. 

Of course, 22 combined turnovers sully those numbers. And a second-quarter benching against USC puts Golson's career at a very important crossroads. If Golson isn't able to better protect the football—both as a runner and as a passer—he could very well lose a starting job in 2015 that seemed a certainty to be his. 

Bowl practice will be interesting to monitor. After playing well against USC in his first extended opportunity, don't expect Malik Zaire to go away.

Golson is still the best fit for the Irish offense. But like the rest of his teammates, he needs to take a big step forward in 2015.

6. Joe Schmidt

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Joe Schmidt: Eight games, 65 tackles, 0.5 TFLs, two INTs, two forced fumbles 

Through eight games, Joe Schmidt was the defense's MVP. The former walk-on played very productive football at middle linebacker, serving as the unit's nerve center in VanGorder's complex system. 

But applauding Schmidt's work because of his ability to merely decipher VanGorder's defense doesn't do him justice. Schmidt answered just about every offseason question we had for him from the start of the season, playing assignment-correct defense and performing capably as both a run-stopper and a pass defender. 

Moving into 2015, it's hard to imagine a scenario where Schmidt isn't a team captain. While his recovery from a broken ankle still has his availability for spring practice up for grabs, Schmidt's place in next season's defense is not.

5. Cole Luke

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Cole Luke: 12 games, 46 tackles, two TFLs, four interceptions, 11 pass breakups 

The sophomore took a major step forward in his first season of full-time work. After KeiVarae Russell was suspended for the entire season and Cody Riggs battled foot injuries, it was Luke who rose to the challenge, taking on the opponent's best receiver and winning more than his share of battles. 

Luke tied for the team lead with four interceptions. His 11 pass breakups were only two short of the total from the rest of the secondary. Challenged to play an entirely different system than Bob Diaco's zone scheme, Luke showed the ability to be natural in coverage while being a more than willing tackler as well. 

It wasn't all pretty for Luke, who had a rough afternoon against USC. But entering 2015, Notre Dame's cornerback duo of Luke and Russell should be one of the finest in the country.

4. Tarean Folston

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Tarean Folston: 12 games, 154 carries for 816 yards, 5.3 YPC, five TDs, 16 catches for 178 yards, one TD

The sophomore emerged from the pack as Notre Dame's No. 1 running back. His natural skills paired with his ability to read blocks saw Folston break loose with four 100-yard games in five weeks, kick-started by a 120-yard effort against Florida State. 

Folston is at his best in space, dangerous as both a runner and receiver. He was even better when he was allowed to get into a rhythm. In games where Folston had at least a dozen rushing attempts, he averaged 6.2 yards per carry. In the six games with 11 carries or less he averaged just 3.0 yards per attempt. 

Entering 2015, Folston and Greg Bryant will be the best one-two duo the Irish have had since Julius Jones and Ryan Grant shared a backfield. They'll also demand that their head coach find more time for a running game.

3. Ronnie Stanley

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Ronnie Stanley: 12 starts at left tackle

In the first year of life after Zack Martin, Brian Kelly moved junior Ronnie Stanley to left tackle. In just his second season of competition, Stanley was up to the task, anchoring an offensive line that went through some growing pains and a midseason reshuffle at the four other positions. 

Evaluating offensive line play is difficult. But as early mock drafts begin to be published (like this one, per CBSSports.com, and this one, per Yahoo Sports), Stanley's name is consistently being mentioned as having high first-round potential. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller has Stanley No. 18 on his most recent Big Board.

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah had this to say about Stanley after watching him against USC: 

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I've heard from a lot of NFL personnel executives in recent weeks that Stanley is a big-time player. It was a bit surprising because his name is not one that comes up a lot when discussing the top players at his position, but I watched him Saturday, and he was phenomenal.

At 6-foot-5 ½ and 315 pounds, Stanley has good size to go along with great feet and balance. USC's star defensive lineman, Leonard Williams, lined up over Stanley a couple of times Saturday, and Stanley didn't have any problems against him.

The junior left tackle should continue generating a lot of buzz in scouting circles after Saturday's showing.

"

As just a redshirt sophomore, Stanley hasn't played a lot of football. But he's clearly one of the key players to watch this offseason as to whether he'll stick around in South Bend for his senior year or make a move to the NFL.

2. Jaylon Smith

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Jaylon Smith: 12 games, 103 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, three sacks 

In his first season playing "Will" linebacker, Smith had the big season many expected. His 103 tackles broke an important threshold, becoming the first linebacker since Manti Te'o to cross the century mark. His 8.5 tackles for loss also led the team, while his three sacks were third.  

Athletically, few are as gifted as Smith. His speed allows him to play in space, covering receivers and tight ends if needed. Physically, he handled the wear and tear of the trenches as well, starting all 12 games on the inside.

But Smith is still a player learning the game. After Joe Schmidt went out with injury, Smith's play suffered before rebounding in the team's final two games. His productivity is more a measure of his immense skill rather than a player who fully understands his job. 

Entering 2015, Smith will likely be on every preseason All-American list. But at what position remains to be seen.

If the Irish are trying to get their three best linebackers on the field, they may find Smith's best spot could be the strong-side linebacker position currently played by James Onwualu, with Nyles Morgan or Greer Martini shifting into Smith's spot next to Schmidt. 

Wherever he pays, Smith will be a force to be reckoned with.

1. Will Fuller

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Nobody on the Irish roster performed better than Will Fuller. The sophomore receiver who only had six catches as a freshman broke loose for 1,037 yards this season, scoring 14 touchdowns. A speed merchant who made a living this season getting behind defenses, Fuller also was dangerous in the screen game as well. 

There is still plenty of work to be done by Fuller as he evolves as a football player. He dropped more than his share of passes this season, including a deep ball that could've been a long touchdown against USC that would've tied the single-season Notre Dame record. 

But Fuller enters 2015 likely as an All-American candidate, capable of impacting the football game every time he touches the football.