The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Expectations for NDC sky-high on gridiron
Talk about a perfect storm for the Notre Dame College football team in 2018.
A year ago at this time, the Falcons were coming off a 8-3 mark in 2017 and were breaking in a redshirt freshman at quarterback and needed a replacement for standout running D.J. Greene of South. Greene missed all of 2018 with a knee injury.
The results in 2018 were spectacular. Chris Brimm was solid at QB, but Jaleel McLaughlin was a freshman sensation. The true freshman stepped in for Greene and had a season for the ages. McLaughlin rushed for 2,421 yards in 14 games and scored 18 touchdowns. He was a first-team AllAmerican and a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award for the best player in Division II.
That production, along with a stingy defense, helped pave the way to the best season in NDC football history. The Falcons were 13-1, won the Mountain East Conference, then were victorious in two home NCAA D-II playoffs games and advanced to the national semifinal round, where it lost to eventual national champion Valdosta State.
The No. 1 question when camp opened Aug. 12 for Coach Mike Jacobs’ team is obvious — what can it do for an encore? Is a national championship in the cards in 2019?
Jacobs isn’t avoiding the question, but isn’t exactly answering it either. There’s no denying there’s talent just about everywhere on the field at the South Euclid campus.
Talent isn’t the only factor Jacobs uses as his gauge for success.
When asked last season as his team remained undefeated if it could contend for a national championship, Jacobs scoffed at the mention of those two words. Now the coach is singing a different tune — sort of. Having won a conference championship and two playoff games in 2018, Jacobs still won’t say “national championship” but he’s at least in the ballpark.
“I didn’t even think we could mention (those words) until we won a conference championship,” he said. “Until we could prove as a program that we can win a playoff game. You can’t have those aspirations without the ability to accomplish those lower goals. Now that we’ve accomplished those, and with what we have coming back, we
don’t shy away from having high expectations as a team. You have to set the bar high.”
The Falcons start the season at home Sept. 7 against Concord in a noon start. Unlike last season when it began the season unranked, NDC will enter this season garnering attention. Lindy’s Sports ranks NDC No. 3 in the preseason, and Street & Smith pegged the Falcons at No. 4.
On display on offense will be McLaughlin, Greene, Brimm, speedy receiver and returner Marvelle Ross of VASJ, and a 6-foot-7 tight end in Zaire Mitchell. Defensively, there are stars in two-time captain and linebacker Curtis Collins and All-American defensive lineman Sha’haun Williams, who had a whopping 24.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks in 2018.
“We’re excited about what we have back,” said Jacobs on Aug. 12 following his team’s first practice. “To me, I’m always most excited about the depth the freshmen
add. Whose going to have that breakout year? Watching those young guys is always fun. I like watching the guys develop.”
McLaughlin and Brimm definitely fit into that mold in 2018. Few, if any, could have predicted McLaughlin’s contributions but Brimm (2,527 passing yards, 24 touchdown passes) also posted a solid season. Expect McLaughlin’s 378 carries as a freshman to come down with Greene back, and more of the offense put on Brimm in his second year.
Defensively, NDC was solid last season and returns a number of starters. It allowed 18.4 points per game, forced 34 turnovers and had 50 sacks. Jacobs appreciates the work from last season’s team, but now is not the time to sit back and admire.
“We love and will always be appreciative about what (last year’s team) did for us and the 2018 year but for us now, it’s about going forward,” said Jacobs. “What can this group do? Can this
group have that 1-0 mentality?”
One player NDC will lean on for senior leadership is Ross, whose big-play ability provided many highlights in 2018. Just as important is his message.
“After Day 1, the biggest difference is we’re hungry,” said Ross, who had 1,896 allpurposed yards and 13 TDs in 2018. “We all know last year is last year. We’re not talking about last year. We’re focused on one day at a time, and coming out and putting the work in and not really talking about (expectations).”
That’s because that talk — or lack thereof — comes from the top. Jacobs wants his players to find motivation from within, not from those on the outside.
“I’m always on edge, and I always try to make sure guys keep that chip on their shoulder,” he said. “They have to understand they certainly won’t sneak up on anybody this year. We’re also, in turn, going to get everyone’s best shot.”