Notre Dame Football: Predicting the Depth Chart Heading into Fall Camp

Many Irish fans are optimistic about their BCS bowl chances this season. Notre Dame does return seven starters on both sides of the ball, but has many question marks, and a schedule that won't exactly be kind to them.

Still, this is a talented Notre Dame team that has many of the right pieces in place. If the Irish get a few bounces to go their way, this could end up being one of the surprise teams of the 2012 season.

With fall camp right around the corner, here is what the depth chart should look like for your 2012 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Quarterback

Starter: Everett Golson, Sophomore

Backup: Andrew Hendrix, Junior

If the season was going to start tomorrow, Golson would likely be the starter. He had by far the best performance in the spring game and gives the Irish the best chance to win right now. With his dual-threat ability, Golson would add a spark to this offense and should surprise many people early in the season. 

Running Back

Starter: Cierre Wood, Senior

Backup: Theo Riddick, Senior

Cierre Wood became the first Irish player to rush for over 1,000 yards since 2006. He returns for his senior season and will be the go-to guy when it comes to the running game. He will also be a key factor in the passing game considering he has caught over 20 passes the last two seasons.

Receivers

Starter: John Goodman, Senior

Backup: DaVaris Daniels, Freshman

Goodman hasn't been very productive throughout his Notre Dame career, but the fifth-year senior will need to have a breakout season in 2012. He has the size at 6'3, 205 pounds to really become a weapon on this offense.

Starter: TJ Jones, Sophomore

Backup: Davonte' Neal, Freshman

Jones has been a consistent receiver the last two seasons, hauling in a combined 61 passes for 672 yards and six touchdowns. With Michael Floyd no longer on the roster, bigger and better things are expected of Jones in 2012.

Starter: Robby Toma, Senior

Backup: Daniel Smith, Junior

Toma has yet to really tap into his potential, as he only has 36 receptions in three seasons. But as he enters his senior season, he could emerge as one of the better playmakers on this offense. At 5'9", 195 pounds, Toma has the playmaking ability to really take his game to the next level. Expect the best season of his career this season.

Starter: Tyler Eifert, Senior

Backup: Alex Welch, Junior

Now that Floyd is no longer around, it will be Eifert that becomes the No. 1 option on this offense. He has quickly emerged as one of the better tight ends in college football, after hauling in 63 receptions last season for 803 yards. 

Offensive Line

Left Tackle

Starter: Zack Martin, Senior 

Backup: Jordan Prestwood, Sophomore

Martin is a good player to have protecting a young quarterback's blindside. He is one of the more underrated linemen in the entire country and is a candidate for the 2012 Outland Trophy.

Left Guard

Starter: Chris Watt, Junior

Backup: Bruce Heggie, Junior

Watt can play many positions on the offensive line, and is also capable of playing the defensive side of the ball as well. He is a physical player, who started for the Irish last season and helped the running game become a success. He is considered a top 150 player in all of college football by Bleacher Report.

Center

Starter: Braxston Cave, Senior 

Backup: Matt Hegarty, Sophomore

Cave should be ready to go in 2012, after suffering an injury that cut last season shot. Still, he is a Rimington Trophy candidate and has played in 35 games throughout his career at Notre Dame.

Right Guard

Starter: Nick Martin, Sophomore

Backup: Mike Golic Jr., Senior

Martin is a versatile player, who should end up earning a starting spot in the fall. He is a physical player, who gives his all on every play, and is already impressing coaches with his style of play.

Right Tackle

Starter: Christian Lombard, Junior

Backup: Tate Nichols, Junior

Lombard is a leader on the field, who is capable of playing in many different spots along the offensive line. He played in all 13 games last season, but should finally have a chance to start full-time in his junior year.

Defensive Line

Starter: Kapron Lewis-Moore, Senior

Backup: Sheldon Day, Freshman

Lewis-Moore may be a fifth-year senior, but probably wouldn't have been in the starting lineup if Aaron Lynch didn't decide to transfer to South Florida. Now the Irish are counting on him to be a productive player on this defensive line. He has six career sacks and 140 tackles.

Starter: Louis Nix III, Junior

Backup: Kona Schwenke, Junior

Nix saw action for the first time last season and finished the season with 45 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a broken up pass. He has a great combination of size and strength, and could be a high pick in next year's NFL draft if he has another productive season for the Irish.

Starter: Stephon Tuitt, Sophomore

Backup: Chase Hounshell, Sophomore

Tuitt is a former 5-star recruit, who played last season as a freshman, racking up 30 tackles and two sacks in limited action. He is somebody who can help Irish fans forget about the loss of Lynch, due to his terrific pass-rushing skills and athleticism.

Linebackers

Starter: Ben Councell, Sophomore

Backup: Danny Spond, Junior

This will be a battle that will last throughout the spring, but Councell made a serious push in the spring to overtake the starting position. Regardless of who wins the starting position, both will likely see equal playing time in 2012.

Starter: Prince Shembo, Junior

Backup: Ishaq Williams, Sophomore

Much like the first set of linebackers, these two players will see plenty of playing time as well, especially with Williams performing much better throughout the spring.

Starter: Manti Te'o, Senior

Backup: Jarrett Grace, Sophomore

Te'o put off the NFL for one more season and decided to return for his senior season. He is a leader on this football team, a two-time second-team All-American, and without question one of the best linebackers college football has to offer.

Starter: Dan Fox, Senior

Backup: Carlo Calabrese, Senior

Similar to the other linebackers, these two players will once again split playing time. Last season, Calabrese and Fox combined for over 80 tackles, two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Defensive Backs

Cornerback

Starter: Bennett Jackson, Junior

Backup: Jalen Brown, Freshman

Jackson began his career as a wide receiver, but has developed quickly into a solid defensive player. He is still learning the position, but with his physicality and athleticism, Jackson could emerge as one of the better corners in the country in 2012.

Safety

Starter: Zeke Motta, Senior

Backup: Dan McCarthy, Senior

Motta is an experienced player, entering his senior season. He is an athletic safety, who plays the game very physical and has 102 career tackles under his belt.

Safety

Starter: Jamoris Slaughter, Senior

Backup: Eilar Hardy, Sophomore

Slaughter is one of the most important players on this Irish team, as he brings many years of experience being a fifth-year senior. He finished last season with 45 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and two broken up passes.

Cornerback

Starter: Lo Wood, Junior

Backup: Josh Atkinson, Sophomore

This position will remain a battle throughout the fall, as neither has separated from one another. Atkinson is the speedster, while Wood has very good instincts. This should be a great battle to keep an eye on, but both will see playing time regardless.

Specialists

Kicker

Starter: Nick Tausch, Senior

Backup: Kyle Brindza, Sophomore

Tausch will return as the place kicker for the Irish after losing his starting job last season to David Ruffer. In 2009, as a true-freshman, Tausch drilled 14 of his 17 attempts, and made 27 of his 30 extra points. 

Punter

Starter: Ben Turk, Senior

Backup: Kyle Brindza, Sophomore

Turk has been the starting punter for the Irish the last three seasons. He got off to a shaky start last year, but picked it up at the end of the season and averaged 40.3 yards per attempt on the season.