Notre Dame Football: Biggest Storylines Heading into Fall Camp
A significant position battle and an extensive group of first-year starters highlight what to watch during Notre Dame football's fall camp, which begins on Aug. 6.
The Fighting Irish are expected to hang around the top 15 throughout the season, but they'll have a realistic chance at the national championship if each current unknown is overcome.
While most college football fans know about the quarterback situation, that competition isn't the only meaningful clash on the depth chart. After all, Notre Dame lost 12 players to the NFL.
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Despite the turnover, Brian Kelly's squad cannot afford a slow start. Fortunately for the Irish, most of their biggest games are in South Bend, Indiana.
DeShone Kizer or Malik Zaire?
Is there a wrong choice between the quarterbacks? Probably not. Is there a better choice? Yes. Who is it? Good question.
Malik Zaire provided a lot of excitement in his two games last year, amassing 531 yards and four touchdowns prior to his season-ending injury. Then DeShone Kizer posted nine victories, 3,400 total yards and 31 scores.
Every program hopes to have an unquestioned starter by the end of spring practice, but those offseason workouts were mostly a time for Zaire to become comfortable again.
Fall camp, though, is where the competition will be won.
Reaching that decision won't be easy, and Tom Coyne of the Associated Press noted Kelly is prepared to follow a gut feeling.
"I think I'm going to have to make a judgment call," Kelly said. "There will be a time when I'm going to have to say, 'That's our quarterback. Let's go with him. We're all in, and let's move forward.' They are both that good. I already know that."
Replacing the Receivers
Will Fuller was an elite deep threat, racking up 62 receptions, 1,258 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2015. Chris Brown and Amir Carlisle combined to grab 79 passes for 948 yards and five scores. Corey Robinson added 16 catches for 200 yards.
They're all gone.
Torii Hunter Jr. should emerge as Notre Dame's primary target, and Kelly has massive expectations for the redshirt junior.
Equanimeous St. Brown and Corey Holmes are likely to accompany Hunter in the starting lineup, and C.J. Sanders, Miles Boykin and Kevin Stepherson should see regular snaps.
Robinson—who had one year of eligibility remaining but retired early for health reasons—is confident the young players will produce.
"Once they get comfortable out there and understand what they're doing, they're going to go out there and make plays like the playmakers they are," he said, per Mike Vorel of the South Bend Tribune.
Though the optimism isn't necessarily unfounded, Hunter is the only returning receiver with more than one career catch. Expecting greatness from this unit is wishful thinking, but with Hunter carrying the unit, the Irish should be in decent position.
Potential Defensive Struggles
Thanks to Kelly and quarterbacks coach Mike Sanford, the offense gets the benefit of the doubt. Not so much for the defense.
Perhaps the scheme is overcomplicated, but it's not changing. Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder is back, and he's relying on a new middle linebacker—Nyles Morgan—to make the calls.
| Average or Total | 175.9 | 196.8 | 372.7 | 24.1 | 24 | 14 |
| Ranking (of 128) | 72 | 26 | 45 | 39 | 78 | 110 |
The Irish need to replace their biggest contributors, too. Jaylon Smith (114 total tackles), Sheldon Day (15.5 tackles for loss), Romeo Okwara (9.0 sacks) and KeiVarae Russell (60 stops and two interceptions) all departed for the NFL.
Consequently, the question is whether Notre Dame can field an improved defense despite losing so many principal pieces. It won't take long to discover the answer.
Will the Irish Protect Home Field?
Without a doubt, Notre Dame has issues. But the schedule offers the Irish an opportunity to hide their shortcomings.
| Sept. 4 | Texas | Away |
| Sept. 10 | Nevada | Home |
| Sept. 17 | Michigan State | Home |
| Sept. 24 | Duke | Home |
| Oct. 1 | Syracuse | Neutral |
| Oct. 8 | NC State | Away |
| Oct. 15 | Stanford | Home |
| Oct. 22 | BYE | |
| Oct. 29 | Miami | Home |
| Nov. 5 | Navy | Neutral |
| Nov. 12 | Army | Neutral |
| Nov. 19 | Virginia Tech | Home |
| Nov. 26 | USC | Away |
Looking at the upcoming slate, most would agree Michigan State, Stanford, Miami and USC are the four toughest opponents. The first three each travel to Notre Dame Stadium before the end of October.
Plus, the Irish are 21-3 at home since the beginning of the 2012 season. Even if they drop one contest, a 7-1 record heading into November should have the program in excellent shape to navigate a final month jammed with games away from South Bend.
Granted, Notre Dame takes on a reloading Navy crew and rebuilding Army squad at neutral sites. After that, the Irish wrap up their home schedule against Virginia Tech.
If Kelly's team protects its home field, the regular-season finale at USC should hold College Football Playoff implications.
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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