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Notre Dame Football: Three reasons Irish can be elite in 2020

By Ben Belden

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish passes the ball during the Camping World Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish passes the ball during the Camping World Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame defeated Iowa State 33-9. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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2. A talented defensive line

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 29: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers avoids a tackle by Daelin Hayes #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter 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: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers avoids a tackle by Daelin Hayes #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter 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) /

It’s no secret that the Irish are losing some talent on the defensive line and its pass rush will undoubtedly take a hit with loss of Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem. Replacing those two will undoubtedly be a large priority for the Irish defense.

The good news, though, is that the Irish have the right players to step into important roles.

After having his 2019 injury cut short due to injury, Daelin Hayes will step in to the role of drop defensive end, which is a position that he split with Okwara before Okwara took command of the position. In his graduate season in South Bend, Hayes looks to be the pass-rusher he was advertised to be when he came to Notre Dame.

Hayes won’t be alone in terms of players looking to have breakout graduate seasons.

Ade Ogundeji has had a quiet, but productive career at Notre Dame, but has mostly been overshadowed by the production of Khalid Kareem. With Kareem gone, Ogundeji will be cast into a leading role in Notre Dame’s defense.

Last season, Ogundeji totaled 34 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks, according to Notre Dame’s website. And as if that wasn’t good enough, Pro Football Focus gave Ogundeji the second-best defensive grade on the team in 2019.

While the Irish have much to replace, Hayes and Ogundeji are the right guys for the job.

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