The fact that Chase Hounshell is still a part of Notre Dame’s football program is noteworthy. After shoulder surgeries essentially derailed the defensive lineman’s career, Hounshell was given the opportunity to reinvent himself this spring, serving as a tight end when many expected him to be done with the program.
That opportunity came after a one-on-one with head coach Brian Kelly, where Hounshell sold Kelly on giving him a chance to help the program in any way he could. It’s clear that won’t be along the defensive line any longer, though a blocking tight end looks like a nice fit.
While scholarship numbers and the Irish’s path to 85 scholarships make his inclusion on the roster one that’s far from straightforward, Hounshell has earned a degree and is still playing football—a victory even if he never sees the field again.
Let’s look closer at Chase Hounsell.
CHASE HOUNSHELL
6'4.5", 255 lbs.
Grad Student, No. 18, TE
RECRUITING PROFILE
Committed to Urban Meyer until the coach’s “retirement,” opening the door for a pledge to Notre Dame. Hounshell was a three-star prospect, though had some intriguing offers as a 3-4 defensive end with a nice motor.
PLAYING CAREER
Freshman Season (2011): Played in seven games along the defensive line, making four tackles—all against Air Force.
Sophomore Season (2012): Played in the season opener before injuring his shoulder and missing the rest of the season.
Junior Season (2013): Another should injury cost Hounshell the season. Did not see action.
Senior Season (2014): Played in three games (Rice, Louisville and USC), moving into the rotation at defensive line after injuries to Sheldon Day and Jarron Jones. Made two tackles against the Trojans, his total for the season.
WHAT WE SAID LAST YEAR
The bonus Notre Dame got out of Hounshell came after the depth chart was basically nuked. So while he made it through an entire season healthy, he wasn’t a viable option on the field.At this point, anything the Irish get out of Hounshell should be considered a bonus. Every live rep he takes will give Sheldon Day a much needed breather and help the Irish play with some mature bodies at the point of attack. Hounshell’s reputation as a workout warrior will be of great help — and if he’s able to find a spot in the Irish rotation, it’ll be music to the ears of Kelly, Brian VanGorder and line coach Mike Elston.
Still, it’s hard not to wonder how his shoulder will hold up in the trenches. His last surgery required more than just a simple labrum repair, and shoulder reconstruction had both Kelly and Hounshell wondering if it was time to retire from the game. He didn’t, and it’s allowed him to come into his senior season and be ready to contribute. But until he proves he can make it through a season, it’s hard not to see it as a ticking bomb.
Hounshell is the type of player you should root for. Even if he’s unable to produce at the highest of levels, getting him back on the field and healthy is only fair after spending the past two years watching.
FUTURE POTENTIAL
That Hounshell is trying to reboot his career as a tight end gives you an idea that the upside just wasn’t there as a 271-pound defensive tackle with a really bad shoulder. So while you’ve got to give him credit for trying to find a way to help the team, it’s hard to say there’s much of a shot for Hounshell to contribute as anything more than an extra blocking tight end, and if he does that, it’d be a surprise (to me).
But after seeming like a lost scholarship, something awoke it Hounshell’s head. So after it looked like shoulder injuries all but wrecked his career, that Hounshell was able to stay in this program is a plus. And if Hounshell is able to get anything out of this season—and he’ll be an ideal sixth-year candidate, too—then there might be a place for him somewhere else, even if it isn’t Notre Dame.
CRYSTAL BALL
If we’re looking at Notre Dame’s 85 scholarships, you’ve got to think that Hounshell is currently holding the final golden ticket. So if the Irish staff get good news on Ishaq Williams from the NCAA, it’ll be interesting to see if there’s still room for Hounshell as one of the 85 scholarship athletes playing for free.
Hounshell’s inclusion on the spring roster was telling. So was Kelly’s candor, talking about the leap of faith both took as Hounshell committed to learning a new position with no promise of a future there.
“Nothing has been decided. He’s willing to go through spring and give it a shot and we’ll see where it goes from there,” Kelly said. “He’s been a great teammate, great in the locker room. The guys really enjoy having him. We like his team-first mentality, so we’re going to give him a chance to earn a roster spot playing tight end.”
If you’d have told me last August that Hounshell was still on this team, I’d have told you that you were crazy. But after major shoulder surgeries and some difficult rehabilitations, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised.
THE 2015 IRISH A-to-Z
Josh Adams, RB
Josh Barajas, OLB
Nicky Baratti, S
Alex Bars, OL
Asmar Bilal, OLB
Hunter Bivin, OL
Grant Blankenship, DE
Jonathan Bonner, DE
Miles Boykin, WR
Justin Brent, WR
Greg Bryant, RB
Devin Butler, CB
Jimmy Byrne, OL
Daniel Cage, DL
Amir Carlisle, RB
Nick Coleman, DB
Te’von Coney, LB
Shaun Crawford, DB
Scott Daly, LS
Sheldon Day, DL
Michael Deeb, LB
Micah Dew-Treadway, DL
Steve Elmer, RG
Matthias Farley, DB
Nicco Fertitta, DB
Tarean Folston, RB
Will Fuller, WR
Jarrett Grace, LB
Jalen Guyton, WR
Mark Harrell, OL
Jay Hayes, DL
Mike Heuerman, TE
Kolin Hill, DE
Tristen Hoge, C
Corey Holmes, WR