Clemson at Notre Dame: Blue-Chip Comparison

An in-depth look at the Clemson and Notre Dame depth charts.

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Clemson and Notre Dame square off this weekend in a matchup of programs both known for their recruiting prowess.

While some of the shine has been removed from the matchup due to the Fighting Irish dropping out of the Top 25, there is still plenty on the line for the Tigers, who debuted at No. 4 in the initial CFP Rankings on Tuesday night.

Despite Notre Dame's less-than-stellar 5-3 record, the Irish still feature plenty of talent, as does Clemson, who has routinely recruited at an elite level under Dabo Swinney.

Blue-Chip Comparison

Quarterback

Player	Class/Stars	Position Rank	Overall Rank
DJ Uiagalelei (CU)	2020/5*	1 (Pro Style)	10
Drew Pyne (ND)	2020/4*	8 (Pro Style)	225

When Tyler Buchner was lost early in the season, Marcus Freeman had to turn to the fairly inexperienced Pyne. The Irish don't ask a lot of the redshirt sophomore, but he has hit on 62% of his passes, with 13 TDs to just four interceptions. However, he is also throwing for just 170 YPG.

Uiagalelei is coming off his worst performance of the season, where he threw two picks and lost a fumble in two-plus quarters against Syracuse. He had committed just three turnovers all season coming into that game. 

With Clemson on a bye last weekend, Uiagalelei will have had two weeks to flush the performance, and if the Tigers are going to come away with a win, the team needs its starting QB at his best, with one of the most important things protecting the football.

Advantage: Clemson

Running Back

Player	Class/Stars	Position Rank	Overall Rank
Will Shipley (CU)	2022/5*	2	22
Phil Mafah	2022/4*	11	185
Chris Tyree (ND)	2020/4*	1 (APB)	70
Logan Diggs	2021/3*	35	493
Audric Estime	2021/4*	13	231

Even without Kobe Pace, who is out injured, Clemson still features one of the best one-two punches at the position with Shipley and Mafah. The coaches have extreme confidence in both players, and both are capable of carrying this offense on their shoulders in a pinch.

Notre Dame also brings a stout group of backs to the table, and running the ball is this team's identity. While Tyree is listed atop the depth chart, it's Estime who leads the team in rushing. However, similar to the situation at Clemson, this is a staff that has confidence in all three players. The Irish come in averaging just shy of 190 yards per game on the ground, and slowing down this trio of backs will be key.

Advantage: Push

Wide Receiver

Player	Class/Stars	Position Rank	Overall Rank
Joseph Ngata (CU)	2019/4*	9	52
Antonio Williams	2022/4*	6	61
Beaux Collins	2021/4*	12	86
Jayden Thomas (ND)	2021/4*	51	326
Braden Lenzy	2018/4*	10	215

Notre Dame's top two wideouts have combined for 24 catches and three TDs on the season. With Pyne at QB, this is not a group that will keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night. 

While the Tigers absolutely feature loads of talent out wide, it's a position the team still needs more production from. With Collins having been held without a catch the past two games, the sophomore is due for a bounceback. Williams has been one of the constants since being inserted in the starting lineup, despite being a true freshman.

Advantage: Clemson

Tight End

Player	Class/Stars	Position Rank	Overall Rank
Davis Allen (CU)	2019/3*	39	807
Jake Briningstool	2021/4*	1	61
Michael Mayer (ND)	2020/5*	2	32
Mitchell Evans	2021/3*	23	493

Mayer is one of the best in the country and is Notre Dame's biggest receiving threat. He's a matchup nightmare. He has almost twice as many catches (47) and receiving yards (580) as anyone on the team. Neutralize him and chances are you take away any chance the Irish have in the passing game.

Allen and Briningstool give the Tigers two players that can stretch the field, though, and the coaches have done a good job at getting both involved this season, particularly in the red zone.

