How will Notre Dame use Northwestern transfer Rod Heard II?

Notre Dame spent their spring short a starting safety as transfer Rod Heard II was finishing up his time as a Northwestern student down the street.

Heard II follows the same path Brandon Joseph took a couple years ago, starring at Northwestern before ending up in South Bend.  So what does Heard bring to the mix for Notre Dame’s already talented secondary?

“Being able to maximize and make plays in all different phases of the game, I think that’s what makes me a special player,” the grad transfer said in late June . “I want to maintain that.”

“All these (interior) spots are kind of interchangeable now anyway,” said Heard, listed at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds. “I think that’s why they wanted me here, because I still have the ability to play the nickel, play safety, play zone coverage, play man coverage and all that.