As is the case most year’s the defense heads into spring with more intrigue and question marks compared to the offense. When you add a new defensive coordinator in the mix without the strong hand of Brian Kelly (like the offense) the story lines are all the more juicy. Let’s preview the Irish defense!

BOLD denotes returning starter

DROP END

Andrew Trumbetti, SR
Daelin Hayes, SO
Julian Okwara, SO

Competition: 8/10
Intrigue: 7/10

Trumbetti has been left for dead in most corners and scratched off the starting spot for this position in other corners. Not so fast! While it’s true he’s struggled mightily since his freshman year, Trumbetti’s experience is so overwhelming compared to the challengers here that it’d be foolish to write him off completely.

At the same time, many are expecting Daelin Hayes to make a strong move from the opening of spring and a co-starting situation out of the gate wouldn’t be a surprise. Okwara also adds something to the mix if only because his skill-set fits really well for what the Irish need and (like Daelin) his sophomore eligibility is already ticking and there’s no time to waste.

STRONG-SIDE DEFENSIVE END

Jonathan Bonner, r-JR
Jay Hayes, r-JR
Khalid Kareem, SO
Ade Ogundeji, r-FR

Competition: 7/10
Intrigue: 5/10

Bonner has sneakily played a decent amount (100 more snaps in 2016 than both Jay Hayes and Daelin Hayes, for reference) but doesn’t have a ton to show for it (2 solo tackles, 0 sacks, 0 TFL) and thus isn’t really viewed as the starter-in-waiting the way the normal pecking order would suggest.

The focus therefore may be largely on Hayes and Kareem a pair of Top 200-ish national recruits who have been viewed as the most talented options for the future. The former’s season never got much off the ground in 2016 (155 snaps, 0.5 TFL) even after being singled out by Brian Kelly as someone who needed more playing time following the firing of Brian VanGorder.

Kareem played so little (15 snaps, fewest of all linemen) that he practically redshirt in 2016. No one knows what we have in Ogundeji yet and the spring should be the first quality look at him so far.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Jerry Tillery, JR
Daniel Cage, SR
Elijah Taylor, r-SO
Pete Mokwuah, r-JR
Micah Dew-Treadway, r-SO
Brandon Tiassum, r-SO

Competition: 6/10
Intrigue: 4/10

Notre Dame is planning on some impact freshmen here and possibly an impact grad transfer (Clemson’s Scott Pagano visited this past weekend) but until then here are the parts to work with this spring. Until we see Tillery put together a strong season his motivation and work ethic will always be questions as will his status as a “starting” lineman. We’re not even sure what the status of Daniel Cage will be with his concussion history that forced him to miss the last 4 games of 2016, either.

Pete Mokwuah was written off heading into last season but totaled 18 snaps which is something, I suppose. Can he make a jump? I would think Elijah Taylor flashed the most out of the inexperienced players while Dew-Treadway was in line to play a little bit last year prior to injury. This will be the second spring for Tiassum and it’s now or never to show he’s more than just a body on the roster.

My focus will be on Taylor and Dew-Treadway as the defense really needs these two to become the types of players who can effectively play 300 to 400 snaps.

LINEBACKER

Nyles Morgan, SR
Te’von Coney, JR
Greer Martini, SR
Asmar Bilal, r-SO
Jamir Jones, SO
Josh Barajas, r-SO
Jonathan Jones, r-FR

Competition: 4/10
Intrigue: 4/10

No one is positioned as an utter and complete lock as a starter quite like Nyles Morgan so that takes some drama out of the linebacker situation. We’re also fairly certain that Coney will be starting as well and if not in name at least playing a ton of snaps.

The situations of Martini and Bilal are a little more interesting, but again, it’s mostly about how much they’ll be playing and where in Elko’s defense. Most feel pretty good with this top 4 regardless of how they’re shuffled about this spring.

The bottom guys should have many eyes on them this spring as the Irish will lose two seniors and a new youth movement needs to start soon. Jamir Jones is on grow-into-a-lineman watch, while Barajas should have Jon Jones hot on his tail for backup snaps.

CORNER

Julian Love, SO
Donte Vaughn, SO
Nick Coleman, JR
Troy Pride, SO
Nick Watkins, r-JR
Ashton White, r-SO
Shaun Crawford, r-SO

Competition: 9/10
Intrigue: 7/10

Who’s ready for a fight to the death!?? This could be a battle supreme for spring where everyone except White has started a game at Notre Dame. Unfortunately, it’s expected that Shaun Crawford won’t be fully healthy from his Achilles injury. That put’s a little bit of a damper on the competition.

Otherwise, assuming Watkins is fully healthy (he should be) there should be an amazing spring for 5 players seriously in contention for starters minutes. Also, keep in mind that Nick Coleman was mentioned on National Signing Day as someone who could move to safety.

SAFETY

Drue Tranquill, r-JR
Devin Studstill, SO
Jalen Elliott, SO
Nicco Fertitta, JR
Spencer Perry, r-FR
D.J. Morgan, r-FR
Isaiah Robertson, FR

Competition: 8/10
Intrigue: 7/10

The Irish return 4 players who saw the field at least somewhat extensively last season but there are numerous question marks all over the place and rumblings of major changes. For starters, Tranquill may be moved to Rover as could at least another safety. We already discussed a corner like Coleman inserting himself into this party, as well.

Studstill and Elliott are likely to be the main guys and for all the mystery surrounding the placement of players and re-positioning with a new defensive coordinator they could be wire-to-wire starters this spring. The addition of an athletic and physically gifted Isaiah Robertson is certainly something to keep an eye on early and often.

Transfer Threats: Ogundeji, Tiassum, Barajas, D.J. Morgan

For the spring the defense will be carrying 2 more scholarship players than the offense but when you factor in the YCNHEOL rule and that we haven’t seen a legit transfer on the O-line since Alex Bullard (and a non-family emergency transfer since…?) it feels like there’s 10 more scholarships on defense, or at least twice as many transfer threats.

Ogundeji is a complete mystery at this point and would fill the seemingly annual transfer from the defensive line before a career got off the ground. Tiassum doesn’t look like he’ll play at Notre Dame which makes him a risk factor. That could be the case for D.J. Morgan (he’s our next Reviewing the Redshirt) although he’s in better position to do something in South Bend. Josh Barajas looks like a good candidate to fill in for Justin Brent as the disappointing Indiana recruit.

Breakout Star: Daelin Hayes

Hope is a beautiful thing. A major breakthrough for Hayes could be the breath of fresh air the defense needs in a big way. However, the scary part is I don’t know if there are many other candidates who I’d stump for in this category. Could it be Vaughn? Bilal? Elliott?

Each of these guys could develop into starters but only Hayes feels like he could conceivably be one of the Top 5 players on the team with a booming NFL stock at year’s end.

Major Story Line: Rearranging the Pieces with Elko

The story line is the abundance of story lines at every position. Who’s filling out the depth chart at Rover? What does that do to the safety depth chart? How will Elko change the defensive line and will that jump start someone’s career? Who fits best at corner in the new scheme?