Notre Dame spring depth chart preview: Cornerbacks

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With Notre Dame spring practice beginning later this month, CSNChicago.com is previewing each position group's depth chart and 2016 outlook. Today, we look at a cornerback depth chart loaded with talent, but one that struggled at times last year (each player's 2016 status is listed in parentheses).

1. Cole Luke (Senior)
2. Ashton White (RS Freshman)

1. Nick Watkins (Junior)
1A. Nick Coleman (Sophomore) 

Injured: Shaun Crawford (RS Freshman), Devin Butler (Senior)

Overview

This is unit that didn’t live up to expectations last season — Luke, despite a breakout 2014 season, didn't make the same impact, while KeiVarae Russell was both rusty (after missing 2014) and hurt (he said at the NFL Combine he played with the stress fracture that ultimately ended his season against Boston College). 

[MORE: Notre Dame spring depth chart preview: Offensive line]

But there’s plenty of talent here for Todd Lyght to mold. Luke, Watkins and Crawford were all former four-star recruits, while Butler has plenty of experience over his three seasons in South Bend. Watkins held his own in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State after being thrown into a starting role following Butler’s game-week fractured foot. 

With Butler likely out for spring practice, Watkins and Coleman will get an opportunity to gain a foothold on the competition to start opposite Luke this fall. Crawford, too, should miss spring practice as he recovers from the torn ACL he suffered during preseason camp last August.

Outlook

If there’s a sneaky reason for optimism for this unit (and Brian VanGorder's defense as a whole), it’s in Crawford’s expected return for the beginning of preseason camp in August. Notre Dame didn't successfully deploy a nickel package in 2015, instead viewing Matthias Farley as too valuable a backup safety and special teams player (Farley, to his credit, excelled in a nickel role in 2014). Russell played there at the start of the season and had a key sack-strip against Virginia, but he was needed more as an outside corner after September. 

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Crawford was in line to play nickel before his injury. If he can succeed there, it’ll add a much-needed dimension back into VanGorder’s defense.  

Incoming freshmen

Notre Dame needed to add depth to this unit, and did so with four-star corners Julian Love (La Grange Park, Ill.), Donte Vaughn (Memphis, Tenn.) and Troy Pride Jr (Greer, S.C.). All three will have an opportunity to push for playing time, given Luke is the only lock to start this fall. 

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