Let me tell you that with the NIL era this is not an easy preview to write anymore with rosters changing daily all across the nation. Here at Notre Dame, I had to postpone writing this as transfers in and out have been happening nonstop for weeks.
It could be worse. A similar article written 2 years ago in early January saw Notre Dame waiting on more than a dozen starters or contributors for their decision to return or move on to other things in life. That feels like such a quaint and innocent time now, doesn’t it?
Right now, how is the 2024 Notre Dame depth chart shaping up? Let’s take a look…
A quick note that this depth chart is partly predictive but also in some cases just fitting guys in where numbers are needed. For example, Kahanu Kia has returned from his 2-year mission and looking back at his recruitment and our grades from 2021 I had him slotted as a future Mike linebacker. Right now, I plugged him in as a Will linebacker.
Injuries
As the winter months creep forward and we look toward spring ball we have 4 injuries that are public knowledge from last season. Tight end Kevin Bauman tore his ACL again last August, missed another season, and his status is very much to be determined. Right around the same time, defensive end Aiden Gobaira tore his ACL and didn’t play in 2023, as well.
Outstanding preferred walk-on safety Luke Talich broke his collarbone during practice in late November and missed the end of the season. We can assume he should be ready to go for spring and be close to full health soon. That same day, it was announced starting right guard Rocco Spindler had knee surgery and his 2023 season was shut down.
Overall, it’s a pretty decent situation for the team and the injury bug. There were some hamstring problems, particularly at receiver, and many of those looked fully healed during the Sun Bowl.
From the freshmen class, Cole Mullins broke his fibula in August. He is enrolled early so we’ll know soon about his progress .
Transfers
Most fans probably want to know if the Irish are going to be adding more transfers into the program but in order to do that we’ll need to see where there are potential losses.
To start December as we approached the Sun Bowl it was believed Notre Dame would target 7 transfers in the portal this off-season. Within a matter of weeks, we’re already at 8 new players from other schools:
QB Riley Leonard (Duke)
WR Kris Mitchell (FIU)
WR Jayden Harrison (Marshall)
WR Beaux Collins (Clemson)
DE RJ Oben (Duke)
CB Jordan Clark (Arizona State)
S Rod Heard (Northwestern)
PK Mitch Jeter (South Carolina)
Where are the numbers high?
If you like deep lines, Notre Dame is the place for you! A total of 36 scholarships are tied up along the offensive and defensive lines which isn’t very sustainable when the actual season rolls around.
We’ll probably see at least 2 if not 3 players leave from the offensive line. We speculated leading up to 2023 that Andrew Kristofic might seek playing time elsewhere if he didn’t win a job. He ultimately stuck around but a 6th year probably isn’t likely. Tosh Baker took all of the starting right tackle snaps in the bowl game, will he stick around for a 5th season with the inside track for 2024?
Also during the Sun Bowl, true freshmen Sullivan Absher (left tackle) and Sam Pendleton (right guard) saw 6 snaps at the end which leaves rising redshirt sophomore Ty Chan as the oldest member of the line not to participate. I don’t believe Chan logged any snaps all season, either.
The situation is a lot less obvious on the defensive line but going nearly 5-deep is insane and some people are going to be itching for opportunities elsewhere.
Where are the numbers light?
I don’t see any areas for concern purely in terms of numbers. Naturally, there may be some surprise transfers that affect this stance today and I’d look at quarterback, wide receiver, and tight end as possible situations where personnel losses create depth that wouldn’t be ideal.
Scholarships available?
As of this writing, the team is sitting at 89 scholarships. That does include rising sophomore receiver Jordan Faison who was given a scholarship during last season but does not include (at least yet) Luke Talich at safety.
I bet we’ll see one more transfer come in after the spring and that it’ll be it for 2024.
Random Thoughts
Notre Dame needed to bring in numbers at receiver no matter what and let the chips fall where they may. Attempting to figure out how it will play out today seems near impossible. Right now, I feel confident that Thomas, Faison, Greathouse, and Mitchell are going to be the top 4 players if they can stay healthy.
Deion Colzie played 15 snaps during the bowl game after coming back from injury. Only true freshman KK Smith (2) played fewer snaps among the wideouts. Will Colzie come back for 2024?
Devyn Ford played 55 snaps in 2023 after transferring over from Penn State and likely faces a similar role (plus some special teams work again) if he comes back for his final season in college.
It’s fair to say that the offensive line really jumps out as a massive weakness in terms of experience and that unit will have a crucially important spring to get things together.
Will Rocco Spindler come back healthy enough to take the right guard position back or is it now Billy Schrauth’s time?
The addition of Heard at safety completely changes the perception of this position. Although, in an ideal world I’d still like another veteran safety back there. Maybe Clarence Lewis will actually move to safety after calls for that by fans for years?
