Notre Dame Football: Way-too-early projected 2-deep 2019 depth chart

Receivers

Starting wide receivers: Chase Claypool, Michael Young, Chris Finke
Backups: Kevin Austin, Micah Jones, Lawrence Keys III

While bringing back the trio of Miles Boykin, Chase Claypool, and Chris Finke would’ve been ideal for quarterback Ian Book’s progression in 2019, the Irish were still able to salvage Claypool and Finke from a draft class that has robbed the Irish of significant talent and leadership across the board.

However, the departures of one class make room for another, something that should have Irish fans excited in light of the work that has been done by the recruiting staff in the wide receiver department of late. From Kevin Austin to Braden Lenzy, the Irish are stacked with young receivers just waiting their turn.

Assuming we can pencil in Claypool on the outside and Finke in the slot, offensive coordinator Chip Long will have a lot of deciding to do when figuring out who fits best into his Book-led offense. Junior Michael Young, last season’s fourth most productive receiver, figures to battle it out with Austin for the starting job across Claypool.

Outside of those four, the Irish have a plethora of unproven talent at their disposal. Joe Wilkins and Micah Jones could be starting alongside one another in the coming years while Lenzy boasts perhaps the greatest speed on the entire team. Lawrence Keys III, a potential suitor for the slot next season, could offer Finke much-needed rest in 2019, something he received little of last year.

Starting tight end: Cole Kmet
Backup: Brock Wright

Considering the uncertainty surrounding just about every other position on the roster, the tight end unit provides a resounding amount of clarity. Cole Kmet, the most threatening receiving tight end in the group, will likely see an overwhelming bulk of the action. With both Alize Mack and Nic Weishar out of town, Kmet’s junior year should yield exceptional opportunity.

Brock Wright, while not a receiving threat like Kmet, still brings much to the table in the form of blocking. Given Kmet’s inconsistency in participation throughout the 2018 season, it’s possible that you may have heard Wright’s name on a more frequent basis. However, that’s likely to change as Kmet embraces a larger role in 2019.

As planned, both Kmet and Wright will be playing with their impending successors right behind them in the forms of Tommy Tremble and George Takacs. Tremble, a receiving threat, and Takacs, primarily a blocker, are in perfect positions to learn from their respective counterparts before suiting up for themselves in the future.