The depth chart for Notre Dame football could use a few adjustments.
The depth chart for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team has remained pretty steady since the first couple weeks of the season. As the Irish get set to take on the Miami Hurricanes, I have to ask… should it? Should the depth chart get shook up a bit on a 2-5 team that’s struggling to get a bowl bid at the very least?
It should, but it doesn’t have to be a huge move. There is a subtle change that can and should be made, and its name is Chase Claypool.
| Position | 1st Team | 2nd Team (& OR) |
| Quarterback | DeShone Kizer | Malik Zaire |
| Running Back | Josh Adams | Tarean Folston OR Dexter Williams |
| W Receiver | Equanimeous St. Brown | Miles Boykin OR Chase Claypool |
| X Receiver | Torii Hunter Jr. | Kevin Stepherson |
| Z Receiver | CJ Sanders | Corey Holmes OR Chris Finke |
| Tight End | Durham Smythe | Nic Weishar |
| Left Tackle | Mike McGlinchey | Hunter Bivin |
| Left Guard | Quenton Nelson | Trevor Ruhland |
| Center | Sam Mustipher | Mark Harrell |
| Right Guard | Colin McGovern | Tristan Hoge |
| Right Tackle | Alex Bars | Tommy Kraemer |
| WDE | Andrew Trumbetti | Jay Hayes OR Daelin Hayes |
| Defensive Tackle | Jerry Tillery | Elijah Taylor |
| Nose Guard | Jarron Jones | Daniel cage OR Pete Mokwah |
| SDE | Isaac Rochell | Jonathon Bonner |
| WILL Linebacker | Te’von Coney | Asmar Bilal |
| MIKE Linebacker | Nyles Morgan | Geer Martini |
| SAM Linebacker | James Onwualu | Jamir Jones |
| Left Cornerback | Julian Love | Donte Vaughn |
| Strong Safety | Drue Tranquill | Jalen Elliott |
| Free Safety | Devin Studstill | Nicco Fertitta |
| Right Cornerback | Cole Luke | Troy Pride |
| Place Kicker | Justin Yoon | Tyler Newsome |
| Kickoffs | Tyler Newsome | Justin Yoon |
| Punter | Tyler Newsome | Jeff Riney |
| Long Snapper | Scott Daly | John Shannon |
| Holder | Montgomery VanGorder | DeShone Kizer |
| Punt Return | CJ Sanders | Chris Finke |
| Kickoff Return | CJ Sanders | OR Dexter Williams |
We have all been a witness to what Chase Claypool can bring to the football field. He is an incredible athlete and plays as hard- if not harder, than anyone else out in the field.
In many ways, Claypool reminds me of Bennett Jackson and James Onwualu. Guys that started out on offense as wide receivers, but their aggressiveness was so bountiful, they eventually found a home on defense.
Claypool, as it has been suggested by others such as Tim Prister of Irish Illustrated, could make a very good safety.
However, for our purposes here today, I think Notre Dame needs to tap into that athleticism and aggressiveness, and find more ways to include Chase in the offense at tight end and h-back- even game plan around him.
It’s no secret that Notre Dame has been severely lacking in production at tight end this season. The loss of Alize’ Jones as an academic casualty for the semester and the shaky play from both Durham Smythe and Nic Weishar has made the once valuable position, basically just another body out on the field.
I think a guy like Claypool not only adds much more of a threat as a receiver than the other two, but also adds much more as a run blocker- even while giving up a few pounds.
Perhaps this is all folly, but in a season like this, calculated chances can pay off with huge payouts.
HASHTAG PLAY CHASE CLAYPOOL