Notre Dame Football: Fighting Irish's Most Important Players at Each Position
First-year starters dominate the outlook for 2016 Notre Dame football, but not all of the Fighting Irish's most important talents are guaranteed spots in the lineup.
Since injury troubles plagued Notre Dame last season, a couple of offensive backups logged regular action. The in-game experience is unquestionably valuable, no matter if they're starters.
Plus, the defense must replace several multi-year players who shouldered leadership responsibilities. Before this year, the new starters have only filled reserve roles.
Importance can be measured in a variety of ways, but depth, versatility and projected role factored into the selections.
Quarterback: DeShone Kizer
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DeShone Kizer will occupy either of two roles in 2016: starting quarterback, or significantly experienced backup.
The competition with Malik Zaire will be decided during fall camp. Although nobody currently knows how that will end, Kizer is more valuable because of what happened last year.
After Zaire's injury, Kizer led a game-winning drive against Virginia. He started the next 11 games, only losing to Clemson, Stanford and Ohio State—three of the nation's top five teams. Kizer accounted for 3,400-plus yards and 31 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Zaire has attempted a pass in only four career games.
Kizer, who is only a redshirt sophomore, is fully capable of leading the Irish this season. If Zaire earns the starting nod, however, Kizer will be college football's best backup.
Running Back: Josh Adams
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Similarly to Kizer, Josh Adams stepped into the Notre Dame lineup due to injuries. Only in his case, the freshman watched two starters exit.
Tarean Folston (torn right ACL) handled just three carries. His replacement, C.J. Prosise (concussion, ankle), managed only 17 touches during the final five games of the season.
Adams took full advantage of the late opportunity.
The true freshman tallied 140-plus yards three times, averaging 114.6 while filling in for Prosise. Overall, Adams recorded 838 yards and six touchdowns, adding one receiving score.
Perhaps Folston and Adams will share the workload. At worst, however, the Irish have a proven No. 2 runner.
Wide Receiver/Tight End: Torii Hunter Jr.
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Including Prosise's contributions out of the backfield, five of Notre Dame's top six receivers will not return in 2016. Torii Hunter Jr. boasts the most experience at the college level.
Hunter snagged 28 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns last year. He saw limited action in 2014, registering seven receptions, 65 yards and one score.
Most importantly, though, Hunter isn't pigeonholed at one spot. The Irish can move him around to accommodate their best wideouts, as Hunter said in the spring, per Scott DeCamp of MLive.com.
"I'm not striving to be a certain position. I was telling coach today, 'Just keep moving me around until you find a fit for me or whatever.' I don't really have a preference. Of course, I played 'Z' last season but I don't really have a preference—wherever they need me, I'll just work to be the best at it.
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Offensive Line
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While the right side of the offensive line could be a rotation on Saturdays, the left side is locked down. Notre Dame can thank Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson for that.
Tackles will always have an advantage over guards when identifying importance, though.
McGlinchey is moving to the left edge as Ronnie Stanley's replacement. Either that means McGlinchey will protect Kizer's blind side, or the tackle will fend off standout edge-rushers in front of the lefty Zaire.
Last season, the Irish surrendered 26 sacks. McGlinchey will be a key component of keeping the quarterback a bit cleaner.
Defensive Line: Jerry Tillery
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Romeo Okwara's production (13.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks) off the edge will not be easily replaced. Jay Hayes and Andrew Trumbetti are expected to platoon at defensive end.
But without Sheldon Day anchoring the middle, Okwara likely wouldn't have collected the same numbers. Day amassed 15.5 tackles for loss, which was among the nation's highest for defensive tackles.
No pressure, Jerry Tillery.
The sophomore is moving from nose guard to a 3-technique. Not only is he learning a new position vacated by a team leader, Tillery's transition during the spring wasn't so smooth.
"He's got a lot of work to do," defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said, per Evan Sharpley of 247Sports. "Jerry, he's got a lot of work to do. He's gonna be a good player. We've got to make some big strides right now with Jerry."
Linebacker: Nyles Morgan
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No matter one's feelings about Joe Schmidt's performance, the simple fact is Notre Dame trusted him. Consequently, Nyles Morgan didn't get much playing time when Schmidt was healthy.
But Schmidt exhausted his eligibility, and it's Morgan turn to organize the Fighting Irish.
Head coach Brian Kelly spoke of the opportunity Morgan has in front of him, per DeCamp.
"He's got nobody in front of him, and I think that's going to help him dramatically. There's no Joe Schmidt in front of him, and as much as we loved having Joe Schmidt here and as much as we'll miss him, it's going to help Nyles not to have Joe Schmidt here because now he can just go and play and not have a wall in front of him.
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Fair or not, Morgan clearly has a shadow to overcome while acting as the quarterback of the defense at middle linebacker.
Secondary: Shaun Crawford
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Notre Dame needs a new starter opposite Cole Luke. Shaun Crawford—who was penciled in as the nickelback but missed 2015 because of a torn right ACL—emerged as the favorite in the spring.
An unfortunate summer injury only furthered that belief. Devin Butler (fractured left foot) will be sidelined 14-16 weeks.
However, Crawford is no longer simply the leading candidate. He's quickly become the clear-cut No. 2 corner in front of Nick Watkins and Nick Coleman.
Another injury to Crawford—or Luke, for that matter—could be a massive blow to a thinning Irish secondary.
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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