Notre Dame Football: How Max Redfield Builds off Best Game with Irish

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Sprinkled between Max Redfield’s 14 tackles in Notre Dame football’s two-point loss to Clemson on Saturday was a mix of hard hits, finished plays and, of course, the safety’s customary trash talking.

“I’ll talk trash until the day I stop playing,” Redfield said this week. “I feel like it’s a necessary part of the game. I love it. And they can expect it.”

As exemplified by his jawing, Redfield played with emotion and passion against the Tigers in the heartbreaking loss. Irish head coach Brian Kelly called the performance Redfield’s best in a Notre Dame uniform.

“That’s the kind of football he’s capable of,” Kelly said of Redfield, a former 5-star recruit who made one start as a freshman in 2013 before logging 11 starts last season.

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“He was just focused. He was playing possessed,” Irish fifth-year captain and defensive back Matthias Farley said. “He was all over the field. He made plays way down the field. He made plays in the backfield. He was really, really locked in. When the lights shine bright, Max plays really, really well.”

Redfield agreed he elevated his play and matched the stakes of the marquee matchup in Death Valley, his high point so far this season.

“I saw the Max Redfield that we all know,” junior cornerback Cole Luke said. “Certain people are different ways. The hype of the game could calm somebody down or it could actually bump them up like it did for Max.”

The athletic safety turned in an “outstanding camp,” Kelly said, but suffered a broken thumb in the first defensive series of the season opener against Texas. Redfield underwent surgery and started the next week against Virginia, playing with the massive cast still encrusted on his right hand. Against Georgia Tech’s triple-option, Redfield did not play.

“I felt like there was a noticeable difference between Virginia and UMass and then Clemson as well,” Redfield said of his now-sizeable right hand. “It’s mostly mental, just a little bit of pain, getting past it and having to do your job regardless of what’s on your hand or not.”

Redfield did say a hand injury isn’t too problematic, comparatively, for a safety. Farley, drawing on what former Irish safety Zeke Motta once told him, advised Redfield that the bone was already broken.

“They’ll just put some more screws and plates in it, so you can’t think about it,” Farley quipped.

Redfield played without hindrance against Clemson. He piled up four tackles, including a takedown of Tigers standout wideout Artavis Scott, on Clemson’s game-opening touchdown drive that ignited a highly flammable crowd.

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“It was just the emotion and the type of game it was,” Redfield said. “Obviously we want to play consistently week in and week out, but you definitely play up to opponents who demand a little bit more attention or a little bit more aggression.”

Despite some inconsistencies in games during his Irish career, Redfield said he doesn’t think his practice performance and effort have wavered. So, asked what he takes from the Clemson game moving forward, Redfield pointed to the mental side.

“Just being aware of the mindset I had during that game and make sure I just continue that mindset throughout because obviously it helped me be successful being locked in play to play,” Redfield said. “I feel like because of who the competition was I tried to elevate my game and play up to the competition. Just understanding our play can’t waver based on our competition.

“It has to be at the highest level throughout the season, every game.”

Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting stats and information courtesy of 247Sports.com, and all quotes obtained firsthand. Star ratings reflect 247Sports composite rankings.

Mike Monaco is the lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.