Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM PRESEASON 2023 31 Notre Dame offensive coordinator Gerad Parker knows the Irish corner- backs are tough for his receivers to deal with in practice. "Oh, yeah, you knew that going in," Parker said. "We knew that before we started, which is a testament to them." "That competition of two elite com- petitors who are ultimately super tal- ented is going to make this team better," Freeman said. "I want it to be back and forth. Benjamin Morrison got Tobias Merriweather on a one-on-one ball. I hope and I'm sure Tobias will get him back." Hart, meanwhile, is the biggest, most experienced and most physical of the group. The graduate student boundary corner also drew high praise from Free- man for his offseason work. "Cam Hart is a veteran, you know, he's made a huge jump in a year," Freeman said. "And I'm just saying, for a guy that has been a starter, he's made a huge, huge shift this summer. Just in terms of his work ethic off the field, I think it's film study, he's made a huge jump." RYLIE MILLS SETTLES IN AT DEFENSIVE TACKLE Rylie Mills tried to line up at defensive end for a one-on-one rep during prac- tice Aug. 1. The senior defensive tackle is familiar with that position, having played 140 snaps there in 2022. "What are you doing?" Mills said Washington asked him. "Why would you do that?" He didn't know. It was an instinct. But Mills is strictly a three-technique defensive tackle for Notre Dame this season, and more so than in years past he looks the part. T h e 6 - fo o t -5 M i l l s we i g h s 3 0 6 pounds right now, up from 296 this past season. He worked with Irish nutrition- ist Alexa Appelman this offseason, who helped him gain the weight gradually to the point where he feels almost like he did before. Just a little "sturdier," he said, with an enhanced ability to take on double teams. "I don't feel like I'm any slower than I was at 275," Mills said. "I think in my ability to go through drills and stuff, I still feel like the same player. I don't think I put on weight and I'm like, 'Oh shoot, I'm not as mobile.'" Mills' teammates are seeing the changes in action this fall. Junior defen- sive tackle Gabriel Rubio sees a quicker Mills with lower pad level and "drasti- cally" improved footwork. His on-field strength, Rubio said, is a sight to behold. "He is insanely strong for being 300 pounds," Rubio said. "He hits the offen- sive lineman and immediately, he locks out and he can shed that block any time he wants." In the weight room, Rubio has seen Mills bench press 405 pounds on heavier lifting days. That isn't his max, either. Mills benches 405 for multiple reps in each set. To the younger defen- sive tackle, that almost started to feel like the expectation. Teammates and coaches have noticed Mills take more of a leadership role be- yond just leading by example, both in the locker room and on the practice field. Onye, working more at three-technique than he has in the past, has received help from Mills with his technique and the lesser-known minutiae of the position. Offensive and defensive linemen, Washington said, often have to be the proverbial "tough guys" and "enforc- ers" to lead effectively. Mills is taking a different approach. "I think Rylie's embracing that in his own way." Washington said. "His desire to help people is what motivates him to be vocal, trying to connect to guys. I think it does a lot for our team and our defense." ✦ Vyper No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 12 Jordan Botelho 6-2½ 264 Sr./2 44 Junior Tuihalamaka 6-1⅞ 254 So./4 40 Joshua Burnham 6-3½ 248 So./4 51 Boubacar Traore 6-4 237 Fr./4 Nose Tackle No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 56 Howard Cross III 6-0⅞ 288 Gr./2 97 Gabriel Rubio 6-5¼ 306 Jr./3 92 Aidan Keanaaina 6-3 309 Sr./3 98 Devan Houstan 6-4 292 Fr./4 Defensive Tackle No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 99 Rylie Mills 6-5⅛ 306 Sr./2 47 Jason Onye 6-4½ 294 Jr./3 95 Tyson Ford 6-3⅞ 274 So./4 93 Armel Mukam 6-3 280 Fr./4 41 Donovan Hinish 6-1⅝ 280 So./4 Field End No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 1 Javontae Jean-Baptiste 6-4½ 260 Gr./1 31 Nana Osafo-Mensah 6-3⅛ 264 Sr./3 91 Aiden Gobaira 6-4⅝ 256 So./4 17 Brenan Vernon 6-4⅞ 259 Fr./4 Will Linebacker No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 8 Marist Liufau 6-2¼ 239 Gr./2 3 Jaylen Sneed 6-1⅛ 222 So./3 25 Preston Zinter 6-2 232 Fr./4 Mike Linebacker No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 27 JD Bertrand 6-1 233 Gr./2 42 Nolan Ziegler 6-3 234 So./4 34 Drayk Bowen 6-2 234 Fr./4 Rover No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 24 Jack Kiser 6-1⅝ 232 Gr./2 3 Jaylen Sneed 6-1⅛ 222 So./3 23 Jaiden Ausberry 6-0⅛ 224 Fr./4 Boundary Cornerback No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 20 Benjamin Morrison 6-0¼ 185 So./3 7 Jaden Mickey 5-11½ 180 So./3 18 Chance Tucker 5-11¾ 184 Jr./3 or 16 Micah Bell 5-9½ 173 Fr./4 Field Cornerback No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 5 Cam Hart 6-2½ 207 Gr./2 7 Jaden Mickey 5-11½ 180 So./3 15 Ryan Barnes 6-1⅞ 186 Jr./3 or 29 Christian Gray 5-11¾ 189 Fr./4 Slot Cornerback No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 13 Thomas Harper 5-10⅝ 193 Gr./1 6 Clarence Lewis 5-11½ 202 Sr./2 11 Ramon Henderson 6-1 196 Sr./2 Strong Safety No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 0 Xavier Watts 5-11¾ 204 Sr./2 4 Antonio Carter II 5-11¾ 207 Gr./2 21 Adon Shuler 5-11½ 208 Fr./4 Free Safety No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 2 DJ Brown 6-1¼ 202 Gr./1 13 Thomas Harper 5-10⅝ 193 Gr./1 or 11 Ramon Henderson 6-1 196 Sr./2 22 Ben Minich 5-11⅞ 193 Fr./4 FALL CAMP DEFENSE DEPTH CHART Here is Blue & Gold Illustrated's projection for Notre Dame's 2023 scholarship depth chart after watching some early practices at fall camp.