When the Los Angeles Chargers plucked former Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, it was with the expectation that he would add depth to their linebacker position, while serving as a core special teams contributor in year one.
That was the case at the beginning of the season, with Tranquill immediately making an impact on special teams, including an excellent blocked punt in Week 9 against Green Bay.
However, Tranquill’s performance earned him more than just a special teams role, as he has shifted to take over as LA’s starting middle linebacker, a role he has excelled at in recent weeks.
Tranquill has now started each of the Chargers last four games at middle linebacker, recording 33 combined tackles in that time – including 14 against the Raiders in Week 10.
The Chargers have not lived up to expectations this season, but the emergence of Tranquill has been one of few bright spots for them this year.
His continued growth should allow him to develop into a star linebacker for years to come, and one Notre Dame fans can certainly be proud of.
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