Notre Dame Football: Players to Watch in Irish's 2015 Spring Game

With nearly its entire starting lineup back for another year, Notre Dame is as set as any team in FBS for the upcoming season. This has made this year's spring practice one that's been less about competition and more about tweaking and tinkering—there are almost as many position changes as position battles.

But that doesn't mean Saturday's Blue-Gold scrimmage won't have any less value than in years past. The offense vs. defense competition will give Fighting Irish fans an idea of how this year's team is going to look under the guidance of new offensive coordinator Mike Sanford and how it's coming along in its second season with coordinator Brian VanGorder running the defense.

There will also be a handful of players whose performances on Saturday will go a long way toward determining their roles in the fall. Some are in line to be starters, while others are looking to fill spots as backups or get into the mix in other ways.

Here's a look at some players who warrant the most attention on Saturday.

Matthias Farley

Matt York/Associated Press

Year: Senior

Position: Cornerback

Matthias Farley began his Notre Dame career as a wide receiver, then, as a redshirt freshman in 2012, he started at safety for a team that reached the national championship game. A poor performance the following year knocked him out of the lineup, only to see him return last season as a spot starter at nickel corner.

Now, Farley is fighting for the vacant cornerback spot left open by Cody Riggs' graduation, and his play this spring has made it appear like he has the inside track.

Farley led the Irish with four interceptions last season, while his 3.5 sacks tied for the team lead with linebacker Jaylon Smith. He filled in all over the field because of injuries in 2014, but he now has a shot to once again be a full-time starter, and he'll look to prove his worth against Notre Dame's first-team offense in the spring game.

Jarrett Grace

LM Otero/Associated Press

Year: Senior

Position: Linebacker

A horrific leg injury in October 2013 nearly ended Jarrett Grace's career just as it was starting to get to its peak. Now heading into his final season with Notre Dame, Grace is ready to get back to contributing in a meaningful manner after having to sit out almost 18 months.

A special teams standout and Manti Te'o's backup in 2012, Grace became a starter the following season and had racked up 40 tackles in the first six games before he broke his leg in four places in a game against Arizona State in Arlington, Texas. His rehab was supposed to take only four months, but instead, he had to miss last season.

Notre Dame brings back all three starting linebackers from a year ago, and Grace is one of three others with game experience. How much he plays this fall will depend on the Irish's rotation of players at the position and how he looks at full speed starting with Saturday's spring game.

C.J. Prosise

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Year: Junior

Position: Running back/wide receiver

A year after shining as Notre Dame's slot receiver, C.J. Prosise has spent much of this spring getting reps in the backfield. This was partly due to the Fighting Irish being thin at that position, with only juniors Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston returning with any prior game experience.

But the cross-training has turned into a potential versatility bounty for Notre Dame's offense, and the 6'0", 220-pound Prosise has looked like someone who could challenge Bryant and Folston and get some valuable touches at running back this fall.

"If I were those two guys, I would feel like they better be careful because he's got elite speed at the second level," head coach Brian Kelly told Bleacher Report's Mike Monaco.

Prosise had 29 catches for 516 yards and two touchdowns last season, while also recording 10 carries for 126 yards and a score.

Jerry Tillery

247Sports

Year: True freshman

Position: Defensive line

Recruited out of Evangel Christian Academy in Louisiana as an offensive lineman, Jerry Tillery was shifted over to defense as soon as he arrived on campus in January because of an overabundance of depth at his natural position. The move has paid off greatly for he and Notre Dame, as the 6'6", 300-pound Tillery has proved to be a quick study.

"Tillery's dominance this spring has been the story of spring football," wrote Keith Arnold of NBC Sports, comparing the early enrollee's play so far to that of Aaron Lynch in 2011. 

Jarron Jones is recovering from foot surgery, while Sheldon Day has been limited in his reps to avoid injury, and this has allowed Tillery to get plenty of work on the defensive line. He could end up being a valuable rotation player on the interior and a potential contender for time at defensive end, as well.

Malik Zaire

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Year: Sophomore

Position: Quarterback

Malik Zaire dazzled during the Music City Bowl in December, when he threw for 96 yards and a touchdown and added 96 rushing yards and a score while splitting snaps with Everett Golson. His ability to affect the game with his arm and his legs (while also taking care of the ball) provided Notre Dame with a level of versatility at the quarterback spot it hadn't had in some time.

But this spring, Zaire—who is going toe to toe with Golson for the starting job—has shown some regression, making uncharacteristic mistakes with the ball in his hands and often checking out of plays at the line of scrimmage for no apparent reason.

According to Mike Vorel of Notre Dame Insider, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said during the most recent scrimmage that "there are times when Zaire changes a play at the line of scrimmage and the coaching staff has trouble understanding why."

Vorel noted that offensive coordinator Mike Sanford wants Zaire to feel comfortable making some decisions on his own, but not all of them. Look for Sanford to put Zaire in situations on Saturday that force him to address this scenario.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.