For years we've heard the success of the SEC and national championship caliber teams has been because of their defenses (namely their defensive lines) and for years we've heard that ND can't recruit the caliber of players along the defensive line to compete for national championships. Currently ND has the DL to do that...but now they don't have the LB's?
Here's a Rivals Ranking 2-Deep comparison of of Alabama's 2011 National Championship linebacking corps compared to our 2-Deep this spring:
ALABAMA- TWO DEEP LINEBACKERS
Courtney Upshaw: Position Rank:12 -National Rank: #131
Adrian Hubbard: Position Rank:10 -National Rank: #189
Dont’a Hightower: Position Rank: 15 -National Rank: No Ranking
Chris Jordan: Position Rank: 22 -National Rank: No Ranking
C.J. Mosley : Position Rank: 6 -National Rank: 56
Nico Johnson: Position Rank: 2 -National Rank: 32
Jerrell Harris: Position Rank: 3 -National Rank: 34
Alex Watkins: Position Rank: 5 -National Rank: No Ranking
NOTRE DAME- TWO DEEP LINEBACKERS
Prince Shembo: Position Rank 7 : -National Rank: 238
Ishaq Williams: Position Rank: 2 -National Rank: 16
Manti Teo: Position Rank: 2 -National Rank: 12
Kendall Moore: Position Rank: 22 -National Rank: No Ranking
Dan Fox : Position Rank: 13 : -National Rank: No Ranking
Carlo Calabrese: Position Rank: 25 -National Rank: No Ranking
Danny Spond: Position Rank 27: -National Rank: No Ranking
Ben Councell: Position Rank: 5 -National Rank: 91
Other Linebackers:
Anthony Rabasa : Position Rank: 11 : -National Rank: No Ranking
Jarrett Grace: Position Rank: 24 -National Rank: No Ranking
Nicky Barrati: Position Rank: 29 -National Rank: No Ranking
Justin Utupo: Position Rank 62: -National Rank: No Ranking
