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Notre Dame 2016 Recruiting: Defensive Grades

Notre Dame’s top defensive signee is Daelin Hayes.
Notre Dame’s top defensive signee is Daelin Hayes. (BGI/Andrew Ivins)

Notre Dame added another talented group of recruits to the roster, inking 23 players for the class of 2016.

There was a great need for improved depth and a boost in talent on defense, especially along the front line and in the secondary, and the staff met those needs. With the class signed, sealed and delivered it’s time to hand out grades.

A — College Football Playoff Contention
B — Top-10 Viability
C — Top 25-Viability
D — Trying To Be Bowl Eligible

Here is a breakdown and grades for Notre Dame’s defensive class.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Coming into this cycle, Notre Dame had five areas of need that this class had to address.

1. Impact talent.

2. Depth at defensive end, with an emphasis on pass rushers.

3. An influx of depth and impact talent in the secondary, especially at safety.

4. Speed and size at cornerback.

5. Another strong linebacker class.

Overall Defensive Grade: B

Notre Dame’s 2015 recruiting class had a lot of talent, but it also had two major holes. The Irish landed no defensive ends after Bo Wallace was unable to gain admission and came up woefully short at safety. Notre Dame’s 2016 class had to make up for those weaknesses, and it did just that.

The journey to add impact talent at defensive end was rocky at times, but at the end of the day Notre Dame improved its talent at the position. Julian Okwara has big potential as an edge rusher and Khalid Kareem could eventually improve upon the lack of pass rush from the strongside defensive end position, which has produced just 4.5 sacks the last two seasons.

Notre Dame hit a home run in the secondary, landing three talented cornerbacks and four safeties. On the back end, Devin Studstill and Jalen Elliott add impact talent. There is also a great deal of versatility in the secondary.

Much of the focus at linebacker will be on what Notre Dame failed to add to the class, with three highly touted targets — Jeff McCulloch (Texas), Ben Davis (Alabama) and Caleb Kelly (Oklahoma) — all choosing other schools.

If one can move past that, there is a great deal to be excited about. Daelin Hayes has not played much football the last two seasons, but his raw talent is as good as any linebacker in the country. Jonathan Jones is an underrated player that graded out much higher in the Blue & Gold Illustrated rankings, reminding of former Miami Hurricanes standout linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Denzel Perryman.

Notre Dame failed to land a defensive tackle. It was a thin year nationally, with a great deal of talent at the top but an overall lack of depth. The Irish defensive coaches went after highly ranked players like Rashan Gary and Dexter Lawrence, but were never a factor. After missing out on those players, they moved on at the position. Being able to redshirt three defensive tackles from the 2015 class (Micah Dew-Treadway, Brandon Tiassum and Elijah Taylor) helped ease the pain of striking out in this class.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Signees: Julian Okwara, 6-4, 216, Charlotte (N.C.) Ardrey Kell; Khalid Kareem, 6-4, 245, Farmington Hills (Mich.) Harrison; Adetokunbo Ogundeji, 6-5, 216, Walled Lake (Mich.) Central

Defensive Line Grade: B-

Analysis: Notre Dame might not have landed the “elite” recruit — the five-star or the top-50, four-star player up front — but the trio it brought in has a lot of ability. The three-man defensive end haul provides a boost in depth and improves the pass rushing ability of the defensive end position.

Okwara, a four-star end, is one of the best pure pass rushers Notre Dame has signed since landing Aaron Lynch, Stephon Tuitt and Ishaq Williams in 2011. Landing a player with his pass rushing ability was a must. He does not have the national profile from a rankings standpoint, but his skill set and potential is exactly what Notre Dame needed in this class. Okwara is a strong all-around athlete with a quick burst off the edge. He explodes past tackles and is fluid enough to make double moves off the edge. Improving his technique is a must and at just 220 pounds Okwara must continue adding strength and weight.

Kareem, an early enrollee, is a perfect complement to Okwara. Kareem is a strongside end fit in the Irish defense. He is a power player with long arms and a strong punch. He defends the run well, but has an advanced pass rushing repertoire, racking up 34 sacks over the last two seasons. Once his technique improves, he will give the position more of a dual-threat option.

It might take some time for Ogundeji to develop physically, but he has talent that defensive line coach Gilmore likes. He is a true high-ceiling, low-floor player. Ogundeji is a bit of a multi-purpose player, possessing the athleticism to come off the edge on the weakside in time and enough power potential to play on the strongside if his weight develops.

2016 Impact: In an ideal world, all three of the signees will have a chance to redshirt, gain experience and add strength. Notre Dame has talent coming back at defensive end, although little experience outside of Isaac Rochell and Andrew Trumbetti. Rising senior Doug Randolph will look to make a push to back up Trumbetti on the weakside and Grant Blankenship, Jonathan Bonner and possibly Jay Hayes will look to earn a spot in the rotation.

The key here is whether or not Notre Dame can develop enough of a pass rush with the returning players. If they struggle, Okwara could work himself into a role similar to what Kolin Hill had in 2014. Okwara is a better prospect than was Hill and has superior size.

