Notre Dame football: First-look 2019 depth chart projections

Defensive depth chart projection

Notable Losses: The losses on defense are going to leave the Irish with even more work to do over the summer because they have to replace stars at every level. Jerry Tillery and Julian Love were both First-Team All-Americans in 2018 and are going to be solid day two picks in the NFL draft. Also, both linebackers Te’von Coney and Drue Tranquill have moved after great seasons where they finished first and third on the team in tackles.

DE: Julian Okwara, Senior / Daelin Hayes, Senior

DT: Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Junior / Jayson Ademilola, Sophomore

NT: Kurt Hinish, Junior / Jacob Lacey, Freshman

DE: Khalid Kareem, Senior / Ade Ogundeji, Senior

The Defensive line is a tale of young and old. On the edges, Okwara and Kareem coming back for their senior season probably make this the best position group on the team. However, with Jerry Tillery moving on to the NFL there is a huge gap to fill on the interior. Hinish was solid in 2018, but Tagovailoa- Amosa missed almost all the season with a broken foot. Tillery was just such a dominant presence that anyone trying to replace his production is fighting an uphill battle. Ademilola is someone to watch out for as he flashed big time as a rotation player plus the depth Hayes and Ogundeji bring as backup pass rushers are amazing.

Mike: Jonathan Jones, Senior / Bo Bauer, Sophomore

Will: Asmar Bilal, Senior / Jordan Genmark Heath, Junior

Rover: Shayne Simon, Sophomore / Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Junior

The loss of Te’von Coney and Tranquill to the NFL left the linebacker group in serious doubt and given the so-so recruiting at this position there are not great answers. Jones and Bauer will be in a battle, but with Jones being a senior there a good chance he’s the starter to being with spring. It appears Bilal could follow in Tranquill’s footsteps and move inside to linebacker from the rover position and if that happens, Simon will emerge as the new starting rover. Osusu-Koramoah is also an option, but he is coming off a broken foot so he’ll have to prove he’s fully recovered from that first. Overall there is not a lot of depth at the second level of the defense, so health is going to be huge for them.

CB: Shaun Crawford, Senior / Tariq Bracy, Sophomore

FS: Alohi Gilman, Senior / Houston Griffith, Sophomore

SS: Jalen Elliott, Senior / Derrick Allen, Sophomore

CB: Troy Pride Jr., Senior / DJ Brown, Sophomore

When Julian Love went out during the first half of the Cotton Bowl against Clemson, the secondary play dropped about three notches. So going into 2019 someone is going to have to step up and replace him and help keep things afloat. Pride Jr will replace Love as the defacto leader of the bunch as he returns for his senior season, but the corner spot opposite of him is another story. You want to keep holding out hope for Crawford who is no doubt talented, but injuries continue to plague him. Donte Vaughn is also injured so young guys like Bracy and Brown will get their chance to impress the coaches in spring practice. The safeties are secure will Gilman and Elliott returning as starters, so three senior for sure will be in the Irish secondary. And though he doesn’t get on campus until the summer, be on the lookout for 5-star prospect Kyle Hamilton.

K: Jonathan Doerer, Junior

P: Jay Bramblett, Freshman

KR: Michael Young, Junior

PR: Young, Junior

Justin Yoon graduates as the school’s all-time leading scorer and Tyler Newsome was a team captain at punter, so they are just more big shoes the Irish have to fill this offseason. Doerer struggled with kickoffs so even though he might be the starter on the first depth chart expect the competition to be fierce. Walk-ons like Harrison Leonard who arrives in the summer could very well have the starting spot by game one. Bramblett is a freshman who’s on campus already, so it seems the coaches want him to fill Newsome’s position from the beginning quickly.