Bringing the heat works just fine with Notre Dame's star linebacker
KVA’s takedown of a Heisman Trophy candidate for that 11-yard loss marked the first sack by a Notre Dame linebacker this season.
Key points
- With Bowen on crutches after right ankle surgery, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Chris Ash had no choice but to give Viliamu-Asa a career-high 70 defensive snaps (out of a possible 76).
- SOUTH BEND — When Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa sacked Miami quarterback Darian Mensah on the opening defensive series of the second half, Notre Dame Stadium shook with delight.
- Why wouldn’t it click against the three remaining teams on Notre Dame’s November menu: Boston College, Southern Methodist and Syracuse?
Held out of the Stanford and Navy games while he tried to heal, Viliamu-Asa didn’t just step in for Bowen at middle linebacker.
“It was a great environment Saturday night.” Drayk Bowen: Notre Dame football captain had key sideline role vs Miami despite injury 'Smelling blood' against Miami's Darian Mensah Notre Dame’s pass rush also got on a roll against an 80% passer in Mensah.
Additional details
- “Whatever (Ash) calls, I’m going to play.” Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com.
- At times, that required sending five- and six-man pressures at a Hurricanes offensive line that had struggled at times in pass protection (tied for 82nd nationally with Wisconsin, per Pro Football Focus).
- That was the only other time he reached 50 snaps while sharing time in an uber-talented linebacker room.
- We wanted to speed up his decision-making process.” The result was 32 total pressures against Mensah, who went 24-of-43 passing (56%) for 276 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
- “It was electric,” the junior linebacker said after practice on Tuesday evening Nov.
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