No pressure: Notre Dame will turn to true freshman K Justin Yoon

Featuring a strong, accurate leg, Notre Dame incoming freshman Justin Yoon is physically capable of making any kick. Having those tangible traits is important, but what’ll determine Yoon’s success in South Bend how he mentally handles attempting pressure-packed kicks at the college level.

Yoon won’t have much of an adjustment period, either — of the 24 members of Notre Dame’s 2015 recruiting class, he’s the only one guaranteed to play a significant role this fall.

“(He’s) going to be our kicker and he’ll come in and start right away,” coach Brian Kelly said. “We think he’s the best kicker in the country.”Rivals, too, rated Yoon as the nation’s No. 1 2015 kicker. He’ll fill Notre Dame’s only true position of need, seeing as 2014 freshman Tyler Newsome will take over only punting duties this fall.

Kelly and special teams coach Scott Booker could’ve attempted to bring in a preferred walk-on kicker, though signing Yoon certainly represented the safest bet. Given how many teams have had title hopes dashed because of missed field goals — most recently, Alabama (2013), Oregon (2011 and 2012) and Boise State (2010) — it’s a smart move for a team that has legitimate playoff aspirations this fall.

Yoon, a native of Milton, Ma., will face plenty of difficult tests as a freshman at Notre Dame Stadium, Death Valley, Fenway Park and the like. If he’s able to pair the necessary intangibles with his natural kicking talent, Notre Dame shouldn’t have to worry about field goals — as was the case the last time the Irish made a championship run with Kyle Brindza consistently connecting on critical kicks.

“The thing that stood out was his strength and accuracy,” Kelly said. “He’s a hockey player as well, and gave up hockey to concentrate this year strictly on his kicking, and I think he proved himself pretty good in the All‑Star games this year. But I think you’ll see him as being one of the real stars in this class in terms of impacting right away.”Tags: Notre Dame, Fighting Irish, Irish, South Bend, College footba

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