Notre Dame linebacker notes: Rover/vyper blend, a freshman spring practice standout
The rover position’s evolution has taken another turn as Al Golden and Marcus Freeman shape Notre Dame’s defense.
The hybrid linebacker spot former defensive coordinator Mike Elko brought to Notre Dame in 2017 and Clark Lea continued from 2018-20 has added some similarities to the vyper end position, Freeman said. It’s as conducive to a linebacker/defensive end tweener as a linebacker/safety one.
“We’re doing some different things with our rover,” Freeman said. “Is he in space? Is he on the ball? Our rover and our vyper aren’t too different from what we’re having them do.”
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Blitzing was part of the rover job description before, but as a secondary duty. Last season, the two primary rovers combined for 59 pass rushes in 685 snaps, per Pro Football Focus. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, the 2019-20 rover, logged 133 blitzes in 1,330 snaps across two seasons. He was often in coverage on passing downs. Going forward, though, blitzing might be a more common usage.
“It starts with pass rush, being able to rush the passer,” defensive line coach Al Washington said. “Then just being able to address a block at the line of scrimmage, use your hands, play with some contact balance. Those are things that stand out in terms of those two positions being alike. But you can do whatever you want with those two positions to fit to the player and whatever they have a knack for.”
Senior Jack Kiser, a 6-2, 222-pound former high school safety, remains the starter after manning the position last year. His backup in 2021 was converted safety Isaiah Pryor, whose departure leaves an opening behind Kiser.
The tweaks in responsibilities and edge rusher similarities could help junior Jordan Botelho’s case to not only win the No. 2 rover job, but settle into a position after bouncing between rover, vyper and linebacker in 2021.
Botelho (6-2, 245) is at rover now after ending the season there. He primarily worked with the second-team defense in the March 26 practice open to reporters. He made 18 tackles (3.0 for loss) with two sacks in 11 games last season. His snap counts varied week to week as much as any other defensive player, topping 19 in four games and not reaching five in four others. His mean streak can be asset – if harnessed.
“When you live it up, he shows up,” Freeman said. “He’s learning how to practice. The biggest problem with Jordan is he just goes as hard as he can, and sometimes, that’s not good. You have to learn to practice under control. What you’re seeing is a big improvement in how to practice. Sometimes I have to get after him, but I’m happy with what I’m seeing.”
Botelho played vyper in 2020 and the first part of 2021, which felt like the best fit for his burst and speed off the edge. The overlap between his current position and his old one should still allow him to put those traits to use.
“Botelho is a guy who can generate a pass rush,” Washington said. “He’s powerful enough at the line.”
Junior Tuihalamaka makes strong first impression
One player has stood out among Notre Dame’s quartet of former four- or five-star freshman linebackers this spring, and Freeman thinks it’s primarily because he’s the lone member of that group to have focused exclusively on linebacker in high school.
Junior Tuihalamaka had one primary job at Mission Hills (Calif.) Bishop Alemany High School, and it was the same inside linebacker position he’s playing for the Irish now.
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“Probably the most college-ready out of high school would be Junior,” Freeman said. “Just physicality, physical, he’s big. He’s doing a really, really good job. The three other guys are all athletically gifted. They’re continuing to learn.”
Those three juggled multiple roles in high school – at minimum – or played another position entirely. Nolan Ziegler was a wide receiver and safety. Joshua Burnham was a quarterback in addition to playing linebacker. Jaylen Sneed was a defensive weapon who often lined up on the edge and rushed, as well as dabbled on offense.
“They have to learn how to become linebackers, whereas Junior played linebacker,” Freeman said. “That’s probably why the transition for him has been smoother than the others. They’re all showing a lot of progress.”
