Notre Dame Spring 2016 Vs. 2015 Spring: Up, Down Or Similar?
Last week on the Irish Huddle podcast, Bryan Driskell and I compared notes on the 10 position groups (including special teams) and ranked them one through 10 in strength based on past production, experience and quality depth.
We both had quarterbacks and running backs No. 1 and No. 2, and we also had the safety position at No. 10. In between, from positions No. 3 through No. 9, it was more of a mixed bag. With that in mind, maybe it’s better to evaluate based on comparing it to the 2015 team that finished No. 11 in the final Associated Press poll with a 10-3 ledger. Is Notre Dame improved, down or about the same at each position, on paper? Here’s a thumbnail evaluation:
Quarterbacks: 2015 vs. 2016
2015: The competition remained open at the end of spring between Everett Golson and Malik Zaire — until Golson announced upon his May graduation that his fifth season would be used at Florida State. The only mystery was whether incoming freshman Brandon Wimbush would move to No. 3 over struggling sophomore DeShone Kizer.
2016: Once again, no starter was announced between Zaire and Kizer, and head coach Brian Kelly said it would be a judgment call despite a stellar 2015 sophomore campaign by Kizer after he had to replace Zaire, who suffered a season-ending injury in game two.
Advantage On Paper: It has to be 2016 not only because of the body of work achieved by both Kizer and Zaire in their relatively limited time, but because Wimbush also is well ahead of where Kizer was as the No. 3 man. The Irish are legitimately capable of posting at least nine wins with any of the trio.
Running Backs: 2015 vs. 2016
2015: Only three other backs in Irish history had rushed for more yards entering his junior season than Tarean Folston (1,359) — and one of them was his position coach Autry Denson. Former five-star recruit Greg Bryant and game-breaking slot receiver C.J. Prosise, who moved to running back and was perhaps the top surprise of the spring, supplied strong options.
2016: Folston is back after suffering a season-ending injury seven plays into 2015, and Josh Adams set a freshman single-season rushing record at Notre Dame last year with 835 yards and 7.1 yards per carry. Sophomore Dexter Williams had a quality spring, while junior Justin Brent, a top-100 recruit in 2014, is not a bad fourth option to have.
Advantage On Paper: Similar. Losing 1,000-yard rusher Prosise’s home-run threat is a slight step back, but the return of Folston and a more seasoned Adams can compensate for it in other ways. Williams and Brent should provide the quality depth that Bryant could have last year before transferring to UAB.
Wide Receivers: 2015 vs. 2016
2015: Each of the top four receivers from the previous season returned, headlined by the electrifying, game-breaking Will Fuller.
2016: All three of the top pass catchers have moved on, including Fuller turning pro early. The one with the most career receptions returning, senior Corey Robinson with 65, did not play this spring because of concussion issues that has him currently pondering his football future. If the Irish also will be sans Robinson, it would have one wideout with more than one career catch: senior Torii Hunter Jr. (35).
Advantage On Paper: The rise of junior Corey Holmes (zero catches) at the slot position, and the youth movement with sophomores Equanimeous St. Brown, CJ Sanders, Miles Boykin and freshman Kevin Stepherson holds promise, but the lack of proven experience easily gives the edge to last season, especially in how Fuller was able to stretch the field.
Tight Ends: 2015 vs. 2016
2015: Minus Ben Koyack, the lone Irish player drafted last spring, tight end looked somewhat like receiver this season with then-junior Durham Smythe’s one career catch representing the entire total by the returning unit.
2016: Current junior Nic Weishar had the most snaps here last season with 286 (about 25 per game) with Smythe sidelined because of two surgeries, while Alizé Jones had a fine freshman season in mainly a receiving role (13 catches for 190 yards).
Advantage On Paper: The return of all three in itself makes this a stronger group this year, and Jones — who also will line up as an outside receiver on occasion — provides a star power skill. If converted defensive lineman Jacob Matuska’s 275-pound frame can provide some quality in-line blocking support, that would be icing on the cake.
Offensive Linemen: 2015 vs. 2016
2015: At the end of last spring, we ranked this the No. 1 position group on the team — and it lived up to that projection during the fall, including producing a 200-yard rushing average (including bowl games) for the first time since 1998.
2016: Three starters need to be replaced, including projected first-round left tackle Ronnie Stanley, although the left side with senior tackle Mike McGlinchey and junior guard Quenton Nelson promises to be one of the nation’s finest tandems.
Advantage On Paper: Too much reconstruction and revamping, especially on the right side, is going on to not rank 2015 as better for now. If this entire group returns in 2017, then it could be even better than last year’s crew.
Defensive Linemen: 2015 vs. 2016
2015: Senior two-time captain Sheldon Day led a veteran front that suffered a setback when classmate Jarron Jones was shelved in August because of an MCL tear.
2016: The mainstay Day is gone, but nose guard Jones is back with senior strongside end Isaac Rochell, both of whom have potential NFL futures. The overall effectiveness will be determined by the improvement of weakside ends Andrew Trumbetti and Jay Hayes, both juniors, and sophomore three-technique Jerry Tillery.
Advantage On Paper: We’re apt to call it similar because while the void of Day is huge, the overall depth and ability to use more bodies appears stronger — although we’ve heard that before with no results.
Linebacker: 2015 vs. 2016
2015: This was deemed maybe the strongest position on defense with the return of Butkus Award front-runner Jaylon Smith at Will, 2014 team MVP Joe Schmidt at Mike and eight-game starter James Onwualu at Sam. Plus, the depth with fifth-year senior Jarrett Grace and sophomores Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini, who combined for 73 stops as freshmen, was also a significant asset.
2016: Onwualu is the lone returning starter, Morgan had only 40 snaps last fall behind Schmidt, and Martini was sidelined this spring while recovering from surgery. Unlike Morgan and Martini a year earlier, Asmar Bilal and Josh Barajas were redshirted as freshmen, while classmate Te’von Coney took 62 snaps on defense.
Advantage On Paper: A case can be made, like at receiver, that the collective group will be better as the season progresses … but until it’s proven, the edge has to go to the 2015 unit, especially now that Butkus recipient Smith is no longer in the lineup. In other words, we’ll believe it when we see it.
Defensive Backfield: 2015 vs. 2016
2015: The return of KeiVarae Russell, who was in academic exile in 2014, to combine with Cole Luke (whose 15 passes defensed in 2014 were the most by a Notre Dame player since future NFL star Dave Waymer in 1978) had national outlets projecting them among the top three to five corner duos in the country. Meanwhile, Kelly noted how the safety tandem of Elijah Shumate and Max Redfield, was vastly improved.
2016: Safety remains the biggest question mark on the team, including freshman early enrollee Devin Studstill challenging the inconsistent Redfield at free safety. Junior Drue Tranquill coming off two ACL surgeries, provides strong in-the-box skills, but more freshmen might be needed in the coverage department. Luke remains a mainstay at corner, but there is limited experience beyond him.
Advantage On Paper: Too many new faces make this a little bit more of a concern than last year at this time. However, if sophomore Shaun Crawford (torn ACL last August) can pick up where he left off this spring as a nickel and possible corner, the collective alignment and team play might be enhanced.
Special Teams: 2015 vs. 2016
2015: Neither sophomore punter Tyler Newsome nor freshman kicker Justin Yoon had seen college action.
2016: Newsome and Yoon return as among the best punter-kicker combinations in the country. Notre Dame and Idaho were the only two schools in the country last year to have their kicker and punter rank among the top 15 in field goal percentage and punting average.
Advantage On Paper: A year of seasoning and notable production should make this year better, especially if return man Sanders can regain his form after hip surgery this spring.