In his first two seasons as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator that has helped produce a 23-3 record, Clark Lea has become one of the more heralded young assistants in the nation while setting a path toward becoming a head coach.
Following the 2018 College Football Playoff berth, Lea’s 2018 defense lost first-round defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, the outstanding inside linebacker tandem of Drue Tranquill and Te’von Coney, and consensus All-American cornerback Julian Love — yet in 2019 the Fighting Irish defense still finished No. 5 in the Fremeau Efficiency Index.
This year there are more significant pieces removed, especially ends Khalid Kareem and Julian Okwara, safeties Alohi Gilman and Jalen Elliott (all four were captains), plus Buck linebacker Asmar Bilal and cornerback Troy Pride Jr.
But if you’re going to be a true “program,” excellence is sustained.
“Sometimes when you remove pieces from the puzzle, what’s left often grows into a new version of itself,” Lea said. “They have room to be different.
“Kind of the fun of college football is the discipline it requires as a coach — every year you re-set. You can make no assumptions about what you have and what you don’t have. You have to allow these guys the opportunity to change and grow.”
That means a combination of the upperclassmen flourishing with their opportunity while underclassmen begin to have a firmer grasp on and off the field of their roles.
An overview of the 2020 position groups reveal the same.
Defensive Line
Despite the graduation of Kareem and Okwara, Lea does not anticipate slippage in production or effectiveness with the return of fifth-year senior ends Ade Ogundeji (strong side) and Daelin Hayes (vyper).
Former five-star recruit Hayes was playing the best football among the ends the first month of last season before a season-ending shoulder injury, while Ogundeji — especially toward the back half of the year after Okwara was injured — was “as impactful as any rusher for us,” per Lea.
The interior spots have an established four-man rotation with seniors Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (477 snaps last year) and Kurt Hinish (433), plus outstanding depth with sophomore Jacob Lacey (247) and junior Jayson Ademilola (228).
Eight players saw at least 228 snaps along the line last year, while 2020 junior end Ovie Oghoufo saw 118 and junior nose tackle Ja’Mion Franklin 114.
Yet, having as much upside as anyone is sophomore end Isaiah Foskey, whose game-changing blocked punt at Stanford spearheaded the Fighting Irish rally from a 17-7 deficit to a 45-24 victory.
Now in his 11th season at Notre Dame, defensive line coach/associate head coach Mike Elston has combined recruiting prowess and identification with superb development.
“That’s a unit philosophy, but it’s a testament to Coach Elston and what he’s done and how he’s developed his position group,” Lea praised of the the rotation. “The depth allows you a chance to play fresher. Your willingness to play those guys allows you to develop the bottom end of your depth chart.
“Mike has to coach that way. As a unit we have to be willing to take that philosophy and apply it to games — it’s helped us a ton.”
As it should again in 2020.
Linebacker/Rover
The top two tacklers from 2019 return with seniors Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah at rover and Drew White at Mike.
Unlike in 2018 and 2019 when he shifted former starting rovers Tranquill and Bilal to Buck the next season, Lea said he has the prototype at rover (hybrid linebacker/safety) with the freakishly athletic Owusu-Koramoah, who does not have to come off the field in the nickel package.
“He’s represented everything we want at that rover position: can play man to man, he blitzes, he’s disruptive on the perimeter, makes the perimeter screen game a challenge,” Lea said of Owusu-Koramoah, who paced the team last season in solo stops (54), tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (5.5). “We expect those skills to continue to enhance.”
Virtually everyone is a candidate for the vacated Buck position with Bilal’s graduation .
The options are abundant after signing four linebackers apiece in 2018 and 2019. Lea is highly confident in that octet, which is a prime reason why the Irish did not sign a linebacker in the 2020 cycle.
Lea felt that junior Shayne Simon, formerly a rover, was just beginning to blossom at Buck before a dislocated patella in November versus Navy sidelined him for the balance of the year, with August the projected return date.
Fellow junior Jack Lamb was inserted in 2019 sub packages, mainly versus the pass, before a hip injury also shelved him last November.
The sophomore quartet (last year’s freshmen) of Marist Liufau, Jack Kiser, Osita Ekwonu and JD Bertrand have demonstrated an ability to cross-train.
Meanwhile, junior Bo Bauer — last year’s special teams player of the year — will vie for reps at Mike, where White emerged last season despite missing virtually the entire spring with a shoulder injury.
“We’re getting to the point now where we feel like we have capable depth,” Lea said. “Let’s find a way to create roles, create rotations — and we still haven’t been able to do that. We felt like in the past the front-line guys have been the front-line guys. I want to move on from that.
“That’s not something I can say we’re definitely ready for. That has to be earned and proven, but I think we’re getting close.”
The competition for action is the best it’s been in his four seasons as the position coach, which is benefitting everyone by creating ownership in the locker room.
“These guys don’t work year-round to then watch the game,” Lea said. “They all want to play. When you’re able to get them involved, they will go a little further in their preparation. It’s just human nature.”
Safety
Although Gilman and Elliott — premier leaders during the 23-3 run the past two years — are gone, their imprints are powerful.
“You don’t lose that,” Lea said of establishing a program mentality. “That’s legacy, that model and that approach they passed along to their teammates. … It’s exciting who takes the reins and having freedom to take the position.”
Freshman All-American Kyle Hamilton was too productive to keep out of the lineup last year, while junior Houston Griffith, the top-rated recruit (No. 43 nationally) in 2018, could bring even more physical skills to the position.
Former top-100 recruit and Ohio State graduate transfer Isaiah Pryor, who has two years of eligibility remaining, provides a huge reinforcement to the group that is rounded out by former corner junior DJ Brown and sophomore Litchfield Ajavon.
Two years ago, Lea utilized more three-corner sets on the back end. Last year, it was more three safeties — which could be the case again this year, although not just because of extreme youth at cornerback.
“[It’s] more belief in the fact that we have guys who are going to step in at safety position and enhance that depth and allow us the flexibility to play multiple safeties on the field,” Lea said. “Part of that is also an adaptation to modern football.
“You want to have enough skill in that room to where you can line up against these teams that are going four wide and spreading the field out.”
Led by Hamilton, Lea does see the makings of “a special group” at safety.
“We know a little less about this squad than we do about the one last year, but I’ve got a lot of confidence,” he said.
Cornerbacks
While Buck linebacker is likely to have the most competition for action on the 2020 defense, cornerback could have the most question marks.
The return of Shaun Crawford for a sixth season was a significant boost, but he also has missed 40 games in his career because of injuries.
Junior TaRiq Bracy did play 467 snaps last year and has impressed with his moxie.
“I think he has the skill set to be a features guy,” Lea said of Bracy. “He’s got to earn it, just like they all do.”
Sophomores Isaiah Rutherford, KJ Wallace and Cam Hart, who began his career at wide receiver last fall before switching in October, will vie for action.
“These are great examples of guys who are going to need some time and need to continue to develop,” Lea said. “Isaiah changed himself from last summer to this point. He can help you win games. KJ has a skill set, love his competitiveness, he’s such a great short-space area [corner]. He can create a role for himself.”
At nearly 6-3 Hart provides length to the unit. A trio of freshmen in Ramon Henderson, Caleb Offord and Clarence Lewis give the unit six individuals with four years of eligibility remaining, starting in 2020.
“The thing about the corner position that allows for early assimilation is the fact that if you have the personality and skills to press and to play man, then you can play,” Lea summarized. “Play man and know where your help is. If you have it you have it, and some of those guys have it.”
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