2015 Scholarship and Roster Breakdown

[Johannes]

Below is a breakdown of the scholarship roster numbers as they currently stand. I have also included speculation on the roster and numbers going into next year's off-season and for the 2016 recruiting class. Thanks to Domina Nostra and Brooklyn who took care of this thread in recent years. I will update this original post as the roster and numbers change. If something needs to be updated or changed, please let me know.

2015 Notre Dame Football Roster as of August 13, 2015

Quarterbacks - 3
Malik Zaire (Jr*)
DeShone Kizer (So*)
Brandon Wimbush (Fr)

Running Backs - 4
Josh Anderson (Sr*)
Tarean Folston (Jr)
Josh Adams (Fr)
Dexter Williams (Fr)

Slot Receivers - 4
Amir Carlisle (GS*)
C.J. Prosise (Sr*)
Torii Hunter Jr. (Jr*)
C.J. Sanders (Fr)

Wide Receivers - 8
Chris Brown (Sr)
Corey Robinson (Jr)
Will Fuller (Jr)
Justin Brent (So)
Corey Holmes (So)
Equanimeous St. Brown (Fr)
Miles Boykin (Fr)
Jaylen Guyton (Fr)

Tight Ends - 5
Chase Hounshell (GS*)
Durham Smythe (Jr*)
Nic Weishar (So*)
Tyler Luatua (So)
Aliz'e Jones (Fr)

Offensive Line - 14
Nick Martin (GS*)
Ronnie Stanley (Sr*)
Mark Harrell (Sr*)
Steve Elmer (Jr)
Colin McGovern (Jr*)
Mike McGlinchey (Jr*)
Hunter Bivin (Jr*)
John Montelus (Jr*)
Alex Bars (So*)
Quentin Nelson (So*)
Jimmy Byrne (So*)
Sam Mustipher (So*)
Trevor Ruhland (Fr)
Tristen Hoge (Fr)

Defensive Tackles – 9
Sheldon Day (Sr)
Jarron Jones (Sr*)
Jay Hayes (So)
Pete Mokwuah (So*)
Daniel Cage (So)
Micah Dew-Treadway (Fr)
Brandon Tiassum (Fr)
Jerry Tillery (Fr)
Elijah Taylor (Fr)

Defensive Ends - 6
Romeo Okwara (Sr)
Isaac Rochell (Jr)
Jacob Matuska (Jr*)
Andrew Trumbetti (So)
Jonathan Bonner (So*)
Grant Blankenship (So)

Linebackers – 11
Joe Schmidt (GS*)
Jarrett Grace (GS*)
John Turner (Sr*)
Jaylon Smith (Jr)
James Onuwalu (Jr)
Doug Randolph (Jr*)
Nyles Morgan (So)
Greer Martini (So)
Josh Barajas (Fr)
Asmar Bilal (Fr)
Te'Von Coney (Fr)

Cornerbacks - 7
KeiVarae Russell (Sr)
Cole Luke (Jr)
Devin Butler (Jr)
Nick Watkins (So)
Nick Coleman (Fr)
Ashton White (Fr)
Shaun Crawford (Fr)

Safeties – 8
Matthias Farley (GS*)
Avery Sebastian (GS*)
Elijah Shumate (Sr)
Nicky Baratti (Sr*)
Max Redfield (Jr)
Drue Tranquill (So)
Nicco Fertitta (Fr)
Mykelti Williams (Fr)

Special Teams - 3
Scott Daly (Sr*) - LS
Tyler Newsome (So*) - P
Justin Yoon (Fr) - K

* denotes redshirt available

82 Total Scholarship Players. This number is inclusive of all 2014 scholarship players and 2015 NLI signees who are confirmed with the team and receiving a 2015 scholarship.

The Path to 85
* With the news that Michael Deeb and Mike Heuerman will receive medical scholarships, the path to 85 scholarships for the 2015 season is clear. Chase Hounshell will be in no danger of losing his fifth-year to roster management.

