Jerry Tillery Breaking Down Walls As Notre Dame Sophomore

The football walls for sophomore defensive tackle Jerry Tillery are gradually becoming a little easier to scale. That doesn’t mean he can’t still mentor the current freshmen on what lies ahead and how to be prepared before hitting “the wall.”

“We play a long season,” Tillery said at the end of preseason training camp last Friday (Aug. 19). "I’m telling the freshmen now, ‘It’s coming. Just wait.’ There’s a camp wall, there’s a lot of walls you have to break through in order to be successful in this game.

“Everyone hits the wall. It’s how you get through it and how you adjust. That’s what makes a difference. I think they will be fewer and farther in between [for me], because I have more experience, and I think I’ve gotten a lot better. I think I’ll be better adjusted and better positioned to break through.”

There might not have been anyone in college football last year who had a more eventful, whirlwind freshman season than Tillery. He adjusted to the climate and culture change from his Louisiana roots to northern Indiana, changed majors (from pre-med to economics), took a trip to Ireland during fall break and then went back to Europe during spring break (Germany, Paris and a visit to the Auschwitz death camp), helped campaign for a friend in the school’s student body election (won by rival Corey Robinson) and, through his personable, inquisitive nature, became a feature performer, and stand-up comic, with senior captain Sheldon Day on the Showtime series “A Season With Notre Dame Football.”

Oh yeah … there was that “bit part” about football, too. That’s when, with apologies to John Cougar Mellencamp, some of the walls began tumbling down upon him, including a suspension for violation of team rules that had him sidelined for the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.

Heralded as a “unique talent” by Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly when Tillery was a 2015 early entrant and was able to partake in spring ball, he was called upon last August to help replace starting nose guard Jarron Jones when the latter tore his MCL that month and would miss the entire regular season.

Tillery and then sophomore Daniel Cage rotated in place of the injured Jones during the 10-2 regular season, with Tillery averaging about 30 snaps per contest (351 total) with three starts and Cage about 24 snaps per game (261 total), starting seven times while missing two games with an injury. Cage still had better overall numbers with 18 tackles (four for loss) to Tillery’s 12 (two for loss).

After recording four tackles (all solo, and one for a loss) in the 24-22 loss at Clemson in the fourth game, Tillery recorded four (none for loss) in the final eight games — including going through one four-game stretch where he was credited with no stops.

A nose guard’s effectiveness is not necessarily measured by how many tackles he records, but rather how many blockers he can engage to free up others to make those plays. Nevertheless, Tillery said there were too many “almost plays” by him during the season, and the residual effect took its toll on him even though his 6-6 frame carried 305 pounds.

“Defensive tackle (for an), 18-year-old kid, that’s not easy,” Tillery noted. “I think I’ve gotten a lot stronger.”

When asked halfway through preseason camp which individuals along the defensive line had made the most improvements, Kelly mentioned third-year mainstay and recently elected captain Isaac Rochell and Tillery, who is no longer at nose guard.

“Jerry is playing so much more physical,” Kelly stated. “At times he was a little more finesse last year, but he’s playing as a physical three-technique this year.”

The position change for Tillery was prompted by two factors. One, the return of Jones, who is expected to tag team with Cage this year to provide a stronger, more formidable middle to help improve Notre Dame’s No. 72-ranked rush defense last year (175.6 yards per game). Two, the graduation of Day should allow Tillery to use his athletic skill sets better.

“My natural traits do lend themselves to this position and I’ll be able to excel,” Tillery said. “It wasn’t easy in spring ball. I struggled a little bit but I think I’ve gotten a lot better.

“You can’t rely on what you can do naturally. Big, strong — that doesn’t really work at this level. You just have to work your technique and be technique-driven in order to be great.”

What he is most centered on is better control in his movements, knowing his assignment and carrying it out with far less tentativeness. In at least one 3-3-5 alignment this August, Tillery still remained in the middle, though, while Rochell and junior Andrew Trumbetti were along the flanks.

For now, the plan is to rotate, Jones, Cage and Tillery in the interior, with the hope that a fourth figure — including Rochell, or fellow strong side end Jonathan Bonner — could take some snaps there too.

Tillery maintains close contact with Day, now a rookie with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, and he eagerly awaits a return trip to Hawaii after learning some surfing there this past May. For now, it’s about navigating through an arduous college football season with less walls to climb and hit.

“I learned a lot,” said Tillery of his freshman year. “I think I grew up a lot, the ups and downs. It was a good year. I had a lot of fun. I think I’m a better person, a year older. I think I can take that experience into this season and be a lot better.”

If the defense is to take a step forward under third-year defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, it will be essential.