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Summer Outlook: Defensive Backs

Devin Studstill figures to make an immediate impact in the Irish secondary.
Devin Studstill figures to make an immediate impact in the Irish secondary.
BGI/Andrew Ivins

Blue & Gold Illustrated continues its summer preview of the 2016 Irish with an outlook of the defensive backs.

Analysis

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**** National Title Contention

*** Playoff Contention

** Top 25 Potential

* Too Unproven

Starters **

Notre Dame returns two players with significant starting experience, but one is still a rather inconsistent player entering his senior season — Max Redfield. It would not be a shock to see the former five-star talent put it all together in his final year in an Irish uniform, but it seems just as likely that freshman Devin Studstill will take over the starting role altogether.

Cole Luke returns at cornerback and is as steady as they come in college football. Now that he’s out of KeiVarae Russell’s shadow — at least in personality — expect Luke to become more appreciated by Notre Dame fans and possibly on the national stage as well.

Experience ***

Outside of Luke and Redfield, there is very little experience in the Notre Dame defensive backfield. Junior safety Drue Tranquill and his backup, sixth-year Avery Sebastian, have both played a decent amount of college football, but their injury histories make them question marks heading into the fall.

Expect a number of new faces, such as sophomore Shaun Crawford and freshmen Devin Studstill and Jalen Elliott, to shake things up for Todd Lyght’s unit.

Depth **

At least on paper, there does not seem to be a significant amount of depth in Notre Dame’s secondary and the ability to overcome an injury to a key player seems dicey. Returning players such as junior Nick Watkins and sophomore Nick Coleman will have to step up in addition to the regular names such as Max Redfield, but the depth will largely be determined by how quickly the freshmen absorb defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder’s system.

Overall Grade **

Notre Dame’s starting defensive backs boasted a future third-round pick (KeiVarae Russell) and undrafted free agent (Elijah Shumate) last fall, not to mention a possible top-three round pick in 2017 (Luke) and a former five-star in Redfield. That unit still proved to be prone to big plays and a lack of consistency. It seems unlikely that the loss of Russell and Shumate will improve the unit, but there are a number of young players that seem ready for the opportunity this fall, a list that begins with Crawford and Studstill, who impressed in spring ball, and Jalen Elliott, who drew rave reviews from head coach Brian Kelly and Lyght before the Virginia native even stepped on campus.

Quick Facts

Position Coach: Todd Lyght (2nd year at Notre Dame)

Returning Starters: Cole Luke (26 career starts) and Max Redfield (23)

Departing Starters: KeiVarae Russell (37) and Elijah Shumate (28)

Projected New Starters: Drue Tranquill (4 career starts) and Nick Watkins (1 career start)

Top Reserves: Devin Studstill, Shaun Crawford and Nick Coleman

Waiting Their Turn: Jalen Elliott, Nick Coleman and Troy Pride Jr.

Newcomers: Troy Pride, Donte Vaughn, Julian Love, Devin Studstill, Spencer Perry, Jalen Elliott and D.J. Morgan

Moved In: None

Moved Out: None

Other Departures: Matthias Farley (graduated), Nicky Baratti (graduated), Mykelti Williams (transfer) and John Turner (graduate transfer)

FYI: Luke has started each game the past two seasons for Notre Dame, while Redfield played with the No. 1 unit in 22 of 26 contests in 2014-15 … Fertitta is the son of Lorenzo Fertitta, the vice chairman of Fertitta Entertainment, the owner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) … Eight different players started games in the Irish secondary last season, including Luke (13 starts), Shumate (12), Russell (11), Redfield (11), Farley (3), Tranquill (1), Butler (1) and Watkins (1).

Cole Luke will start for the third straight season this fall.
Cole Luke will start for the third straight season this fall.
BGI/Andrew Ivins
Yards Per Pass Attempt Allowed By ND Defense
Year Yards Per Attempt National Rank

2010

6.4

28

2011

6.5

24

2012

6.0

13

2013

6.3

16

2014*

7.3

84

2015*

6.9

54

*Brian VanGorder served as defensive coordinator in these seasons

By The Numbers

13 How many teams forced fewer turnovers than Notre Dame’s defensive output of 14 in 2015.

6.9 Yards per pass attempt surrendered by the Irish last fall, which was tied for 54th among Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

54 Number of career starts entering 2016 from a potential starting defensive backfield of Cole Luke (26), Max Redfield (23), Drue Tranquill (4) and Nick Watkins (1).

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