Notre Dame Football 2012: Post-Spring Overview of Fighting Irish Cornerbacks

Since discussion of the upcoming 2012 season began, the state of Notre Dame's defensive backfield has been a significant area of concern.

As recently as December, it was assumed that cornerback would be an area of strength, with Ronald Darby and Tee Shepard being added to the mix. Much to the dismay of the fan base, neither one of those players will ever play a down at Notre Dame.

So who remains at cornerback for the Fighting Irish now that the dust has settled?

For a closer look, take a look at the following slideshow.

Bennett Jackson

Recruited as a wide receiver, Bennett Jackson has made a smooth transition to the cornerback position.

Despite having served the entire 2011 season at the position, Jackson saw limited playing time, as Gary Gray and Robert Blanton manned the two cornerback spots.

Both Gray and Blanton have exhausted their eligibility at Notre Dame, making room for Jackson to become a full-time starter at cornerback.

Jackson's speed and agility make him a candidate to be quite the pleasant surprise in the Irish secondary this season.

Josh Atkinson

The twin brother of Notre Dame running back George Atkinson III, Josh Atkinson will be in his second season as a cornerback this fall.

The Livermore, California native has yet to make strides on the field, making his potential an oft-discussed topic. Atkinson and his brothers moonlight as speedsters for the track team, and have posted some lightning-fast times on the track this off-season.

Should Josh master the mental side of the equation, his physical skills will be even higher on display.

Lo Wood

The most experienced of this bunch, Lo Wood, will be entering his third season in an Irish uniform this fall.

Wood had a breaking-out party of sorts against Maryland last season, snagging an interception and returning it 57 yards for a touchdown.

Wood will be counted on to be a leader in the secondary this season, given the lack of experience at the position. The absence of Gary Gray and Robert Blanton will certainly be noticeable to the members of the Fighting Irish secondary.

Jalen Brown

Jalen Brown is far and away the most intriguing athlete in the Irish secondary.

Originally a 3-Star recruit out of Irving, Texas, Brown served a redshirt season last fall, but will be counted upon to contribute this season.

The 6'1", 199-pound Brown has tremendous size for a cornerback, making him a likely candidate to see the field early and often when September rolls around.

His physical tools go without question, but it's the grasp of the playbook and scheme that have held Brown back to this point.

Conclusion

Brian Kelly and his coaching staff know that the success of the defense rests on pass defense this season. This has been considered a weakness through the two years under the former Cincinnati coach.

The addition of Bob Elliott to the staff will only leave room for improvement for this young group of cornerbacks.

How the group pans out will be, perhaps, the most intriguing storyline on the defensive side of the ball during the upcoming season.