Listed Measurements: 6-foot-4, 267 pounds
2017-18 year, eligibility: Sophomore with three years of eligibility remaining including 2017
Depth chart: Kareem currently lines up at defensive end behind seniors Jay Hayes and Andrew Trumbetti. It is conceivable he switches sides to the boundary half of the field where he would contend with classmates Daelin Hayes, Julian Okwara and Ade Ogundeji. Either way, playing time could be tough to come by this fall for Kareem.
Recruiting: A consensus four-star prospect, Kareem first committed to Michigan State before flipping to Alabama. All reports indicate both Kareem and Alabama wanted to go separate ways, leading the No. 237 prospect in the country, per rivals.com, to enroll early at Notre Dame. The No. 8 recruit in Michigan and No. 17 defensive end in the country, he also held offers from Ohio State and Stanford.
CAREER TO DATE
In a surprise to some, Kareem saw action in four games last season, recording no statistics. Irish coach Brian Kelly has pointed out before it is rare for premier defensive linemen to stay for a fifth year in college, and if he views Kareem’s future with those possibilities in mind, it is possible that was part of the logic in playing Kareem against Nevada, Duke, Syracuse and Virginia Tech.
QUOTE(S)
Kelly specifically praised Kareem twice in April as spring practice neared its conclusion. Neither acknowledgement was lengthy, but perhaps the brevity speaks to the sincerity.
“Khalid Kareem has done some nice things for us,” Kelly said before adding two weeks later, “Khalid Kareem has gotten better each and every day he’s been out there.”
WHAT KEITH ARNOLD PROJECTED A YEAR AGO
“I think Kareem sees the field this year, even if it’s just in a supporting role. He could be some much-needed depth behind Isaac Rochell, who could be used in multiple positions to help maximize his abilities.
“There is so much to like about Kareem’s skill-set and his opportunity once Rochell graduates. If he continues to grow he can slide inside and provide a havoc-wreakor in the trenches. If he can keep his speed, he’s got a chance to be a starter as a sophomore when Rochell moves on to the NFL.
“Maybe it’s because he enrolled early or because his recruitment had some roller coaster elements. But for all the groaning and grumbling about a lack of defensive ends in recruiting, if all goes according to plan the Irish could’ve landed two elite starters at defensive end for multiple seasons (out of the state of Michigan, no less) with Kareem and Daelin Hayes.”
2017 OUTLOOK
For this exercise, let’s presume Kareem does not preserve a year of eligibility this season to compensate for the somewhat unnecessary playing time last year. It is a possibility, though a slim one at that.
The reason it is a possibility is it is hard to project where Kareem finds playing time this fall. Trumbetti has shown the ability to contribute when healthy, and Jay Hayes impressed this spring. Switching to compete with Daelin Hayes, Okwara and Ogundeji may remove the upperclassmen’s experience to compete with, but those three all present large amounts of potential. Someone will see a slim number of snaps this fall, and Kareem seems most likely to suffer that fate at this point.
The fact of the matter, though, is the Notre Dame defensive line needs playmakers. If Kareem forces the issue, defensive coordinator Mike Elko and defensive line coach Mike Elston will find him playing time, even if it means moving Kareem inside to supplement the shallow depths at tackle. That may be outside the box, but the Irish interior may need some innovative thinking.
DOWN THE ROAD
Jay Hayes has another year of eligibility after 2017, but Trumbetti will be done after this season. Kareem will have his chance, especially with the incoming freshman class not providing ready competition at end. By no means is that meant to diminish Jonathan MacCollister — only intending to say he may need some time.
Kareem was a heralded recruit. A season or two spent largely on the sidelines is no reason to dismiss those projections.
2017’s Notre Dame 99-to-2
Friday at 4: Goodbye A-to-Z, hello 99-to-2 (May 12)
No. 99: Jerry Tillery, defensive tackle
No. 98: Andrew Trumbetti, defensive end
No. 97: Micah Dew-Treadway, defensive tackle
No. 96: Pete Mokwuah, defensive tackle
No. 95 (theoretically): Darnell Ewell, defensive tackle
No. 94 (theoretically): Kurt Hinish, defensive tackle
No. 93: Jay Hayes, defensive end
No. 92 (theoretically): Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, defensive tackle
No. 91: Ade Ogundeji, defensive end
No. 90 (theoretically): Cole Kmet, tight end
No. 89: Brock Wright, tight end
No. 88: Javon McKinley, receiver
No. 87 (theoretically): Jafar Armstrong, receiver
No. 86: Alizé Mack, tight end
No. 85: Tyler Newsome, punter
No. 84 (theoretically): Michael Young, receiver
No. 83: Chase Claypool, receiver
No. 82: Nic Weishar, tight end
No. 81: Miles Boykin, receiver
No. 80: Durham Smythe, tight end
No. 78: Tommy Kraemer, right tackle
No. 77: Brandon Tiassum, defensive tackle
No. 75: Daniel Cage, defensive tackle
No. 74: Liam Eichenberg, right tackle
No. 73: (theoretically) Josh Lugg, offensive tackle
No. 72: Robert Hainsey, offensive tackle
No. 71: Alex Bars, offensive lineman
No. 70: Hunter Bivin, offensive lineman
No. 69: Aaron Banks, offensive lineman
No. 68: Mike McGlinchey, left tackle
No. 67: Jimmy Byrne, offensive lineman
No. 65: (theoretically) Dillan Gibbons, offensive lineman
No. 58: Elijah Taylor, defensive tackle
No. 57: Trevor Ruhland, offensive lineman
No. 56: Quenton Nelson, left guard
No. 55: Jonathan Bonner, defensive lineman
No. 54: John Shannon, long snapper
No. 53: Sam Mustipher, center
TRANSFERS
No. 66: Tristen Hoge, offensive lineman, transfers to BYU
No. 50: Parker Boudreaux, offensive lineman
No. 30: Josh Barajas, linebacker, to transfer to Illinois State
INJURIES
No. 13: Tyler Luatua, tight end, career ended by medical hardship