We’ll have more in the recruiting grades as we tackle the grad transfers coming in this year. I’m not convinced that Clark wins or holds on to the starting nickel job, which could affect the situation with Lewis who was the backup at this spot and would normally be moving up to a starting role.
There isn’t a ton of intrigue on defense in terms of starting jobs this off-season with the exception of Mike linebacker. The betting favorite is rising sophomore Drayk Bowen but it’s worth debating whether he’ll be the clear no. 1 guy all season, especially with the mega hype coming in for freshman Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa.
I wonder if Jaiden Ausberry will move inside and back up Jack Kiser?
This will be a big year for building depth on each end of the defensive line. The Irish should feel good about Botelho and Oben as starters but several questions remain behind them. Due to necessity, Josh Burnham played on the strong-side during the bowl game–is that a long-term plan for him? I thought 2023 is where we’d hear some new names making a move on the edges and that didn’t really happen. It has to happen in 2024.
There has been some speculation that Brenan Vernon is moving to defensive tackle. The loss of both Mills and Cross for 2025 definitely looms large.
Hard to imagine Gray not being the starter at corner.
When is Evans slated to be healthy enough to play?
It seems like rover is not even really a starting position anymore. Wonder where Sneed/Ausberry will slot in with the 2 starting LB positions. Would they both be at Will then? It’ll be interesting to see how long Kiser can hold on to that other LB starting spot with so much young talent behind him.
252 snaps (Mickey) to 198 snaps (Gray) on the season. It’ll be a great off-season battle. I like Mickey to try nickel more, too.
I thought I read encouraging news on Evans but can’t find it.
Kiser surely starts the whole year, right? But it is crazy how little he’s played over the years so maybe he won’t hold on to the job.
The word I’ve heard on some podcasts is that Evans timetable, for full go, has moved up from early Oct. to the start of the season.
Kiser’s production for his amount of snaps is quite high. I doubt his PT lessens.
Also this:
Maybe I’m crazy, but peyton wilson was the best off ball LB I’ve seen in a minute, insane speed, 6’4″, and that dude could read the field, and I’d say I’d rate higher than everyone on that list. But super cool ND had 2 fellas getting some data recognition
He wasn’t gap assignment correct and Audric is still running 🙂
If I were Caleb Bacon, I’d be mildly miffed I’m 4th.
So we can expect a lot of exploration and exploitation with the Nickel position, eh?
I wonder what Kia will look like after his mission. Anyone know where he went? Hopefully somewhere with really good weight rooms.
His younger brother Ko’o just committed and reading Jamie U’s notes on Ko’o, he mentions how both have/had a lot of potential as pass rushers and that Kahanu made a pretty big impression as a freshman before leaving on his mission.
I hope Baker stays, but gets passed up by Wagner (or someone). Would love to see a young guy with huge upside takeover, as there would probably be more growth over the season, but also want Baker as a very experienced, high floor backup.
It seems to me that every spot on defense with a weakness has a guy with a strength playing next to them that could cover for them and allow them some early season growing pains.
SS – Whoever wins this battle isn’t likely to be a star. Having Watts out there next to them means they don’t need to be.
MLB/Rover – The starters here will be inexperienced. Kiser can really help make sure they’re lining up correctly.
DE – Until I see actual production against NFL-Quality OTs, I’ll be skeptical. Playing alongside arguably the best interior D Line Duo in the country should help!
Will the offense develop the same way? I’m not certain there’s a steadying presence on the O Line, but hopefully the elusiveness of our RBs (and Riley Leonard) will help paper over any early struggles. Similarly, I’m not convinced the WRs are title contenders, but Leonard’s ability to improvise outside the pocket should create some nice opportunities for those guys to get open.
Unrelated but worth a post…
Jimmy Sexton is college and NFL superagent, representing 11 of 12 SEC coaches among others. Sexton represented Nick Saban and undoubtedly knew his plans for retirement. All the candidates for the Alabama job were Sexton clients – Lanning, Sarkisian, Kiffin, Norvell, Frankliin and DeBoer. DeBoer had a contract extension on the table by Thanksgiving, which he did not sign. Troy Dannen, their AD, who had been working with Sexton and DeBoer about that extension there says he was not surprised about DeBoer’s departure. Dannen had ‘inkling around Thanksgiving’ DeBoer may leave UW (Seattle Sports)
Sexton’s clients above may well have leveraged lucrative contract extensions to stay at their respective universities. Bama’s AD may have been working with Sexton to develop a short list or narrowed it down to DeBoer before Saban’s retirement annoucement. Perhaps Lanning’s visit to Tuscaloosa was because Oregon was balking at an extension and DeBoer was their choice by Thanksgiving.
Coaching agents sound off on Brian Kelly, Lincoln Riley, 10-year deals, Auburn and more(The Athletic)