Notre Dame Football: Who is the most important defensive player for the Irish?

Notre Dame football continued its momentum defensively last season. If the Irish want to repeat their success, what player is most important to the cause?

Notre Dame football has had its ups and downs on the defensive side of the ball in recent years. When the Irish played for a national championship in 2012, it rode the back of the defense to an undefeated regular season. Last season, the Irish often leaned on its defense when the offense struggled, although certainly not to the same extent as they did in 2011-2012.

But ahead of the 2019 campaign, the Irish have some question marks: Interior defensive line, linebacker, and cornerback.

Defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, linebackers Drue Tranquill and Te’Von Coney, and cornerback Julian Love all went to the NFL and left significant voids in their wake. At this point in their program, the Irish should have the talent to replace them without a significant dropoff in production, but not without the help of some of the current mainstays.

So that begs the question: With all the changes going on in the Notre Dame defense, which guy is the most important to what Notre Dame will do on defense next season?

That distinction, without a doubt, should go to drop defensive end, Julian Okwara.

The senior is back in 2019 and is perhaps the most highly-touted NFL Draft prospect on Notre Dame’s roster. It’s with good reason.

And while Julian Okwara is most known for his prowess as a pass rusher, he undoubtedly will have more responsibility in the run game this season.

Last season, the Irish had the luxury of two middle linebackers who would clean up ball-carriers who managed to sneak through the line. This season, however, the Irish don’t have the same luxury with the linebacker position in question.

Enter Julian Okwara.

The idea has been posed that the Irish may call their defense differently this season, loading up to the inside to protect a young linebacking corps. This would allow the linebackers and safeties to use their athleticism to run sideline to sideline, making plays.

Sound like a system tailor made for Julian Okwara to you?

While Okwara has made waves as a pass rusher, it’s reasonable to conclude that he’s poised to have an even bigger year in the Irish defense moving forward. This is what makes him the most important cog in the Notre Dame football defensive machine.