Onwualu Ready for Last Game Against USC

Notre Dame will take off for California on Thursday after having Thanksgiving as a team after practice. The Irish defense will face one of the hottest quarterbacks in the country in redshirt freshman Sam Darnold.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder has thrown for 2,428 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions this fall, but the Notre Dame defense will also need to make sure they slow down the playmakers on the outside.

“Quick release and he will extend plays,” captain James Onwualu said of Darnold’s strengths. “He manages the offense very well. He utilizes the athletes they have and they have athletes all over the field. He plays in their system really well.

“He doesn’t look like he is a first-year starter. He’s found some comfort throughout the year.”  

One of the players that will need to end the season on a high note is freshman safety Devin Studstill. The Florida native was thrust into the starting role after senior Max Redfield was dismissed from the program at the beginning of the year and much like any freshman, Studstill has had his ups and downs.

“I think his working style has changed a little bit,” Onwualu explained. “I think he was transitioning quite a bit out of high school in learning how to practice and prepare like a college football player. I think he has made huge strides in that.”

Both Studstill and Onwualu chose to enroll early at Notre Dame, so they could get a jumpstart on their career on and off the field. Onwualu believes the the early start helps, but it still doesn’t prepare a player for life when the season starts.  

“I think the spring helps to speed up the game, physically,” said Onwualu. “When school comes around and you’re actually in a season, traveling and preparing for games, it’s different than showing up and playing ball in the spring.

“It helps in the aspect of the physical presence and getting used to the speed of the game, but there is a lot to learn once the fall comes around.”

Youth has been the story from day one for the Irish defense, as Notre Dame has played true freshman at both cornerback spots and both safety spots at the same time. Onwualu knows the tough experiences will only pay off down the line, despite the frustrations of 2016.

“I think a lot of the younger guys are really, really talented, especially Julian Love,” stated the senior linebacker. “Those guys have been here working since the first day they walked in. They asked a lot of extra questions and I can’t say enough good things about those guys. I’m excited to see where they go with it.”  

As Onwualu plays his last collegiate game on Saturday, he wasn’t sure where things went wrong this season, but made an interesting point about taking offseason workouts seriously on a daily basis.

“I don’t really know,” Onwualu said of pinpointing where the 2016 got off track. “Every college year is different. It’s tough. It really shows how close the game is and how the preparation in the offseason can go from winning every game to losing every game or losing every big game.

“If I could pinpoint it, it’s just focusing on every single day in the offseason and making it important.”