Notre Dame Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2019 season

Defensive line

Starting ends: Khalid Kareem, Julian Okwara
Backups: Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Daelin Hayes

If the offensive line talk isn’t enough to get you excited, the explosiveness and depth at the defensive end position should be more than enough. After an encouraging 2017 season, Khalid Kareem took a huge step last year, recording 10.5 tackles for loss along with 4.5 sacks. Not to be outdone, current senior Julian Okwara brought down the quarterback eight times in the same season.

Okwara, who also made the AP All-American second team for the preseason, joined Kareem and backup Daelin Hayes to form one of the most dominant pass-rushing trios in the nation. With Hayes returning and spring standout Adetokunbo Ogundeji providing depth behind Kareem, look for this group to finish as one of the most productive positional units on the team.

Starting tackles: Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (DT), Kurt Hinish (NT)
Backups: Jayson Ademilola (DT), Jacob Lacey (NT)

The depth behind the four players listed above is fairly thin, but the Irish are confident that the combination of these four should be able to get things done following the departures of Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bonner. Keep an eye on this position throughout the Louisville game as Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Kurt Hinish’s respective abilities to play full-time rarely been tested.

There’s a good chance that the duo above maintain a hold on their starting jobs, but those below them aren’t too far off from making a push themselves. Jayson Ademilola logged 18 total tackles behind Tillery in 2018, so he has enough experience to take on a more permanent role if need be. While true freshman Jacob Lacey doesn’t have the experience, his talent alone suggests that it’s only a matter of time until this is his position becomes his to lose.