Notre Dame Football vs. Michigan Defensive Back Comparison

After a bye week, 8th ranked Notre Dame Football (5-1) heads to The Big House, in Ann Arbor, Michigan to face the rival 19th ranked Michigan Wolverines (5-2).

Here is an in-depth positional breakdown of how Notre Dame Football matches up with the Wolverines in this matchup at the defensive backfield positions:

Notre Dame

Cornerback-Troy Pride Jr. 5’11”, 195 pound, senior, 4-star recruit out of Greer, SC

18 tackles, three pass deflections

Cornerback-Shaun Crawford 5’9″, 180 pound, graduate student, 4-star recruit out of Lakewood, OH

12 tackles, one interception, two pass deflections

Safety-Jalen Elliot 6’1″, 210 pound, senior, 3-star recruit out of Richmond, VA

26 tackles, two interceptions, two pass deflections,

Safety-Alohi Gilman 5’10”, 205 pound, senior out of Laie, HI

38 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception, one pass deflection

Safety-Kyle Hamilton 6’4″, 210 pound, freshman, 4-star recruit out of Atlanta, GA

21 tackles, two interceptions, one touchdown, two pass deflections

Michigan

Cornerback-Lavert Hill 5’11”, 182 pound, senior, 4-star recruit out of Detroit, MI

11 tackles, two interceptions, three pass deflections

Cornerback-Ambry Thomas 6’0″, 182 pound, junior, 4-star recruit out of Detroit, MI

15 tackles, two interceptions, three pass deflections

Safety-Josh Metellus 6’0″, 218 pound, senior, 3-star recruit out of Pembroke Pines, FL

34 tackles, one interception, two pass deflections

Safety-Brad Hawkins 6’1″, 218 pound, junior, 3-star recruit out of Pennsauken, NJ

45 tackles, one pass deflection

Advantage-Michigan

Notre Dame’s defensive backfield is anchored by safety Alohi Gilman. Gilman is an absolute thumper from the safety position. When he hits someone, they know it. Gilman was on the preseason watchlist for both the Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player) and Jim Thorpe Award (nation’s best defensive back).

In addition to Gilman, the Irish feature a solid secondary with Shaun Crawford returning from a dislocated elbow to start at cornerback, opposite the speedy Troy Pride Jr., who has proven to be solid in coverage. Safety Jalen Elliot is a fundamentally sound tackler, who has a knack for getting to the ball.

Finally, the Irish have freshman phenom Kyle Hamilton playing in special packages. Hamilton is an elite athlete who has two interceptions on the year, including one for a touchdown.

Michigan features two of the top defensive backs in the nation in cornerback Lavert Hill and safety Josh Metellus. Both Metellus and Hill were featured on the preseason watchlists for the Nagurski Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award, with both also being featured on the watchlist for the Bednarick Award (defensive player of the year) and Hill also on the Walter Camp Award watchlist (outstanding player of the year). Hill hasn’t complied elite stats this season, but that is a byproduct of him locking down his man in coverage, causing quarterbacks to avoid throwing his way and is not due to poor play.

The combination of Hill, Metellus, cornerback Ambry Thomas and safety Brad Hawkins create an elite group of playmakers in the Michigan defensive backfield.  As a result, the Michigan Wolverines have the slight advantage at the defensive backs position.