Notre Dame's Roster & Depth Chart Summary
The spring semester finished last Friday at Notre Dame, graduation day for the senior class is this Sunday, and the six-week summer school session begins June 13.
Joining that summer term will be the remaining 18 members of the 23-man freshman football class that signed in February. The five others were early entrants who began their academic curriculum during the spring semester and partook in the 15 spring practices from March 16-April 16: receiver Kevin Stepherson, defensive ends Daelin Hayes and Khalid Kareem, and safeties Devin Studstill and Spencer Perry.
With those incoming frosh, Notre Dame by our count has 84 players on scholarship, one short of the NCAA limit of 85. Of course, as any long-time follower of a college football team can attest, many unforeseen events can occur — and inevitably do — between now and the Sept. 4 opener at Texas.
It’s the same way from the end of football season until the conclusion of spring practice. In that time, Notre Dame lost five players who it thought would be available in 2016: 30-game starter and right guard Steve Elmer opted to graduate after his junior year and move on with life minus football, and then there was tight end Tyler Luauta (transfer to BYU), defensive end Doug Randolph (medically unable to play anymore), and a couple of redshirted freshmen, receiver Jalen Guyton and safety Mykelti Williams, departing because of internal matters.
Unofficially, the class breakdown of scholarships is as follows:
• One sixth-year senior, safety Avery Sebastian.
• Four fifth-year seniors. This includes running back Josh Anderson, who was awarded a scholarship prior to last season when it became available.
• 16 fourth-year seniors. Receiver Corey Robinson is included, but he and his family are debating whether to remain in football after suffering numerous concussions.
• 19 juniors. That includes defensive end Grant Blankenship, who was suspended from the team the final week of spring practice but had the door left open by Kelly for a possible return. His status for now is unclear.
• 21 sophomores
• 23 freshmen
OFFENSE
Quarterback
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
14 DeShone Kizer 6-4¼ 230 Jr./3
or 8 Malik Zaire 6-0 225 Sr./2
12 Brandon Wimbush 6-1 216 So./3
4 M. VanGorder 6-0¼ 215 Jr./3
x Ian Book 6-0 190 Fr./4
Walk-on: Sophomore Nolan Henry (17)
Running Back
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
25 Tarean Folston 5-9½ 214 Sr./2
or 33 Josh Adams 6-2 219 So./3
34 Dexter Williams 5-10¾ 210 So./3
11 Justin Brent 6-1½ 220 Jr./3
46 Josh Anderson 5-9 205 5th/1
x Tony Jones Jr. 5-10 219 Fr./4
x Deon McIntosh 5-11 180 Fr./4
Walk-ons: Seniors Austin (28) and Bailey (49) Ross
Slot Receiver (Z)
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
15 Corey Holmes 6-0½ 190 Jr./3
9 CJ Sanders* 5-8 185 So./3
Walk-on: Sophomore Chris Finke (27)
* A hip flexor injury sidelined Sanders the first week of spring drills and recovery was expected to be at least four months
Field Receiver (X)
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
16 Torii Hunter Jr. 6-0 195 Sr./2
29 Kevin Stepherson 6-0 181 Fr./4
x Chase Claypool 6-4 215 Fr./4
Boundary Receiver (W)
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
86 E. St. Brown 6-4 205 So./3
17 Miles Boykin 6-3½ 225 So./4
88 Corey Robinson# 6-4½ 215 Sr./1
x Javon McKinley 6-3 205 Fr./4
# Robinson did not participate beyond the first week because of concussion protocol, and was examined by a specialist April 12
Walk-ons: Senior Omar Hunter (37), and juniors Keenan Centlivre (87), Grant Hamman (35), Buster Sheridan (83) and Austin Webster (26)
Note: Hunter could line up at any of the three receiver positions, depending on where others are best suited, and if tight end Alize Jones also is split out at W, or the hash marks’ shorter side of the field.
Tight End
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
10 Alizé Jones 6-4½ 240 So./3
or 80 Durham Smythe 6-4½ 245 Sr./2
or 82 Nic Weishar^ 6-4 245 Jr./3
89 Jacob Matuska 6-4½ 275 Sr./2
^ Weishar missed the final week of spring drills with a high ankle sprain
Walk-on: Senior Ben Suttman (84)
Left Tackle
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
68 Mike McGlinchey 6-7½ 310 Sr./2
67 Jimmy Byrne 6-4 300 Jr./3
x Liam Eichenberg 6-6 280 Fr./4
Left Guard
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
56 Quenton Nelson 6-4¾ 325 Jr./3
57 Trevor Ruhland 6-3¼ 300 So./4
Center
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
53 Sam Mustipher 6-2¼ 305 Jr./3
66 Tristen Hoge 6-4¼ 300 So./4
x
Right Guard
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
70 Hunter Bivin 6-5½ 308 Sr./2
62 Colin McGovern 6-4½ 315 Sr./2
x Parker Boudreaux 6-3 300 Fr./4
Right Tackle
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
71 Alex Bars 6-6 320 Jr./3
75 Mark Harrell 6-4 306 5th/1
x Tommy Kraemer 6-5 310 Fr./4
Walk-ons: Junior Sam Bush (63) and sophomore Logan Plantz (69)
Notes: Right guard is the one position where competition for the starting spot will remain most open entering August camp. At the end of spring, Kelly noted that freshmen Boudreaux or Kraemer could both be in the mix on the right side (whereas Eichenberg is strictly a tackle).
