Notre Dame has an illustrious history of producing Heisman Trophy winners. Every year, someone prominent in the national media will make sure to put a Fighting Irish player in the discussion, but during Brian Kelly’s regime, only one player was a finalist for the most recognizable individual award in sports. And he actually played defense.
Kelly is certainly not interested in trying to start up any Heisman campaigns for any of his players. However, he was pressed by a reporter into mentioning somebody, and that somebody is wide receiver Will Fuller.
When asked why there hasn’t been a plethora of Heisman candidates in South Bend, Kelly responded:
It’s been quarterbacks, right, pretty much. So you need that quarterback that has Heismanlike numbers. I think that most of the attention is going to be to somebody that has those kinds of numbers across the board. We’ll certainly have the opportunity to have a quarterback here at Notre Dame that can have those numbers, but Everett was having a great year last year and then we stumbled. He’s been talked to as a candidate, but he wasn’t able to finish strong, and we weren’t able to finish strong as a team.
So you’ve got to play well as a team. You’ve got to win all of them or nearly all of your games. Heck, we’ve won all our games and we’ve got a linebacker in hunt for a Heisman. So you win all your games and you’ve got a really good quarterback. I’m not worried about Notre Dame not having the Heisman Trophy candidate. That’s the least of my concerns.
When put on the spot to name somebody as a potential Heisman winner Kelly mentioned Will Fuller first, before then having some fun with the idea of QB Malik Zaire being deemed a Heisman contender by the media that day. Kelly made a couple of jokes that closed the Notre Dame Media Day press conference in a light-hearted manner.
Well, I think we have a lot of candidates. I mean, Will Fuller had 12, 13 touchdowns last year. He’s a dynamic receiver. It’s always going to come back to the quarterback. I mean, here’s a guy that can throw it and run it, but you’ve got to win football games. You’ve got to lead. You’ve got to do it right both on and off the field.
So naturally it always goes back to the quarterback. Heck, he’s a first time starter. I just hope he keeps the job, right? (smiling) He’s hoping for Heisman. If he answers the question about Heisman, I’ll absolutely kill him today, so we’ll see how he handles that test today when you hit him up with the Heisman. (joking)
Hit him hard with the Heisman stuff. Let’s see how he handles that one, because that will tell me whether he’s going to win the Heisman or not. (laughter erupts in the room)
“We’re supposed to ask you about the Heisman Trophy,” former Notre Dame quarterback and now 24/7 Sports reporter Evan Sharpley said to Zaire in the round table Q&A session.
“Jeez,” Zaire responded with a smile.
“Coach said to hit you hard about it.” another reporter added.
Zaire responded with a standard athlete cliche and didn’t even mention the word Heisman. He didn’t take the bait and changed topics. In other words, he gave the perfect answer Coach Kelly was looking for. Zaire did say some interesting things about the term “dual threat quarterback” though.
Getting back to Will Fuller, ND Wide Receivers Coach Mike Denbrock was asked how a 1,000 yard receiver like Fuller can fly under the radar.
“I don’t know that’s a very good question,” Denbrock answered.
“He’s very quiet, maybe that’s why. He doesn’t toot his own horn too much. He kind of just goes about his business. amongst his teammates and amongst this football team he’s got plenty of recognition.”
When Will Fuller was asked about his Coach’s comments naming him in the Heisman conversation, he said:
“It makes me feel good, coach Kelly he’s a great guy. I’m excited for that.”
He was also asked if the idea of leaving ND early (for the NFL) has crossed his mind, if he has another season like he did last year.
“Not at all, I haven’t thought about that at all,” he said.
Notre Dame Season Preview Series
Paul M. Banks of The Sports Bank/RedEye and Todd Burlage of Blue and Gold Illustrated/The Fan Indiana recapping Notre Dame Media Day on Maximus and the Bartender
Will Fuller is ND’s best chance at the Heisman
KeiVarae Russell returns; wins Media Day
Malik Zaire takes issue with usage of the term “dual threat”
Comprehensive Notre Dame Season Preview
2015 Notre Dame football is playoff or bust
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network.Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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