SOUTH BEND, Ind. — We’ve finally reached game week after a long offseason, and with that, Notre Dame released its first unofficial two-deep depth chart of 2016 on Tuesday. A few notes and observations from it:
— Sixth-year graduate student Avery Sebastian is listed as Notre Dame’s starting free safety over freshman Devin Studstill. “Sebastian's had a good camp,” coach Brian Kelly said. “He's been really rock solid.” Kelly sees Sebastian as someone who won’t be prone to mistakes, and he’ll replace dismissed senior Max Redfield even though the more natural in-the-box safety will be playing out of position.
— Junior Andrew Trumbetti jumped ahead of redshirt sophomore Jay Hayes after Hayes missed a few days of practice due to a high ankle sprain. Hayes had taken most of Notre Dame’s first team reps at weakside defensive end since the end of spring practice, but Kelly said “being out five or six days in a very competitive situation gave Andrew just enough opportunity to take more reps and put himself in a really good position.”
— Three of the four players who were arrested earlier this month but not suspended (RB Dexter Williams, WR Kevin Stepherson, LB Te’von Coney) appeared on the depth chart. Williams will split No. 1 kick return duties with receiver C.J. Sanders, while Stepherson is Torii Hunter’s backup and Coney will be behind Nyles Morgan at Mike linebacker (Kelly said Coney, a natural Will linebacker, has been cross-training at Mike). Ashton White didn’t earn a No. 2 cornerback nod, with those going to sophomore Nick Coleman and freshman Julian Love. All four players are expected to play this Sunday against Texas.
— There weren’t any surprises on the offensive two-deep. As expected, the No. 1 QB is listed as DeShone Kizer or Malik Zaire, while top running back duties will be split between Tarean Folston and Josh Adams.
— There are five true freshmen on the defensive two deep: weakside defensive end Daelin Hayes, Sam (outside) linebacker Jamir Jones, cornerback Julian Love, strong safety Jalen Elliott and free safety Devin Studstill. Expect more than just those five freshmen to see snaps this year, too (for example, Kelly said freshman defensive end Julian Okwara will travel with the team to Texas) which underscores how young a lot of Notre Dame’s defensive depth will be this fall.
Notre Dame’s full depth chart is below (players with "OR" are listed in alphabetical order)
Quarterback
1. DeShone Kizer (RS sophomore) OR Malik Zaire (RS junior)
Running back
1. Josh Adams (sophomore) OR Tarean Folston (RS junior)
W (Boundary) receiver
1. Equanimeous St. Brown (sophomore)
2. Miles Boykin (RS freshman)
Z (Slot) receiver
1. C.J. Sanders (sophomore)
2. Corey Holmes (RS sophomore)
X (Field) receiver
1. Torii Hunter Jr. (RS junior)
2. Kevin Stepherson (freshman)
Left tackle
1. Mike McGlinchey (RS junior)
2. Hunter Bivin (RS junior)
Left guard
1. Quenton Nelson (RS sophomore)
2. Trevor Ruhland (RS freshman)
Center
1. Sam Mustipher (RS sophomore)
2. Mark Harrell (Graduate student)
Right guard
1. Colin McGovern (RS junior)
2. Tristen Hoge (RS freshman)
Right tackle
1. Alex Bars (RS sophomore)
2. Tommy Kraemer (freshman)
Weakside defensive end
1. Andrew Trumbetti (junior)
2. Jay Hayes (RS junior) OR Daelin Hayes (freshman)
Strongside defensive end
1. Isaac Rochell (senior)
2. Jonathan Bonner (RS sophomore)
Nose guard
1. Daniel Cage (junior) OR Jarron Jones (Graduate student)
Defensive tackle
1. Jerry Tillery (sophomore)
2. Elijah Taylor (RS freshman)
Sam (outside) linebacker
1. James Onwualu (senior)
2. Jamir Jones (freshman)
Will (inside) linebacker
1. Greer Martini (junior)
2. Asmar Bilal (RS freshman)
Mike (middle) linebacker
1. Nyles Morgan (junior)
2. Te’von Coney (sophomore)
Cornerback
1. Shaun Crawford (RS freshman)
2. Nick Coleman (sophomore)
1. Cole Luke (senior)
2. Julian Love (freshman)
Strong safety
1. Drue Tranquill (junior)
2. Jalen Elliott (freshman)
Free safety
1. Avery Sebastian (6th-year graduate student)
2. Devin Studstill (freshman)
Kick returner
1. C.J. Sanders (sophomore) OR Dexter Williams (sophomore)
Punt returner
1. C.J. Sanders (sophomore)
2. Chris Finke (RS freshman)
Holder
1. Montgomery VanGorder (RS sophomore)
2. DeShone Kizer (RS sophomore)
Placekicker
1. Justin Yoon (sophomore)
2. Tyler Newsome (RS sophomore)
Punter
1. Tyler Newsmen (RS sophomore)
2. Jeff Riney (RS freshman)
Long snapper
1. Scott Daly (graduate student)
2. John Shannon (freshman)
Kickoffs
1. Tyler Newsome (RS sophomore)
2. Justin Yoon (sophomore)