Season three of “Inside Amy Schumer” was a lot like the 2014 Notre Dame football season- started out very strong, collapsed in the middle, limped toward the end. And like Amy Schumer herself, ND Football is poised for bigger and better things. Which will in turn attract even more publicity and hence make them more polarizing.
Actually, Notre Dame Football finished it’s season with a very strong “final episode.” In 2015, it’s College Football Playoff or bust for the Fighting Irish as they progress towards the fall riding the momentum of a thrilling Music City Bowl upset of #22 LSU.
With OT Ronnie Stanley and DL Sheldon Day forgoing the NFL Draft dollars and returning to South Bend, it’s safe to say the Irish will be ranked in the top 10 of next month’s AP and Coaches polls.
Here’s our pre training camp 2015 Notre Dame football depth chart. Click each player’s name to learn more about him by reading a feature story on that specific Notre Dame football player. Bold indicates returning starter.
Offense
QB Malik Zaire-So Zaire out-played Golson in the bowl game versus a very talented LSU defense. Of course, it wasn’t a fully functional Tigers defense giving it the “ol’ college try.” LSU wasn’t all there mentally because that was the day it came to light that Defensive Coordinator John Chavis was bolting Baton Rouge for Texas A&M.
Everett Golson left for Florida State, where he’ll be immediately eligible to play as a graduate transfer, via the NCAA’s version of “free agency.” I think Notre Dame was able to keep the better of the two signal callers. Zaire is more of a dual threat, and he has a greater upside. Golson thrived as a game manager in 2012, but achieved very mixed results at best when he had to be the focal point. The new backup is DeShone Kizer.
RB Tarean Folston-Jr, Greg Bryant-So
Folston established himself as the team’s feature back in midseason; could be a very prolific back if Brian Kelly becomes less of a pass-first coach. With the O-Line being the team’s greatest strength, BK should commit to the run more.
WR Will Fuller-Jr, Amir Carlisle-Sr, Torii Hunter-So
WR C.J. Prosise-Jr, Corey Holmes, So
WR Chris Brown-Sr, Corey Robinson-Jr
Fuller is the team’s go to and best deep threat. He finished with just under 1,100 yards receiving last year. Prosise was the breakout player in spring ball. Irish don’t have a legit #2. Maybe it will be the Admiral David Robinson’s kid?
Will Fuller and Tarean Folston are both members of “the money team,” as they call themselves.
TE Durham Smythe-So
Hardly played last year, but will be counted on to continue the program’s NFL pipeline at the position.
Backup is blue chip recruit Aliz’e Jones which is an extremely fun to say. “Nights full of Alize, Al-i-ze…, a livin legend”
OT Ronnie Stanley-Sr
It’s a really big deal that he came back because he had a late first/early second round NFL Draft grade this year.
C Nick Martin-Sr
Will be an all-everything, two time captain just like his older brother Zack
LG Quenton Nelson-Fr
RG Steve Elmer-Jr
RT Mike McGlinchey-Jr. That is seriously the most Fighting Irish football name ever.
Defense
DE Isaac Rochell-Jr, Grant Blankenship-So
Rochell made some serious strides last year, and he is an excellent run stuffer.
DT Sheldon Day-Sr, Jay Hayes-So
I don’t doubt the NFL Draft stock value that Day is getting, but I just don’t see it. I don’t get it at all. The NFL Draft overvalues pass rushers above anything else and Day had just one sack last year. He’s also a bit of a tweener for the next level. Notre Dame football goes nowhere this season unless this defense figures out how to start generating a legit pass rush. Day needs to be the guy who sets the standard in getting that done.
DT Jarron Jones-Jr, Jerry Tillery, Fr.
DE Romeo Okwara-Sr, Andrew Trumbetti-So
LB James Onwualu-Jr, Greer Martini-So
LB Jaylon Smith-Jr
Another potential first round pick on defense, Smith moves like an offensive skill position player. He’s the one to keep an eye on this year when ND is on defense; highlight reel potential.
LB Nyles Morgan-So, Joe Schmidt-Sr.
Not saying correlation implies causation, but the defense, and hence the season went downhill at about the same point that Schmidt went down. Of course, the schedule got tougher in the second half too.
CB Cole Luke-Jr, Devin Butler-Jr
CB KeiVarare Russell-Sr, Nick Watkins, So.
Russell returns from a year off due to suspension due to an academic infraction. Before the issue arose, he was considered one of the top pro potential corners in the country.
FS Elijah Shumate-Sr, Drue Tranquill-So
SS Max Redfield-Jr
The last time Notre Dame football returned this much talent, depth and experience on both sides of the ball, they accomplished a 12-0 regular season. However, that BCS Title game team in 2012 was built on stout defense, and not even the most delusional and ridiculously optimistic Domer would ever analogize this defense with the unit on that team.
If the College Football Playoff had already expanded to eight I would feel confident in predicting the Irish to qualify. However, it’s still only 4, and that means that Lou Holtz will be pretty much the only person projecting them there. I still believe it’s a manageable goal, provided Zaire flourishes as QB1, the defense gets much more comfortable in year two of the new scheme and they figure out how to bring down opposing QBs with regularity.
By the way, this year the Shamrock Series takes Notre Dame to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, to take on Boston College in November. It’s funny how The Simpsons forecasted this (or at least the fan atmosphere surrounding the game) over a decade ago:
Notre Dame Season Preview Series
Paul M. Banks of The Sports Bank/RedEye and Todd Burlage of Blue and Gold Illustrated/The Fan Indiana recapping Notre Dame Media Day on Maximus and the Bartender
Will Fuller is ND’s best chance at the Heisman
KeiVarae Russell returns; wins Media Day
Malik Zaire takes issue with usage of the term “dual threat”
Comprehensive Notre Dame Season Preview
2015 Notre Dame football is playoff or bust
Never Too Early Season Preview Series:
Iowa
Wisconsin
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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