Advantage: Notre Dame (Slight)

Offensive Line

Player	Class/Stars	Position Rank	Overall Rank
LT Jordan McFadden (CU)	2018/3*	66	819
LG Marcus Tate	2021/4*	8	127
C Will Putnam	2019/4*	5 (OG)	101
RG Walker Parks	2020/4*	5 (OT)	50
RT Blake Miller	2022/4*	16	208
LT Joe Alt (ND)	2021/4*	32	400
LG Jarrett Patterson	2018/4*	25 (OT)	369
C Zeke Correll	2019/4*	3	95
RG Josh Lugg	2017/4*	15 (OT)	120
RT Blake Fisher	2021/4*	8	55

This is arguably the strength of this Notre Dame team. Every player along the OL is a blue-chip talent and is being coached by Harry Heistand, one of the best in the business. The group has excelled at opening running lanes for the running backs, despite the offense's limitations in the passing game.

Clemson also comes in with blue-chip prospects at every position but LT. That's where Jordan McFadden resides, though, a player that has undoubtedly outplayed his recruiting rankings. He is currently considered one of the best LTs in the ACC and has been named second-team ACC in each of the past two seasons. The right side, particularly the freshman Miller, will need to hold up against the Notre Dame defensive front.

Advantage: Notre Dame

Defensive Line

Player	Class/Stars	Position Rank	Overall Rank
DE K.J. Henry (CU)	2018/5*	3	14
DT Bryan Bresee	2020/5*	1	1
DT Tyler Davis	2018/4*	12	137
DE Myles Murphy	2020/5*	1	7
VYP Isaiah Foskey (ND)	2019/4*	13 (WDE)	211
DT Jayson Ademilola	2018/4*	12	128
DT Howard Cross III	2019/4*	24 (SDE)	337
DE Rylie Mills	2020/4*	7 (SDE)	159

No doubt, the strength of this Clemson team. With the way the Irish like to run the ball, this is where this game could potentially be won or lost.

The scary part is this group has yet to play a full four quarters. They're also all available, something that just hasn't happened very often over the past couple of seasons. Add in Xavier Thomas now having a full game under his belt, and it feels like that complete performance is coming at any time.

The Notre Dame defensive front is also pretty stout. They have size and are extremely physical. This will be the Tigers' OL biggest test of the season to date. Foskey leads the team with 7.5 sacks and can not be allowed to live in the Clemson backfield.

Advantage: Clemson

Linebackers

Player	Class/Stars	Position Rank	Overall Rank
WILL Trenton Simpson	2020/5*	1 (OLB)	26
MIKE Jeremiah Trotter Jr.	2021/4*	5	37
SAM Barrett Carter	2021/5*	3	33
ROV Jack Kiser (ND)	2019/3*	21 (OLB)	416
MLB JD Bertrand	2019/4*	19 (OLB)	366
WLB Marist Liufau	2019/3*	28 (OLB)	464

While the Tigers don't have the experience at the position they've had in recent years, this is the most athletic and fastest the team has been at LB in quite some time. After missing the Syracuse game, Carter is expected back, and he is arguably the best athlete on the field.

The Irish are also more athletic at the position than a season ago. This group just makes plays, despite Bertrand being the only blue-chip talent.

Advantage: Clemson (Slight)

Secondary

Player	Class/Stars	Position Rank	Overall Rank
CB Sheridan Jones (CU)	2019/4*	15	130
SS Andrew Mukuba	2021/4*	8	167
FS Jalyn Phillips	2019/3*	37	448
CB Nate Wiggins	2021/4*	7	118
Cam Hart (ND)	2019/3*	81 (WR)	644
LS DJ Brown	2018/3*	49 (CB)	487
RS Brandon Joseph	2019/3*	83	1005
CB Benjamin Morrison	2022/4*	35	311

After some early season struggles, Clemson's secondary has really started to round into form as of late. The return of Jones, who missed multiple games with an injury, only makes the Tigers better on the backend.

While the Irish are lacking in what is generally referred to as sheer talent, what they don't lack is experience. Outside of Morrison, who is a freshman, this secondary group features guys who have played a lot of football.

Advantage: Clemson

FanDuel Sportsbook has the Tigers listed at -3.5 against Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, this week. The total is set at 46.5.

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