The 2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the

University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame ( ) or ND, is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, outside the city of South Bend. French priest Edward Sorin founded the school in 1842. The main campu ...

in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Brian Kelly and played its home games at

Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana, the home field of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. It was built in 1930 under the guidance of Knute Rockne, regarded as one of the greatest c ...

South Bend, Indiana South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, St. Joseph County, Indiana, on the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan), St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2020 United S ...

. They compete as an

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

. They finished the season 8–5. They were invited to the

Champs Sports Bowl The Pop-Tarts Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that is played in Orlando, Florida, at Camping World Stadium. The bowl is operated by Florida Citrus Sports, a non-profit group which also organizes the Citrus Bowl and the Florida Classic ...

where they were defeated by

Florida State Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...

18–14.

Pre-season

Coaching changes

Kerry Cooks Kerry Cooks (born March 28, 1974) is an American football coach and former player. Biography Cooks was born on March 28, 1974 in Dallas, Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he was a team captain on the football team, and is ...

took over the cornerback position after coaching the outside linebackers the previous season. Defensive coordinator

Bob Diaco Robert Albert Diaco (born February 19, 1973) is an American football coach and a former linebacker who is the defensive line coach for the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at the Universi ...

, who also coaches the inside linebackers, will coach the entire linebacking corps moving forward. Chuck Martin will focus solely on the safeties, while presumably assuming his role as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

Player changes

Departing players

Star tight end

Kyle Rudolph Kyle Daniel Rudolph (born November 9, 1989) is an American football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame, and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second ...

chose to forgo his final year of eligibility, and enter the 2011 NFL Draft. The Irish also lost a number of important seniors, including four-year starter defensive lineman Ian Williams, linebackers Kerry Neal and Brian Smith, cornerback

Darrin Walls Darrin Walls, Jr. (born June 20, 1988) is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at Notre Dame. Early years Walls spen ...

, running backs Robert Hughes and

Armando Allen Armando Allen, Jr. (born April 30, 1989) is a former American football running back. He played professionally for two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Bears. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted ...

, Wide Receiver Duval Kamara, and offensive lineman Matt Romine and Chris Stewart, all to graduation. Redshirt junior quarterback

Nate Montana Nathaniel Joseph Montana (born October 3, 1989) is a former American football quarterback. After walking-on at Notre Dame as a freshman in 2008, he transferred to Pasadena City College in 2009, went back to Notre Dame in 2010, transferred to M ...

left the program in early February 2011, and transferred to the

University of Montana The University of Montana (UM) is a public research university in Missoula, Montana. UM is a flagship institution of the Montana University System and its second largest campus. UM reported 10,962 undergraduate and graduate students in the fa ...

. Junior guard Alex Bullard transferred to his hometown state of

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

and will play for the

University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee (officially The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; or UT Knoxville; UTK; or UT) is a public land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1794, two years before Tennessee became the 16th state, ...

, citing the desire to be closer to home following the loss of a family member.

Recruiting

With his first full recruiting class, Brian Kelly added 23 prospects to the football team, including the addition of five early-enrollees: defensive end Aaron Lynch, outside linebacker

Ishaq Williams Ishaq Williams (born February 22, 1993) is a former American football defensive end. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame. College career As a freshman, Williams played 11 games and recorded 6 tackles. The following seaso ...

, offensive lineman Brad Carrico, quarterback

Everett Golson Everett Demone Golson (born January 2, 1993) is a former American football quarterback. He previously played quarterback for Notre Dame from 2011 to the spring of 2015. Golson chose to transfer to Florida State after graduating from Notre Dame. ...

, and kicker Kyle Brindza.

Outlook

Award candidates

The following players were announced to award watch lists prior to the start of the 2011 season: * Braxston Cave –

Rimington Trophy The Dave Rimington Trophy is awarded to the player considered to be the best American football center in college football. Dave Rimington was a center who played at the University of Nebraska from 1979 to 1982. A member of the National College F ...

Dayne Crist Dayne Lawrence Crist (born October 9, 1989) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at Notre Dame before transferring to the University of Kansas. Early years Crist attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, ...

