Notre Dame Football Depth Chart: NC State ’16

Photo: Matt Cashore // USA TODAY Sports
Photo: Matt Cashore // USA TODAY Sports

The youth movement for the 2016 Notre Dame Fighting Irish continues this week with the official depth chart for the NC State game.  Fourteen true freshman have their names on this week’s depth chart.  FOURTEEN!  There weren’t any real notable changes to the starting lineup, but there was a lot of movement of positions and backups this week.

  • Dexter Williams makes his debut on the depth chart at running back listed as a co-backup to Josh Adams along with Tarean Folston.  It would be shocking – and inexplicable – if Williams didn’t continue to see his role expand.
  • Chase Claypool makes his debut as well as the #3 W wide receiver behind Equanimeous St. Brown and Miles Boykin.
  • Khalid Kareem is listed as a DT even though he previously was playing SDE.
  • Julian Okwara is listed as a SDE now even though he projects more as a WDE
  • Jay Hayes is still listed as a backup WDE to Andrew Trumbetti but it would be surprising if Hayes played less than Trumbetti – especially if Notre Dame plays more 3-man fronts.
  • Lots of shake up in the secondary.  Tony Pride Jr made his debut last week and is now the backup to Cole Luke.  Nick Coleman is now third string behind Pride and Luke.
  • Julian Love is listed as the starter opposite Luke with Donte Vaughn his backup.  With NC State’s offense though, Luke will be playing a lot of nickel with Love and Vaughn on the field at the outside corner positions.
  • Coming off a strong performance against Syracuse, Nicco Fertita is now listed as Devin Studstill’s backup.  As a reminder, Studstill does NOT have to sit out the first half against NC State for his “targeting” penalty because the penalty occurred in the first half.

Offense

POSSTARTERYEARBACKUP(S)YEAR
QB*Deshone KizerJRMalik ZaireSR
RB*Josh AdamsSOTarean Folston
OR Dexter Williams
SR
SO
W WREquanimeous St BrownSOMiles Boykin
Chase Playpool
SO
FR
X WRTorii HunterSRKevin StephersonFR
Z WRCJ SandersSOCorey Holmes
Chris Finke
JR
SO
TEDurham SmytheSRNic WeisharJR
LTMike McGLincheySRHunter BivinSR
LGQuenton NelsonJRTrevor RuhlandSO
CSam MustipherJRMark Harrell5th
RGColin McGovernSRTristen HogeSO
RTAlex BarsJRTommy KraemerFR

Defense

POSSTARTERYEARBACKUPYEAR
WDEAndrew TrumbettiJRDaelin Hayes
OR Jay Hayes
FR
JR
NT*Jarron Jones5thDaniel Cage
OR Pete Mokwuah
JR
JR
DTJerry TillerySOElijah Taylor
Khalid Kareem
SO
FR
SDEIsaac RochellSRJonnathan Bonner
Julian Okwara
JR
FR
WILLTevon ConeySOAsmar BilalSO
MIKENyles MorganJRGreer MartiniJR
SAMJames Onwualu SRJamir JonesFR
CBCole LukeSRTony Pride JR
Nick Coleman
FR
SO
CBJulian LoveFRDonte Vaughn
Ashton White
FR
SO
FSDevin StudstillFRNico Fertitia
Avery Sebastian
FR
6th
SSDrue TranquillJRJalen Elliot
Spencer Perry
FR
FR

Special Teams

POSSTARTERYEAR
KJustin YoonSO
PTyler NewsomeJR
LSScott Daly5th
HOLDMontgomery VanGorderJR
KOTyler NewsomeJR
KRCJ SandersSO
OR Dexter WilliamsSO
PRCJ SandersSO
OR Chris FinkeSO

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2 Comments

  1. I look at Kelly as being the equal of Earl Bruce . They use to call him 9 and 3 Earl. A good coach but not elite. Kelly same thing. good coach not elite. I would get rid of him if I was calling the shots. If he is here next year if I was him I would try and find a big time d coordinator and let that guy come in and bring in his own assistant coaches. Next fire Scott Booker and hire a great special teams coach. Next, let Denbrock coach all the receivers tight ends and all, let Sanford have complete control of the offense. Also I think with the talent Notre Dame recruits on offense they would do a lot better running a more pro style I formation offense like Michigan is running under Harbaugh. Kizer and are running backs talent are a better fit for that style of offense. You can still have spread concepts in there but run the quarterback under center too. Finally if Notre Dame cans Kelly I would not be too upset. I like him personally just don’t think he is really that good. Two coaches I would try to get if I’m Swarbrick is Danatonio or Kyle Wittingham at Utah. Both those coaches do a lot better than Kelly with not as good overall talent.

  2. It seems quite obvious that Kizer has two very good receivers in Brown and Hunter, along with Adam, Williams and Kizer the offense should continue to put up large numbers. The defense is q big question mark again this week and will probably be the biggest problem all year. What to do? That’s easy let the offense run up as many points as possible. Let the big dogs eat, because the “pups” on defense are way to young and inexperienced to carry this squad. Go Irish!

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