Green Out Opportunity: Why the Notre Dame Offense Could Put on a Show vs. Stanford
For as bad as the Stanford offense has looked this season, the defense may be just as disappointing.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Stanford General Manager Andrew Luck and Head Coach Tavita Pritchard brought in former USC Defensive Back Kris Richard to call the defense this season. The Cardinal Defensive Coordinator and DBs Coach made his name as a high-level NFL coaching assistant with the Seattle Seahawks. Richard was the DBs Coach during the prime of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” era from 2012-14, and was then promoted to DC from 2015-17. More recently, Richard served as the New Orleans Saints co-DC in 2022 and ‘23, and then the Jacksonville Jaguars DBs Coach in ‘24 and ‘25.
Stanford Results (2-3)
37-27 win vs Hawaii
6-45 loss vs Miami (FL)
7-35 loss at Duke
34-27 win vs Georgia Tech
3-57 loss at Wake Forest
Richard’s first five games as the Cardinal DC have not gone great, allowing at least 27 points in each contest and ranking last among Power Four conference teams in total, scoring, and passing defense. Below, you can find Stanford’s key defensive statistics:
458.8 total yards per game allowed (134th nationally; Last among P4 teams)
6.5 yards per play allowed (Last in the ACC)
38.2 points per game allowed (133rd nationally; Last among P4 teams)
26 TDs allowed (tied-134th nationally; Last among P4 teams)
299.8 passing yards per game allowed (137th nationally; Last among P4 teams)
8.28 yards per attempt allowed (Last in the ACC)
12 passing TDs allowed (tied-129th nationally; Last in the ACC)
3 INTs (tied-7th in the ACC)
159 rushing yards per game allowed (14th in the ACC)
4.7 yards per carry allowed (15th in the ACC)
14 rushing TDs allowed (tied-134th nationally; Last in the ACC)
50.8% opponent 3rd down conversion rate (133rd nationally; Last in the ACC)
3 fumbles recovered (tied-4th in the ACC)
0.8 sacks per game (tied-130th nationally; Last in the ACC)
The Notre Dame offense should be able to put on a show for its annual “Irish Wear Green” contest. QB CJ Carr enters this week with a 71% completion rate for 1,197 yards and 13 touchdowns with just one interception. He has also added three rushing scores. Speaking of rushing, the Irish’s current triple threat at running back consisting of Aneyas Williams, Nolan James Jr., and Jonaz Walton has combined for 756 yards and seven touchdowns across 154 carries. Through the air, Carr has repeatedly found the duo of Jordan Faison and Micah Gilbert, who have combined for 43 catches, 739 yards, and six touchdowns this season. Below are some of the Irish’s key offensive statistics:
428.4 total yards per game
41.2 points per game (tied-15th nationally)
27 TDs (tied-13th nationally)
161.6 rushing yards per game
266.8 passing yards per game
9.5 yards per pass (tied-14th nationally)
14 passing TDs (tied-12th nationally)
1 turnover (tied-1st nationally)
0 fumbles lost (1 of 12 teams with no fumbles lost)
67% 4th down conversion rate (tied-23rd nationally)
2 sacks allowed (tied-3rd nationally)
Now we will preview the Cardinal defensive personnel by position group below:
EDGEs
Tevarua Tafiti
The first player to highlight on this Stanford defense is the 6-2, 240-pound versatile edge rusher. Tafiti is in his fifth year with the Cardinal after originally committing to the program as a four-star recruit out of Waipahu, Hawaii. He notched three tackles in this matchup with the Irish a year ago.
This season, Tafiti has 15 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and three PBUs across five games played, including four starts. He recorded a season-high eight tackles and an assisted TFL against Duke. However, his best all-around performance, arguably, came against his home-state Hawaii when he recorded two tackles, two PBUs, and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the Cardinal win.
Tafiti displays his versatility by occasionally contributing in coverage in a linebacking role. The former four-star recruit has been limited in terms of pass rush production, though, with just three QB hurries recorded this year.
Omar Staples
The bigger pass-rushing threat of this EDGE duo is definitely Omar Staples. The 6-3, 265-pound senior is in his fourth year at Stanford. Last season, Staples finished with four tackles against the Irish.
The Oakland native has started all five games played this season, recording 14 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks. Staples had a nice outing in the win against Georgia Tech when he had three tackles and a sack. He also tallied a season-high of five tackles against Duke.
Overall, Staples has been solid as a pass rusher and run stopper this season. However, I would imagine he would like to build more consistency in both of these aspects. The senior struggled against Miami and Wake Forest.
Others to watch: Ernest Cooper, Gabe Kaminski, Adam Shovlin
Interior Linemen
Zach Rowell
Another starting DL to keep an eye on this Saturday is Zach Rowell. The San Diego native is in his fifth year at Stanford and had one tackle against the Irish last season.
This season, Rowell has 13 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and one forced fumble across five starts. The 6-3, 275-pound DL has recorded at least one tackle in each game. He stood out against Hawaii when he finished the win with four tackles, one TFL, and a forced fumble.
Forced fumble vs. Hawaii
Rowell has been at his best against the run this year. He has good size, but his pass production has been limited to just one QB hurry so far. The fifth year really struggled against Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.
Braden Marceau-Olayinka
Stanford’s space eater on this line is the 6-3, 310-pound senior. Marceau-Olayinka is in his fourth year at Stanford after originally committing to the Cardinal out of Melrose, Massachusetts. He finished with one tackle and was credited with an assisted tackle for loss against the Irish last season.
