Moving Lorenzo Styles To Cornerback Could Be Very, Very Intriguing For Notre Dame

Where Lorenzo Styles ends up next fall remains to be seen, and based on what we've seen this spring it would seem the rising junior is still poised to be a wide receiver for the Irish. It was just a year ago that expectations were that Styles would become the team's top pass catcher, and taking that kind of speed away from wide receiver would be hart to do.

But we saw Styles work at cornerback in the most recent open practice, and sources indicate it wasn't the first time that happened. So it begs the question, is this something Notre Dame is considering as a potential full-time move, or is it more of a "just in case" situation that gives Styles some work there in case the need for him to move in an emergency situation arises.

But one can't help but think about what a move like this could mean for Notre Dame's cornerback room, the wide receiver room and for Styles' future.

CAN STYLES PLAY CORNERBACK?

Styles was a talented cornerback at Pickerington Central in Ohio, and some colleges - including Ohio State - recruiting him to play the position out of high school. Styles played a lot of press man for the Tigers, so he would have some experience playing a style the Notre Dame defense plays.

Him playing defense was something that was always in the back of my mind during his high school career. Here is what I wrote about Styles when he was still a high school player and a Notre Dame commit:

"Styles is open to playing on either side of the ball, which adds to his value. If Notre Dame loads up at wide receiver or comes up short at cornerback the Pickerington Central star could easily slide over to defense and provide starter caliber talent. Ideally the Irish are able to have success recruiting cornerbacks, which would allow Styles to stay on offense, but having that versatility makes him incredibly valuable."

Could Styles be a starting caliber cornerback now? That remains to be seen, and he hasn't played the position since he was a senior in high school. There would be a lot of work needed, but Styles has the length, strength and speed to play the position at a high level if he can get comfortable and learn the necessary technique.

IMPACT AT CORNER

We don't know if Styles will in fact move to cornerback or if he'll stay at receiver. The next two topics are a discussion of what it would mean for Notre Dame if for some reason Styles did in fact make the move on a full-time basis.

Notre Dame is pretty deep at cornerback right now, but behind starters Cam Hart and Benjamin Morrison, and junior backup Clarence Lewis there isn't a lot of experience. Rising sophomore Jaden Mickey played some last season, but juniors Chance Tucker and Ryan Barnes have played very little football. Talented freshman Christian Gray is dealing with a late spring injury, and incoming freshman Micah Bell is a burner, but he'll need technical work and strength.

Styles only has the 2023 and 2024 seasons remaining from an eligibility standpoint, so he would be considered a veteran. He would give the defense a talented body to compete for a role in 2023, and if Styles makes a smooth transition he could give the cornerback depth chart a boost in length and speed. Styles is one of the team's fastest players, and his size becomes plus at cornerback.

Another question is where would Styles play. Would he push for time on the outside, where he'd compete with Mickey, Lewis, Tucker and Gray for the No. 3 corner role, and then to replace Hart as a starter in 2024? Or would he slide into the nickel, where he can learn behind Thomas Harper for a season and then compete with Lewis and Barnes for the starting nickel spot in 2024.

If Styles stuck outside, would that allow Notre Dame to be comfortable enough to move Mickey or Tucker inside to compete with Lewis for the starting role there in 2024? All are things I don't have answers to, but Styles would certainly make things very interesting at the position.

IMPACT AT WIDE RECEIVER

Notre Dame cannot make a move like this, or even consider a move like this, unless it feels comfortable with what remains at wide receiver, and what will be coming in the future. Styles still has a chance to become a difference maker at wide receiver, assuming he can get back to what we saw from him as a freshman. You better feel really, really good about what you have at the position.

Fifth-year senior Matt Salerno is the only Irish receiver without eligibility remaining beyond this season. Deion Colzie and Jayden Thomas have two seasons of eligibility remaining, Tobias Merriweather has three seasons remaining and the Irish signed an outstanding four-man receiver class of Jaden Greathouse, Braylon James, Rico Flores Jr. and Kaleb Smith. Notre Dame also moved Chris Tyree to wide receiver, and he also has two seasons of eligibility remaining (2023-24).

It remains to be seen if transfer Kaleb Smith will be part of the team in the fall, and if he does it would make a move like this even easier. Right now I'm not considering Smith as part of the action, so keep that in mind.

Colzie and Merriweather are set to be the starters on the outside, with Thomas and Tyree handling the slot. Salerno also has experience playing the slot. Thomas can give snaps on the outside if need be, but behind Colzie and Merriweather you'll likely see the early enrollee freshmen getting a chance to play there. The reality is even without Styles and Smith, Notre Dame would have nine wideouts on the roster this fall, and five of them have experience.

Landing one of the nation's best group of receiver recruits in the 2023 class is a big reason this kind of move would even be considered. Greathouse, James and Flores have all shown flashes this spring, and they appear to be every bit as good as advertised. The reality is they aren't ready yet, with them being just 10 practices into their careers, but there are still about 30 practices remaining for them before the first game, so they have plenty of time to get ready to provide legit snaps this season.

Notre Dame has the depth and talent necessary to consider this kind of move. Will it happen? We'll find out at some point, but Notre Dame is in a win-win here. If they decide to keep Styles at receiver it means one of their most explosive athletes remains on offense, and he leads the team with 54 catches and 684 receiving yards in his career.

If they decide to move Styles it means they are giving the cornerback room one of the team's best athletes. It makes a strength and even bigger strength. It will be interesting to see what Notre Dame decides to do, but this dilemma shows why it's important to recruit players with versatility, and that was always a strength for Styles.

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