Unpacking Notre Dame's depth chart reveals surprises at key positions as they aim for a dominant win against struggling Syracuse.
Notre Dame will look to win its 9th straight game this weekend when it takes on the struggling Syracuse Orange squad. Notre Dame will look to earn a convincing win as they look to build on their College Football Playoff resume.
Location: Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, Ind.)
Date: Saturday, November 22
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Network: NBC/Peacock
Line: Notre Dame -35.5; O/U: 51.5
Notre Dame has released its depth chart for the matchup against the Orange.
NOTRE DAME OFFENSE
*** Wide receiver Jaden Greathouse has been listed as the starting Slot receiver all season, even during the five games he missed with injury. Will Pauling has been listed second with an “or’ all season as well.
*** Offensive lineman Billy Schrauth remains out. At this point I believe Notre Dame is hopeful to get Schrauth back for the postseason.
NOTRE DAME DEFENSE
*** The defensive depth chart remains consistent on paper but it hasn’t been accurate all season.
*** Bryce Young continues to be listed as the starter at end opposite of Boubacar Traore, but Young has not started since the season opening game against Miami. Josh Burnham started at right end against Navy and Pitt, Jordan Botelho started the three games before that and also started against Texas A&M and Purdue, while Junior Tuihalamaka started against Arkansas, Boise State and opposite Burnham against Navy.
*** At defensive tackle, Donovan Hinish remains listed as a starter at defensive tackle opposite Jason Onye. Even before his injury Hinish was not starting for the Irish. He was a key rotation player but not a starter. Hinish has not started a game since the win over Arkansas. Onye and Gabriel Rubio started against Boise State and NC State. Rubio was replaced by Jared Dawson when Rubio was injured, which has allowed Dawson and Onye to start together for four straight games.
*** The same is true at linebacker. Jaylen Sneed remains listed as a starter but he has not started at Will linebacker in the base defense since the second game. Beginning with the Purdue game, Jaiden Ausberry has been the starting Will linebacker beside Drayk Bowen. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa started at linebacker against Boise State and Boston College, games where the Irish started with three linebackers. Sneed started inside with Ausberry outside as part of a three LB defense against Navy.
NOTRE DAME SPECIAL TEAMS
*** Jeremiyah Love has been listed as the starting kick returner all season, but Jadarian Price has actually started as the kick returner all season. There is an “or” there, but Love is always listed first even though Price has been the primary kick returner all season. Price leads college football in kick return average this season and has returned two kicks for touchdowns.
NOTRE DAME COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Marcus Freeman
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Denbrock
Defensive Coordinator: Chris Ash
Special Teams Coordinator: Marty Biagi
Quarterbacks: Gino Guidugli
Running Backs: Ja'Jaun Seider
Wide Receivers: Mike Brown
Offensive Line: Joe Rudolph
Secondary/Pass Game Coordinator: Mike Mickens
Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator: Al Washington
Linebackers: Max Bullough
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