Notre Dame ’16 Scholarship Chart

Two weeks from National Signing Day, Notre Dame is unofficially at 89 scholarship players, or four over the NCAA limit. That is not an issue because our total includes potential fifth- and sixth-year seniors who might not return in 2016.

It also includes 22 current verbally committed (five early enrollees already on board), with room for three more. Here is the breakdown at each position by class, with the parentheses after the name indicating number of years still eligible.

Quarterbacks (5)

Prospective Fifth-Year Senior — None

Senior — Malik Zaire (2)

Juniors – DeShone Kizer (3) and Montgomery VanGorder (3)

Sophomore — Brandon Wimbush (3)

Freshman — Ian Book (4)

Note: We can’t recall a year where Notre Dame entered a season with five scholarship quarterbacks since 2000, when it included Arnaz Battle, converted tight end Gary Godsey, and the freshmen trio of Matt LoVecchio, Carlyle Holiday and Jared Clark (with the latter two redshirting).

Running Backs (6)

Prospective Fifth-Year Senior — None

Senior — Tarean Folston (2)

Junior — Justin Brent (3)

Sophomores — Josh Adams (3) and Dexter Williams (3)

Freshmen — Tony Jones (4) and Deon McIntosh (4)

Note: Despite graduating 1,000-yard rusher C.J. Prosise, the Irish return Folston, whose 889 rushing yards led the team in 2014 before missing 2015 with a knee injury, and Adams, whose 835 rushing yards last season set a single-season freshman record at Notre Dame.

Receivers (9)

Prospective Fifth-Year Senior — None

Seniors — Corey Robinson (1) and Torii Hunter Jr. (2)

Junior — Corey Holmes (3)

Sophomores — Miles Boykin (4), Equanimeous St. Brown (3) and CJ Sanders (3)

Freshmen — Chase Claypool (4), Javon McKinley (4) and Kevin Stepherson (4)

Notes: With the starting trio of Will Fuller, Chris Brown and Amir Carlisle departing, Hunter (28 catches for 363 yards and two touchdowns) and Robinson (16 catches for 200 yards and one score) are the top returnees for an otherwise green crew. Stepherson already has enrolled this semester.

Tight Ends (5)

Prospective Sixth-Year Senior — Chase Hounshell

Senior — Durham Smythe (2)

Juniors — Tyler Luatua (2) and Nic Weishar (3)

Sophomore — Alizé Jones (3)

Freshman — None

Note: Jones had 13 of the 20 catches by the tight ends in 2015, but Weishar had the most snaps (286) in the regular season, with Jones at 203, Luatua 196, Hounshell 167 and starter Smythe, who played in only two games before getting injured, at 105.

Guards/Centers (9)

Prospective Fifth-Year Senior — None

Seniors — Steve Elmer (1), Colin McGovern (2) and John Montelus (2)

Juniors — Jimmy Byrne (3), Sam Mustipher (3) and Quenton Nelson (3)

Sophomores — Tristen Hoge (4) and Trevor Ruhland (4)

Freshman — Parker Bourdeaux (4)

Notes: Replacing two-time captain Nick Martin at center will be a priority. Mustipher had 40 snaps this past season.

Offensive Tackles (6)

Prospective Fifth-Year Senior — Mark Harrell

Senior — Hunter Bivin (2) and Mike McGlinchey (2)

Junior — Alex Bars (3)

Sophomores — None

Freshmen — Liam Eichenberg (4) and Tommy Kramer (4)

Note: Bars played guard this past season, but numbers dictate a need at tackle, so that is where we have slotted him. If there is a sudden need at guard, Bars could be the next option.

Defensive Ends (7)

Prospective Fifth-Year Senior — None

Seniors — Isaac Rochell (1) and Doug Randolph (2)

Juniors — Andrew Trumbetti (2) and Grant Blankenship (2 )

Sophomores — None

Freshmen — Khalid Kareem (4), Adetokunbo Ogunedji (4) and Julian Okwara (4)

Notes: Rochell has started every game the past two seasons on the strong side and is possibly the safest bet for a captain’s role in 2016. Kareem already is enrolled.

Defensive Tackles/Nose Guards (10)

Prospective Fifth-Year Senior — Jarron Jones

Senior — Jacob Matuska (2)

Juniors — Daniel Cage (2), Jonathan Bonner (3), Jay Hayes (3) and Peter Mokwuah (3)

Sophomores — Jerry Tillery (3), Micah Dew-Treadway (4), Elijah Taylor (4) and Brandon Tiassum (4)

Freshmen — None

Notes: Developing an inside rotation behind Jones and Tillery will be needed to keep some fresh legs.

Linebackers (8)

Prospective Fifth-Year Senior — None

Senior — James Onwualu (1)

Juniors — Greer Martini (2) and Nyles Morgan (2)

Sophomores — Te’von Coney (3), Josh Barajas (4) and Asmar Bilal (4)

Freshmen — Daelin Hayes (4) and Jamir Jones (4)

Note: Onwualu and Martini shared snaps at Sam with 420 and 309, respectively, during the regular season. Will the staff move Martini inside? Coney had 55 regular-season snaps, and Morgan 41. Hayes has enrolled early.

Cornerbacks/Nickel (9)

Prospective Fifth-Year Senior — None

Seniors — Cole Luke (1) and Devin Butler (1)

Junior — Nick Watkins (2)

Sophomores — Nick Coleman (3), Shaun Crawford (4) and Ashton White (4)

Freshmen —Julian Love (4), Troy Pride (4) and Donte’ Vaughn (4)

Note: Like Rochell, Luke has started every game the past two seasons. The second corner slot is wide open.

Safeties (11)

Prospective Sixth-Year Senior — Avery Sebastian

Prospective Fifth-Year Seniors — Nicky Baratti and John Turner

Senior — Max Redfield (1)

Junior — Drue Tranquill (3)

Sophomores — Nicco Fertitta (3) and Mykelti Williams (4)

Freshmen — Jalen Elliott (4), D.J. Morgan (4), Spencer Perry (4) and Devin Studstill (4)

Note: Probably the No. 1 question mark on the team, especially after the bowl suspension of Redfield, plus Tranquill coming off a second ACL surgery. Perry and Studstill are both already enrolled.

Kicking Game (4)

Prospective Fifth-Year Senior — Scott Daly

Senior — None

Junior — Tyler Newsome (3)

Sophomore — Justin Yoon (3)

Freshman — John Shannon (4)

Note: Yoon and Newsome should be a top tandem in years to come at kicker and punter, respectively. Look for Daly to return as a fourth-year starting snapper, with Shannon next in line.