Notre Dame Football: Best Case, Worst Case for Position Groups

Linebackers

Best: Although Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini — the team’s 2nd and 4th ranked tacklers respectively — are gone, there’s still talent here. Drue Tranquill, who it feels like has been playing for Notre Dame since about 2004, continues to be the quarterback of the defense. No longer at Rover, Tranquill can improve on his 85 tackles from a year ago. Te’Von Coney continues to be one of the best linebackers in the country, putting up in the area of the 116 tackles and 3 sacks. Asmar Bilal steps in at Rover and helps Coney and Tranquill takes over the 167 tackles left behind by Martini and Morgan. Jordan Genmark Heath improves on his 16 tackles from his freshman year to provide some depth, while senior Jonathan Jones contributes to the development of freshmen Bo Bauer, Jack Lamb and Shayne Simon just as much as he does on the field.

Worst: Coney and Tranquill are still very good at their positions, although inexperience and a lack of depth hurt the group as a whole. The losses of Morgan and Martini are too much, and Asmar Bilal takes a while to adjust to the Rover position. Although still a good group, this becomes the weak point of the defense.