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Notre Dame Football vs. Michigan Gameday Primer

By Mason Plummer

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Jafar Armstrong #8 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish carries the ball against Brandon Watson #28 and Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Jafar Armstrong #8 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish carries the ball against Brandon Watson #28 and Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 12: Tyler Vaughns #21 of the USC Trojans makes a five-yard touchdown reception behind Troy Pride Jr. #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half of the game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Key Defensive Player for Michigan: Aidan Hutchinson, DE

The young sophomore DE is the player to watch when the Michigan defense is on the field. Hutchinson has been great this season for the Wolverines and has arguably been their best player on defense.

On the season, Hutchinson has tallied a team-high 36 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. To say he has been disruptive would be an understatement. Hutchinson stepped into a role that had massive shoes to fill, after Michigan sent former edge-rushers Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich to the NFL this past year. He has filled them, and then some.

Hutchinson will be key to what Michigan wants to do defensively as it will need to put pressure on Notre Dame QB Ian Book. Michigan will have watched plenty of tape of Book and the Irish offense and will have seen Book’s tendency to have ‘happy feet’ in the pocket. Forcing Book out of the pocket and making him run into sacks or try to beat this UM defense with his legs will be the key to success for the Wolverines.

Key Defensive Player for Notre Dame: Troy Pride Jr, CB

Senior CB Troy Pride Jr. has been largely a disappointment this season. Not in the sense that Notre Dame is giving up a ton of big plays or Pride is consistently getting beat, but he has just not been what many thought he would be. Pride has track star speed, but has yet to really show it.

Pride took over Julian Love’s position as the field corner in 2019. Before this season, Pride had played the boundary corner position, where sophomore CB TaRiq Bracy is now. Many expected the transition from Love to Pride to be seamless, but it has not been. Love was one of, if not the best, corner in all of college football last season. Pride is not quite on the level.

On the season, Pride has racked up 18 tackles (13 solo), and three passes defended. Pride is going to be thrown at likely quite a bit tonight against Michigan and this is a huge chance for him to prove himself at Notre Dame, as well as improve his draft stock.

Next. Notre Dame-Michigan Linebacker Comparison. dark

Pride will be tasked with another tough group of receivers, which are near the skill level of the talented USC trio he faced just two weeks ago. How he handles this tough task will be very telling to how Notre Dame fares in this matchup.

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