Notre Dame Football: 5 Biggest Offseason Goals for the Irish

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Classes are underway on campus, and spring ball isn’t far away for Notre Dame football.

Coming off a 10-win season and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl, the Irish must replace their top running back, wide receiver, offensive linemen, defensive lineman and linebackers. So what offseason goals should be on Notre Dame’s agenda looking toward 2016?

Improve the Defense

Joe Raymond/Associated Press

Brian Kelly and Brian VanGorder

Somehow. Anyhow.

Notre Dame finished tied for 39th nationally in scoring defense, allowing an average of 24.1 points per game. But as Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder aptly summed up before the Fiesta Bowl, Notre Dame’s defense struggled with inconsistencies. The Irish were routinely gashed for long scoring drives, and “eye discipline” became an all-too-commonly heard term during the season.

Notre Dame must replace standout defensive tackle Sheldon Day, eight-sack end Romeo Okwara, All-American linebacker Jaylon Smith, defensive quarterback Joe Schmidt and cornerback KeiVarae Russell. Unquestionably, there’s a drop-off in talent. But can the Irish still find a way to be more consistent across the board?

Develop the Receivers

Richard Shiro/Associated Press

Torii Hunter Jr.

Record-setting All-American Will Fuller is speeding off to the NFL, and Chris Brown and Amir Carlisle are gone, too.

In replacing its top three wideouts, Notre Dame must fill 76 percent of its receivers’ receptions, 79 percent of its receivers’ yards and 86 percent of their touchdowns.

A finally healthy Torii Hunter Jr. tallied 28 grabs for 363 yards and two scores while moonlighting as a nickelback. Irish head coach Brian Kelly has said Hunter has the versatility to play all three of Notre Dame’s receiver positions.

After serving as the No. 2 receiver in 2014, junior Corey Robinson only mustered 16 catches for 200 yards and one touchdown (against USC). Back at full strength, can Robinson return to his sophomore season form and help lead the receiving corps?

True freshman Equanimeous St. Brown (one catch for eight yards) drew praise from Kelly and teammates throughout the regular season, though that Fuller guy effectively kept St. Brown off the field.

Hunter, Robinson, St. Brown and second-year wideout Miles Boykin will likely headline the group this spring.

Finish Recruiting Strong

Credit: 247Sports

Demetris Robertson

Signing day is just over a week away, and the Irish are still battling to land a few highly coveted prospects, including wideout Demetris Robertson and linebacker Caleb Kelly, among others.

Coaching staffs clamor for signing days without negative surprises, and step one is holding the current 22-member class of 2016 intact (five of whom have already enrolled a semester early).

But if the Irish can ink Robertson and/or Kelly, they’ll add elite talent that could contribute quickly.

Shore Up the Safety Play

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Max Redfield

Kelly talked openly about stabilizing the back end of Notre Dame’s defense during the 2015 campaign.

Safety Elijah Shumate is departing, leaving Max Redfield as the top healthy returner. Redfield, who was sent home from Arizona before the Fiesta Bowl, will be joined by fellow safeties such as Drue Tranquill and Mykelti Williams, among others.

The Irish will also have youthful options among the incoming freshmen, including early enrollee Spencer Perry, who could crack the two-deep this spring.

Stay Healthy

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Malik Zaire and Tarean Folston

You’d think Notre Dame reached—and exceeded—its reasonable injury quota in 2015.

Running back Tarean Folston is still returning from the torn ACL he suffered in the first quarter of the season opener against Texas. Shaun Crawford, who seemed poised to log time at nickelback as a true freshman, suffered his torn ACL in August. Safety Drue Tranquill is also coming back from a torn ACL suffered in September—his second in as many years.

The Irish still have a horde of players to get back to full strength. Can they get to the first September Saturday in Austin, Texas, without any more major issues?

All quotes were obtained firsthand and all stats courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted.

Mike Monaco is the lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.