Notre Dame Defense: Most Improved Figures From This Spring

One of the annual rites of spring practice at Notre Dame used to be presenting the Hering Awards at halftime of the Blue-Gold Game.

Named after the Fighting Irish football coach/captain from 1896-98 (he also coached basketball and baseball), it honored the players who were the most improved at their respective position groups. If the ceremony were still held this Saturday, there would be little doubt who some of the recipients would be on defense.

For the secondary, the hands-down winner would be cornerback Shaun Crawford, who was sidelined last season as a freshman when he tore his ACL during preseason training camp. Even then, the 5-8½, 180-pound speedster already was pegged to be the No. 1 nickel back.

“That would be Shaun Crawford,” replied second year Irish defensive backs coach and two-time consensus All-America Todd Lyght (1989-90) immediately when asked who his most improved player was this spring. “Because of his ability to rebound from his injury and play at the high level that he’s playing at right now … no doubt.”

Minutes later, third-year defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder echoed Lyght’s sentiments when posed the same inquiry.

“We thought he was going to be really good, but his game at corner and nickel — his arrow is way up right now,” VanGorder said of Crawford. “He changes everything at that nickel position. … He opens up the inventory some, a lot we can do on the field side, where our nickel aligns.”

Crawford is capable of starting at corner in the base defense, and will definitely be on the field in sub packages. However, given that the Irish will face many 11 personnel groupings (one back, one tight end, three wideouts), the nickel package often is the “base defense.” Usually the goal is to fully learn all the nuances at nickel, but the Irish staff wants to utilize Crawford’s skills as much as possible.

“He’s hard to take off the field,” VanGorder said.

Along the front, second-year defensive line coach Keith Gilmore thought a while about the question before flip-flopping on two rising juniors who will have three more years of eligibility from 2016-18.

Originally, he cited strongside end Jonathan Bonner, the backup to senior Isaac Rochell. But upon further review, the edge was given to Jay Hayes, who has adapted well to weakside end, where he is basically considered a co-starter with classmate Andrew Trumbetti.

Trumbetti and Hayes could be to weakside end this year what James Onwualu and Greer Martini were at Sam linebacker last season. Onwualu played more in passing situations and finished with 501 snaps, while Martini was inserted in goal-line situations or versus option teams and had 314 snaps. At 290 pounds, Hayes provides greater size, while the 255-pound Trumbetti possesses better speed off the edge in pass-rush situations.

“I would say Bonner,” began Gilmore when asked about who his most improved selection would be among his 18 linemen. “He was a good, solid, functional player during the course of last year. I think he’s starting to become a guy that can make plays now … it’s hard to say.

“Jay Hayes might be the most improved, now that I think about it. He’s made the transition — I would say Jay Hayes. That’s hard, man. You put me on the spot here.

“If it’s a power team, you will probably see Jay Hayes more. If it’s a finesse team, then you probably will see Andrew more. Both of them will play a lot of football for us. It could be week to week. One guy starts one week, the next guy starts the next week, because we want that competition.”

“He feels much better about himself,” VanGorder said of Hayes. “The position change for him has definitely helped him gain a positive attitude … Jay Hayes has really established himself as a competitive guy. His energy and his commitment, it’s been a big step for him.”

At linebacker, the easy selection on paper might be junior Nyles Morgan at Mike, but VanGorder said Morgan took a natural progression with the graduation of Joe Schmidt. The player who might have come the farthest since the start of spring is sophomore Will linebacker Asmar Bilal, who redshirted last year and whose head is still swimming.

“Nyles has been pretty solid at linebacker,” VanGorder said. “When I think of him, I think of most improved in the communicating areas. He does a good job of running our defense, he knows it well.”

With Bilal, who will continue to vie for the top Will linebacker role next August with classmate Te’von Coney and Martini (both out this spring with injuries), there is plenty of cleaning up to do in terms of reactions and how to diagnose plays. His assets are that he can be a hybrid figure who can cover, rush the passer and even play inside, thus allowing the staff to move him around in various roles.

“He just needs to see plays,” VanGorder said. “But he’s got a good sense of urgency and it’s getting better and he’s a very good athlete, very good physical traits. He’s going to be a good player.”

At safety, early enrollee safety Devin Studstill has worked with the first team. Contrary to some belief, VanGorder said it’s not to send a motivational message to two-year starter and rising senior Max Redfield.

“Light a fire under Max is not the goal, not the quest,” VanGorder said. “There are different ways of developing and getting things the way we’d like them to be. Devin’s an outstanding athlete, very natural in the game, so we’ve been anxious to kind of push him with more reps. I saw him in high school and he’s just so naturally instinctive. Usually those kind of guys end up being good learners. He’s real natural in the game, a great feel.

“Max is in his third year in the system, and I think he’s played really well this spring.”

Spring drills are mainly the first step toward improvement. More significant will be August and the actual season.