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Notre Dame Football: Most Valuable Irish Players

By Andrew Hall

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Josh Adams #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs for a 14-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Josh Adams #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs for a 14-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Tonight, the Echoes awards banquet will take place in South Bend. The best and brightest stars of Notre Dame football team will receive awards for their 2017 performance. Of course, the most important accolades that the coaching staff plans to give out is the “Most Valuable Player” awards.

Two players will garner recognition for their play on a certain side of the ball. Then, the staff and players name one other outstanding individual as the most valuable player for the entire team.

(Side note: typically, three separate players receive these awards and not only two named to three awards. For example, last year, Equanimeous St. Brown received the Offensive MVP while DeShone Kizer landed the Team MVP Award )

So, who are the contenders for each award?

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TEAM MVP

Because of how these players are selected, starting with the overall Team MVP makes the most sense. Here are the contenders for the Team MVP:

  • Josh Adams (Running Back)
  • Quenton Nelson (Guard)
  • Mike McGlinchey (Tackle)
  • Jerry Tillery (Nose Gaurd)
  • Te’von Coney (Linebacker)
  • Drue Tranquill (Linebacker)
  • Julian Love (Defensive Back)

Quenton Nelson represents the most talented player on this list. What he does is completely unappreciated and undervalued. However, the 2017 season cannot be told without Josh Adams.

At the end of the season, Adams may break the regular season rushing record. He deserves the MVP. Team MVP: Josh Adams

OFFENSIVE MVP

With Adams off the board as an option, it is abundantly clear who deserves the Offensive MVP. As stated above, Nelson is the best player at his position on the Notre Dame football team. After being snubbed for the Outland Trophy, Nelson is a clear choice for Offensive MVP. His play resembled the play of the 2017 Fighting Irish. Extremely physical (well for the most part). Offensive MVP: Quenton Nelson

DEFENSIVE MVP

Lots of players on the defensive side of the football are deserving of the award.

Drue Tranquill, perhaps like Nelson, played as well as any player at a given position. Most of his work to disrupt the play from his Rover position did not always show up on the stat sheet. But, the Irish Linebacker made the plays needed to be successful.

Tranquill is not the only player deserving. Fellow Linebacker Te’von Coney played better than any Notre Dame Linebacker since Manti Te’o. Against USC and NC State, he basically represented a one-man wrecking crew.

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In the back end of the defense, Julian Love made several impact-plays for the Fighting Irish. Love tallied 3 interceptions, 17 passes broken up and 2 interception returns for touchdown. His 20 total passes defended ranked 3rd in the country.

An extremely difficult decision must be made. Defensive MVP: Drue Tranquill

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