Notre Dame Football: Projecting Irish's Post-Spring Two-Deep Depth Chart
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — At the start of spring ball, Notre Dame football head coach Brian Kelly praised the program’s depth and looked ahead to an exciting 15-practice slate.
With a deep stable of bodies, Kelly said the Irish were able to approach the spring season differently than they had in any of his previous years in South Bend. And with most of its starters returning, Notre Dame has a strong two-deep for 2015.
Let’s break down how the depth chart looks after the spring sessions. For the purposes of this exercise, we’ll only consider the players who are currently on the roster. Neither incoming freshmen nor potential returnees such as KeiVarae Russell and Ishaq Williams will be included.
Quarterback
1 of 9
Everett Golson or Malik Zaire
Coming out of the spring, Everett Golson and Malik Zaire are essentially listed as co-starters. The two signal-callers split reps throughout the 15 practices, and neither really surged ahead of the other in the Blue-Gold Game last Saturday.
This competition is expected to continue into August. Cultivating the battle is optimal for Notre Dame, which is stronger with both quarterbacks actively engaged and striving toward the top spot.
“We keep working on each individual and where they need to continue to grow individually, and then the decision on playing time will take care of itself,” Kelly said of Golson and Zaire following the spring game. “They can’t control that. All they can control is what’s in their purview and that is the fundamentals of what we’ve asked them to work on.”
Running Back
2 of 9
Tarean Folston, Greg Bryant or C.J. Prosise
In recent years, Kelly has listed multiple running backs evenly across the two-deep depth chart. That’s likely the case here again after the spring, especially as C.J. Prosise emerged as another option.
In terms of the informal pecking order, however, Folston is the starter. The junior-to-be amassed 889 rushing yards on 175 carries (5.1 yards per rush), including six touchdowns, in 2014. Bryant ranked second on the squad with 289 yards and three scores.
The surprise of the spring was Prosise, the slot receiver who cross-trained at running back and drew increasing praise from Kelly and company. The 220-pound speedster scurried for 64 yards on 12 attempts in the Blue-Gold Game.
“He’s a guy that you’re going to fear,” Kelly said. “When you turn on the film, you’re going to look at him and go, ‘He scares me.’”
Asked about Prosise’s future, Kelly said Prosise will have every opportunity to take over a starting position—either at wide receiver or running back.
“It’s our job to get the best 11 players on the field, and right now it’s hard to make the case that he’s not one of the best 11,” Kelly said.
Expect Folston to get his share of touches. After that, Prosise seems most likely to be a consistent part of the game plan.
Wide Receiver
3 of 9
Chris Brown, Will Fuller, Amir Carlisle
Corey Robinson, Torii Hunter Jr., Justin Brent/Corey Holmes
The starter-backup designation isn’t too important among the Notre Dame wide receivers, as the Irish have multiple options for contributions.
Despite battling a hand injury, junior-to-be Will Fuller had a solid spring, according to Notre Dame’s offensive coaches, who have said his next steps will be made through his physical development.
Then there’s Corey Robinson (40 receptions, 539 yards, five touchdowns in 2014), Chris Brown (39-548-1), Amir Carlisle (23-309-3) and Prosise (29-516-2), who flashed his big-play ability as a pass-catcher last season.
Notre Dame’s young receiving corps has grown up, and the Irish could use a next-level breakthrough from another target opposite Fuller.
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Tight End
4 of 9
Durham Smythe
Tyler Luatua
Third-year tight end Durham Smythe was the logical choice to replace Ben Koyack, and Smythe grabbed the top job throughout the spring.
“I really like the spring Durham Smythe has had,” Kelly said before the Blue-Gold Game. “I think he’s really, in my eyes, kinda picked up where the Notre Dame tight ends need to be when you expect them to step in for the next graduating senior. It’s pretty clear that he’s going to be an important part of our offense.”
Tyler Luatua was featured primarily as a blocking tight end as a true freshman in 2014, while Nic Weishar redshirted. For now, the positional hierarchy seems solidified. That, of course, could change when the Irish welcome prized recruit Alize Jones to campus this summer.
Offensive Line
5 of 9
Ronnie Stanley, Quenton Nelson/Alex Bars, Nick Martin, Steve Elmer, Mike McGlinchey
Notre Dame’s offensive line is mostly set, with left tackle Ronnie Stanley, center Nick Martin, right guard Steve Elmer and right tackle Mike McGlinchey locked into their four spots. Kelly has said redshirt freshmen Quenton Nelson and Alex Bars will both play at left guard.
Bars likely also profiles as a backup at multiple spots along the line, including tackle. Redshirt freshman Sam Mustipher worked as the second-team center, and Hunter Bivin, John Montelus and Colin McGovern are set to be third-year linemen and potential options for position coach Harry Hiestand, as well.
After the spring game, Kelly said he thinks this year’s group is the deepest offensive line he’s had at Notre Dame.
Defensive Line
6 of 9
Romeo Okwara, Sheldon Day, Jerry Tillery, Isaac Rochell
Andrew Trumbetti, Grant Blankenship, Jacob Matuska, Jay Hayes
Sheldon Day and Isaac Rochell are locks to be two of Notre Dame’s most-used defensive linemen. The second defensive tackle spot—alongside Day—is less certain, though a completely healthy Jarron Jones would step right back into his customary role.
Early enrollee Jerry Tillery gained more first-team reps as the spring progressed, and he seems to have carved out a role. Andrew Trumbetti should factor in with the top unit too, as he did as a true freshman with Romeo Okwara.
Linebackers
7 of 9
James Onwualu, Nyles Morgan, Jaylon Smith
Greer Martini, Jarrett Grace, Te’von Coney
Notre Dame has a "good problem" to have at linebacker, as Kelly said throughout the spring. James Onwualu returns as the “Sam” linebacker, and Jaylon Smith is back as the “Will” linebacker, though he did increase his versatility over the past few months.
Nyles Morgan and Jarrett Grace worked as the “Mike” linebackers—in that order—during the spring weeks, and Joe Schmidt is still progressing back to full health.
In analyzing the position after the spring game, Kelly said Grace has established himself and can “come in and help us in a number of different situations.” Morgan, meanwhile, “continues to get better and better,” per Kelly. Schmidt is expected to play both the Mike and Will positions.
Defensive Backs
8 of 9
Cole Luke, Max Redfield, Elijah Shumate, Nick Watkins
Devin Butler, Matthias Farley, John Turner, Nicky Baratti
Of all the positions on the Notre Dame roster, the Irish secondary may look the most different in the coming months.
Cornerback Cole Luke and safeties Max Redfield and Elijah Shumate will be three of the four starters, and Matthias Farley should log plenty of reps as the nickelback.
But with Drue Tranquill (ACL) returning from injury, Russell working his way back to the university altogether and incoming freshmen Shaun Crawford, Ashton White and Nick Coleman joining the mix, the current depth chart is little more than a placeholder.
Special Teams
9 of 9
Justin Yoon, Tyler Newsome
Incoming freshman Justin Yoon will handle the kicking duties, while Tyler Newsome will step in as the punter. Both will replace Kyle Brindza, who also handled kickoffs for the Irish in recent years.
The return men are still to be determined, but expect Greg Bryant, Amir Carlisle, Will Fuller and C.J. Prosise to all be in the mix.
All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Mike Monaco is a lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco on Twitter.
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