Notre Dame Football: Finalizing the Week 1 Depth Chart

After eight long months, it's finally game week again. Notre Dame will begin its 2012 season in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday with its annual rivalry game against Navy. With fall camp winding down, head coach Brian Kelly has established his depth chart for the season opener.

Some positions are as expected, but there are some surprises. Two starters have never taken a snap at the collegiate level.

As the Irish put the finishing touches on their game plan for the Midshipmen, let's take a closer look at the team's two-deep.

Quarterback

Starter: 5 - Everett Golson (So.)

Backup: 12 - Andrew Hendrix (Jr.)

The much-hyped Irish quarterback race finally concluded last week when Kelly announced Everett Golson would be the team's starter. With incumbent Tommy Rees suspended for the opener after an offseason arrest, Hendrix is the obvious backup for Saturday and likely going forward for the rest of the season.

Golson's arm strength and mobility will give the Fighting Irish attack more versatility this season.  Thirty-three months after his hiring by Notre Dame, expect Kelly to finally be able to unleash his complete offense on Saturday.

Running Back

Starter: 6 - Theo Riddick (Sr.)

Backups: 20 - Cierre Wood (Sr.), 4 - George Atkinson III (So.)

At this time last year, Irish fans were saying a prayer that Wood could stay healthy, as there appeared to be little depth behind the California native. Spinning it forward to the present, Notre Dame is loaded in the backfield with a wide array of talent.

Wood is an effective all-around back with good quickness and straight-line speed, but will miss the first two games due to a violation of team rules. 

Riddick's move to the backfield will make it easier to get the ball in his hands, where he is most effective due to his exceptional field vision.

Atkinson III is another dynamic weapon for the Irish. His ability to smoothly change directions and then turn on his track speed has drawn him comparisons to Notre Dame great Raghib "Rocket" Ismail. Mostly a special teams player last season, Atkinson III should be a regular contributor this season on offense.

Wide Receiver

Starters: 7 - TJ Jones (Jr.), 81 - John Goodman (Sr.), 9 - Robby Toma (Sr.)

Backups: 19 - Davonte Neal (Fr.), 10 - Davaris Daniels (So.), 2 - Chris Brown (Fr.), 87 - Daniel Smith (Jr.)

It's impossible to say this unit is stronger without Michael Floyd, but it is definitely deeper.

Fifth-year senior Goodman has impressed this offseason, while Jones appears poised for a breakout season after an up-and-down sophomore campaign. Toma emerged late in the season as an effective slot receiver with his ability to find holes in coverage and make tough catches.

Behind the starters are three players who are yet to play a down of college football. Daniels spent last season learning the system and adding strength and is Notre Dame's closest thing to Floyd. With Goodman currently dealing with a minor groin injury, Daniels could take over the starting role and perhaps never relinquish it. Neal and Brown both have the type of speed that makes it nearly impossible to keep them on the sideline despite their inexperience.

Tight End

Starter: 80 - Tyler Eifert (Sr.)

Backups: 18 - Ben Koyack (So.), 85 - Troy Niklas (So.)

"Tight End U." might have its best one ever in Eifert. The Fort Wayne native is a matchup nightmare with his size and ability to stretch the field. Anthony Fasano, John Carlson and Kyle Rudolph were very good college players, but Eifert is truly great. With stronger quarterback play this season, expect Eifert to take home Notre Dame's first Mackey Award in December.

There is a bit of uncertainty behind Eifert, especially after Alex Welch's season-ending knee injury earlier this month, but there isn't a lack of talent. Koyack was a top recruit in the 2011 class, and Niklas, after playing linebacker last season, moves over to the position at which he was recruited by Jim Harbaugh and Stanford, another recent tight-end factory. Expect to see more two tight end sets this season.

Offensive Tackle

Starters: 70 - Zack Martin (Sr.), 74 - Christian Lombard (Jr.)

Backups: 78 - Ronnie Stanley (Fr.), 72 - Nick Martin (So.)

Zack Martin may be Notre Dame's best offensive tackle since Luke Petitgout in the late '90s. He'll protect Golson's blind side and has started each of the past 26 games for the Irish.

Lombard steps in for the departed Taylor Dever on the right side. He can also play guard, but appears to be a better fit at tackle. The Irish shouldn't miss a beat with Lombard in the fold.

The coaching staff was hoping to redshirt Stanley this season, but the transfer of Jordan Prestwood earlier this month has all but taken that option away. Nick Martin, Zack's younger brother, can play four different positions on the line, but will begin as Lombard's backup at right tackle. 6'8" junior Tate Nichols will be out until mid-September, but could move into a backup role when healthy.

Offensive Guard

Starters: 66 - Chris Watt (Jr.), 57 - Mike Golic (Sr.)

Backups: 65 - Connor Hanratty (So.), 75 - Mark Harrell (Fr.)

Notre Dame is in relatively good shape at guard with Watt and Golic.

Watt surprisingly won the starting role last year as a sophomore, and should be able to take his game to the next level as a junior.

Golic, also the backup at center, is a late bloomer who held off Nick Martin at right guard during fall camp. The son of the ESPN Radio host gained valuable experience last season with four starts at center.

Another player with a Notre Dame football pedigree is Hanratty, son of former Irish quarterback Terry Hanratty, the starter on the team's 1966 national title team. Harrell should be part of the rotation at some point as a true freshman, especially if Nick Martin has to remain at tackle. A redshirt season would be ideal if the team's health allows for it.

Center

Starter: 52 - Braxston Cave (Sr.)

Backup: 57 - Mike Golic (Sr.)

