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

Receivers/Tight ends

Starting wide receivers: Chase Claypool, Michael Young, Chris Finke
Backups: Javon McKinley, Joe Wilkins, Lawrence Keys III

If this was a healthy receiving corps, we would be seeing senior Chase Claypool and junior Michael Young on the outside with team captain Chris Finke running out of the slot. However, Young’s recent collarbone injury has sent Finke to the outside, leaving the slot wide open for the time being.

The receiver most likely to fill in for Finke during Young’s absence is sophomore Lawrence Keys III. Keys, a four-star recruit out of New Orleans, hasn’t seen any action for the Irish so far, but has earned glowing reviews in terms of his preparation from receivers coach Del Alexander. Sophomore Joe Wilkins has impressed, but he’s seen the majority of his work on the outside.

Both Javon McKinley and Kevin Austin have had an off the field issue or two, with the latter in serious jeopardy of missing the entire season. McKinley has seen little game action despite his standing as a senior, but he remains one of the primary options behind Claypool due to the inexperience of those below him.

The Irish could always instead option to keep Finke home in the slot while making the outside receiver across Claypool the spot to fight for. Should that be the case, look for Keys and Wilkins to be in a heat for the starting job.

Starting tight end: Cole Kmet
Backups: Brock Wright, Tommy Tremble

Junior Cole Kmet, another Irish receiver who fell victim to a broken collarbone, is probably hoping to return tomorrow. Referred to as a “good healer” by Kelly, Kmet was out catching footballs not too long after surgery. The Irish medical staff, however, are aiming for a Week 3 return against New Mexico. This would be a realistically ideal return date as it would give Kmet some playing time before the Irish travel to Athens to face off against Georgia.

In the meantime, tight end Brock Wright will be tasked with holding down the fort until Kmet returns. While Wright has primarily been known as a blocking tight end, he has put significant time into his skills in the passing game. Sophomore Tommy Tremble is more of a Kmet type, but he still has to iron a few things out before earning meaningful snaps.

With that said, the Irish will likely need to alter the game plan against Louisville, and potentially against New Mexico and Georgia as well if Kmet’s collarbone injury persists.