Notre Dame football: 5 position battles to watch this spring

4. Safety

The safety position, probably the most complicated on the Notre Dame depth chart, consists of players with an assortment of different strengths, weaknesses, and attributes. The safety position was once one of little depth, but has manifested into one of the team’s deepest positions over the last couple of years.

For simplicity’s sake, let’s assume that Navy transfer Alohi Gilman starts at free safety. Kelly seems to love what he brings to the table, and it makes sense as Gilman has all the desirable attributes of a free safety. However, as good as Gilman is, he’ll still have to fend off last year’s starter Nick Coleman before claiming the role as his own.

With that aside, things are still blurry when it comes to establishing the starter at the strong safety position. Assuming sophomore Isaiah Robertson remains in the backup role at free safety, the Irish still have an assortment of depth at strong safety, including juniors Jalen Elliott and Devin Studstill, sophomore Jordan Genmark-Heath, and freshmen Houston Griffith and Derrik Allen.

Elliott, last year’s starter at the position, should get first dibs at the same role. However, Genmark-Heath impressed on special teams last season and could get a crack at the starting job should Elliott falter. As for the younger talents on the team, I’d be surprised to see any of them tabbed a day one starter, but we could see a variety of them eventually if Lea can’t find answers elsewhere.