Notre Dame Football: Suddenly, linebacker is a position of stability

Prior to the 2019 season, Notre Dame football had major questions at the linebacker position. Ahead of the 2020 season, it is now a position of stability.

For the Notre Dame football program, the talk of the offseason in 2019 was the question mark at the linebacker position. The Irish were on the cusp of trying to replace the likes of Drue Tranquill and Te’Von Coney from the second line of its talented defense.

Ahead of the 2020 campaign, however, the Irish linebackers have taken a back seat when it comes to storylines, and I mean that in the best way possible. While other positions will rely on newcomers to step into more prominent roles, the linebacking group brings back plenty of experience.

With Drew White, Jordan Genmark Heath, Bo Bauer, Jack Lamb, and others in the fold, the Irish will have experience at both the Buck and Mike linebacker positions. White took control of one starting position alongside the only departure from from the position group, Asmar Bilal. The rest of the group split time, with Jack Lamb often finding himself on the field in obvious passing situations.

In short, the Irish have plenty of experience from which to rely, and that’s even before mentioning perhaps the most exciting of Notre Dame’s defenders, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

Owusu-Koramoah, or JOK, as he is affectionately called, had a tremendous season occupying Notre Dame’s ROVER position, which is a hybrid position between safety and linebacker. In fact, JOK excelled in the role, as he tied Bilal for second on the team in tackles with 79, behind only White who logged 80, according to ESPN. He also led the team in sacks with 8.5 sacks, which is further testament to his versatility.

Last year at this time, Irish analysts were discussing tilting the defense in such a way to cover for inexperience up the middle. This year, the Irish will look to rely on the linebackers as a steady, experienced group.