WHY MYRON TAGOVAILOA-AMOSA IS RANKED NO. 12 IN THIS COUNTDOWN.
For the first time in 22 years, Notre Dame is replacing a first-round draft pick along the defensive line in Jerry Tillery.
Meanwhile, his heir apparent — junior Tagovailoa-Amosa — broke his right foot during his 10th snap of the opener last season against Michigan, and did not see action again until the College Football Playoff loss to Clemson in which he played 18 snaps (but still preserved a fifth-year of eligibility because of the 2018 NCAA rule that allowed players to participate in four games at any time during the season without forfeiting a redshirt year).
At 6-2 ½, 286 pounds, Tagovailoa-Amosa’s frame does not match the far more rangier 6-7, 305-pound dimension Tillery possessed. Another underrated or underappreciated aspect of Tillery’s game was his durability.