* The remaining question is whether (when?) Ishaq Williams will get cleared by the NCAA to play this year. Ishaq brings the scholarship total up to 83.

* Regardless of the Ishaq situation, several one year renewable scholarships will be available to walk-ons. Josh Anderson was the first to be announced. Montgomery VanGorder and Connor Cavalaris, who received scholarships last year, are other likely candidates.

Expected 2016 Attrition
Chris Brown
Amir Carlisle
Connor Cavalaris
Sheldon Day
Matthias Farley
Jarrett Grace
Chase Hounshell
Nick Martin
Romeo Okwara
KeiVarae Russell
Joe Schmidt
Avery Sebastian
Elijah Shumate
Ishaq Williams

* 14 players will be in their final year of eligibility during the 2015 season.

Potential 2016 Fifth-Years
Nicky Baratti
Scott Daly
Mark Harrell
Jarron Jones
C.J. Prosise
Ronnie Stanley
John Turner

* 7 players will be eligible for a fifth-year during the 2016 season.

Prognosticating 2016 Class Numbers
* Let's assume that the 2015 roster avoids any further attrition before February 2016. This would result in 13 scholarships becoming available through exhausted eligibility, not counting Cavalaris.

* Let's also assume that VanGorder and Anderson are not guaranteed a scholarship in 2016. Amongst eligible 2016 fifth-years, Baratti, and Turner seem either unlikely to be invited back or graduate transfer candidates. Harrell is another possibility, given his playing time to this point in his career. This brings the available number of scholarships to 19.

* In addition, there are several players that will declare for the 2016 NFL Draft with eligibility remaining. Ronnie Stanley and Jaylon Smith are near certainties to depart for the league. The available scholarship numbers are up to 21.

* Other possible NFL departures include Jarron Jones, Max Redfield, Cole Luke, Will Fuller, Tarean Folston, and Corey Robinson. These last six are the biggest question marks at this point, in my opinion. For each one that declares, add another available scholarship. Prosise and Daly would be the only fifth-year members of the 2016 roster should Jones declare for the draft. Given Jarron's recent injury, it seems likely that he will return for his fifth-yearl.

* This brings the potential total available 2016 scholarships to a range of 21 to 27 before any other form of attrition occurs.

* As of August 6, 2015, Notre Dame has 14 verbal commitments. There is room for an additional 7 players in the 2016 class at minimum. This number will increase before February 3, 2016.

 

[NDRock]

Isn't Russell eligible to come back after missing last year?

 

[cody1smith]

Isn't Russell eligible to come back after missing last year?

Yes. He is back in Bidness

 

[connor_in]

Great Job, Johannes

 

[Irishman77]

great info...reps. I don't see Jaylon leaving early though.

 

[woolybug25]

I'm having deja vu. Didn't you make this thread before? I could have sworn that this thread already existed. I even remember thinking Procise should be listed under RB in both.

Either way. Good info.

 

[NDinL.A.]

great info...reps. I don't see Jaylon leaving early though.

From your lips to God's ears. But you're dreaming if you don't see him leaving. Everything I've heard and read - if he balls out and gets a high draft grade, then he's out. And I won't blame him one bit.

 

[IrishLax]

It is confirmed that MVG and Cavalaris do not have scholarships, and Ishaq is not on the team as a counter right now. So we're at 85, with none of those guys (assuming MVG is treated the same way) having an impact on next year's class.

I'm assuming we'll be around 82-83 before we get out of fall camp, and then give scholarships to walk-ons.

 

[DomeX2 eNVy]

Looking at this, it is amazing how young THIS year's team will be. The only place we'll be taking depth hits are both lines and potentially LB. I'm sure we'll reload the OL; the DL scares me; and if Smith goes, LBs will be set back, but not to an unrecoverable level with the youth. I hope the FR and SO are as good as I think they can be; if so, we have some fun years ahead.

 

[Johannes]

It is confirmed that MVG and Cavalaris do not have scholarships, and Ishaq is not on the team as a counter right now. So we're at 85, with none of those guys (assuming MVG is treated the same way) having an impact on next year's class.

