It might help in answering this question if ndnation.com would add 40 times on its recruiting page, but look, the next Rocket can't be discerned simply by that metric. Mardy Gilyard is a threat to take it to the house on returns because he is completely fearless, has an uncanny knack for making people miss, particularly with his first move, and has incredible acceleration when he gets to the next level.

Great scouts can identify these traits in players and my guess is that there may be players on the team right now riding the pine who have the potential to be the guy.

Brian Kelly's 2009 Bearcats went undefeated this season when he was head coach with a decidedly mediocre D, and I don't think it's nearly as important as most that the Irish D suddenly become a force.

The scoreboard will look like a pinball scoreboard under Kelly. Recall that the Bearcats were down 31-10 to Pitt and came back because the D made adjustments at the half, and forced the Panthers into several 3-and-outs in the second half that allowed the Bearcats to come back even though they gave up two additional TDs in the second half.

Kelly's kids believe they can come back irrespective of the deficit and the Bearcats' D seemed to feed off the Bearcats' explosive offense.

One thing the Bearcats had that would also help take the pressure off the Irish D is an explosive kick/punt returner in the mold of the Rocket Ismail and Mardy Gilyard. Gilyard ignited the Bearcats comeback against Pitt by running back a TD for a score right before the end of the first half and had a couple of nice punt returns in the second half to set up scores.

Kelly will do just fine at Notre Dame, he has the passion and the technique. He also will adjust as the game progresses.

Defense wins championships.