Cave is a viable All-American candidate in the middle of the Irish offensive line. He's recovering from a foot injury that sidelined him for the team's final four games in 2011, but is fully healthy and should have a dominant 2012 season that propels his name up NFL Draft boards.

Golic, the starter at right guard, would slide over to center should Cave again have to miss time. Sophomore Matthew Hegarty would likely become the backup in that situation. At such a crucial position, having Golic's experience could prove extremely beneficial for the Irish. 

Defensive End

Starters: 89 - Kapron Lewis-Moore (Sr.), 7 - Stephon Tuitt (So.)

Backups: 91 - Sheldon Day (Fr.), 50 - Chase Hounshell (So.)

The loss of Aaron Lynch during spring practice was a significant blow, but the Irish are still in good shape at defensive end.

Tuitt is a budding star with freakish athletic ability for his size. Lewis-Moore is a steady veteran who won't provide much of a pass rush, but excels against the run. He missed the last half of the 2011 season with a knee injury.

The Irish were fortunate to have Day enroll early to go through spring practice. While still young, he has quickly grasped the system and is strong and technically sound enough to play right away at the major college level. Hounshell saw spot duty last season and will be in the regular rotation this fall. He's the smallest of the four but has a great motor.

Nose Tackle

Starter: 9 - Louis Nix (Jr.)

Backup: 96 - Kona Schwenke (Jr.)

In addition to being the team jester (watch his latest segment of "The Chocolate News" here), Nix is a dominant interior lineman for what is quickly becoming one of the best front sevens in college football. Once the Florida native got his body in the shape that it needed to be in, he became a force in the middle of the defense that often required two offensive linemen to block.

Schwenke is not an every-down player at the nose due to his size, but does have a nasty streak that will come in handy when spelling Nix. He could figure into the mix at end as well if injuries occur. He's dealing with a broken bone in his hand, but it shouldn't limit his playing time.

Outside Linebacker

Starters: 55 - Prince Shembo (Sr.), 30 - Ben Councell (So.)

Backups: 11 - Ishaq Williams (So.), 45 - Romeo Okwara (Fr.)

The Irish have two separately-defined roles for their outside linebackers. The Cat linebacker is a hybrid linebacker/defensive end that must be a strong edge pass rusher. Shembo and Williams should share that role this season. Shembo played Dog linebacker last season, but appears a better fit at Cat. Williams is the team's most talented outside linebacker, but is still developing.

At Dog, Notre Dame will be a bit thin until junior Danny Spond's return from migraines, which is expected sometime in the latter half of September. Ben Councell becomes the starter at the position. While the Irish would love to have 2013 recruit Jaylon Smith available this year, Councell will do just fine for the time being.

Okwara, just 17 years old, has quickly grasped the Dog position since moving there after Spond went out earlier this month.

Inside Linebacker

Starters: 5 - Manti Te'o (Sr.), 44 - Dan Fox (Sr.)

Backups: 59 - Jarrett Grace (So.), 8 - Kendall Moore (Jr.)

Not much needs to be said about Te'o. He's one of the best to ever play the linebacker position at Notre Dame, and is the best linebacker in the country at stopping the run. Fox will begin the season alongside Te'o, with senior Carlo Calabrese suspended for the opener. Fox is stronger in coverage than Calabrese, but the two veterans will likely again platoon at the position.

Grace is the heir apparent to Te'o at MIKE linebacker. The Irish would like for him to be able to see the field as much as possible this season if the scores allow, but a tough schedule may limit those chances. Moore will likely move back to third team once Calabrese returns. 

Cornerback

Starters: 2 - Bennett Jackson (Jr.), 6 - KeiVarae Russell (Fr.)

Backups: 49 - Josh Atkinson (So.), 21 - Jalen Brown (So.)

Last week's loss of junior Lo Wood to a season-ending injury left the Irish scrambling at the position that was already their greatest concern. Notre Dame had defined roles for the boundary and field cornerbacks, but that appears much murkier without Wood.

Jackson had been set to start at boundary, but the team may be more comfortable with the true freshman Russell at the position.

After moving from running back in the summer, Russell quickly emerged as a viable option at cornerback, and is slated to become the team's first true freshman to ever start at the position.

Brown, who spent last year on the scout team covering Michael Floyd, is the third cornerback, with Atkinson not far behind him. Atkinson is a bit more athletic, but Brown has demonstrated better technique.

Safety

Starters: 26 - Jamoris Slaughter (Sr.), 17 - Zeke Motta (Sr.)

Backups: 24 - Chris Salvi (Sr.), 41 - Matthias Farley (So.)

There's always one position on every team where injuries simply cannot occur. This year, it's safety, where the Irish have two high-level players in Slaughter and Motta, but a bunch of question marks behind them. Both were tremendous in the Champs Sports Bowl. Slaughter will often line up inside the tackle box in nickel packages this season.

Salvi played in every game last year but managed only 10 tackles. Farley has been a pleasant surprise after moving from wide receiver. True freshman Elijah Shumate and fifth-year senior Dan McCarthy should figure into the mix as well.

Special Teams

Kickers: 40 - Nick Tausch (Sr.), 35 - Ben Turk (Sr.)

Returners: 4 - George Atkinson III (So.), 19 - Davonte Neal (Fr.)

Special teams were a major disappointment last season for the Irish, but figure to be a strength this fall. Tausch re-assumes the placekicking role he owned in 2009 after being passed by David Ruffer in 2010 and 2011. Turk turned his 2011 season around after a slow start. If he can stay consistent, he's an above-average punter.

Atkinson III will be the primary kick returner after taking two kickoffs back for touchdowns last season. The punt return game was non-existent last season, but Neal figures to change that with his speed and familiarity with returning punts.