SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- James Onwualu has been through a lot of change in his four years at Notre Dame, going from being a blocking wide receiver starting four games as a freshman to a defensive stalwart who helped turn around a defense that was foundering to start the season.Coach Brian Kelly credits the 6-foot-1, 232-pound linebacker from St. Paul, Minnesota, and defensive end Isaac Rochell with anchoring the unit when coordinator Brian VanGorder was fired after a 1/3 start and lauds them for providing the leadership needed when the Irish (4-6) started depending more on freshmen.Those two guys in particular, Rochell and Onwualu were unbelievable, Kelly said. It was, I think, crucial when we made a change defensively, played all those freshmen, we needed guys to lead by example. We didnt need a guy yelling and screaming. And those two guys live by example.It was a challenge for Onwualu to stay positive when VanGorder was fired because the coach had helped him so much when he switched from offense, moving at first to safety and then to linebacker.Youre pretty much failing every single day. Like, Im coming in, never backpedaled in my life really, didnt know much about defense, maybe just normal coverages, but youre pretty much coming in and failing every single day, he said. So to have somebody like coach VanGorder who is working you through that process and continuing to give you confidence, and say youre learning this today and youve improved here, but also at the same time pushing you.Onwualu made the change after making two catches as a freshman. He saw other freshmen receivers such as Will Fuller and Corey Robinson with so much more talent, and he was excelling making tackles on special teams. He figures if he stayed at receiver he might have finished with 10 catches this season. Instead, hes been a three-year starter on defense and is third in tackles this season with 60 heading into his final game Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium against Virginia Tech (7-3). Hes also second on the team with five pass break-ups and has two sacks.I feel so much more comfortable on the defensive side. It kind of fits my mentality a little bit more, he said.Rochell believes Onwualu would be good at whatever he tries.Hes always going to be working hard, he said. If he was picking up trash from the Gug hed be great at it. It doesnt matter if hes crunching numbers in accounting, hes going to be great at it.Onwualu takes pride in that the defense has consistently improved and has a chance to show how good it is in its final two games against Virginia Tech and No. 15 USC (7-3).We knew that we were just working toward something and working toward being the best team that we could be, and I think its just starting to kind of shape around, he said. Guys are starting to realize how talented we can really be.Clearance Sneakers UK Store .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Wholesale Sneakers UK Shop . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. http://www.discountsneakersuk.com/ . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Sneakers UK From China . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Cheap Sneakers UK Fast Shipping . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan.His team swept them aside with authority, but even Sydney FC captain Alex Brosque considers it unwise to discount Western Sydney so early in the A-League season.Saturday nights 4-0 defeat left Tony Popovics Wanderers with much to work on after missed opportunities and defensive holes triggered a second-half collapse.Theyve done what they always do which is revamp the whole squad, so its a bit hard to gauge exactly how theyll fare, Brosque told AAP.Some might see it as strange that Popovic changes so often, but hes obviously shown that regardless of what 20 players he has he can get it done.Its hard to know what sort of team theyre going to be like, but before you know it theyre up the top of the table and the season is getting away.Former A-League coach John Kosmina described Popovics revamped grand finalists as lacking cohesion and fluency on Saturday night.But apart from the record scoreline, there was nothing unusual for the Wanderers about the Sydney derby loss - its now eight games since theyve won the fixture.And, more tellingly, it was not abnormal for them to leave round one winless - theyve triumphed only once in the opening three rounds across the four seasons before this, three of which ended with grand-final appearances.Despite being the leagues youngest franchise, Western Sydney undergo possibly the highest annual turnover in personnel.For that reason, Popovics squads historically spend the first few rounds addressing teething issues before players moulld into a formidable force.dddddddddddd.And this campaign will no doubt be challenging in the absence of last seasons most reliable charges.Mark Bridges attacking vision. Andreus midfield composure. Scott Jamiesons unmatched workrate.But there is promise in new faces, like exuberant striker Kerem Bulut, who may just need a few weeks to start converting the chances he missed against the Sky Blues.The skill and agility of Japanese winger Jumpei Kusukami is also sure to provide fruits, while marquee playmaker Nicolas Martinez enjoyed a promising cameo.Popovic said his latest overhaul was part of the clubs evolution as he seeks to fortify their new attacking style with extra final-third creativity.Were trying to add a few new elements to our game, Popovic told AAP.Im always searching for something; I dont know if Ill ever find it.I feel we get to a point, and then Im searching for players who can help take it another step.We were very happy last year - we finished second, made the grand final and made the Asian Champions League.Had all those players stayed again it wouldnt have been a disaster, it would have been good.But we just felt we could improve our strength and we believe that come the turn of the year well have a strong squad that can get through the group stage of the Champions League and be challenging for the A-League title again. 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