The wide receivers came into focus a lot last year with a new coaching regime and a new situation at quarterback. However, the quarterback situation deteriorated and that had a trickle down effect for the wideouts where no one in this unit could even crack 400 yards on the season.

Things should be different in 2023.

Previous 2023 depth chart articles:

Offensive Line
Defensive Line

Projected 2023 Wide Receivers

X Z W
Thomas, r-So. * Styles, Jr. * Smith, 6th Sr.
Merriweather, So. Salerno, 5th Sr. Colzie, Jr.
Greathouse, Fr. Smith, Fr. James, Fr.
Flores, Fr.

*Returning starters

Experience: C+
Depth: B
Talent: B-

Playing Time > Position

Wide receiver is becoming more and more position-less like basketball and a traditional depth chart doesn’t properly reflect the pecking order quite like it used to. My loose definition for Notre Dame is as follows:

X – Typically your deep threat and speed merchant. Ideally, your no. 1 receiver.

Z – The smaller and shiftier slot receiver with good speed and agility.

W – The larger possession receiver who excels in blocking and making contested catches.

These neat labels don’t really fit that well for some Irish players. Technically, Lorenzo Styles is a returning starter of sorts, but hasn’t proven to be a good fit on the outside or even in the slot. In fact, you could argue he’ll start 2023 as a backup.

Set against that traditional role at the “X” position Jayden Thomas is bigger and not quite as fast. But, you have to think incoming transfer Kaleb Smith the Elder is going to be squarely in the mix to start and would likely team up with Thomas at the outside positions.

In some order, there should be a top 5 of Thomas, Smith the Elder, Colzie, Merriweather, and Styles with a little splash from Salerno. I’d watch out for Greathouse pushing up the depth chart among that freshmen class, I am extremely high on him.

In the Interim

This is a weird group of receivers. It still feels like a really young group but Styles is suddenly a junior, Salerno has played quite a bit of football for the Irish, and Kaleb Smith the Elder has been playing college football since the iPhone 4* was released, or thereabouts.

They are also set to play just 1 year with Sam Hartman which will be great for some but not much of a long-term solution for many of the younger players.

*Actually since the iPhone X era, but still.

Finding Hartman’s Heart

Who is going to click with Sam Hartman and maybe make a jump in 2023?

We know it’s been talked about a lot how much Hartman trusted Wake Forest receiver A.T. Perry and how the duo thrived (Perry caught 152 passes for 2,389 yards and 26 touchdowns over the last 2 seasons) making plays down field on contested catches. If we’re searching for someone with a similar body-type to Perry, Notre Dame could offer:

Smith the Elder – Not quite as tall as Perry (6’5″) and quite a bit heavier but Smith displayed a really nice catch radius at Virginia Tech and almost certainly was sold on coming to Notre Dame in part because he’d thrive with Hartman.

Colzie – Very similar specs to Perry but hasn’t flashed much speed or consistency yet. Although, he did come on strong late in 2022 and could be one player that starts to make a name for himself through tough sideline catches in 2023.

Merriweather – If we’re looking at the whole package (size, speed, etc.) you have to think Merriweather could be in for a big season linking up with Hartman.

I’d also include Thomas, too. He’s not quite as tall as the others but he has long arms and really flashed some big play potential last season. Thomas should probably be talked about a lot more this off-season and he’d actually be my pick to lead the team in receiving yardage again in 2023.