SOUTH BEND, Ind. — It’s game week. And that means it’s also official depth chart week, a moment in the season that crystalizes what Notre Dame showed during training camp but offers nothing more than a starting line for the race that comes after. Facing Navy on Week Zero in Dublin, Ireland, only complicates Notre Dame’s first depth chart of the season, at least on defense, because how the Irish line up against the option won’t be how they line up in any other game.

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Still, the depth chart Notre Dame published on Monday comes with a few takeaways that could inform the future for Marcus Freeman, who’s finally no longer “first-year head coach Marcus Freeman.”

Marcus Freeman here for his game week presser.

Says Irish had 3 main goals for camp: Build depth, cut down injuries, enhance leadership. Said Irish checked all 3 boxes. Notes 10 guys got double digit votes to be named captain. Also notes concussion/soft tissue injuries down.

— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) August 21, 2023

Here’s how Notre Dame’s opening depth chart shook out.

Quarterback

1. Sam Hartman — Graduate student
2. Steve Angeli — Sophomore
3. Kenny Minchey — Freshman

Analysis: As straight-forward as it gets for Notre Dame and the first season the Irish haven’t had a quarterback competition in preseason camp since Ian Book’s final year. That’s also the last time the Irish had a starting quarterback who went wire-to-wire in terms of meaningful reps. That quarterback clarity will be a boost. So too will be Hartman’s leadership, considering he was named a captain — a first for a graduate transfer at Notre Dame. There’s value in Angeli growing into a functional QB2 as well after backing up Tyler Buchner and Drew Pyne last season. Minchey will likely spend this season in deep reserve, whether that’s as QB3 or running the scout team.

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Running Back

1. Audric Estime — Junior
2. Gi’Bran Payne — Sophomore (OR)
3. Devyn Ford — Graduate student (OR)
4. Jadarian Price — Sophomore (OR)
5. Jeremiyah Love — Freshman

Analysis: No position on offense moved the needle in camp more than running back. Deland McCullough talked about a “five-headed monster” at the position, which might feel like a reach considering the reps available. But, point being, losing Logan Diggs to LSU felt like a tougher pill to swallow last winter than it does today. The Irish enhanced and developed at a high level. Notre Dame paced Estime in camp for what feels like a 200+ carry season to come. Price is recovered from last season’s Achilles tear enough that he was a Freaks List candidate with a 21.39 mph reading on the GPS and 510-pound squat. Price might be the most talented back on the roster, even though the position group swears the freshman Love is the fastest.

Receiver

1. Tobias Merriweather — Sophomore
2. Rico Flores Jr. — Freshman (OR)
3. Matt Salerno — Graduate student

Receiver

1. Jayden Thomas — Junior
2. Deion Colzie — Junior

Slot receiver

1. Chris Tyree — Senior
2. Jaden Greathouse — Freshman

Analysis: Chansi Stuckey’s unit did not flash during Notre Dame’s open practice sessions, to the point that it was hard to pick out the most productive receivers. There was never a doubt about the starters, just what contributions were coming. Merriweather taking the next step in his game is essential for Hartman to maximize his season at Notre Dame. Privately and publicly, the staff is very high on Greathouse and Flores as options four and five. How many reps the freshmen get and how quickly — ramped up for Ohio State in Game 5 — will be a story during the season’s first month. Overall, the receiver spot remains in development.

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Tight End

1. Mitchell Evans — Junior
2. Holden Staes — Sophomore
3. Davis Sherwood — Junior

Analysis: This position should improve with time as Eli Raridon gets closer to a full recovery from last season’s ACL tear. He didn’t get involved in team periods during camp and could still be weeks away from full clearance. It won’t be a surprise if Staes makes his reps tough to get based on the other sophomore’s camp. He showed a connection with Hartman in the pass game that seemed to appeal to the quarterback. Pairing Evans and Staes gives the Irish a functional 12 package. Sherwood remains a run-first blocker in heavy looks. There’s no Michael Mayer, but Notre Dame knew that going into camp.

