The 2018 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their ninth year under head coach Brian Kelly, the Irish compiled a 12–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 408 to 237, and were ranked No. 5 in both the final AP and Coaches Polls. In four regular-season games against ranked opponents, the Irish defeated No. 14 Michigan, No. 7 Stanford, No. 24 Virginia Tech and No. 12 Syracuse. They finished the regular season with a perfect 12–0 record, and were ranked No. 3 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. They concluded the season with a 30–3 loss to eventual national champion Clemson in the college football playoff semifinal in the Cotton Bowl.
Quarterback Brandon Wimbush led the offense for the first three games, after which he was benched in favor of Ian Book. Book ended the year with 2,628 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. The running attack was led by Dexter Williams, finishing with 995 yards and 12 touchdowns. On defense, cornerback Julian Love was named a consensus first-team All-American, and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery also received All-America honors by several selectors. Head coach Brian Kelly was named AP Coach of the Year.
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Off-season Fans were disappointed by defensive coordinator Mike Elko leaving for Texas A&M, hired by first-year head coach Jimbo Fisher three days after the Citrus Bowl victory over LSU. Brian Kelly would replace Elko by elevating linebackers coach Clark Lea to defensive coordinator. Notre Dame hired Terry Joseph as safety coach to support defensive coordinator Clark Lea's staff.
One week after Elko's departure, the Irish suffered another significant coaching loss, as Harry Hiestand accepted the offensive line coach position on Matt Nagy's staff with the Chicago Bears. In a surprise decision and after a national search, head coach Brian Kelly chose to promote senior offensive analyst Jeff Quinn to replace Hiestad.
The unexpected personnel loss within the program eventually spread to the roster, as running backs C.J. Holmes and Deon McIntosh, wide receiver Kevin Stepherson, and defensive lineman Brandon Tiassum were each dismissed from the program. Holmes and Stepherson were dismissed due to shoplifting charges, while McIntosh and Tiassum were also removed for a violation of team rules.
Notre Dame finished National Signing Day with the nation's 10th-ranked recruiting class, per 247sports.com.
The Shirt 2018 and Blue-Gold Game The 2018 Notre Dame Football Shirt was revealed in front of the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore at the Eck Center with Coach Kelly ripping off his jacket to reveal a Kelly green shirt. The front of The Shirt features an iconic image of the top of the outside of the stadium directly above the Knute Rockne Gate, which displays "University of Notre Dame" etched in gold under two flags–one for Notre Dame and the other for the team that the Irish played that week. Below this image is "Fighting Irish Football 2018," printed in large gold letters. The back of The Shirt features a portrayal of Notre Dame's defensive line with "No Breaking Point" printed below it, which is a reference to one of late coach Ara Parseghian's famous mottos. The Shirt would then be sold immediately following its reveal.
After Winter and Spring practices Notre Dame would host an exhibition game at Notre Dame Stadium on April 21, 2018, with its offense playing against its defense with Blue defeating Gold 47–44.
