Notre Dame 2023 Post-Spring Depth Chart - Defense Edition
Notre Dame is wrapping up its spring semester and the summer is right around the corner. With spring practice behind them it's time to take a look at the post-spring offseason depth chart. Let's take a look at the defense.
DEFENSIVE LINE
There is a bit of projection here, and a case could be made that returner NaNa Osafo-Mensah should be listed number one instead of Javontae Jean-Baptiste, but I believe the Ohio State transfer is the top guy at this point. Senior Alexander Ehrensberger played some at defensive tackle during the spring and it wouldn't surprise me if that becomes more frequent.
This is way too many players for one position, so you can expect some of the players from this depth chart to move around. It will be especially interesting to see where the three incoming freshmen move to early on, or if they stay put for now.
Veteran Howard Cross III was a productive player last year and he's poised for a breakout. Junior Jason Onye had a breakout spring for the Irish and will be counted on to give legit snaps this fall. Senior Aidan Keanaaina provides beef up the middle.
I don't expect this depth chart to stay at three, so we'll see someone from either Field End or Defensive Tackle slide inside over the center.
Senior Rylie Mills was Notre Dame's starter at Field End a season ago, but he'll move inside this season. Mills had a strong spring, but he'll need to turn that potential into productive this fall because Notre Dame needs disruptive production at the three-technique position.
Junior Gabriel Rubio emerged as a key rotation player last season and he'll also be asked to provide more production this season. Sophomore Donovan Hinish had a strong spring and classmate Tyson Ford is immensely talented. Those two young players emerging in the fall is key to Notre Dame shoring up its interior depth chart.
There isn't much returning production at Vyper but the position is loaded with talent. Senior Jordan Botelho slides into the primary role, and sophomores Junior Tuihalamaka and Josh Burnham provide the depth. I'm curious to see if someone else gets time over here, whether its Aiden Gobaira cross-training or someone else moving over.
LINEBACKER
Notre Dame has a lot of talented depth at linebacker. Sophomore Nolan Ziegler can play both Mike or Will, as can Drayk Bowen. The young duo is extremely talented, and although they are listed at the same position now, there could come a day when they are playing side-by-side somewhere.
Fifth-year senior Marist Liufau has a lot to prove if he wants to stay in the starting lineup. Athletic sophomore Jaylen Sneed could push for time at Will, but he is also vying for a key role in the nickel package. Both Ziegler and Bowen could also push for a role at Will linebacker. Freshman Preston Zinter struggled for much of the spring as he got accustomed to the defense, but he was very good in the spring game.
Veteran Jack Kiser is the starting Rover, but he could also get a lot of time at Will. In fact, it's not out of the question for Kiser to push for the starting spot at Will, especially when Notre Dame goes with its nickel and dime packages. Freshman Jaiden Ausberry had an outstanding spring and could be hard to keep off the field this season.
SECONDARY
We didn't get to see much of Oklahoma State transfer Thomas Harper this spring, but he was very good for the Cowboys last season. He could play some at safety, but the ideal scenario is that he can stay at nickel. I expect Notre Dame to play a lot of nickel this season, especially in the big games.
Notre Dame has a serious depth problem at safety, at least from an experience standpoint. Freshman Ben Minich will need to get back on track in the fall after a quality first spring. Safety is an interchangeable position, so all the boundary safeties could also get action here. Another key is Xavier Watts turning his potential into production.
Veteran DJ Brown is likely the starter at this point because he's steady, but Notre Dame needs Ramon Henderson to continue pushing. They are essentially co-starters, but the more Henderson forces his way into more snaps the better it would be for the defense.
With Cam Hart out during much of the spring, sophomore Jaden Mickey stepped in and played quite well. Mickey is pushing for a key rotation spot, and the better he plays the more he can spell Hart and even the boundary corners. Freshman Christian Gray was looking very good during the spring prior to his knee injury
Senior Clarence Lewis is a key figure in the cornerback rotation at both the boundary position and the nickel. I've advocated for him moving to safety to compete for a spot in the rotation there, but so far the staff has not been keen on that move. Part of that could be determined by juniors Chance Tucker and Ryan Barnes continuing to emerge, which would allow the staff to have a bit more flexibility, if needed, with moving a corner to safety. Of course, one of those two could also be in line to move if the need arose.
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2024 Commit Rankings - Defense
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2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense
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