While there have been some surprise announcements on the Notre Dame football team’s depth chart for its Week 1 showdown with Wisconsin, when it came to several important spots on the roster, the “ORs” had it.
More specifically, there were several positions on the depth chart that Marcus Freeman and his staff have decided are still a toss-up going into Sunday’s game. Some of those essential ties were seen coming from a mile away. Others were a bit surprising because it seemed like the staff had a handle on things, even if the competition was pitched.
In the later stages of camp and the first weeks of preparation for Sunday night, junior Styles Prescod got his shot at right guard thanks to some injury concerns and formerly injured players still making comebacks. When he did, he impressed OL coach Joe Rudolph, and now it appears Prescod will get quite a bit of playing time as he is essentially a co-starter.
“It gave Styles an opportunity to get some reps at guard, and he did a really good job,” Freeman said during his Monday press conference.
Notre Dame football keeps Styles Prescod and field corner battles alive for Week 1
There’s a chance that the “OR” will be removed before the game, but Freeman and his staff aren’t ready to do that yet. When the depth chart came out, Sullivan Absher — who is fine now, health-wise — and Prescod were listed as co-starters. Freeman said Notre Dame has to decide between the two soon.
“We feel confident at the right guard position, no matter if it’s Sully or Styles,” Freeman said. “We probably might see them both. But I think it’s a credit to the progression that Styles has made as a football player here in training camp.”
Another position battle where the Irish declined to name a winner is at the field corner. The spot that will line up on the opposite side of All-World Leonard Moore has long been one that the coaches said may not get a specific starter named anytime soon.
Logic dictates McKinney, a fifth-year player, will start while Sanders will rotate heavily off the bench. However, for now, the Notre Dame coaching staff isn’t willing to say that outright.
The Irish had a pretty good idea what it was getting from McKinney. He came into camp expecting to be the starter. However, Sanders has impressed the Notre Dame coaches since he started fighting for the job: “He’s really performed daily,” Freeman said. “Every DB will have a play or two that they give up during practice, but the ability to respond and go out there and get your job done is something that he’s done a terrific job of doing.”
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