Kareem is a natural pass rusher that could benefit from being on campus a semester early. He needs to improve his burst off the line, play with better pad level and add more strength, but he is a natural pass rusher, which could help him get on the field a bit sooner than expected.

Ogundeji will need time to recover from the knee injury that cost him his senior season and to develop much needed strength and technique.

LINEBACKER

Signees: Daelin Hayes, 6-3, 239, Ann Arbor (Mich.) Skyline; Jonathan Jones, 6-0, 200, Orlando (Fla.) Oak Ridge; Jamir Jones, 6-3, 220, Rochester (N.Y.) Aquinas Institute

Linebacker Grade: B+

Analysis: Notre Dame came up short at linebacker during the early stages of Kelly’s tenure. There were talented players, but the depth was constantly short. The career-ending injury to 2013 signee Michael Deeb and the position switch of Randolph to end further exacerbated the problem. After landing a talented trio of players a season ago, Notre Dame needed another talented haul to back that up and restore the depth chart.

Notre Dame also needed to continue to add impact and starting talent to the class, which it did. Versatility is always something Notre Dame looks for in players, and all three linebacker recruits have the position flexibility to play multiple linebacker spots and both Hayes and Jamir Jones could ultimately end up putting their hand on the ground.

Hayes is an elite player, graded by Rivals as a five-star recruit and the No. 31 player in the country. Injuries and a midseason transfer from California back to Michigan during his junior season have sapped him of experience, but his talent is unquestionable. Hayes has a great frame, but he combines that with freakish athleticism for such a big player. He is physical at the point of attack, can rush the quarterback but also excels in coverage.

Jonathan Jones is undersized, which brings down his recruiting ranking. But make no mistake, he is a talented player that has the potential to be a multi-year starter in the Notre Dame defense. Projected as a Mike or Will linebacker, Jones is a stout between-the-tackles player that uses his short-area quickness and power to make plays at the line of scrimmage. Like Hayes, he excels in coverage and shows outstanding instincts.

Jamir Jones is a do-it-all player that does not have elite potential at any position, but his versatility and fluid athleticism makes him a fit for all three spots. That versatility made him a valuable recruit in this class.

2016 Impact: Hayes is an interesting player in regards to what to do with him next season. With his history of shoulder injuries (he has had two separate injuries that ended seasons), it would be tempting to give him a year to continue healing, to build up his strength and to get his body back in shape. The problem is he is as physically gifted — if not more so — than any linebacker currently on the roster outside of maybe Nyles Morgan.

Being on campus a semester early should give Hayes time to get his body healthy, which could open up an opportunity to push for time at the Will or Sam position. At the very least, he could challenge for a nickel or dime role. Hayes has impressive potential as a pass rusher, but also graded out as one of the better coverage linebackers in the country.

Jonathan Jones will need a year to develop, and the presence of Morgan, Greer Martini, Josh Barajas, Te’von Coney and Hayes inside should afford him that opportunity. The same is true for Jamir Jones, who will likely get a year to learn behind James Onwualu, Asmar Bilal, and possibly Martini or Hayes.

CORNERBACK

Signees: Donté Vaughn, 6-3, 190, Memphis (Tenn.) Whitehaven; Troy Pride Jr., 5-11, 170, Greer (S.C.) High School; Julian Love, 5-11, 175, LaGrange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy

Cornerback Grade: B

Analysis: No position suffered from limited numbers and a lack of consistent impact talent in the recruiting classes than did the cornerback position. Notre Dame signed just two cornerbacks in the 2013 class and just one in the 2014 class. Landing three talented players a season ago was helpful, but Notre Dame needed another strong haul.

It got that, landing three talented players with starting potential and outstanding versatility.

Love was the first cornerback to jump on board. He is a smart and heady player with good overall athleticism and a high football IQ. He played safety and running back at the high school level, which gives him a great deal of flexibility in the defense.

Notre Dame targeted a number of big cornerbacks in hopes of adding length and strength to the depth chart. Vaughn quickly rose up the board and became a hot recruit for the staff. His size for the position is outstanding (6-3, 195). Many believe his size will end up forcing a move to safety, but Vaughn has the skill set to play cornerback. He has quick feet and transitions very well working backwards. He lacks top-end speed, but makes up for it with supreme length and physicality at the line.

One of the biggest rises in the 2016 class was Pride, who went from a track athlete playing football to a standout football player that runs track as a senior. As his senior season started to progress, Notre Dame made a hard move on him and ultimately landed him, beating in-state power Clemson for his signature. Pride has elite speed and his technique improved as a senior. He improved his playmaking ability as a senior, which was key to his development.

This group will push the veterans on campus and completely restocks the cornerback depth chart.

2016 Impact: There are question marks at cornerback — mainly who replaces KeiVarae Russell. That answer is unclear, but there is talent returning at the position. Cole Luke will start on one side and both Nick Watkins and Devin Butler have starting experience. Nick Coleman has as much physical ability as any cornerback on the roster. Shaun Crawford — who returns after missing 2015 with a knee injury — had the highest prep ranking at the position.

