Notre Dame vs Texas A&M: A Defensive Depth Chart Breakdown
- Brenden Duffy
- 3 days ago
- 9 min read
(Left) Photo via Texas A&M Athletics; (Right) Photo via Notre Dame Athletics
When Notre Dame hosts Texas A&M on Saturday evening, it will be a rematch of two defensive-minded head coaches in Marcus Freeman and Mike Elko. Freeman and the Irish survived last year’s defensive battle with a 23-13 win at College Station. No doubt Elko and the Aggies will be seeking revenge this weekend.
So far, Texas A&M’s defense has played well against inferior opponents. Meanwhile, Notre Dame struggled at Miami, most notably with a lack of a pass rush, which led to coverage getting burned all game. In the young season, missed tackles seem to be a theme for both of these top-25 squads. The Aggies have 22 misses through two games, with 16 coming against the run, potentially opening some opportunity for Irish RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price to make a big play. On the other side, the Irish defense recorded 12 missed tackles in week one, something that must be cleaned up if Notre Dame wants to remain among the elite defenses in college football.
Interior Linemen:
Albert Regis (Texas A&M) - At 317 pounds, this tackle is a force against the run. Regis has registered eight tackles this season, including four big run stops. The A&M Graduate has not been as effective against the pass, recording just one QB pressure across 47 tries. Regis against Notre Dame’s interior will be a matchup to watch throughout the game.
DJ Hicks (Texas A&M) - The 6-3, 295-pound tackle has not recorded a stat yet, but he has made his presence known in the pass rush. Hicks has notched four pressures on 29 pass rush attempts, including a QB hit. Notably, the junior has not had much of an impact against the run this year.
Tyler Onyedim (Texas A&M) - Arguably, the most well-rounded interior lineman for the Aggies is another 6-3, 295-pounder. Onyedim, an Iowa State transfer, has five tackles on the year, including three run stops. The grad-transfer has not been as formidable against as a pass rusher, but he has still notched three pressures, including a QB hit. Onyedim does have two missed tackles against the run this year, but he does tend to make up for his errors with big plays later.
Gabriel Rubio (Notre Dame) - The 321-pounder served well against the run at Miami, but was nonexistent in his limited pass rush attempts. Rubio finished the contest with four tackles. He will face a big test this week against an elite A&M pass-blocking unit.
Donovan Hinish (Notre Dame) - Another Captain who disappointed in week one, the 277-pounder was dominated against the Hurricanes' rush. Hinish recorded a tackle and QB pressure in the loss. With the Aggies bringing a dangerous and versatile running attack, the Pittsburgh native must step up his play.
Others to watch: DJ Sanders (Texas A&M), Landon Rink (Texas A&M), Dealyn Evans (Texas A&M), Chace Sims (Texas A&M), Jason Onye (Notre Dame), Jared Dawson (Notre Dame)
Edge Rushers:
Dayon Hayes (Texas A&M) - A former Colorado and Pitt Graduate transfer, the 6-3, 264-pound edge has five tackles. Overall, Hayes has been solid, with three stops against the run and two QB pressures so far. The well-rounded DE can play off either edge.
TJ Searcy (Texas A&M) - Another transfer edge rusher, this 6-5, 255-pounder comes from Florida. Searcy has not had the start he probably imagined, with just one tackle through his first two games as an Aggie. He has shown flashes against the run, but his pass-rushing abilities are questionable with just one pressure on 31 attempts. Like Hayes, Searcy is also capable of playing off both sides of the line.
Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) - While he plays more of a true outside linebacker role, Howell’s ability to get to the passer off the edge is nearly elite. Howell has five tackles and three sacks this season. The redshirt senior scored a hat trick last week when he recorded all three of his sacks on back-to-back-to-back plays. In addition, he has added eight QB pressures this year on just 39 pass rush attempts. Howell is not as impactful against the run but is still a threat.
Bryce Young (Notre Dame) - The sophomore edge finished week one with three tackles, making his impact against the pass with a QB hit. Irish fans have clamored for more playing time for Young after recording just 13 pass rush snaps at Miami.
Boubacar Traore (Notre Dame) - In his first game back from a torn ACL, the Boston native was one of the better Irish defenders at Miami. Traore tallied six tackles and Notre Dame’s lone sack of the game. He also added two QB pressures and had two nice run stops. Barring any setbacks, Traore looks set for his breakout year.
Others to watch: Solomon Williams (Texas A&M), Sam M’Pemba (Texas A&M), Rylan Kennedy (Texas A&M), Marco Jones (Texas A&M), Junior Tuihalamaka (Notre Dame), Joshua Burnham (Notre Dame), Jordan Botelho (Notre Dame)
Linebackers:
Taurean York (Texas A&M) - The Aggies’ leading tackler is the 5-10 junior Captain. York enters this weekend with 12 tackles, including one for a loss. The interior backer finished with 10 tackles in week one against UTSA. York is one of the better cover linebackers in the SEC, having allowed four receptions for 42 yards on 10 targets this season. He has not been as clean against the run with two missed tackles, but he still has five run stops. York is definitely on track to be playing on Sundays in the next two years.
Scooby Williams (Texas A&M) - The 6-2 interior backer has had a solid start to his year, recording nine tackles, 2.5 for a loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery through two weeks. On just nine pass rush attempts, Williams has tallied three QB pressures, including the sack he had last week. In addition to the sack, the LB added six tackles in the win against Utah State. Like York, Williams also has five run stops and two missed tackles against the rush, making this a solid run-stopping duo in the middle of the defense. In coverage, the senior has not been targeted much, allowing just one six-yard reception on three targets.
