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Notre Dame Football: The 3 Most Irreplaceable Players on the Irish Defense

By Mason Plummer

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 08: Nolan Givan #88 of the Ball State Cardinals catches a touchdown pass over Alohi Gilman #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 8, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Ball State 24-16. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 08: Nolan Givan #88 of the Ball State Cardinals catches a touchdown pass over Alohi Gilman #11 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 8, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Ball State 24-16. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 29: Stacy Coley #3 of the Miami Hurricanes catches the ball as Troy Pride Jr. #18 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is there for the tackle at Notre Dame Stadium on October 29, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Miami 30-27. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Troy Pride Jr.

When you are the No.1 corner at a powerhouse school — especially one that does not traditionally recruit the secondary positions very well — you become a key player in the team.

Last season it was Julian Love, this season it’s Troy Pride Jr.

Moving over to the field corner position from boundary, a lot will be expected of Troy Pride this season. He was stellar last year at the boundary corner position, but he has no small shoes to fill, as he is expected to match the production of one of the best corners Notre Dame has seen in recent history — Julian Love.

Pride is a more than capable field cornerback and he will put that on display this season.

Last season at the boundary corner, Pride racked up 47 tackles (37 solo), two interceptions and one forced fumble. A solid season, but one he will look to improve on in 2019.

Behind Troy Pride Jr. is where things get a bit murky, hence why he is so valuable to this team.

Currently, it looks as if TaRiq Bracy is slotted as Notre Dame’s No. 2 field corner. Bracy, just a sophomore, has a ton of talent, but has yet to earn much time to prove himself thus far in his college career.

After Bracy, any one of Avery Davis, Shaun Crawford or K.J. Wallace could play if disaster struck and both Pride and Bracy were to go down.

Davis, a junior, has next to no experience at cornerback, but Brian Kelly has had great things to say so far this spring about the quarterback turned running back turned cornerback.

The injury-plagued fifth-year senior Shaun Crawford is tough to rely on, but could definitely do the job if called upon.

Incoming freshman K.J. Wallace is a highly-touted recruit, but we have yet to see him don the Notre Dame blue & gold just yet.

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