The UND.com practice report for March 30 shifts its focus to the Irish defensive safety position, under the guidance of first-year Notre Dame assistant Bob Elliott.
Und.com's coverage of the 2011 Football Award Show begins at 6:45 p.m. ET with a preview show hosted by Jack Nolan featuring various Irish coaches and players as guests. That leads directly into the award show itself, which begins at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Images from Thursday of Notre Dame preparing for the BCS National Championship Game.
JUNIOR SEASON (2012): Missed the entire season following shoulder injury suffered in spring practice.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2011): Participated in all 13 games, seeing action primarily on special teams and as a backup safety ... notched 18 tackles on the year ... named Notre Dame Special Teams Player of the Year after leading the Irish with 16 tackles on special teams, including team-best 14 tackles on kickoffs ... had career-high four tackles in win vs. Navy ... produced career highs in kick returns (two), yards (67) and long (41) in a win at Wake Forest ... returned three kicks, including a long of 24 yards against USF (Sept. 3).
FRESHMAN SEASON (2010): Saw action in all 13 games of his rookie season ... one of six freshmen to make their debut for the Irish in the home opener against Purdue ... recorded seven tackles on the season, tallying solo stops against Michigan State, Stanford, Western Michigan, Utah and Army ... six of his seven tackles came on the Irish special teams ... his six special teams tackles ranked sixth on the team and his six kickoff return tackles also ranked sixth ... forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half against Utah that set up an Irish touchdown ... recorded a 34-yard kickoff return to open the Hyundai Sun Bowl victory over Miami (Fla.) ... the 34-yard kickoff return was the first of his career.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: EA Sports second-team All-American as a multi-purpose player ... rushed for 1,503 yards and 23 touchdowns on 172 carries in 2009 as a senior at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Ky., while playing as running back, wide receiver and defensive back ... ran for 229 yards and two TDs on 26 carries in one 2009 game vs. Covington Catholic ... won Paul Hornung Award for 2009 from Louisville Touchdown Club as top high school player in Kentucky ... earned first-team Kentucky all-state honors in athlete category in 2009 from Louisville Courier-Journal ... first-team pick as running back on Cincinnati Enquirer Northern Kentucky Football All-Stars for 2009 ... Lexington Herald-Leader named him one of 22 players on its Class of the Commonwealth squad for 2009 ... nominated for Brian Williams "That's My Boy" Award given by local chapter of National Football Foundation to top scholar-athlete in Northern Kentucky ... ran for 176 yards (25 carries) and three TDs as Highlands defeated John Hardin 35-7 for final 15-0 mark and third straight Kentucky 5A state title in 2009 ... caught 46 passes for 840 yards and five TDs as junior in 2008 while earning first-team all-state honors as receiver ... also played as defensive back as a junior in '08 ... rushed 18 times for 166 yards and one TD in '08, returned three kickoffs and two punts for TDs and also intercepted four passes on defense and returned one for a score ... played safety and returned kicks as a sophomore in 2007, intercepting five passes and earning second-team Associated Press all-state honors at defensive back ... Highlands lost only one game combined over his final three seasons (2007-09) and ranked third on final USA Today listing of top high school teams for '09 and eighth on ESPN Rise Fab 50 listing ... one of four players from Kentucky on Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team ... selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio but did not play due to injury ... also competed in track as sprinter ... father Cris Collinsworth, who caught 120 career passes as collegiate wide receiver at Florida, played eight years (1981-88) with NFL Cincinnati Bengals (earning all-pro honors in 1981-82-83 and catching 417 career passes for 6,698 yards and 36 TDs), now an analyst on NBC Sports' Football Night in America (and also does work for the NFL Network) ... played for coach Dale Mueller at Highlands ... son of Cris and Holly Collinsworth ... enrolled in Mendoza College of Business, majoring in finance.
