Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 11 Ramon Henderson, senior safety

Listed measurements: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds.
2023-24 year, eligibility: A senior, Henderson has two seasons of eligibility remaining thanks to the universal pandemic eligibility waiver rendering his five games in 2020 moot in terms of this eligibility clock.
Depth Chart: Henderson will spend the preseason competing with sixth-year DJ Brown and Rhode Island graduate transfer Antonio Carter to be the starting safety alongside senior Xavier Watts.
Recruiting: Henderson is a rarity since the December early signing period was instituted in the 2018 cycle, waiting until the three-day window to make his decision. Henderson chose Notre Dame over Utah with Tennessee, Washington and Oklahoma also interested.

CAREER TO DATE
Henderson played receiver in high school, so it was always expected he would take his freshman season to learn his new position of cornerback. He did so, appearing on only special teams in 2020, before then moving to safety late in 2021 after Kyle Hamilton was sidelined for the season.

Henderson quickly took over as a starter and helped the Irish survive Hamilton’s absence. DJ Brown helped Henderson readily grow into the role, sometimes coaching him on positioning from the sideline.

And Brown then beat out Henderson for a starting role in 2022, though Henderson certainly still played plenty.

2020: 5 games.2021: 13 games, 4 starts; 14 tackles with half of one for loss and one interception along with one pass broken up.2022: 11 games, 2 starts; 23 starts with two for loss including half a sack, as well as one fumble recovered.

QUOTES
In retrospect, that 2021 move may not have been intended to be long-term for Henderson, though it became such. His speed and range always created thoughts of cornerback work, and based on safeties coach Chris O’Leary’s comments this past April, Henderson may have still practiced at cornerback a decent amount in 2022.

That will not be the case any longer.

“He can play both safety spots,” O’Leary said. “We’re trying to calm down where he moves because we’ve used him so many places. He has played in games at three, four different positions, because he’s so talented.

“Me and [cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens] always say [Henderson] is one of the most valuable guys because of what he can do. He can cover anyone on the field. He can go to corner, safety. This year, we’re trying to trim it down and make him truly a safety. That will be field and boundary.”

RELATED READING: Confidence brewing for Notre Dame safety Ramon Henderson

WHAT WAS PROJECTED A YEAR AGO
“Henderson played more than Brown to close the season, something that suggests he could do so early this year, as well. If so, Henderson may suddenly be a starter.

“His speed and overall athleticism shined in his opportunities last year, leading to some subtle summer buzz. That buzz may yield little, but it is something that has not often accompanied Notre Dame’s safeties.

“Regardless of if he starts, Henderson will find his way into the defensive rotation. He was projected as a nickel back entering last season, and per Brian Kelly, Henderson spent most of the season practicing at nickel back. If fifth-year nickel back TaRiq Bracy is played off the field for the fourth time in his five years, then perhaps Henderson will move into that need. If not, he should still be a prime candidate to round out the Irish dime package.

“New defensive coordinator Al Golden may be a linebackers coach at heart, and his best defensive unit is unquestionably the defensive line, but his safeties could be the pieces that turn Notre Dame’s defense from good to great. The Irish have cornerback worries, both in depth and quality, but they have an abundance of safeties. At least three of which — (Brandon) Joseph, (Houston) Griffith and Henderson — have spent time at cornerback.

“The coverage possibilities among that group should compensate for those cornerback concerns. Henderson will play a role in that, albeit one yet uncertain.”

2023 OUTLOOK
Henderson has the physical attributes wanted at safety, but he has not shown consistency in coverage or in tackling downfield. The bigger plays that come from such mishaps are moments the Irish obviously hope to avoid in 2023.

Henderson’s best moments may come in obvious rushing downs, chances to pair his physical attributes with senior safety Xavier Watts’s penchant for physicality. Safety is not usually a position that warrants a goal-line package, but finding a role for Henderson may necessitate it.

Bringing in Carter as a transfer was done with an understanding he would get a clear chance to start, and as a sure tackler, he will have a few advantages over Henderson.

DOWN THE ROAD
Both Carter and Watts can return in 2024, setting the duo up to be two-year starters amplifying each other. Brown will be out of eligibility after this season, and after him, only Henderson has any experience among Notre Dame’s safeties.

Unless Henderson has an abhorrent 2023, he should make the 2024 safeties a three-for-two rotation. With his understanding of the entire secondary, he could support both Carter and Watts, and in that case, his playing time will be enough to justify finishing out his collegiate career in South Bend.

