2013 Fall Camp Depth Chart: Defense

Yesterday we published a look at the Irish depth chart on offense and now we'll take a look at the other side of the ball. As a reminder the team is currently training at Shilo Park in Marion, Indiana before returning to Notre Dame on Friday.

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
7	Stephon Tuitt	JR	6-6.5/322	Defensive End
53	Justin Utupo	SR	6-0.5/290	Defensive End
94	Jarron Jones	SO	6-5.5/305	Defensive End
89	Jacob Matuska	FR	6-4.5/275	Defensive End

Vanderdoes had a change of heart, didn't want to take a summer class, followed his personal trainer to UCLA his grandma get sick and has been removed as has Chase Hounshell after another shoulder surgery which will keep him out for all of 2013.

I'm not really paying much attention to weak versus strong-side positions here and Utupo, Jones, and Matuska have all been moved primarily to balance the numbers with an eye toward getting on the field first. Can Jones move up during camp?

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
1	Louis Nix	SR	6-2.5/357	Nose Guard
96	Kona Schwenke	SR	6-3.5/303	Nose Guard
92	Tyler Stockton	GR	5-11/284	Nose Guard

Back in February it looked like Stockton would be moving on from the program but he's back for a fifth season and could be looking at some playing time so he's been added back.

We may have Nix' most accurate weight to date.

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
91	Sheldon Day	SO	6-2/290	Defensive End
69	Tony Springmann	JR	6-5.5/296	Defensive End
90	Isaac Rochell	FR	6-3.5/280	Defensive End

Springmann has dropped a few more pounds and moved from nose guard to defensive end. I also flip flopped freshman Isaac Rochell to this side where he might have a better chance of seeing the field this fall coming off an impressive summer workout.

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
55	Prince Shembo	SR	6-1.5/258	Cat Linebacker
11	Ishaq Williams	JR	6-5.5/261	Cat Linebacker
45	Romeo Okwara	SO	6-4/258	Cat Linebacker

No major changes here although Shembo and Williams put on a little bit of weight. The young Okwara did better than that and has packed on nearly 20 pounds since the spring.

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
48	Dan Fox	GR	6-3/245	Will Linebacker
44	Carlo Calabrese	GR	6-1/250	Will Linebacker
56	Anthony Rabasa	JR	6-2.5/243	Will Linebacker
42	Michael Deeb	FR	6-2/242	Will Linebacker

Although Rabasa is still listed as an outside linebacker on the official roster he's been moved here from Cat linebacker. Who knows if this is the correct move (he's been wandering all over the place for a couple seasons) but he physically fits the profile at Will right now.

No surprise with Deeb coming into his first camp at near perfect size for this position.

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
59	Jarrett Grace	JR	6-2.5/253	Mike Linebacker
8	Kendall Moore	SR	6-1/251	Mike Linebacker
19	Doug Randolph	FR	6-2/233	Mike Linebacker

Grace has packed on over 10 pounds and Moore just a little less to bring the two-deep players right to the targeted 250 range the coaches like to have at this position.

Randolph might have long-term plans elsewhere but he fits the profile pretty well in the middle for now and the depth is needed for 2013.

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
13	Danny Spond	SR	6-1.5/248	Dog Linebacker
30	Ben Councell	JR	6-4.5/254	Dog Linebacker
9	Jaylon Smith	FR	6-2.5/230	Dog Linebacker

Back in February I had Smith projected on the two-deep but I'll leave him behind Councell for now as camp opens. Councell's done all he can physically to get on the field by gaining another 14 pounds since the spring and roughly 30 pounds since he's arrived at Notre Dame.

Depending on the website Jaylon Smith has packed on anywhere from 10 to 18 pounds which should alleviate some concerns about the talented freshman---if you had any.

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
6	KeiVarae Russell	SO	5-11/190	Cornerback
23	Lo Wood	SR	5-10.5/194	Cornerback
24	Josh Atkinson	JR	5-11.5/197	Cornerback
36	Devin Butler	FR	6-1/181	Cornerback

Nothing has changed at this corner spot. Russell gained 8 pounds, Wood is down 1 pound, and Atkinson gained a healthy 12 pounds. If Butler's height is accurate that's really good size for a freshman.

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
41	Matthias Farley	JR	5-11/204	Free Safety
10	Max Redfield	FR	6-1/194	Free Safety
4	Eilar Hardy	JR	5-11.5/201	Free Safety
16	Chris Badger	SO	5-11.5/197	Free Safety

I've placed incoming 5-star freshman Max Redfield in the two-deep but he could be moved to a couple other positions during camp. Curiously, he's not as big as previously thought---still looks like a perfect nickel corner to me.

It's a nice positive to see Hardy about 25 pounds heavier than his listed weight from his freshman season. I moved Badger here to balance the numbers at safety and also because he's the smallest of the remaining backups.

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
22	Elijah Shumate	SO	6-0/213	Strong Safety
29	Nicky Baratti	SO	6-1/206	Strong Safety
28	Austin Collinsworth	SR	6-1/205	Strong Safety
31	John Turner	SO	6-0.5/212	Strong Safety

Back in February I had a nickel corner spot with Elijah Shumate still starting there as he did in 2012. After starting at strong safety for all of spring I've moved Shumate here with fellow sophomore Nicky Baratti challenging him for a starting position.

It'll be interesting to see what the staff does with Austin Collinsworth as he is coming back from an injury. He appeared in line for a lot of playing time in 2012 before his shoulder injury. Also interesting that John Turner is now listed an inch and a half shorter than in the spring.

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
2	Bennett Jackson	SR	6-0/195	Cornerback
21	Jalen Brown	JR	6-1/202	Cornerback
3	Cole Luke	FR	5-11/184	Cornerback
26	Rashad Kinlaw	FR	5-11/182	Cornerback

Jackson is back for his final year of eligibility and has put on 10 pounds. Jalen Brown played well in very limited reps last season and continues to have great size for a corner. The two new freshmen have decent size, although Kinlaw is roughly 3 inches shorter than some of the recruiting sites listed him at last year.

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
27	Kyle Brindza	JR	6-1/236	Placekicker
40	Nick Tausch	GR	6-0/195	Placekicker

Eligibility Remaining
No.	Player	Year	Ht/Wt.	Position	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
27	Kyle Brindza	JR	6-1/236	Punter
98	Alex Wulfeck	GR	5-7/154	Punter

For now Brindza holds down both kicking roles but that could change in a couple weeks. Wake Forest transfer Alex Wulfeck is really tiny!