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Notre Dame Career Starts By Unit

Cornerback Cole Luke's 26 career starts headline the veteran and youth-laden secondary.
Cornerback Cole Luke's 26 career starts headline the veteran and youth-laden secondary.
BGI/Andrew Ivins

Two years ago, Notre Dame’s defensive backfield was far and away the most experienced unit on the team with 89 career starts among its players.

That was in large part because of cornerback KeiVarae Russell starting all 26 games his first two seasons, and then Florida’s Cody Riggs transferring in as a graduate student for his fifth season after starting 26 times with the Gators. Plus, Matthias Farley added 19 career starts at safety, while captain Austin Collinsworth had 11.

Alas, how it can quickly unravel. Russell ended up not playing that season because of an academic investigation, and a preseason injury to Collinsworth sidelined or limited him all season. The secondary became a shadow of itself, especially with much more responsibilities on the safeties in new coordinator Brian VanGorder’s scheme.

The defensive backfield once again is Notre Dame’s most veteran unit based on career starts. Here is the breakdown on the position groups on offense and defense, with the latter holding the top three spots. That would seem contradictory given that the offense is expected to be the team’s strength.

1. Defensive Backfield: 63 — Cole Luke (26), Max Redfield (23), Avery Sebastian (6, all at Cal), Drue Tranquill (4), Devin Butler (3), Nick Watkins (1)

Luke has started every game the past two seasons at cornerback, but the senior Redfield is being seriously pushed by freshman Devin Studstill, who was eligible this spring as an early entrant, for a starting role. Studstill and one other freshman safety, possibly Jalen Elliott, are both expected to have major roles on the coverage aspect, which would then allow Tranquill to play more in the box in sub packages. Meanwhile, the No. 1 nickel also will be a first-year player — sophomore Shaun Crawford, who was sidelined with an ACL tear last season.

So as “veteran” as this crew is, it also could be playing the most youth and inexperienced players.

2. Defensive Line: 51 — Isaac Rochell (25), Jarron Jones (12), Daniel Cage (7), Andrew Trumbetti (4), Jerry Tillery (3)

Like Luke at corner, strong side end Rochell has basically started every game the past two seasons (one he didn’t last year in a sub package). The return of Jones, sidelined in 2015 because of an MCL tear, is crucial to provide an inside push.

3. Linebackers: 31* — James Onwualu (21), Greer Martini (6), Nyles Morgan (4)

We have the asterisk because four of Onwualu’s starts came as a freshman wide receiver, prior to shifting to defense the next year. Both he and Onwualu play the same position (Sam), but Martini can also line up at Mike or Will.

We’d be surprised if Martini, sidelined this spring with sophomore Te’Von Coney because of January surgery, doesn’t get an audition at Will (Jaylon Smith’s old spot) when he returns. Sophomore Asmar Bilal moved there from Sam this spring while Coney and Martini were shelved with their injuries.

4. Offensive Line: 27 — Mike McGlinchey (14), Quenton Nelson (11), Alex Bars (2)

What a dramatic change from last year, when this crew had 68 career starts entering the 2015 season. It graduates 106 career starts with left tackle Ronnie Stanley (39), center Nick Martin (37) and right guard Steve Elmer (30) — who could have been the player with the most starts on the entire team entering 2016 but decided to graduate as a junior. Career starts among offensive linemen is a highly valued figure in Phil Steele’s College Football Preview.

One stat we do like to point out on occasion: Notre Dame’s 1988 national champions had four career starts returning along the offensive line, all by Tim Grunhard.

5. Running Back: 16 — Tarean Folston (13), Josh Adams (3)

Folston’s season ended three carries into the 2015 campaign, while third-round pick C.J. Prosise is now impressing in the Seattle Seahawks’ camp. The starts stat here is inconsequential because the duo has more than 2,000 yards rushing between them.

6. Quarterback: 14 — DeShone Kizer (11), Malik Zaire (3)

Also relatively irrelevant because unlike other groups, this position can start only one player. Overall, this is the strongest quarterback has been in head coach Brian Kelly’s seven seasons at Notre Dame when combining experience, production and run-pass skills.

7. Tight End: 11* — Alize Jones (5), Durham Smythe (3), Nic Weishar (2), Jacob Matuska (1)

The asterisk is because Matuska’s lone start came along the defensive line in 2014. This position was by committee last year, with Weishar leading the way with 286 snaps and Jones 239. Smythe had 147 despite playing in only three games because of injuries that necessitated surgery.

Jones also is projected to help as a split wideout and is expected to get the most overall snaps in 2016, while Smythe and Weishar are like co-starters.

8. Receiver: 6 — Corey Robinson (5), Torii Hunter Jr. (1)

Hard to believe, isn’t it? Plus, Robinson’s football future is uncertain after consulting with a head injury specialist this spring and pondering whether to continue playing football because of past concussion issues.

Notre Dame lost all three starters last year in All-American Will Fuller, Nick Pietrosante Award winner Chris Brown and Amir Carlisle, who basically rotated with Hunter at slot (Carlisle had 412 snaps to Hunter's 329).

Still, the reality is that beyond Robinson and Hunter, Notre Dame has two career receptions on this unit (one apiece by sophomores Equanimeous St. Brown and CJ Sanders for a total of eight yards).

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