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Andrew Trumbetti's Stock Rising On Notre Dame's Defense

Andrew Trumbetti (98) and Daelin Hayes (9) are expected to improve Notre Dame's pass rush.
Andrew Trumbetti (98) and Daelin Hayes (9) are expected to improve Notre Dame's pass rush. (Photo by Bill Panzica)

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From solely a college football stock market, Notre Dame senior defensive end Andrew Trumbetti on initial glance might be one to “sell” to cut one’s losses.

As a 2014 freshman, Trumbetti had the Notre Dame staff bullish on his future after he recorded 21 tackles, highlighted by 5.5 for lost yardage, sixth best on the team. He started in the Music City Bowl win over LSU and was credited with three solo stops (one for loss) and a QB hurry.

Yet as a sophomore in 2015, despite taking the fourth-most snaps among the linemen with 368 (a whopping 81 of them in the Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State), Trumbetti’s numbers dropped to 16 tackles, 2.5 for loss, two of them in the finale versus the Buckeyes.

Last season as a junior, the disappointment bottomed out for Trumbetti even though his 467 unofficial snaps — which included seven starts in 12 games — were the third most among Fighting Irish defensive linemen. Despite getting classified as potentially the best and most natural pass rusher on the team, he had zero sacks, was credited with a half-tackle for lost yardage and had only three QB hurries. His 26 tackles were 13th on the team.

Head coach Brian Kelly has tried to avoid singling out individuals this month for their play, but of his own volition last weekend after the fifth practice, he couldn’t help but laud the progress Trumbetti has made.

“He looks like the guy we recruited out of high school,” said Kelly of the former four-star prospect from Demarest, N.J. “He was a dominating player in high school, had an edge about him. We did a poor job of developing him until this year. He is at that point where he’s going to make an impact, and it’s going to be fun to watch.

“He’s got a greater relationship with Coach [Mike] Elston, he feels really comfortable with Coach [Mike] Elko … It’s always been a fight with him in terms of body weight and strength. He’s physically an imposing edge player for us right now.”

Trumbetti is projected to split time as the swingman at strong side end, where classmate Jay Hayes is also aligned, and drop end, where sophomore Daelin Hayes (no relation), a five-star recruit now deemed as the team’s best pass rusher, is stationed.

His role seems fitting because he would appear to be a hybrid of the 281-pound Jay Hayes and the 258-pound Daelin Hayes. Trumbetti is not as robust as Jay Hayes and doesn’t have the initial explosiveness of Daelin Hayes, but collectively he can excel at both positions with his skill set.

Several reasons can be attributed to Trumbetti’s ascent, beginning with his weight. Last year he was adamant that his optimal weight is about 252 pounds, otherwise he feels too bulky. He admits that his weight had even plummeted to 235 at one point.

Now, he is listed at 263, and points out that on Wednesday he checked in at 265 despite going through the “dog days” of practice. Trumbetti said he has bought in to what the new strength and conditioning staff led by Matt Balis has been selling.

“It’s crazy, I feel like a new person,” he said. “I’m really focused on my diet now, consciously making an effort with calories … it’s all healthy food. I feel like I’ve put on good weight and can hold the point of attack … Now that I’m heavier, I feel like I can get to the quarterback easier by bull-rushing. When I was light, it really fell off.”

Second, Trumbetti has attempted to nurture a more even-keel demeanor. Kelly has stated in the past that Trumbetti crossed the line of healthy self-criticism because it affected his performance too much. Prior to last season, Trumbetti admitted, “If I have just one bad play, I’ll be pissed off about it the entire practice. I just need to stop doing that …Mental toughness. Be confident in what I do, learn the playbook and just get out there and play full speed.”

The coaching changes also have buoyed Trumbetti’s spirit because for him they are a better fit. When he was productive as a freshman, his position coach was Elston, who then was switched to linebackers in 2015-16. Elston is now with the linemen again and understands how Trumbetti is wired.

“He’s always known I can play at a high level,” said Trumbetti of Elston. “…I haven’t been making as many mental mistakes. He gets on me when I need it, but if I make a mental error it’s not like he’ll make the biggest deal out of it.

“…I’m just really hard on myself. You don’t really need to yell at me when I make a mistake — I’ll fix it myself. If I get someone yelling at me, I just start overthinking and it makes me worse.”

Under new coordinator Elko, the huge blessing for Trumbetti is not having to overthink.

“He just lets his players play,” Trumbetti said. “…You have to let your playmakers play.”

Competing against a veteran offensive line that has been ranked among the best in the country also has aided his growth. Kelly has noted that the often-maligned defensive line has evened out in practice against the offense, if not bested it on occasion.

“Our defensive line has made the biggest strides since I’ve been here by a long shot,” Trumbetti said. “We’re definitely not going to be a question mark this season. Everyone has bought into this off-season and what we’ve done. We’ve had a lot of immaturity in the past … we don’t have that many — here and there — but not like in the past.”

The more energetic atmosphere is naturally augmented by the misery of 2016 that provides a fuel and hunger all around.

“It’s my senior year, I have nothing to lose at this point and everything to prove,” Trumbetti said… I don’t want to have any regrets.”

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