Preseason award watch lists Lott TrophyTe'von ConeyLBSRDrue TranquillLBSRRimington TrophySam MustipherCSRChuck Bednarik AwardTe’Von ConeyLBSRJerry TilleryDESRMaxwell AwardBrandon WimbushQBJRJohn Mackey AwardAlizé MackTEJRButkus AwardTe'Von ConeyLBSRDrue TranquillLBSRJim Thorpe AwardJulian LoveCBJRBronko Nagurski TrophyTe'Von ConeyLBSRJulian LoveCBJRJerry TilleryDESROutland TrophyAlex BarsOLSRSam MustipherCSRJerry TilleryDTSRLou Groza AwardJustin YoonKSRWuerffel TrophyTyler NewsomePSRDrue TranquillLBSRNic WeisherTESRWalter Camp AwardBrandon WimbushQBJRTed Hendricks AwardJerry TilleryDESRJohnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardBrandon WimbushQBJRManning AwardBrandon WimbushQBJR
2018 NFL draft The following former Notre Dame players were selected in the 2018 NFL draft:
Round Selection Player Position Team 1 6 Quenton Nelson Guard Indianapolis Colts 1 9 Mike McGlinchey Tackle San Francisco 49ers 4 123 Durham Smythe Tight end Miami Dolphins 6 207 Equanimeous St. Brown Wide receiver Green Bay Packers
Transfers out/departures
QB Montgomery Van Gorder (graduate transfer) RB Josh Adams (Declared for NFL Draft) RB C.J. Holmes (Dismissed from program) RB Deon McIntosh (Dismissed from program) WR Freddy Canteen (transfer) WR C. J. Sanders (transfer) WR Kevin Stepherson (Dismissed from program) WR Equanimeous St. Brown (Declared for NFL Draft) DE Jay Hayes (graduate transfer) DE Jonathon MacCollister (transfer) DT Elijah Taylor (transfer) DT Brandon Tiassum (Dismissed from program) DT Pete Mokwuah (graduate transfer) CB Nick Watkins (graduate transfer) CB Ashton White (transfer)
Transfers in
FB Keenan Sweeney (graduate transfer)
Coaching changes Departures Mike Elko – accepted defensive coordinator position at Texas A&M Harry Hiestand – accepted offensive line coach position with the Chicago Bears Tyler Santucci – accepted defensive analyst position at Texas A&M
Additions Clark Lea – promoted from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator Terry Joseph – hired as safeties coach after spending one year as defensive backs coach at North Carolina Jeff Quinn – promoted from senior offensive analyst to offensive line coach
Recruiting
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Recruits Notre Dame signed 21 recruits during college football's second-ever early signing period (December 20–22) before inking an additional six on National Signing Day.
Schedule
2018 Notre Dame Football Schedule
Personnel
Coaching staff Name Position Year at Notre Dame Alma mater (Year)Brian KellyHead coach9thAssumption (1982)Mike ElstonAssociate head coach/defensive line9thMichigan (1998)Brian Polian Special teams coordinator/recruiting coordinator7thJohn Carroll (1997)Clark LeaDefensive coordinator/linebackers2ndVanderbilt (2004)Chip Long Offensive coordinator/tight ends2ndNorth Alabama (2005)Jeff Quinn Offensive line 4th (first in coaching position)Elmhurst (1984) Autry DensonRunning backs3rdNotre Dame (1999)Todd LyghtDefensive backs3rdNotre Dame (1991)Del AlexanderWide receivers2ndUSC (1995)Tom ReesQuarterbacks2ndNotre Dame (2013)Terry JosephSafeties1stNorthwestern State (1996)Matt BalisDirector of football performance2ndNorthern Illinois (1996)Bill ReesDirector of scouting2ndOhio Wesleyan (1976)Clay BignellSenior Defensive Analyst3rdMontana State (2011)Aaron CoelingOffensive graduate assistant2ndWittenberg (2014)Jake FlintCo-director of football strength & conditioning9thCentral Michigan (2007)Robert StinerAssistant director of football strength & conditioning1stBelhaven (2008)David GrimesAssistant strength & conditioning coach8thNotre Dame (2009)Dale JonesAssistant strength & conditioning coach2ndWashburn (1994)
Football operations staff Name Position Year at Notre Dame Alma mater (Year)Chad KlunderAssociate Athletic Director for Football Operations16thWartburg (1995)Jason MichelsonAssistant director of football operations7thOhio (2011)David PeloquinDirector of player personnel15thNotre Dame (2003)Olivia MitchellCoordinator of football operations2ndNotre Dame (2016)Aaryn KearneyCoordinator of Recruiting Operations4thNebraska (2008)Jasmine JohnsonCoordinator of On-Campus Recruiting4thNotre Dame (2013)Ron PowlusDirector of player development9thNotre Dame (1997)
