Slap the Sign
Fansided

Notre Dame Football: Which Irish alumnus would have biggest impact in 2020?

By Ben Belden

SOUTH BEND, ID - NOVEMBER 05: Safety Tom Zbikowski #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish breaks away on a punt return as Antonio Reynolds #89, Demetrice Morley #20 and Brad Cottam #86 of the University of Tennessee Volunteers close in on November 5, 2005 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Tennessee 41-21. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, ID - NOVEMBER 05: Safety Tom Zbikowski #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish breaks away on a punt return as Antonio Reynolds #89, Demetrice Morley #20 and Brad Cottam #86 of the University of Tennessee Volunteers close in on November 5, 2005 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Tennessee 41-21. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

Notre Dame football has a talented team coming back in 2020. Which former Irish alumnus would be the best fit on the current roster?

It almost goes without saying that Notre Dame football has put had as many notable alumni as any program in college football. Many of the greatest performers in college football donned Notre Dame’s blue and gold.

With a talented team at the ready ahead of the 2020 football season, the Irish have a few question marks. With that said, we wondered which former Notre Dame football player would have the biggest impact on the current roster.

In this exercise, an important distinction needs to be made: I am not asking which alumnus is the most talented or had the best season for the Irish. Instead, which one fills the biggest need or would have the biggest impact given new circumstances?

3. Jaylon Smith, Linebacker

SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 5: Jaylon Smith #9 and KeiVarae Russell #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrate during a game against the Texas Longhorns at Notre Dame Stadium on September 5, 2015 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Texas 38-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 5: Jaylon Smith #9 and KeiVarae Russell #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrate during a game against the Texas Longhorns at Notre Dame Stadium on September 5, 2015 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Texas 38-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Jaylon Smith would be an obvious choice here. Despite the fact that the Irish return much experience from their linebacking corps from a season ago, Jaylon Smith would flourish in the current Notre Dame defense.

Smith was one of the most talented Notre Dame players in recent memory, but, without mentioning any names, the general consensus is that he was misused and under-utilized at Notre Dame. With Clark Lea as his coordinator, it would be great to see how the Irish would use the former Irish star.

Could you imagine a second-level of the defense that featured Drew White, Jaylon Smith, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah? Without a doubt, Smith would elevate the Irish linebacking group to one of the best position groups in all of college football.

Home/Notre Dame Football