Top three storylines for the Notre Dame defense after fall camp

Notre Dame exits fall camp and enters game week having learned much about its defense. However, a few questions still remain.

These are the top three storylines surrounding the Irish defense with one week until kickoff.

3. The Notre Dame cornerback room is loaded

Absolutely, positively, loaded. Inside and outside, starters and backups.

The most well-known name is sophomore Benjamin Morrison, and for good reason. He looks as good as if not better than he did on tape as a freshman, which is a terrifying thought for opposing quarterbacks. Graduate student Cam Hart, recently elected captain, is healthy after an injury scare midway through camp and appears to be ready for the season.

Behind Hart and Morrison, sophomore Jaden Mickey had a great camp. Notre Dame knew he would be the third corner heading into August, but it was unsure who would step up as No. 4. 

Freshman Christian Gray answered that question quickly. Reporters saw Gray battle step-for-step with freshman receiver Rico Flores Jr. and even starters Tobias Merriweather and Jayden Thomas. The St. Louis De Smet graduate has won more times than he’s lost, securing a spot on the two-deep and a clear path to a starting job by Year 3.

“Christian has taken great strides since spring,” cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens said. “Excited about where he’s at and continuing to grow. He’s intentional every day about what he does.”

In the slot, Notre Dame is excited about what Oklahoma State graduate transfer Thomas Harper and senior Clarence Lewis can do as a tandem. Lewis can play outside as well if injuries hit the top four.

Graduate quarterback Sam Hartman, one of the most productive deep-ball passers in college football, tested each of these corners downfield throughout camp. They forced incompletions more times than not.

2. How involved do the younger linebackers get?

Graduate students JD Bertrand, Marist Liufau and Jack Kiser will be the “starters.” That word is in quotes because Notre Dame will be a nickel-based, two-linebacker defense more times than not, but the graduates will play the majority of the snaps and the Irish feel good about that.

Behind them, though, Notre Dame has loved what it’s seen from sophomore Jaylen Sneed and freshmen Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry. 

“It’s easy to just throw Marist, Kiser and JD in there and feel really good about calling all these different defenses,” Freeman said at the beginning of fall camp. “But we’re gonna have to count on Sneed, we’re gonna have to count on [sophomore LB Nolan] Ziegler, we’ll count on a couple of those young guys who just got here in January.”

Freeman was talking about counting on them in future years, but based on their fall camp performances, it’s worth wondering if the Irish rotate their ‘backers more than they did this past season.

Sneed, defensive coordinator Al Golden confirmed, will play a lot, specifically on third downs as a versatile pass rusher. Ausberry and Bowen will help on special teams, ST coordinator Marty Biagi said, but they’ve both looked like guys who can help the defense right away as well.

Ziegler missed much of camp with an undisclosed personal issue, and his status remains both up in the air and a private matter. Golden made it clear in early July, though, that if he’s available, he’ll rotate in, too. 

1. Cautious optimism surrounds the Notre Dame defensive line

Senior defensive tackle Rylie Mills looks like a game-wrecker at the three-technique defensive tackle position. It’s not the first time Mills has generated buzz in fall camp, but based on discussions with others on the Notre Dame beat, this time feels different. 

That being said, some still take an “I’ll believe it when I see it” mindset when it comes to Mills.

Senior Vyper Jordan Botelho and sophomore Vyper Joshua Burnham have shown flashes of brilliance as pass rushers, but their fall camp highlights have largely come when facing the second-team offensive tackles.

Those are just three examples, but this is a common theme along the defensive line two-deep. Almost everyone has shown signs that they’re going to break out this season, but there’s always a “but” afterward. Junior DT Jason Onye having played only eight career snaps and graduate defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste continuing to split first-team reps with graduate DE Nana Osafo-Mensah represent two more.

There are reasons to be optimistic about the Notre Dame defensive line. Myself, I lean toward buying its potential, particularly with Mills. But it’s still cautious optimism.

For now.

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