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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are set to play their 7th game of the season this weekend against the Trojans of Southern California. Let's take a look at the depth chart ahead of the battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh.
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Left guard Alex Bars picked up his first career start last week against Navy as Quenton Nelson recovered from an ankle sprain suffered in the Clemson game. Nelson is a game time decision and did receive some 1st-team reps in practice this week. We'll project Bars to start again due to him playing well enough last week and trying to give Nelson some more rest through the bye week.
Max Redfield played 11 snaps against Navy before being benched in favor Matthias Farley. The junior from California is expected to regain his starting spot against USC.
Chase Hounshell played more last week than during any other game this season--by quite a lot. Notre Dame has fully embraced playing 4 tight ends in certain situations with Weishar now leading the pack in playing time.
He's been the up-man for a few games so we've placed Josh Adams as the backup kick returner.
Brian Kelly talked this week about not wanting to mention players and their redshirts because he likes to keep them hungry and ready in case of injuries. In the case of true freshmen we're still looking at WR Jalen Guyton, WR Miles Boykin, C Tristen Hoge, OG Trevor Ruhland, DT Brandon Tiassum, DT Elijah Taylor, DT Micah Dew-Treadway, LB Josh Barajas, LB Asmar Bilal, CB Ashton White, and S Mykelti Williams as those who are healthy and could play this season.
Running back Justin Brent and Jay Hayes remain the two non-freshmen who are still preserving their redshirts.
Safety John Turner has already used his redshirt back in 2012 but has yet to take a snap this season. I would imagine he'll be transferring to another school for his graduate season.
There was some thought that DE Grant Blankenship could be given a redshirt this season. So far in 2015 he's played 17 snaps all against UMass but otherwise hasn't played.