Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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94 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY BRYAN DRISKELL N otre Dame will have a much different look this season at line- backer. Gone is consensus All-American Jaylon Smith and two-time captain Joe Schmidt, a pair that combined for 60 career starts. In fact, Smith had more career starts (39) than the entire returning depth chart (27) at linebacker. Replacing Smith's production, Schmidt's grasp of the defense and the overall experience of the two veterans will be difficult. Smith was a rare talent, and no player on the Irish roster has his athleticism, skill and ex- perience. He was Notre Dame's most dynamic defender the last two sea- sons, but the Irish staff will not ask one player to replace his production. Notre Dame's success at linebacker this season will have to be a result of overall improvements across the board. What it lacks in experience and star power with Smith, it will look to compensate with flexibility, better depth and improved playmaking at the Mike and Sam positions. While there is no five-star talent like Smith returning, the last three recruiting classes have stocked the depth chart with a number of skilled players. The Irish linebacking corps contains three players that were top-100 recruits by at least one service, and all six returning scholar- ship players were graded out as four-star recruits by at least one service. Do not expect the Irish coaching staff to complain about a lack of talent at the position this fall. "We've got good enough players to play that position," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said of his linebackers. "There are good players on the roster to play Sam, Mike and Will. We've got to line them up and we've got to get them in the right position, and it's our job as coaches to coach them to play at the level necessary." Getting the on-field production at linebacker to match the recruit- ing rankings and raw talent is likely the most important task for the Irish defensive staff. Coordinator Brian VanGorder and lineback- ers coach Mike Elston must work to get the inexperienced unit to produce at a level that matches its talent, while limiting the mental mistakes that plagued the defense the last two seasons. "There's no excuse for us not to get those kids to play at a high level," Kelly stated. "We struggled a little bit at the safety position last year, and I think we simplified it the best we could. … The linebacker position requires a little bit more, but I think that we're going to be able to get that done, and I think there's players on this roster come time to play Texas that are going to be able to get the job done for us." READY TO SHINE Notre Dame's young linebackers are poised to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight LINEBACKERS BY THE NUMBERS 4 Scholarship linebackers were available during spring drills this year because of winter shoulder surgeries to junior Greer Martini and sophomore Te'von Coney. Even then, sophomores Asmar Bilal was adjusting from Sam to Will. 7 Interceptions recorded by Notre Dame linebackers the past three seasons (2013‑15). In 2012, Butkus Award winner Manti Te'o totaled seven by himself — after having none his first three years with the Irish. 175.6 Rushing yards per game by Notre Dame opponents in 2015. Since 1998, the only time a Fighting Irish defense surrendered more was when the 3‑9 edition in 2007 allowed 195.4 yards per contest. Senior James Onwualu is the most experienced returning linebacker with 17 starts, 62 stops, eight tackles for loss and three sacks over the past two seasons. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS QUICK FACTS Position Coach: Mike Elston (7th year at Notre Dame, 2nd with linebackers) Returning Starters: SLB James Onwualu (21 career starts, including 4 at WR) Departing Starters: WLB Jaylon Smith (39) and MLB Joe Schmidt (21) Projected New Starters: MLB Nyles Morgan (4) and WLB Te'von Coney Top Reserves: SLB Greer Martini (6) and WLB Asmar Bilal Waiting His Turn: MLB Josh Barajas Newcomers: MLB Jonathan Jones and WLB Jamir Jones Moved In: None Other Departures: MLB Jarrett Grace (3) FYI: Phil Steele's 2016 College Football Preview has Notre Dame's linebackers ranked 45th nationally, the lowest of any position group for the Irish … Phil Steele's also ranks Morgan as the No. 37 inside linebacker in the country … Notre Dame has two of the last four Butkus Award winners — Jaylon Smith (2015) and Manti Te'o (2012) — an honor presented annually since 1985 to the nation's top linebacker … A linebacker has paced Notre Dame in tackles all six of Brian Kelly's six seasons, with the 133 by Te'o in 2010, Kelly's debut year, the most; safety or lineman led the Irish in tackles from 2007‑09 … Sophomore walk‑on Devyn Spruell is the son of 1987 Irish co‑captain Byron Spruell.