We’re done.
Done with the opt-outs, the transfer portal additions and subtractions, the coaching/staff changes (for now), the depth chart reshuffling and the wondering and worrying and waiting for this guy or that guy or those guys to put the pads back on, buckle the chinstraps and play one more game.
Depth chart: Who’s where for No. 15 Notre Dame football for Sun Bowl vs. Oregon State?
It’s almost time to again play some football, which No. 15 Notre Dame (9-3) will do Friday against Pac-12/Two-Pac No. 19 Oregon State (8-4) in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl (2 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS). Here are four players to watch as we get four more quarters for the last time until Labor Day:
Hello, again: Round three at Notre Dame for veteran offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock
No. 19 OREGON STATE BEAVERS (8-4)
OLB ANDREW CHATFIELD JR. (10)
Destruction lurks down the defensive statistics sheet in Chatfield, a 6-foot-2, 254-pound outside linebacker/wrecking ball who somehow found his way to Corvallis from Florida, where he spent his first three college football seasons.
Chatfield doesn’t lead the Beavers in total tackles, but he’s seemingly in on many plays. Specifically, in the backfield of opposing offenses forcing them into figuring it out the fly. Chatfield ranks 12th on the team in total tackles (27 over 12 games), but his strength lies in other areas.
Like rushing the quarterback. Like hurrying the quarterback. Like sacking the quarterback. Chatfield has a team-high nine tackles for loss totaling 99 yards. All those tackles for losses are sacks. He’s also made two interceptions for 32 yards, has two pass breakups, four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
Normally, Crutchfield would be someone the Irish offense would look to and likely neutralize. Stop that guy. But this isn’t your 2023 Irish offense. Notre Dame is without its two starting tackles (Joe Alt, Blake Fisher) for this one, which means Crutchfield might start his rush somewhere across the river in Juarez and eventually blow up the Irish backfield. Once there, he’ll do what he does – destruct.
QB BEN GULBRANSON (17)
This spot should be for former Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, except he’s back in the transfer portal (or maybe the NFL draft) after one season in Corvallis. It should be for backup Aidan Chiles because everyone loves the backup quarterback, something Irish fans would admit. Except Chiles followed former Oregon State coach (and player) Jonathan Smith to Michigan State.
That leaves the Beavs with their No. 3 quarterback who played in one game and threw one pass in 2023 in redshirt sophomore Ben Gulbranson.
Gulbranson is the third stringer in name only. He’s not your average backup to the backup. In 2022, the native of Newbury Park, California was the guy. He played 10 games. He started eight. Oregon State went 7-1 with Gulbranson at the controls. He completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 1,455 yards and nine touchdowns. He earned most valuable player honors in the Las Vegas Bowl. In one four-game period, he ran for five touchdowns. The only other quarterback to do that in a similar stretch? USC’s Caleb Williams. Yeah, him.
Gulbranson’s good, and he’s going to have to be. Good still might not cut it against that Notre Dame defense, which is borderline great.
No. 15 NOTRE DAME (9-3)
QB STEVE ANGELI (18)
Notre Dame rolled out a dancing banana on social media this month to announce Angeli as the starter, but that’s another story. The story of this one should’ve been graybeard Sam Hartman closing his one-year apprenticeship at Notre Dame in the bowl, but he decided otherwise. Decided that he’s done. Decided, really, that it’s (peanut butter) Angeli time.
We’ve seen snapshots of Angeli this season. Like the impressive rollout/touchdown toss against his body to freshman tight end Cooper Flanagan in the final stages of the Pittsburgh game. Marcus Freeman still raves about how few quarterbacks could make that throw, which Angeli made look easy.
Angeli appeared in seven games as a backup and completed an impressive 76 percent of his passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns. He certainly looked the confident/cocky part. He prepared every single practice rep as if he was the starter. Now he is. He won’t have as many offensive options as Hartman, which might put the game more on his shoulders. The 6-2, 211-pounder from Westfield, New Jersey wants that pressure. We need to see how he responds to that pressure.
This game’s an audition for Angeli. Maybe for Notre Dame. Maybe for someone else.
ROVER JAYLEN SNEED (3)
Will coordinator Al Golden and his defense, which ranks first in the country for pass efficiency (94.91) and eighth in scoring (16.6) and total defense (282.9 ypg.) feel the need for Sneed? Jaylen Sneed?
The depth chart has shuffled since the regular season closed last month. Will linebacker starter Marist Liufau is on to the next phase of his football career, which means Jack Kiser moves into that Will role. That pushes the 6-2, 233-pound Sneed, a sophomore, into Kiser’s rover role.
Whether that translates into more snaps for Sneed remains to be seen. He appeared in 12 games but made only 14 tackles, including a sack, a tackle for loss, two pass breakups, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. He often left you wanting more. More chance to be around the ball. More chances to make more plays that makes you go, whoa.
Sneed is as talented as they come in a linebacker room that isn’t short on production/potential. Can Sneed use whatever role and however many snaps he’s given in El Paso as a springboard into something special in 2024? It’s been two seasons of small steps. This game might allow Sneed to take a big one.
Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact: (574) 235-6153.
2023-12-28 15:13:46
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