It will be tough for the incoming freshmen to earn a spot in the two-deep, but both Vaughn and Pride are coming in with the desire to do just that. Vaughn’s elite size and physicality gives him a physical dimension the position currently lacks, which could help him move up the depth chart.

Pride’s speed is elite and could make it hard to keep him off the field, but he could really use a year to add strength and add some weight onto his thin frame. Love is not in position to push for playing time at cornerback his freshmen season but could find a home on special teams, which is also true of Vaughn.

The fact this trio will have such a hard time working up the depth chart next season speaks volumes about the returning talent. A key question is can the veterans turn that talent into consistent production. If they can this group will not see the field much in year one. If it doesn’t, Vaughn and Pride could make a push.

SAFETY

Signees: Devin Studstill, 6-0, 189, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) High; Jalen Elliott, 6-0, 189, Chesterfield (Va.) Bird; D.J. Morgan, 6-2, 190, Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco; Spencer Perry, 6-2, 204, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy

Safety Grade: B+

Analysis: Notre Dame has struggled to land safeties in numbers during Kelly’s tenure. There has been talent brought in, but the numbers have been thin. Last season, the Irish lost Prentice McKinney late in the process and were unable to recover from that loss. Landing depth in the 2016 class was important. The loss of Elijah Shumate and Matthias Farley opens up immediate playing time, but returners Avery Sebastian and Drue Tranquill have checkered injury histories.

That meant Notre Dame needed to land at least one player with the intelligence, talent and size to play as a freshman.

Studstill was one of the top safeties on the board for Notre Dame. He has all the skills the Irish staff wants in a safety, except maybe ideal size. Studstill runs very well, he’s a physical safety and he is good in zone coverage. He makes plays on the ball and reads routes exceptionally well. During the Irish Invasion, he showed off his man coverage skills — something he did not do much at the high school level.

After leading Chesterfield (Va.) Bird to a state championship as a quarterback during his junior season, Elliott made a strong impression on the Notre Dame staff as a defensive back. Elliott is a smooth and explosive athlete that was able to play defense a lot more as a senior and the result was him earning all-state honors in the secondary. Notre Dame needs more playmakers at safety, and Elliott has the skills to be a playmaker.

Both Morgan and Perry add much needed length to the position. Morgan is a long (6-3) and rangy athlete that has a high football IQ. Perry is a thumper that flies down into the box and seems to thrive on contact. He covers a lot of ground and runs downhill very well.

2016 Impact: Safety is not an easy position for a freshman at Notre Dame to learn. The problem facing the Irish defense is the back end lacks depth after coming up short in numbers for so many years.

Studstill being an early enrollee will greatly help his cause as he pushes to get on the field. He will have an additional six months to add size, gain strength and absorb the defensive scheme which should give him a chance to impact the depth chart.

Like Studstill, Elliott is a bright football player with the athleticism and playmaking ability to make like uncomfortable for the returning players. He’s rangy and a winner, and the Notre Dame coaches have told Elliott to get himself ready to play in year one.

Perry is a physically imposing player that will need time to continue recovering from the shoulder injury that cost him most of his senior season. If healthy he could get into the mix in nickel or dime situations as a blitzer — much like Tranquill did as a freshman. Perry could also find an early role on Notre Dame’s special teams. The same could be true for Morgan, but ideally he could use a year to develop.

Here is how I break down the defensive commits in the 2016 class.

BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED DEFENSIVE RANKING

1. Daelin Hayes, LB – BGI Grade: 4.5 – Upside Grade: 5.0
2. Devin Studstill, S – BGI Grade: 4.5 – Upside Grade: 5.0
3. Julian Okwara, DE – BGI Grade: 4.0 – Upside Grade: 4.5
4. Jalen Elliott, S – BGI Grade: 4.0 – Upside Grade: 4.5
5. Jonathan Jones, LB – BGI Grade: 4.0 – Upside Grade: 4.0
6. Donte Vaughn, CB – BGI Grade: 4.0 – Upside Grade: 4.5
7. Troy Pride Jr., CB – BGI Grade: 4.0 – Upside Grade: 4.5
8. Khalid Kareem, DE – BGI Grade: 4.0 – Upside Grade: 4.5
9. Julian Love, CB – BGI Grade: 4.0 – Upside Grade: 4.0
10. D.J. Morgan, S – BGI Grade: 3.5 – Upside Grade: 4.0
11. Jamir Jones, LB/DE – BGI Grade: 3.5 – Upside Grade: 3.5
12. Spencer Perry, S – BGI Grade: 3.5 – Upside Grade: 4.0
13. Adetokunbo Ogundeji, DE – BGI Grade: 3.0 – Upside Grade: 4.0

GRADE KEY

5.0 — Elite (top-25 player)
4.5 — Outstanding (potential impact player, top-50 recruit)
4.0 — Very good (multi-year starter, top-250 recruit)
3.5 — Above average (potential starter, top-400 recruit)
3.0 — Solid (good situational player)

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