Through five starts this year, Marceau-Olayinka has eight tackles and 1.5 TFLs. The senior has recorded at least one tackle in each game and had his best performance against Georgia Tech when he tallied two tackles and one TFL. He possesses good size but needs to see more overall consistency to take his game to the next level.
Others to watch: Connor Bachhuber, Kole Briehler
Linebackers
Matt Rose
The heart of this Stanford defense resides in the team’s linebacker core, beginning with Matt Rose. The 6-2, 230-pound LB is in his fifth year with the Cardinal after committing to the program out of Brecksville, Ohio. Notably, Rose holds a unique connection to Notre Dame as his grandfather, Chuck Lima, played for the Irish in the 1950s. In last season’s matchup with his grandfather’s alma mater, the 2025 All-ACC Second Team LB finished the game with nine tackles.
Rose has played in four games this season after missing last week’s game due to injury. I would expect to see the productive tackler suit up this Saturday. Through his four games played, Rose has racked up 38 tackles and four TFLs. He has at least six tackles in each game played, and tallied a season-high of 12 against Miami. The Ohio native impressed against Georgia Tech when he recorded 11 tackles and a season-high 2.5 TFLs in the Cardinal win.
The experienced Stanford LB has been solid against the run this year and is a talented cover backer. However, he has been limited as a pass rusher and in terms of takeaway production this season. Rose’s recent injury may also be something to monitor throughout the game if he is not at 100%.
Jahsian Galvan
Another LB coming off an injury that I would expect to suit up Saturday is Jahsiah Galvan. The 6-2, 230-pound fifth-year is in his third season at Stanford as a former Northern Iowa transfer. Galvan came up with two tackles against the Irish in last season’s meeting.
In addition to missing last week’s contest, Galvan also did not play against Duke. In three games played, the West Liberty, Iowa native has recorded 21 tackles. He has at least four tackles in each game played and tallied a season-high of 10 tackles in the win against Georgia Tech.
Galvan is a physical, productive tackler. He has been good against the run this season, and stood out with five run stops against the Yellow Jackets. The former Northern Iowa transfer needs to get in the backfield more to impact the game, and he does have obvious health concerns if he does play this weekend.
Others to watch: Sam Mattingly, Zach Johnson
Defensive Backs
S Jay Green
The leader of the Stanford secondary is the 6-3, 215-pound fifth-year. Green is in his third season with the Cardinal as a former Washington transfer. Last season, the 2025 All-ACC Honorable Mention recorded a season-low one tackle against Notre Dame.
Through five games played this year, Green has tallied 31 tackles and one TFL. He has at least two tackles in each game and recorded a season-high of 11 against Wake Forest.
Green is a productive tackler who is willing to get involved physically. The former Washington transfer has good size, but his coverage production has lacked this year after leading the team in PBUs a year ago.
S Darrius Davis
The other starting safety to keep an eye on Saturday is Darris Davis. The 6-0, 200-pound junior is in his third year at Stanford after originally committing to the Cardinal out of Metairie, Louisiana. Davis recorded four tackles against the Irish last season.
The junior DB has 19 tackles, two PBUs, and one interception in five starts this season. He has at least two tackles in three games, and tallied a season-high of seven tackles and one interception against Duke. Overall, Davis is a solid ball-hawking DB who is a productive, physical tackler.
Interception vs. Duke
DB Charlie Eckhardt
Listed as a Safety on the Stanford roster, Eckhardt has been thrust into a corner role following the loss of starting CB Brandon Nicholson. The 6-2, 205-pound junior is in his third year with the Cardinal after originally committing to the program out of Centennial, Colorado. Eckhardt recorded one tackle for a loss against the Irish last season.
This year, the junior DB has 22 tackles, one interception, and a blocked punt across five games played, including two starts. He has at least two tackles in four games, and tallied a season-high nine tackles and one interception against Miami.
Interception vs. Miami
Given the interception and a blocked punt that resulted in a safety against Hawaii, Eckhardt has some big-play ability. He is a productive tackler with good size, but really has no coverage production outside of the pick.
Blocked punt vs. Hawaii
Nickel Leroy Bryant
Appearing primarily at nickel this year for Stanford has been Leroy Bryant. The Washington transfer is in his first season with the Cardinal.
This season, Bryant has 17 tackles, one forced fumble, and one PBU across five games played, including four starts. The Fairfield native has at least one tackle in each game, and stood out against Hawaii and Georgia Tech. He recorded five tackles and one PBU in the win over the Rainbow Warriors and five tackles and a forced fumble in the win against the Yellow Jackets.
Bryant is a physical, productive tackler with good size at 6-0 and 185 pounds. He has been limited in coverage production and did get exposed against Miami when he allowed two touchdowns and 70 yards across five receptions.
CB Dre Pollard
The final player to highlight on the Stanford defense who has really had to step up in Nicholson’s absence is true freshman Dre Pollard. The 6-1, 180-pound Las Vegas native committed to the Cardinal as a four-star recruit.
Pollard has six tackles across five games played this season, including one start. He has at least one tackle in three games, and tallied a season-high of three against Duke.
The freshman has displayed good tackling and physicality with solid size and length. Pollard has struggled in coverage this year as the young DB continues learning and developing at this level.
Others to watch: CB Xavier Harmon, CB Lasiah Jackson, CB Cam Richardson, CB Lonnie McAllister III, CB Brandon Nicholson (starting CB likely out for the season after suffering a non-contact leg injury vs. Georgia Tech)
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