It may seem like a lifetime ago, but Notre Dame’s defense faces a pretty extraordinary task: replacing one of college football’s most decorated defensive players ever. Four years after landing Manti Te’o, a rare player who surpasses the recruiting hype that comes along with a five-star tag, the Irish coaching staff found another elite talent at the position. And they didn’t have to fly to Hawaii to land him.
In Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame has one of the most impressive athletes in the country, and a potential elite linebacker to replace Te’o on the mantlepiece. A four-time state champion in high school, Smith’s No. 9 jersey was retired by Bishop Luers high school. It’s been given to Smith by All-American nose tackle Louis Nix, giving you an idea of just how respected a talent like Smith is, even before strapping on the pads.
Finding and landing talent at linebacker -- both inside and out -- was key in this recruiting cycle. Headlined by Smith, the Irish landing three productive players, yet also had a few near misses that give you an idea of how wide the net was spread. Alex Anzalone waited until enrollment day to make the decision to attend Florida, even though he was openly committed to the Irish just days earlier at the Under Armour All-American game. Danny Mattingly, a lanky outside linebacker, was committed to Notre Dame for most of the recruiting cycle until he found a better fit closer to home at Oregon. And Don Bosco Prep linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad looked like an Irish lock until January, when he committed to Miami, with reports of academic deficiencies the only thing keeping Notre Dame and the outside linebacker apart.
Let’s take a look at the depth at linebacker, starting with a look back at the recruiting classes that built the position group.
2009
Carlo Calabrese -- Likely returning for a fifth year.
Dan Fox -- Likely returning for a fifth year.
Manti Te’o -- Four year starter at inside linebacker. Consensus All-American.
2010
Derek Roback -- Athlete who profiled as a linebacker. Transferred to Ohio to play QB. Now a TE.
Danny Spond -- High school quarterback converted to linebacker. Started 2012 as Dog linebacker.
Justin Utupo -- Projected by previous staff as DT. Now reserve linebacker and defensive end.
Kendall Moore -- Reserve inside linebacker. Has fifth-year eligibility. Run-first defender.
Prince Shembo -- Returning Cat linebacker. Started in 2011, 2012.
2011
Ben Councell -- Prototype Dog linebacker. Lost starting job after Spond returned healthy.
Anthony Rabasa -- High school DE, can play inside and outside for Irish linebackers.
Ishaq Williams -- Elite recruit finding way as DE/OLB Cat linebacker. Key cog for 2013.
Jarrett Grace -- Inside backer that’ll likely move to forefront with Te’o’s departure.
2012
Romeo Okwara -- Young athlete that was too good to keep of the field as 17-yr-old freshman.
2013
Michael Deeb -- Prototype inside linebacker. Physically mature, likely special teams contributor.
Doug Randolph -- Has positional flexibility. Mature player, better athlete than most think.
Jaylon Smith -- Needs to gain weight, but jack-of-all trades. Will see the field immediately.
Way too early spring projection
Even if the Irish signed 25 recruits, it was hard to imagine a world where Dan Fox and Carlo Calabrese didn’t return for a fifth season. There just isn’t enough depth behind them to have inside linebackers learning on the fly. While Brian Kelly tagged the fifth-year duo and Jarrett Grace as the three guys battling for two jobs, expect to hear from Kendall Moore, who has the physicality to play, but needs to round out his game.
The strength of this position grouping is on the edge, and it’ll be an interesting spring to watch the outside linebacker rotation develop. The national championship game showed some of Danny Spond’s limitations, and Ben Councell has the size and strength necessary to compete. While Prince Shembo is entrenched, this is a huge offseason for Ishaq Williams, who needs to make the leap from just a guy with potential to a front-line player. And Romeo Okwara will likely serve notice that he demands some playing time as well.
Shaking up that position this summer with be Smith, who is too good of an athlete not to find the field early and often, if only as a big-play specialist. While it appears there might be too many bodies for everyone to find a spot, Bob Diaco’s defense relies on versatility, and developing a rotation can only help.