Notre Dame football season preview 2020: Record predictions, depth chart analysis, breakout players
By Dante Pryor
The Irish have a lot of new faces with a lot to prove on offense.
Elite programs build their teams from the inside-out; Kelly and his coaching staff know that. The strength of this team is the offensive line. They do not have any elite linemen, but they are as good as there is as a collective group. The offensive line is the best group on the offense again this season is not a bad thing.
The running backs are the weakest part of the Notre Dame offense. It is not that they are not talented; they are mostly unproven. Jahmir Smith and C’bo Flemister could not get on the field for any meaningful carries despite the injury to Jafar Armstrong.
Speaking of Armstrong, he looks to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2019. He needs to prove that he can be the lead running back after doing an admirable job converting from wide receiver in 2018. One running back that can compete for some carries is incoming freshman Chris Tyree. His speed and versatility are sure to earn him some carries this season.
This season, Book’s task is to lead an offense full of new receivers. Chase Claypool, Chris Fink and Cole Kmet are all gone this season. It will be interesting to see how Northwestern graduate transfer Ben Skowronek adjusts at the wide receiver. The receiving corps took a blow when receiver Kevin Austin injured his foot. This receiver group is talented but mostly unproven.
Lawrence Keys, Joe Wilkins and Javon McKinley are among the receivers who will look to get snaps at receiver. With the Austin injury, freshman Jordan Johnson could see some time if there is another injury at the receiver.
The most significant criticism of the Notre Dame offense has been their lack of dynamic perimeter players. They’ve lacked a receiver who could take the top off of a defense. This season that receiver is to be redshirt junior Braden Lenzy.
Both Braden Lenzy and Chris Tyree are x-factors this season. The criticism of the Notre Dame offense is the lack of explosive players. Lenzy and Tyree are the most dangerous players on the offense side of the ball. Tyree is a bit undersized and a freshman, but his versatility should get him on the field.
Lenzy is a projected starter. Tyree is the type of player who can line up anywhere on the field. He is as dangerous catching the football from the slot as he lined up in the backfield.
At tight end, Brock Wright is more of a blocking tight end; Tommy Tremble looks to be the #1 option at tight end. However, the Irish did recruit the top tight end in the country this last cycle. Michael Mayer is a physical as Kyle Rudolph and as polished a route runner as Jeff Samardzija–at the tight-end position.
Mayer could be one of those prospects who just takes a spot because he’s that much better than who is in front of him.
Defensively, the run defense has to get better. Senior Kurt Hanish has to drop the anchor and eat blockers at the nose tackle. The Irish were gashed when you ran straight at them. The defensive line is the weak point of the defense because they did not play well against the run.
It is going to be difficult for any young guys to get snaps defensively. The Irish have enough experienced reserves to fill in for anyone injured.
They do have to replace the pass rush production of Julian Okwrara and Khalid Kareem. Daelin Hayes and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah should help with that. Redshirt senior Hayes has to have a big season for the Irish. The Michigan native was coming off of a season-ending injury in 2019.
Redshirt senior Adetokunbo Ogundeji is the other defensive end. He’s played a lot of ball in the last two years. Both he and Daelin Hayes were part of the defensive line rotation the last couple of seasons; this year, they are at the front of that rotation.
Look for Isaiah Foskey and Justin Ademilola to get lots of snaps in their defensive rotation as well. They will have to battle true freshman Rylie Mills for snaps as well. Mills is game ready and will compete for snaps this season.
Linebacker will be stable if not a bit underrated this season. Drew White leads the linebackers in defensive coordinator Clark Lea’s hybrid 4-3 defense. Sliding in for outgoing 5th-year senior Asmar Bilal is true senior Jordan Genmark-Heath. Arguably the best player on the defense not named Kyle Hamilton, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah returns at the ROV position.
Once again, the secondary is the strength of the team. Kyle Hamilton should be on the Thorpe watch list all season and will compete with Derek Stingley, Jr. for who the best defensive back in the country is. Graduate transfers Nick McCloud and Isaiah Pryor were crucial signings. They give the secondary both depth and experience.
Shaun Crawford coming back for a fifth season, is also a big deal. Despite losing Troy Pride, Jr., Alohi Gilman and Jalen Elliot, having Crawford again with two graduate transfers allows younger guys to develop without being pressed into action before they are ready.
Here is a look at Notre Dame’s 2-deep depth chart.
Offense
Wide Receiver
- Skowronek, Ben GR
- Keys III, Lawrence RS SO
- Lenzy, Braden RS SO
(Reserves)
- Austin Jr., Kevin RS SO
- Wilkins, Joe RS SO
- McKinley, Javon RS SR
Offensive Line
- LT Eichenberg, Liam RS SR
- LG Banks, Aaron RS JR
- OC Patterson, Jarrett RS SO
- RG Kraemer, Tommy RS SR
- RT Hainsey, Robert SR
(Reserves)
- LT Lugg, Josh RS JR
- LG Carroll, Quinn RS
- OC Grunhard, Colin RS JR
- RG Dirksen, John RS SO
- RT Dirksen, John RS SO
Tight End
- Wright, Brock SR
- Tremble, Tommy RS SO
- Mayer, Michael FR
Quarterback
- Book, Ian SR
- Clark, Brendon RS FR
- Pyne, Drew FR
Running Back
- Armstrong, Jafar SR
- Flemister, C’Bo RS SO
- Tyree, Chris FR
Defense
Defensive Line
- DE Hayes, Daelin RS SR
- DT Tagovailoa-Amosa, Myron RS JR
- NT Hinish, Kirk
- DE Ogundeji, Adetokunbo RS SR
(Reserves):
- DE Foskey, Isaiah RS FR
- DT Ademilola, Jayson JR
- NT Lacey, Jacob SO
- DE Ademilola, Justin RS SO
Linebackers
- BUCK Genmark Heath, Jordan SR
- MIKE White, Drew RS JR
- ROV Owusu-Koramoah, Jeremiah RS JR
(Reserves)
- BUCK Lamb, Jack RS SO
- MIKE Bauer, Bo JR
- ROV Moala, Paul JR
Defensive Backs
- CB McCloud, Nick GR
- FS Hamilton, Kyle SO
- SS Griffith, Houston JR
- CB Bracy, TaRiq JR
(Reserves)
- CB Crawford, Shaun RS SR
- FS Brown, DJ RS SO
- SS Pryor, Isaiah GR
- CB Wallace, KJ RS FR
Special Teams
- K Doerer, Jonathan SR
- P Bramblett, Jay SO
- LS Vinson, Michael RS SO
- KR Lenzy, Braden RS SO
- PR Keys III, Lawrence RS SO