NOTRE DAME 99-TO-0
The summer countdown begins anew, Rylie Mills to Deion Colzie
No. 99 Rylie Mills, senior defensive tackle, moving back inside from end
No. 98 Devan Houstan, early-enrolled four-star defensive tackle
No. 97 Gabriel Rubio, junior defensive tackle, one of three Irish DTs with notable experience
No. 95 Tyson Ford, sophomore defensive tackle, up 30 pounds from a year ago
No. 93 Armel Mukam, incoming freshman defensive end, former Stanford commit
No. 92 Aidan Keanaaina, a senior defensive tackle now ‘fully healthy’ after a 2022 torn ACL
No. 91 Aiden Gobaira, sophomore defensive end, former four-star recruit
No. 88 Mitchell Evans, the next starter at ‘TE U
No. 87 Cooper Flanagan, incoming freshman tight end, four-star recruit
No. 84 Kevin Bauman, senior tight end coming off a torn ACL
No. 83 Jayden Thomas, junior receiver, probable No. 1 target in 2023
No. 79 Tosh Baker, senior tackle, again a backup but next year ...
No. 78 Pat Coogan, junior interior offensive lineman
No. 77 Ty Chan, sophomore offensive tackle, former four-star recruit
No. 76 Joe Alt, first-team All-American left tackle
No. 75 Sullivan Absher, incoming freshman offensive lineman
No. 74 Billy Schrauth, sophomore left guard, likely starter
No. 73 Andrew Kristofic, fifth-year right guard, likely starter
No. 72 Sam Pendelton, early-enrolled freshman offensive lineman
No. 70 Ashton Craig, sophomore interior offensive lineman
No. 68 Michael Carmody, senior offensive lineman
No. 65 Michael Vinson, sixth-year long snapper, four-year starter
No. 64 Joe Otting, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 59 Aamil Wagner, sophomore offensive tackle
No. 56 Charles Jagusah, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 56 Howard Cross, fifth-year defensive tackle, multi-year starter
No. 55 Chris Terek, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 54 Blake Fisher, junior right tackle, second-year starter
No. 52 Zeke Correll, fifth-year center, third-year starter
No. 51 Boubacar Traore, incoming freshman defensive end, four-star recruit
No. 50 Rocco Spindler, junior offensive guard
No. 47 Jason Onye, junior defensive tackle on the verge of playing time
No. 44 Junior Tuihalamaka, sophomore defensive end, former linebacker
No. 42 Nolan Ziegler, sophomore linebacker, Irish legacy
No. 41 Donovan Hinish, sophomore defensive tackle following in his brother’s footsteps
No. 40 Joshua Burnham, sophomore linebacker-turned-Vyper end
No. 38 Davis Sherwood, junior fullback/H-back, former walk-on
No. 34 Drayk Bowen, early-enrolled freshman linebacker, baseball infielder
No. 32 Spencer Shrader, South Florida transfer kicker
No. 31 Nana Osafo-Mensah, fifth-year defensive end
No. 29 Christian Gray, early-enrolled freshman cornerback coming off a knee injury
No. 29 Matt Salerno, sixth-year receiver, former walk-on
No. 27 JD Bertrand, fifth-year linebacker, third-year starter, possible captain
No. 25 Preston Zinter, early-enrolled freshman linebacker, subtle recruiting win
No. 24 Jack Kiser, fifth-year linebacker, third-year starter, most efficient defender
No. 24 Jadarian Price, sophomore RB, reportedly recovered from an Achilles injury
No. 23 Jaiden Ausberry, early-enrolled freshman linebacker, four-star recruit
No. 22 Ben Minich, early-enrolled freshman safety, four-star recruit
No. 22 Jeremiyah Love, incoming freshman running back, four-star recruit
No. 21 Adon Shuler, early-enrolled freshman safety coming off shoulder surgery
No. 20 Benjamin Morrison, sophomore cornerback, preseason All-American
No. 19 Jaden Greathouse, early-enrolled freshman receiver, Blue-Gold Game star
No. 18 Steve Angeli, sophomore quarterback, competing for the backup role
No. 18 Chance Tucker, junior cornerback
No. 17 Brenan Vernon, incoming freshman defensive end, four-star recruit
No. 17 Rico Flores Jr., early-enrolled freshman receiver, four-star recruit
No. 16 Micah Bell, incoming freshman cornerback, speedy four-star recruit
No. 15 Ryan Barnes, junior cornerback
No. 14 Bryce McFerson, sophomore punter facing a challenge for a second straight year
No. 14 Braylon James, early-enrolled freshman receiver, four-star recruit
No. 13 Holden Staes, sophomore tight end, up 20 pounds in a year
No. 13 Thomas Harper, Oklahoma State graduate transfer safety/nickel back
No. 12 Penn State RB transfer Devyn Ford gives Notre Dame newly-needed backfield depth, experience
No. 12 Jordan Botelho, senior Vyper defensive end
No. 11 KK Smith, incoming freshman receiver, speedster
No. 4 Rhode Island transfer safety Antonio Carter gives Notre Dame desperately needed backline depth

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