How Notre Dame Builds Depth for the Future along the Defensive Line
Notre Dame’s defensive line is one of the best and deepest units in the country.
The Irish rank 12th out of 131 FBS programs in sacks per game with 3.25, and that includes a one-sack performance to open the season against Ohio State. Of the defense’s 13 sacks this season, 11 come from one of several veteran defensive linemen.
Notre Dame Sack Breakdown
DE Isaiah Foskey 3.0
DL Rylie Mills 2.0
DT Jacob Lacey 2.0
DT Jayson Ademilola 1.5
DE Justin Ademilola 1.5
DT Howard Cross III 1.0
LB Jack Kiser 1.0
S Ramon Henderson 0.5
LB Marist Liufau 0.5
It’s both a blessing and a curse to have so many experienced and talented defensive linemen on the roster at once.
Right now, it’s difficult for underclassmen to garner meaningful in-game reps. Junior Rylie Mills is the lone non-senior lineman to pick up a sack this season.
Additionally, ISD broke the news on Thursday that senior defensive tackle Jacob Lacey will enter the transfer portal to seek more playing time elsewhere.
Lacey may be tied for second on the team in sacks, but he averaged just 18.25 snaps per game, which includes nine snaps in Notre Dame’s most recent game against North Carolina.
“Jacob Lacey was a great player and Lacey did a lot of great things for us, but it's a deep position,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said. “He made a decision that, ultimately, he felt was best for him and we respect that.”
Lacey ranks seventh on the roster in terms of snaps played by a defensive lineman. Plus, defensive line coach Al Washington needs to build depth for the future by playing younger players.
Sophomore defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio earned more and more snaps over the course of Notre Dame's first four games. After he received a DNP in Ohio Stadium, Rubio played two snaps against Marshall and four snaps against Cal.
Last game versus UNC, Rubio played eight snaps, most of which likely would have gone to Lacey otherwise.
The coaching staff expects Rubio and Chris Smith to play more often going forward with Lacey no longer on the roster.
“It's [Rubio’s] work ethic. It's fundamentals and development,” Washington said. “Like from the spring to now, this guy's getting better and better. He's not anywhere close to being a finished product, but that dude, he's a good player. He provides toughness and size.”
“He and Chris Smith — Chris Smith is another one. This guy's, pound for pound, really explosive. They've done a phenomenal job.”
On Thursday, Freeman also said that the departure of Lacey should elevate sophomore Jason Onye from the scout team.
That still likely leaves several young and talented players on the scout team, such as Tyson Ford, Josh Burnham and Aiden Gobaira.
Their development will come by going against Notre Dame’s talented and rapidly progressing first- and second-team offensive line. It’s still early, but Washington says he’s impressed with how they’ve developed thus far.
"Just what you want to see from young players,” he said. “Coach [Harry] Hiestand and the O-line, they're just turning them into tough, dependable guys. Two years, three years from now, they'll be [the ones talking to the media]. You see the progress. You see the fight. You see the willingness to compete.”
But even if younger players are developing behind the scenes on the scout team, it’s still vital that Washington harps on the value of patience.
"I think every person is different,” he said. “Everybody's got their opinion of their clock. I always tell people, nobody knows when their blessing's coming. You just have to be comfortable with where you are and where you're headed.”
It also tends to be in a player’s best interest to play once they’re ready for meaningful snaps, rather than forcing them onto the field out of necessity.
Every second of game tape is evaluated by NFL scouts, and it’s often better to make the inevitable freshman mistakes on the practice field rather than in games broadcasted by NBC or ESPN.
“When you think about the next level, they want to see what you're putting on tape,” Washington said. “If you've got 20 plays, and those 20 players are rolling, that'll do more good than if you're out there all the time and are so-so.”
Often, he also needs to communicate the same message to recruits, who could be turned off by the depth and talent along the defensive line.
Washington understands that almost every scholarship player expects to play right away. At the end of the day, that’s the mentality he wants them to have.
“Some guys are going to be upset,” Washington said. “I get that. I always tell them that. I said, 'Listen, if you are 100% happy, then something's wrong.' We want a healthy sense of unease because you want competition."