So, who’s actually balling out for Notre Dame right now, making every snap count even when they aren’t on the field for half the game? That’s the question on everyone’s mind as we hit the first quarter of the season, and fans are already weighing in. Early votes are pointing to Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa as the guy doing the absolute most with the least playing time, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why he’s getting so much love.
We all know the names who are racking up snaps week in and week out. Tackle Will Black and guard Anthonie Knapp are out there for 190 plays each, holding down the line. Quarterback C.J. Carr has logged 169 snaps, slinging the rock. Tackle Guerby Lambert is right there with 160. Wide receivers Jordan Faison (150 snaps) and Micah Gilbert (141 snaps) are getting plenty of looks, as are center Ashton Craig (149 snaps), safety Adon Shuler (136 snaps), guard Sullivan Absher (129 snaps), tight end Cooper Flanagan (125 snaps), linebacker Drayk Bowen (122 snaps), cornerback Leonard Moore (120 snaps), and safety Luke Talich (114 snaps). These guys are the workhorses, but what about the hidden gems?
The Efficiency Kings Stepping Up
This is where it gets exciting, because some guys are just making huge plays on limited snaps. Take Mylan Graham for example. He’s primarily lined up in the slot, and he’s only seen six targets all year. But get this, he’s hauled in three of them for 32 yards, picking up two crucial first downs in the process! He’s only logged 57 snaps, which is just 28.5 percent of the offensive time on the field. That’s some serious efficiency right there.
Then there’s Tionne Gray on the defensive line. This dude is a disruptive force. With just 60 snaps, or 39 percent of the defensive time, he’s stacked up five solo tackles, assisted on three others, snagged a sack, got a hurry, and tallied four stops according to Pro Football Focus. You can’t ask for more impact from a defensive tackle with that kind of playtime. He’s making opponents sweat every time he steps on the field.
Bouncing Back and Making a Name
And let’s talk about Jayden Sanders. After a rough game against Wisconsin where he allowed three receptions on five targets, including a 28-yard touchdown, he’s completely flipped the script. Since that tough outing, this cornerback has produced a clean sheet against the run-first Rice Owls, shutting down their pass game. Then, against Michigan State, he broke up a pass on the only time he was targeted! That’s a serious comeback, and he’s doing it all in just 46 snaps, which is 30 percent of the defensive time. You love to see a player respond like that.
But the fan favorite, at least in the early polling, is Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. KVA has been nothing short of impressive, logging only 39 snaps, a mere 25.4 percent of the defensive time. Yet, he’s already racked up four tackles, two assists, one hit, one hurry, and four stops, per PFF. That kind of production on such limited reps speaks volumes about his potential. He’s clearly making an immediate impact when he’s out there. While KVA is leading the pack in these early votes, every one of these guys has picked up at least one vote, proving that fans are noticing these impactful, limited-snap performances. By the end of the year, could one of these four be lifting the Fr. Ted Man of the Year or Iron Cross at the Echoes? We’re gonna have to wait and see, but these early signs are awesome.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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