–

Davey O'Brien Award The Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, named after Davey O'Brien, is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Co ...

Maxwell Award The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the college football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best all ...

Tyler Eifert Tyler Gregory Eifert (born September 8, 1990) is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame, received All-American honors, and was recognized as the top college tight end. Eife ...

–

Mackey Award The John Mackey Award is presented annually to college football's most outstanding tight end. Established in 2000 by the Nassau County Sports Commission, the award is given annually to the tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, ...

Michael Floyd Michael Floyd Jr. (born November 27, 1989) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Notre Dame from 2008 to 2011, finishing with 271 catches for 3,686 yards and 37 touchdowns, all school records. He was drafte ...

–

Biletnikoff Award The Fred Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to the most outstanding receiver in American college football by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. (TQCF), an independent not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The award was creat ...

, Maxwell Award *

Zack Martin Zachary Edward Martin (born November 20, 1990) is an American football offensive guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame and was drafted 16th overall by the Cowboys in the ...

–

Outland Trophy The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best college football interior lineman in the United States as adjudged by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named an All-Am ...

*David Ruffer – Groza Award * Harrison Smith –

Nagurski Award The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football defensive player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) to be the best in the National Collegiate Athl ...

Thorpe Award The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport athlete Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986. It is voted on by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. In 2017, the award became sponsored by Payc ...

Manti Te'o Manti Malietau Louis Te'o ( ; born January 26, 1991) is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. Te'o played college football at Notre Dame, where he was a consensus All-American and received eight national awards. He was drafted ...

–

Bednarik Award The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the defensive player in college football as judged by the Maxwell Football Club to be the best in the United States. The award is named for Chuck Bednarik, a former college and professional Ameri ...

Butkus Award The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football. The award, named in honor of College Football Hall of Fame ...

Lombardi Award The Rotary Lombardi Award is an award for college football in the United States. Awarded by the Rotary Club of Houston, Texas annually to the college football player "who best embodies the values and spirit of NFL's legendary coach Vince Lomba ...

, Nagurski Award, *

Cierre Wood Cierre Marcelle Wood (born February 21, 1991) is a former American football running back. He played college football at Notre Dame. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Texans in 2013. High school career Wood attended Santa ...

–

Doak Walker Award Since 1990 the Doak Walker Award honors the top running back in college football in the United States. It is named in honor of Doak Walker, a former running back who played for the SMU Mustangs from 1945 to 1949 and in the National Football Le ...

Schedule

Personnel

Coaching staff

Roster

Game summaries

South Florida

* Game Captains: Trevor Robinson,

Robert Blanton Robert Jack Blanton (born September 7, 1989) is a former American football strong safety. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Early yea ...

Michigan

* Game Captain: Zach Martin

Michigan State

* Game Captain: Ethan Johnson

Pittsburgh

* Game Captain: Taylor Dever

Purdue

* Game Captain:

Air Force

* Game Captain:

Jonas Gray Jonas Gray (born June 27, 1990) is a former American football running back. He played college football at Notre Dame. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and also played for the Baltimore Ravens and New Englan ...

USC

* Game Captain:

Navy

Game Captain: Chris Salvi *Source:''

Wake Forest

Game Captain:

Maryland

Game Captain:

Darius Fleming Darius Fleming (born July 19, 1989) is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame. He currently heads Sports Partnerships ...

Despite the game being played only 12 miles from the

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

campus, both end zones read "Notre Dame" and the majority of the fans in attendance were supporting the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame wore their green jerseys along with large green shamrocks on their side of their gold helmets.

Boston College

Stanford

Game Captain: Taylor Dever

Florida State

Game Captain:

Rankings

Awards

National awards *

(semifinalist) *

John Mackey Award The John Mackey Award is presented annually to college football's most outstanding tight end. Established in 2000 by the Nassau County Sports Commission, the award is given annually to the tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, a ...

(finalist) All-Americans

References

External links

{{Notre Dame Fighting Irish football navbox Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish football seasons Notre Dame Fighting Irish football