DEFENSE
Strongside End
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
90 Isaac Rochell 6-3½ 290 Sr./1
55 Jonathan Bonner 6-3 286 Jr./3
92 Grant Blankenship@ 6-5 278 Jr./2
53 Khalid Kareem 6-4 270 Fr./4
x Ade Ogundeji 6-5 216 Fr./4
@ Suspended the final week of spring drills and did not suit up for April 16 Blue-Gold Game
Tackle/Three-Technique
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
99 Jerry Tillery 6-6½ 310 So./3
58 Elijah Taylor 6-3 285 So./4
97 M. Dew-Treadway 6-4 300 So./4
Walk-ons: Junior Ryan Kilander (64) and sophomore Lincoln Feist (54)
Nose Guard
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
94 Jarron Jones 6-5½ 315 5th/1
or 75 Daniel Cage 6-0¾ 300 Jr./2
96 Pete Mokwuah 6-2¾ 317 Jr./3
77 Brandon Tiassum 6-3½ 302 So./4
60 John Montelus 6-4 310 Sr./2
Walk-on: Senior Marquis Dickerson (95)
Weakside End
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
98 Andrew Trumbetti 6-3½ 260 Jr./2
or 93 Jay Hayes 6-3 285 Jr./3
9 Daelin Hayes 6-3½ 257 Fr./4
x Julian Okwara 6-4 216 Fr./4
Sam Linebacker
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
17 James Onwualu 6-1 232 Sr./1
or 48 Greer Martini* 6-2½ 245 Jr./2
* Did not participate in spring drills while recovering from surgery
Walk-ons: Sophomores Devyn Spruell (51), Kier Murphy (40) and Jimmy Thompson (42)
Mike Linebacker
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
5 Nyles Morgan 6-0¾ 245 Jr./2
30 Josh Barajas 6-2 240 So./4
x Jonathan Jones 6-0 200 Fr./4
Will Linebacker
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
27 Asmar Bilal 6-2 230 So./4
4 Te’von Coney^ 6-0¾ 235 So./3
x Jamir Jones 6-3 220 Fr./4
^ Did not participate in spring drills while recovering from surgery
Walk-on: Sophomore Brandon Hutson (49)
Notes: Martini, whose 60 career tackles trail only Onwualu (68) and Morgan (64) among linebackers, could play any of the three positions, and could vie for Will position vacated by 2015 Butkus Award winner Jaylon Smith.
Right Cornerback
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
36 Cole Luke 5-11 193 Sr./1
26 Ashton White 5-11 190 So./4
12 Devin Butler 6-0½ 200 Sr./1
x Julian Love 5-11 175 Fr./4
Left Cornerback
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
21 Nick Watkins# 6-0¼ 200 Jr./2
14 Shaun Crawford 5-8½ 180 So./4
24 Nick Coleman 5-11½ 190 So./3
x Troy Pride Jr. 5-11 175 Fr./4
x Donte Vaughn 6-3 190 Fr./4
# Broke his arm during practice April 2 and did not play in the Blue-Gold Game
Walk-ons: Senior Jesse Bongiovi (34)
Strong Safety
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
23 Drue Tranquill 6-1½ 225 Jr./2
8 Avery Sebastian 5-10 200 6th/1
31 Spencer Perry 6-2 204 Fr./4
x Jalen Elliott 6-0 189 Fr./4
Free Safety
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
13 Devin Studstill 6-0 190 Fr./4
or 10 Max Redfield 6-1 205 Sr./1
28 Nicco Fertitta 5-8¼ 185 So./3
x D.J. Morgan 6-2 190 Fr./4
Walk-ons: Senior Drew Recker (39) and sophomore Robert Regan (38)
Note: Crawford is the starting nickel in Notre Dame’s sub package with five defensive backs. In the dime, Tranquill would move into an end or linebacker spot, while the sixth DB on the field in coverage is projected to be a freshman, possibly Elliott.
Kicker
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
19 Justin Yoon 5-10 190 So./3
Walk-ons: Senior John Chereson (43), junior Sam Kohler (29)
Punter
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
85 Tyler Newsome 6-2 ½ 210 Jr./3
Walk-on: Sophomore Jeff Riney (42)
Long-Snapper
No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig.
61 Scott Daly 6-1 ½ 250 5th/1
x John Shannon 6-2 220 Fr./4