Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Notre Dame Football Position Preview: Cornerback

Previously Covered
Quarterback
Running Back
Fullback
Wide Receiver
Tight End
Offensive Line
Defensive Line
Linebacker
Safety

Spotlight: Raeshon McNeil

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Also Returning: Mike Anello, Terrail Lambert, John Leonis, Raeshon McNeil

Lost: Leo Ferrine, Wade Iams, William David Williams, Ambrose Wooden (graduation), Darrin Walls (personal), Munir Prince (transfer)

Gained: Leonard Gordon (position change), Gary Gray (injury), Robert Blanton, Jamoris Slaughter (freshmen)

Coming into the spring, everyone was raving about Notre Dame's secondary as the strength of their defense. That strength took a hit with the news that Darrin Walls would not be playing this season. The loss of Walls slides everyone up a spot on the depth chart.

Walls' best friend, Raeshon McNeil, takes over the starting spot opposite Terrail Lambert. Walls and McNeil came in together, but it always looked like Walls was the better of the two. This year is McNeil's chance to prove himself.

The loss of Walls and the transfer of Munir Prince hurt the depth of this unit. Gary Gray, Robert Blanton, and Jamoris Slaughter are talented, but have a combined zero minutes of experience at the college level (although, as a sophomore who was injured last year, Gray has at least been with the team for a while).

Leonard Gordon is a former safety who has been moved to second string cornerback. Special teams ace Mike Anello is the number five corner. That means he's one injury away from seeing the playing field in dime packages, unless one of the freshman pass him on the depth chart.