Medical staff Name Position Year at Notre Dame Alma mater (Year)Rob HuntHead Football Athletic Trainer8thBall State (1997)Mike BeanAssociate Athletic Trainer22ndSouthwest Missouri State (1989)Steve SmithAssistant Athletic Trainer4thNorthern Michigan (2007)Dr. Matt LeiszlerTeam physician5thUniversity of Kansas School of Medicine (2008)Dr. Brian RatiganOrthopedic Surgeon11thJefferson Medical College (2002)Dr. Chris BalintOrthopedic Surgeon16thKirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (1996)Dr. Jerry HofferthChiropractor14thPalmer College of Chiropractic (1992)Kari OliverSports Nutrition Associate4thUCLA (2015)
Roster 2018 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team rosterQuarterbacks 7 Brandon Wimbush – senior 12 Ian Book – junior 14 J.D. Carney – sophomore 15 Phil Jurkovec – freshman 17 Nolan Henry – senior 31 Cole Capen – freshman
Quarterbacks/Running backs 3 Avery Davis – sophomore
Running backs 2 Dexter Williams – senior 6 Tony Jones Jr. – junior 16 Cameron Ekanayake – sophomore 20 C'Bo Flemister – freshman 32 Mick Assaf – junior 15 Keenan Sweeney – senior 34 Jahmir Smith – freshman
Running backs/wide receivers 8 Jafar Armstrong – sophomore
Wide receivers 4 Kevin Austin Jr. – freshman 10 Chris Finke – senior 13 Lawrence Keys III – freshman 17 Isaiah Robertson – sophomore 18 Joe Wilkins Jr. – freshman 25 Braden Lenzy – freshman 26 Leo Albano – freshman 27 Arion Shinaver – junior 29 Matt Salerno – freshman 43 Greg Mailey – freshman 80 Micah Jones – freshman 81 Miles Boykin – senior 83 Chase Claypool – junior 87 Michael Young Jr. – sophomore 88 Javon McKinley – junior
Tight ends 24 Tommy Tremble – freshman 48 Xavier Lezynski – sophomore 49 Jack Henige – sophomore 82 Nic Weishar – graduate 84 Cole Kmet – sophomore 85 George Takacs – freshman 86 Alize Mack – senior 89 Brock Wright – sophomore Offensive lineman 53 Sam Mustipher – graduate 55 Jarrett Patterson – freshman 56 John Dirksen – freshman 57 Trevor Ruhland – senior 58 Darnell Ewell – sophomore 60 Cole Mabry – freshman 61 Colin Grunhard – sophomore 62 Logan Plantz – senior 63 Cody Benjamin – freshman 64 Max Siegel – freshman 69 Aaron Banks – sophomore 70 Luke Jones – freshman 71 Alex Bars – graduate 72 Robert Hainsey – sophomore 74 Liam Eichenberg – junior 75 Josh Lugg – sophomore 76 Dillan Gibbons – sophomore 78 Tommy Kraemer – junior
Defensive lineman 9 Daelin Hayes – junior 19 Justin Ademilola – freshman 41 Kurt Hinish – sophomore 42 Julian Okwara – junior 44 Jamir Jones – junior 47 Kofi Wardlow – sophomore 49 Brandon Hutson – senior 53 Khalid Kareem – junior 54 Lincoln Feist – senior 55 Jonathan Bonner – graduate 57 Jayson Ademilola – freshman 91 Adetokunbo Ogundeji – junior 95 Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa – sophomore 97 Micah Dew-Treadway – senior 98 Ja'Mion Franklin – freshman 99 Jerry Tillery – senior
Kickers 19 Justin Yoon – senior 39 Jonathan Doerer – sophomore
Punters 30 Jake Rittman – freshman 42 Jeff Riney – senior 85 Tyler Newsome – graduate Linebackers 2 Jordan Genmark Heath – sophomore 4 Te'von Coney – senior 15 D.J. Morgan – junior 22 Asmar Bilal – senior 23 Drue Tranquill – graduate 29 Ovie Oghoufo – freshman 30 Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – sophomore 31 Jack Lamb – freshman 33 Shayne Simon – freshman 35 David Adams – sophomore 37 Robert Regan – senior 40 Drew White – sophomore 45 Jonathan Jones – junior 46 Jimmy Thompson – senior 47 Ashleigh Lukasik – freshman 51 Devyn Spruell – senior 52 Matthew Bauer – freshman 59 Kier Murphy – senior
Cornerbacks 3 Houston Griffith – freshman 5 Troy Pride – junior 8 Donte Vaughn – junior 10 TaRiq Bracy – freshman 12 D.J. Brown – freshman 16 Noah Boykin – freshman 20 Shaun Crawford – senior 26 Temitope Agoro – junior 27 Julian Love – junior 36 Brian Ball – senior 39 Brandon Garcia – sophomore 43 Marcus Thorne – freshman
Safeties 7 Derrik Allen – freshman