Michigan State, through two contests, has favored both its traditional Power-I formation as well a heavy dose of three wide receiver sets. For the first Saturday this season, Irish fans might see a near 50/50 split between the team's "base" 4-3 defense and its Nickel Package - a personnel group that received the bulk of the defensive snaps vs. Nevada's "Pistol" and Michigan's spread-option offense.
Notre Dame Offensive Depth Chart
Left Tackle – 5th-Year Senior #72 Paul Duncan
Left Guard – Senior #59 Chris Stewart
Center – Senior #55 Eric Olsen
Right Guard – Sophomore #78 Trevor Robinson
Right Tackle – Senior #74 Sam Young
Tight End – Sophomore #9 Kyle Rudolph
(Z) Wide Receiver – Sophomore #3 Michael Floyd
(X) Wide Receiver – Junior #23 Golden Tate
Fullback – Junior #33 Robert Hughes
Halfback – Junior #5 Armando Allen
Quarterback – Junior #7 Jimmy Clausen
Key Offensive Reserves
Tight End – Junior #83 Mike Ragone
Tight End/Fullback – Senior #86 Bobby Burger
Halfback – Sophomore #25 Jonas Gray
Slot Receiver/X Receiver – Junior #18 Duval Kamara
Slot Receiver/Z Receiver – Senior #82 Robby Parris
Z Receiver/Slot Receiver – Freshman #11 Shaquelle Evans
Halfback – Freshman #32 Theo Riddick
Left Guard/Center – Senior #51 Dan Wenger
Left Tackle – Junior #77 Matt Romine
Possible Offensive Contributors
Guard – Junior #76 Andrew Nuss
Wide Receiver – Sophomore #1 Deion Walker
Wide Receiver – Sophomore #84 John Goodman
Fullback – #34 Senior James Aldridge: Note – Aldridge is listed as “Doubtful” by head coach Charlie Weis due to a shoulder injury suffered on September 5.
Irish Defensive Depth Chart
Defensive End – Sophomore #89 Kapron Lewis-Moore
Defensive End – Senior #90 John Ryan
Defensive Tackle – Sophomore #9 Ethan Johnson
Nose Tackle – Junior #95 Ian Williams
WILL Linebacker – Junior #58 Brian Smith
MIKE Linebacker – Senior #49 Toryan Smith
SAM Linebacker – Sophomore #45 Darius Fleming
Cornerback – Sophomore #12 Robert Blanton
Cornerback – Senior #2 Darrin Walls
Free Safety – Junior #22 Harrison Smith
Strong Safety – 5th-Year Senior #28 Kyle McCarthy
Key Defensive Contributors
CB/Nickel Defender – Senior #8 Raeshon McNeil
Nickel Defender – Senior #31 Sergio Brown
Defensive End – Junior #56 Kerry Neal
Linebacker – Freshman #5 Manti Te’o
Possible Defensive Contributors
Nose Tackle – Sophomore #98 Sean Cwynar
Cornerback – Junior #4 Gary Gray
Cornerback – Sophomore #26 Jamoris Slaughter
Defensive Tackle – Sophomore #79 Hafis Williams
SAM Linebacker – 5th-Year Senior #41 Scott Smith
Defensive End – Senior #53 Mo Richardson
Irish Special Teams
Kicker – Freshman #40 Nick Tausch
Punter – Senior #43 Eric Maust
Kick Returner – Freshman #32 Theo Riddick and Senior #21 Barry Gallup
Punt Returner – Junior #23 Golden Tate
Long-Snapper – Freshman #60 Jordan Cowart
Short-Snapper – Sophomore #52 Braxston Cave
Holder – Senior #43 Eric Maust