Jaylen Sneed (Notre Dame) - The Irish LB had a quiet yet solid week one performance with three tackles at Miami. Additionally, he added a QB pressure on one of his limited pass rush attempts. Sneed was also solid in coverage, not drawing any targets in his direction.
Drayk Bowen (Notre Dame) - The 6-2 defender was able to find himself consistently around the ball at Miami. While he finished second on the team with eight tackles, Bowen also led the Irish with four misses. He had two key run stops but was invisible on his limited pass rushes. In coverage, Bowen allowed just one reception on one target for a seven-yard gain. The LB Captain has to finish his tackles, especially against an A&M offense filled with elusive playmakers who will make you pay for mistakes.
Others to watch: Jordan Lockhart (Texas A&M), Daymion Sanford (Texas A&M), Noah Mikhail (Texas A&M), Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (Notre Dame), Jaiden Ausberry (Notre Dame)
Defensive Backs:
Tyreek Chappell (Texas A&M) - The Aggies’ starting nickel back can be found at slot corner, likely matching up with Notre Dame WRs Jaden Greathouse and Will Pauling. Chappell enters the matchup with six tackles, 1.5 for a loss, and a pass defended. The redshirt senior has somewhat struggled this season, allowing seven receptions for 53 yards on eight targets. Against the run, Chappell has just one stop in addition to a missed tackle on 38 rushes. This could be a defender that the Irish offense chooses to attack frequently.
Will Lee III (Texas A&M) - One of the top CBs in the SEC, the 6-1 senior has nine tackles and a pass breakup through two games. Lee has been solid against the run with four tackles. His coverage skills have been shaky to start this year, having allowed four receptions for 61 yards, including a touchdown, on nine targets. Regardless, I would not recommend consistently targeting the man known as “The Blanket” around College Station.
Dezz Ricks (Texas A&M) - Opposite of Lee is the 6-1 redshirt sophomore and former Alabama transfer. Ricks has been solid in coverage so far, with no catches allowed on four targets. He has recorded one tackle and a pass breakup this season. The CB also has a missed tackle. Ricks has not had an impact against the run so far this year.
Julio Humphrey (Texas A&M) - Another wide corner, the Georgia transfer is a 6-1 redshirt junior. It appears Humphrey’s decision to transfer has paid off, as he is seeing regular playing time for the first time in his college career. He has four tackles this season and did not allow a reception on his lone target of the year. Humphrey has also been solid against the run with two tackles, including a stop.
Bryce Anderson (Texas A&M) - The Aggies’ safety, a 5-10 senior, has six tackles on the year but also leads the team with four misses. Anderson has been okay in coverage, allowing two receptions on two targets for 13 yards. Against the run, he has four tackles, including two stops; however, this is also where he has recorded three of his missed tackles.
Marcus Ratcliffe (Texas A&M) - The other starting safety for the Aggies is the 6-2 junior and former San Diego State transfer. This season, Ratcliffe has nine tackles, one for a loss, and a team-high two pass breakups. He has been solid in coverage, allowing just 10 yards on three receptions across four targets. Against the run, Ratcliffe has made two stops on three tackles. He has two missed tackles on the year. The Notre Dame offense should try to target Ratcliffe early and get a sense of how truly capable he is against more talented receiving threats compared to the last two weeks. If Ratcliffe proves to be legit, then pivot to a different pass plan.
Christian Gray (Notre Dame) - Miami’s passing game plan appeared to be target number six as he finished with three tackles and two pass breakups on the stat sheet. Gray struggled in coverage all night, allowing seven receptions for 64 yards on 12 targets. On Miami’s game-winning drive, Gray was called for a 15-yard pass interference call that moved the ball into the Hurricanes’ territory. The Irish CB needs to be better, as Miami’s Joshua Moore, Malachi Toney, Keelan Marion, and Jojo Trader are likely not going to be the best WRs he lines up against this season.
Adon Shuler (Notre Dame) - Another Irish DB that struggled at Miami, the safety finished the contest with two tackles. Shuler was a negative against the run with two missed tackles against the Hurricanes' ball-carriers. The six-footer was solid in coverage, avoiding being targeted; however, he did fail to make a play on CJ Daniels’s one-handed touchdown, which was not a great look.
Leonard Moore (Notre Dame) - The star CB did not perform up to standards in week one, tallying three tackles, two of which came against the run. Moore was brutal in coverage, allowing five catches on seven targets for 50 yards, including a touchdown, while not recording a pass breakup. Miami’s CJ Daniels had Moore’s number in the Irish loss, and the CB should be anxious to get back on the field and put that performance behind him.
DeVonta Smith (Notre Dame) - A non-factor in week one, the Alabama transfer will look to make an impact this week. Smith finished with one tackle and was invisible against the run in his limited attempts. In coverage, the nickelback was fine, allowing one catch for seven yards on two targets.
Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame) - The Irish safety led the team in week one with nine tackles, including two assisted tackles against the run. Stroman was called upon to clean up others' coverage mistakes, doing most of his work chasing down open Miami receivers. He allowed an eight-yard reception on his lone target. Like Bowen, Stroman always seemed to be around the ball.
Others to watch: Dalton Brooks (Texas A&M), Bravion Rogers (Texas A&M), Jordan Shaw (Texas A&M), Jayvon Thomas (Texas A&M), Adonyss Currie (Texas A&M), Myles Davis (Texas A&M), Jarred Kerr (Texas A&M), Tae Johnson (Notre Dame), Karson Hobbs (Notre Dame), Luke Talich (Notre Dame), Dallas Golden (Notre Dame), Mark Zackery IV (Notre Dame)
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