I'm assuming we'll be around 82-83 before we get out of fall camp, and then give scholarships to walk-ons.

Thanks Lax! I updated the OP with your info, including removing Ishaq until there is clarity with his situation.

I'm having deja vu. Didn't you make this thread before? I could have sworn that this thread already existed. I even remember thinking Procise should be listed under RB in both.

Either way. Good info.

Thanks! I have not made this thread before. Brooklyn's from last year was last updated after NLI day, and he indicated that he would not have the time to keep one updated for this year. I debated on where to put Prosise, but I left him in the status quo for the time being.

Isn't Russell eligible to come back after missing last year?

I am not sure that we know the status of KeiVarae's eligibility beyond this year yet. If anyone can provide insight, I would be interested. I do believe it will end up being a moot point, though. Barring the unforeseen, he will be part of the 2016 Notre Dame NFL Draft class.

 

[md_bennett]

I am not sure that we know the status of KeiVarae's eligibility beyond this year yet. If anyone can provide insight, I would be interested. I do believe it will end up being a moot point, though. Barring the unforeseen, he will be part of the 2016 Notre Dame NFL Draft class.

I think he is done either way. He will have had three years on the field and a fourth year counted for suspension/expulsion. You cannot "redshirt" an expulsion, so his time should be up.

 

[Johannes]

I think he is done either way. He will have had three years on the field and a fourth year counted for suspension/expulsion. You cannot "redshirt" an expulsion, so his time should be up.

That is how I thought KVR's eligibility situation would work out as well, but Ishaq's potential comeback gives me pause. He played in 2011, 2012, and 2013. If last year was a lost year of eligibility, then Ishaq should have no option of returning to the team.

Perhaps there is something different involving Ishaq's situation? Perhaps last year does not count against eligibility for either of them? Who can say with so little known? The only certainty (IMO) is that neither will be on scholarship for the 2016 season.

 

[md_bennett]

That is how I thought KVR's eligibility situation would work out as well, but Ishaq's potential comeback gives me pause. He played in 2011, 2012, and 2013. If last year was a lost year of eligibility, then Ishaq should have no option of returning to the team.

Perhaps there is something different involved Ishaq's situation? Perhaps last year does not count against eligibility for either of them? Who can say with so little known? The only certainty (IMO) is that neither will be on scholarship for the 2016 season.

Now that you say that I might have it wrong. Although KVR did attend college last year and Ishaq was working. Who knows how that plays into that kind of thing. NCAA rules as so convoluted anyway.

 

[BobbyMac]

Now that you say that I might have it wrong. Although KVR did attend college last year and Ishaq was working. Who knows how that plays into that kind of thing. NCAA rules as so convoluted anyway.

This is true md. In the old days, it used to be that once you first on a roster, you had 5 years to play 4. Not sure if they have amended that or not since.

.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

This is 15.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Post-July 4th slow summer time for football, so it's time for picnics, Koolaid, and Happy Thoughts [ persons insisting on drudging gloom and miserable attitudes need not come to the party. ]

Kelly's roster viewed through Green Glasses:

One way of estimating what you have to work with as to player quality would be to judge those guys on "draftability". So, I'm looking at that.

In a given year over the past five [I believe that there has been a subtle change in drafting theory in the NFL since the year 2010; slightly more RBs and LBs and WRs and OLs; slightly less DLs and TEs and DBs], there are the following [averaged] numbers of position players drafted:

DBs: 50 therefore about 12+ per position but mainly "corners";
DLs: 45 therefore about 11 per position, heavier to DEs;
OLs: 44 therefore about 9 per position, most listed as tackles;
WRs: 32 therefore about 11 per position, including "slot";
LBs: 32 therefore about 11 per position;
RBs: 20+4FBs therefore about 12-20 per position garbled up because a few teams employ fullbacks;
TEs: 14 therefore 11+ per position;
QBs: 11 therefore 11 per position.