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Left Tackle

1. Joe Alt — Junior
2. Tosh Baker — Senior

Left Guard

1. Pat Coogan — Junior
2. Billy Schrauth — Sophomore

Center

1. Zeke Correll — Graduate student
2. Ashton Craig — Sophomore

Right Guard

1. Rocco Spindler — Junior
2. Andrew Kristofic — Graduate student

Right Tackle

1. Blake Fisher — Junior
2. Aamil Wagner — Sophomore

Analysis: The shock of preseason camp came at left guard, where Coogan beat out Schrauth for the starting job, even if the coaching staff insisted the sophomore could still see time. Schrauth was viewed as a can’t-miss-prospect by Harry Hiestand and he may very well still hit. Case in point: Spindler. He is a former top-100 prospect, rated behind only Blake Fisher in ’21 recruiting class. After barely sniffing the field for two years, he displaced Kristofic, who had starting experience on his side. Correll was banged up with an ankle sprain late in camp but is expected to be ready for Navy. Notre Dame’s tackles are both elite.

Defensive End

1. Javontae Jean-Baptiste — Graduate student (OR)
2. Nana Osafo-Mensah — Graduate student

Defensive Tackle

1. Rylie Mills — Senior
2. Gabriel Rubio — Junior

Nose Tackle

1. Howard Cross III — Graduate student
2. Jason Onye — Junior
3. Donovan Hinish — Sophomore

Vyper

1. Jordan Botelho — Senior
2. Junior Tuihalamaka — Sophomore
3. Joshua Burnham — Sophomore

Analysis: The biggest question on Notre Dame’s defense was at least half answered this month when Rubio and Onye took big steps forward as second-team defensive tackles. Notre Dame now has a legitimate four-man rotation on the interior, not two starters and two players getting reps because the frontline players need a break. It’s not clear how much that will show against Navy, but it’s a critical development for the long-term health of the defense. As for the pass rush, that remains unsettled, at least in terms of how much Notre Dame will have of it. Do linebackers have to factor into press packages more? It doesn’t feel like the Irish have true threats off the edge, even if they have options. A breakout season from any one defensive end could change the outlook for the entire defense.

Mike linebacker

1. JD Bertrand — Graduate student
2. Drayk Bowen — Freshman

Will linebacker

1. Marist Liufau — Graduate student
2. Jaiden Ausberry — Freshman

Rover

1. Jack Kiser — Graduate student
2. Jaylen Sneed — Sophomore

Analysis: How the staff divides reps between Liufau and Kiser is a question with two good answers as Al Golden seems set to rotate the pair on the inside while keeping Kiser in play as the rover. Last season Liufau got virtually every will linebacker rep and led the defense in snaps. Despite being ultra-productive, Kiser ranked No. 15 on the defense in usage, subbing out in nickel situations. There shouldn’t be a 300-snap difference between the veteran linebackers this fall. Sneed is a wild card in the rotation and could flash at defensive end in third-and-long packages. He showed enough in training camp to want to see more this fall. It’s just not clear where the reps will come.

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Field cornerback

1. Benjamin Morrison — Sophomore
2. Christian Gray — Freshman

Boundary cornerback

1. Cam Hart — Graduate student
2. Jaden Mickey — Sophomore

Nickelback

1. Thomas Harper — Graduate student (OR)
2. Clarence Lewis — Senior

Analysis: This is what two years of good recruiting and better development will do for a defensive backfield. It wasn’t that long ago that Lewis was starting at corner in Freeman’s season at defensive coordinator. He could still play plenty at nickel, but he’d be the fourth or fifth pure cornerback on the current roster. Assuming everyone stays healthy — Hart has battled injuries throughout his career — the corner position could be among the best nationally. Note Dame has come a long way from shoehorning running backs and receivers into the defensive backfield, at least under Mike Mickens. His reconstruction of this depth chart has been a long-term positive trend for the Irish.

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Right safety

1. Xavier Watts — Senior
2. Ramon Henderson — Senior

Left safety

1. DJ Brown — Graduate student
2. Antonio Carter II — Graduate student

Analysis: Notre Dame is old at safety but not overly experienced, a result of some recruiting misses and position changes over the years. The end result is a depth chart that could be steady this fall but probably won’t be spectacular, although Watts has a chance to push that envelope. Marginal gains across the board, basically the entire position takes a step forward, feels like a best-case outcome. Three freshmen — Adon Shuler, Ben Minich and Luke Talich — could be factors on defense next year or special teams now. How they develop during will be critical, even if they don’t get real defensive reps this fall.

(Top photo of Tobias Merriweather and Mitchell Evans: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)