I know it’s early but after Brandon Joseph leaves that leaves us 93 players. If we take a D tackle and Sam Hartman that puts us at 95. I wonder who the 10 are that are gonna lose their scholarship or transfer out.
In total I see - 1 at DE, TE, QB, CB and probably -2 at OL, WR, and LB. Numbers will depend on if we find other hidden gems at safety/DT.
There may be a guy or two who ends up being medicaled out.
I think the big surprises will be at LB where they have too many guys. I suspect that 2 of the 3 5th/6th year guys will be gone or at least off scholarship. With all due respect, while they all play hard, not one of them is the kind of play maker(s) we need. Other than perhaps safety, that was the weakest group on the entire team in '22
I was surprised that Salerno is back, unless he goes off scholarship. Powlus may be the other guy to go off scholarship. If they do get Hartman, I wouldn't be surprised to see Angeli leave, unless he is better than we all think. I hope Bucnher doesn't bail because he showed a lot of possibilities to build on in the Gator Bowl.
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Kiser has played hard and well but hard to pinpoint more than 5 impact plays he has made all year.
In fact, it is hard to pinpoint 10 impact plays all three of the starters have made all year. Bracy has more TFL than either Kiser or Liufau, and both part-time players Bothelo and Mills have more sacks and TFL than both Liufau and Kiser.
This team will not field a high caliber level defense until we get LBs who make big plays on an every game basis. About the only LB we might miss next near is Bertrand because he calls the defenses.
did his job, Liufau not so much.
We need impact players at LB. We don't have any. Bertrand is probably functional because he calls the defense, Liufau runs around with his hair on fire, rarely making key plays and Kiser plays more controlled than Liufau but doesn't really achieve any more. All of them are replaceable.
For this defense to be better it needs better players at LB, probably more than any other position. And if you look at the depth chart, it is the most logical place to move on to better players.
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1 QB
1 WR
1 TE probably
1 Guard
1/2 Tackle
1 DE
3/4 DBs
I don't think we have to be down to 85 until fall camp
Both those transfers already happened with Pyne and Berrong. Would be nice if Powlus transferred out, but that probably won't happen until he graduates. I think we lose at least 2 OL and likely a LB.
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And the entire 2021 DB class has played a total of three quarters.
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You can see several positions with log jams.
Link: https://www.onefootdown.com/platform/amp/2021/7/13/22576341/notre-dame-football-recruiting-2023-scholarship-chart-fighting-irish-eligibility-nd-news-sports