RBs get drafted in higher percentages per position than anyone else and DBs second. OLine is last, and in the old days, TEs used to be there too. The theory about OLine is that once you cream off the studs they'll probably be around forever, unlike almost all the rest. And you have better chances of finding a good back-up as a free agent.

What does this have to do with our team? I look at those figures and think: If Coach has players who are among the [say] ten to 12 best-rated players at their positions as senior class, and ten to twelve of the best-rated players in their junior class, I probably have no gripe about player quality at any of those positions and the NFL will agree with me [and Kelly]. So, how do our starters stand up to the "twenty or so" best players in the country at their spots?

We've had some ratings flying around. In those ratings, our entire defensive backfield have been mentioned --- not all in "top tens" but mentioned nevertheless. MANY teams have not have all four mentioned, and are lucky to get two. Smith, Jones, Day are also cited, and I'll bet that Joe Schmidt is too, somewhere. That would mean seven or eight players on defense. Who does that leave over there? If there was a nickel back category surely Farley would be high there. That leaves us with Grace, Rochell, and Okwara. I'll bet Rochell is up there next year, and Okwara gets drafted by someone this year. Jarrett Grace's situation depends upon his health --- all the instincts are there. We are very close to a "draftable defense."

On offense: Folston, Zaire, Fuller, Robinson, Stanley, and NMart all get top twenty mentions. Our Carlisle/Prosise two-headed monster is not mentioned, but do we really think that Prosise won't be drafted once he shows his explosiveness? I wonder how many people really think that both Elmer and McGlinchey won't be drafted? Sure some of that isn't proven yet, but folks more expert than I see it coming. What does that leave? Our precocious youngster at guard and our TE. We are very close to a "draftable offense."

It's summertime. Time for the Koolaid. All whose impoverished lives have nothing better to do than to sh!t in the koolaid bowl, can take their odoriferous souls elsewhere.

 

[ARALOU]

Cheers sir, I am drinking it.

 

[Johannes]

Updated the OP to reflect the Deeb and Heuerman medical scholarships, as well as recent commitments.

For all the handwringing this spring, the roster is below NCAA limits before fall camp has even begun. Now it's a matter of what the 2016 class will look like. My guess is the 20-22 range.

 

[condoms SUCk]

Updated the OP to reflect the Deeb and Heuerman medical scholarships, as well as recent commitments.

For all the handwringing this spring, the roster is below NCAA limits before fall camp has even begun. Now it's a matter of what the 2016 class will look like. My guess is the 20-22 range.

For all of the questions about how we will get below 85, looks like CBK was right, it worked itself out.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

For all of the questions about how we will get below 85, looks like CBK was right, it worked itself out.

Can you imagine?

From his accuracy in prediction, you would think he had inside information or something!

 

[Legacy]

(In case this has not been posted)

WATCH: Notre Dame shocks senior walk-on with a scholarship

 

[Irish YJ]

we'll never get to 85

 

[Legacy]

we'll never get to 85

I am assuming no more transfers and no more medical scholarships. How many PWOs do we have in waiting? Then there is MVG and Ishaq.

 

[Legacy]

Do we now have twelve PWOs for the last three recruiting classes ('13, '14, '15)?

 

[PANDFAN]

per loy and also i believe wiltfong has suggested that we will be taking 25 this cycle

 

[CIrishWin]

Scott Daly
Jarron Jones

ONLY 2 5TH YEAR COMING BACK AND I SEE FULLER LUKE AND SMITH LEAVING EARLY

 

[P_Rose]

Scott Daly
Jarron Jones

ONLY 2 5TH YEAR COMING BACK AND I SEE FULLER LUKE AND SMITH LEAVING EARLY

CJ Prosise?

 

[anarin]

I see fuller and smith, I don't see Luke .

 

[CIrishWin]

CJ Prosise?

HE IS CLIMBING THE DRAFT BOARDS BECAUSE HE CAN CATCH THE BALL OUT THE BACK FIELD MAY BE HARD TO KEEP HIM

 

[P_Rose]

Never underestimate the power of BK, he convinced Ronnie Stanley to come back and he was a projected 1st rounder by many.