With Notre Dame spring practice beginning later this month, CSNChicago.com is previewing each position group's depth chart and 2016 outlook. Today is the last unit, with a safeties group looking to hit the reset button after allowing far too many explosive plays over the last few seasons (each player's 2016 status is listed in parentheses).
1. Avery Sebastian (Sixth year)
2. Nicco Fertitta (Sophomore)
2A. Spencer Perry (Freshman)
1. Max Redfield (Senior)
2. Mykelti Williams (RS Freshman)
2A. Devin Studstill (Freshman)
Injured: Drue Tranquill (Junior)
Overview
Sebastian looks to be in line for a sixth year after fracturing a bone in his foot in 2015’s season opener that wiped out the rest of his season. Redfield returns for a final chance at fulfilling his five-star hype; the California native has struggled to avoid crippling big-play breakdowns over the last two years.
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Behind Redfield and Sebastian will be Tranquill — but not until preseason camp in August, most likely, given the torn ACL he suffered against Georgia Tech last September. Tranquill profiles more as a strong safety, but he’s started over Redfield at free safety in the past, so he’ll likely either be the starter at strong safety or the primary backup at both positions.
Fertitta mostly played special teams last year, while Williams, Perry and Studstill don’t have any college experience. Spring practice will be important for those four players to begin learning the defense with an eye on providing much-needed depth when September rolls around.
Outlook
With Redfield and Elijah Shumate primarily starting in 2014 and 2015, this group was responsible for far too many of the explosive plays that’ve plagued Brian VanGorder’s defense. Those issues have to be fixed for Notre Dame’s defense to play to its potential — this is a group loaded with former blue-chip recruits, after all — but plenty of uncertainty.
The Irish defense has to replace Sheldon Day, Romeo Okwara, Jaylon Smith, Joe Schmidt and KeiVarae Russell from last year’s group. The losses of Day, Schmidt and Smith in particular are important given those players’ collective understanding of the defense and ability to communicate it. Even with those experienced, knowledgable and skilled players, though, this defense gave up 30 plays of 30 or more yards last year, 85th in FBS.
[MORE: Notre Dame spring depth chart preview: Offensive line]
Improved communication and play from Notre Dame’s safeties, then, takes on added importance this year. Without it, this defense could be even more prone to allowing explosive plays than it has been in VanGorder’s two years on campus.
Incoming freshmen
Studstill and Perry enrolled early and should benefit from weight training and spring practice. Four-star safeties D.J. Morgan and Jalen Elliott will enroll this summer, and with so much uncertainty at this position will have an opportunity to push for playing time as soon as they get to campus.