Insider: Projecting Notre Dame football's 2018 depth chart

Laken Litman | IndyStar

Show Caption Hide Caption Ranking Notre Dame football's 2018 opponents IndyStar Notre Dame Insider Laken Litman ranks the Irish's 2018 schedule from easiest to toughest.

SOUTH BEND – It’s never too early for a depth chart, especially in the summer when everyone is counting down to college football season. Notre Dame football is back on campus, the freshman class has officially arrived in South Bend, and strength coach Matt Balis is in the thick of conducting his second summer conditioning program.

There are 10 Saturdays left until Notre Dame revives its rivalry with Michigan in the season opener. When you think about it, that’s not much time at all for players to earn their spots. With that, here’s a projection of who will be playing where in 2018.

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Offense

Quarterback

Brandon Wimbush, Ian Book, Avery Davis, Phil Jurkovec

It was pretty clear after the spring game Wimbush had regained control of the starting role after splitting reps with Book all spring. Book replaced Wimbush early in the Citrus Bowl and led Notre Dame to a thrilling 21-17 win over LSU. Wimbush is earnestly working on his delivery, accuracy and mechanics — areas that ailed him in the passing game last season — in order to be better this fall. The intriguing part of this position is freshman Jurkovec, who just got on campus. Brian Kelly said on signing day he wants the four-star prospect to push Wimbush. Even if he's third-string this year, Jurkovec could be an example of how Notre Dame utilizes the NCAA’s new redshirt rule.

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Offensive line

LT: Liam Eichenberg, Aaron Banks, Jarrett Patterson

LG: Alex Bars, Josh Lugg, Trevor Ruhland

C: Sam Mustipher, Trevor Ruhland, Colin Grunhard

RG: Tommy Kraemer, Dillan Gibbons

RT: Robert Hainsey, Tommy Kraemer, Cole Mabry

Last year Notre Dame’s offensive line was recognized as the nation’s best, helping the running game rack up more than 269 yards per game and rank seventh-best in the country. In 2018, the Irish lose the core of their front five with left tackle Mike McGlinchey and left guard Quenton Nelson becoming the first two Notre Dame offensive linemen to ever be drafted in the top 10 of the NFL draft. Notre Dame also saw longtime offensive line coach Harry Hiestand move on to the Chicago Bears. But new coach Jeff Quinn has a surplus of talent, strength and depth to work with, despite this group only having a combined 65 starts.

Running back

Dexter Williams, Tony Jones Jr., Jafar Armstrong, Jahmir Smith

Williams and Jones Jr. are expected to run the RB room this year since Josh Adams decided to leave school with one year of eligibility remaining. However, Williams reportedly could miss a couple games at the beginning of the season due to undisclosed disciplinary reasons. This would be a major hit to start the season, as Jones is the only other running back with experience since Deon McIntosh and C.J. Holmes were dismissed from the program at the end of last season. Other guys to keep eyes on are Armstrong and Avery Davis, who are cross-training at the position, and Smith, a freshman.

Wide receiver

Outside receiver: Miles Boykin, Javon McKinley, Micah Jones

Slot: Chris Finke, Jafar Armstrong

Outside receiver: Chase Claypool, Michael Young, Kevin Austin

Boykin has been at the top of the depth chart ever since he hauled in a dazzling one-handed game-winning touchdown in Notre Dame’s bowl game. He showed consistent hands during spring ball and Brian Kelly is looking for him to ascend this season. Claypool, who missed the Citrus Bowl with an injured shoulder, Finke, Young and McKinley will all push each other this summer and into fall camp.

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Tight end

Alize Mack, Cole Kmet, Nic Weishar, Brock Wright

Mack is still fresh off a suspension during the Citrus Bowl and an unproductive ending to the 2017 season, but Brian Kelly and offensive coordinator Chip Long are optimistic about the senior. In order to get playing time, however, he’ll have to fend off youngsters Kmet and Wright. Kmet, a two-sport athlete who Kelly spent time gushing to the media over this spring, could realistically be in line for more playing time.

Defense

Defensive line

Defensive End: Daelin Hayes, Julian Okwara, Jamir Jones

Tackle: Jerry Tillery, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Jayson Ademilola

Nose: Jonathan Bonner, Kurt Hinish, Micah Dew-Treadway, Darnell Ewell

Defensive End: Khalid Kareem, Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Justin Ademilola

A position that could affect this line the most — in a positive way — is Tillery’s shift from nose tackle to the 3-technique. This alignment works for Tillery because it gives him more one-on-one matchups and opportunities to be a disruptive pass rusher. Additionally, during the spring, first-year defensive coordinator Clark Lea gave some insight on the line, saying this group is the “most steady” position he has because of its depth and experience in Year 2 of a new defense: “They’re more physical in the middle, more dynamic on the edges.”

Linebacker

Middle: Te’von Coney, Jonathan Jones, Jack Lamb

Weakside: Drue Tranquill, Jordan Genmark-Heath, D.J. Morgan

Rover: Asmar Bilal, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Shayne Simon, Isaiah Robertson

Notre Dame had to be incredibly thankful with Coney and Tranquill announced they’d be staying one more year before turning pro. Otherwise, what would this position look like? It was already a depleted with the departures of Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini, so Brian Kelly and Clark Lea moved Tranquill from rover to linebacker permanently, and Genmark-Heath and Robertson in from defensive back. The mixing and matching will likely continue through the summer and into fall camp to create more depth.

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Cornerback

Left: Julian Love, Donte Vaughn, Noah Boykin

Right: Shaun Crawford, Troy Pride Jr., Tariq Bracy

It might get lost behind Love’s knack for breaking up passes (20 last season) or returning interceptions for touchdowns (two), but Crawford is projected to be better than he’s ever been in 2018. After coming back from two devastating injuries, this spring is the first time since high school the senior has been pain free. He doesn’t need to show up 90 minutes early to practice to get loose and stretch like he did last year. Even when he did that, Crawford admitted he never felt 100 percent. He does now, and coaches are noticing. Brian Kelly said this spring Crawford now has a “suddenness” to him, and cornerbacks coach Todd Lyght said he’s one of Notre Dame’s “smartest defenders.” Watch for him to be even more of a playmaker.

Safety

Free safety: Alohi Gilman, Nick Coleman, Houston Griffith

Strong safety: Jalen Elliott, Devin Studstill, Derrik Allen

Last season, Notre Dame safeties mysteriously didn’t record a single interception for the first time since Ara Parseghian’s first season in 1964. New safeties coach Terry Joseph has vowed to change that and is working with players on-field and body position. One player who will likely have multiple picks this fall is Navy transfer Gilman. He couldn’t play last year due to NCAA transfer rules, but has already shot to the top of the depth chart after working on scout team in 2017 and then finally competing in practices this spring. As a freshman at Navy in 2016, Gilman recorded 76 tackles (second-most on the team), including 12 in a win over Notre Dame.

Specialists

K: Justin Yoon, Jonathan Doerer

P: Tyler Newsome, Jeff Riney

Fifth-year senior Newsome was voted captain by his teammates, which basically tells you everything you need to know about the Irish punter. He holds players accountable, leads by example, is active on campus — he was the only football player at the Leprechaun mascot tryouts — and is overall one of everybody’s favorite teammates. Last season he had 63 punts at an average of 43.6 yards per punt with the longest one going 59 yards. Notre Dame averaged a field position swing of 37.9 yards. As far as place-kicking, senior Yoon is a reliable 42 of 52 in his career for field goal attempts and didn’t miss any extra points last season.

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Follow IndyStar Notre Dame Insider Laken Litman on Twitter and Instagram: @lakenlitman.