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2020 Defensive Recruiting: What Would a Dream Class Look Like for Notre Dame?

By Nathan Erbach

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Adetokunbo Ogundeji #91 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after a play in the first half against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Adetokunbo Ogundeji #91 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after a play in the first half against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on prior to their game against the Michigan Wolverines at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

We’ve seen what a dream offensive class would look like for Notre Dame in 2020. Now we turn to the defensive side of the football.

Notre Dame fans only need to go back a few years to see the desperate state defensive recruiting was in under former defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. His scheme and production were bad enough as is, but his lack of desire to recruit set the team even further back. The class of 2017 saw zero corners to South Bend, and defensive line recruiting was hit or miss — with multiple lower three star prospects taken as key cogs.

Fast forward to 2019 and the Irish coaching staff is set to sign back-to-back impressive defensive hauls — including 16 four-stars and one possible five-star in Kyle Hamilton. If Notre Dame were to pull off Asa Turner and Isaiah Foskey in February, that would make it 19 four-star or higher athletes in a span of 24 months — something only programs like Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State can also say.

Even with all of this said, there is still room for improvement — and that starts with elite talent. As mentioned, Hamilton is the only (likely) five-star Notre Dame has brought in since 2016 on defense. If the Irish want to win a National Championship, more of these guys need to get to South Bend.

What would a dream defensive class look like in South Bend for 2020? Keep reading to find out…

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