Notre Dame Football: Hayes and Ogundeji will lead Irish defense in 2020

Notre Dame football figures to have a stellar defense in 2020, but the potential defensive dominance is the result of unique circumstances.

Notre Dame football fans really hope there will be a football season in 2020, not only for pure entertainment value, but for the fact that the Irish may have stumbled on its best defense since it made a run for the National Championship in 2012.

Yes, I know that’s a bold statement, but I genuinely think it could be true.

Having lost talented players like Julian Okwara, Khalid Kareem, and Alohi Gilman, and Troy Pride to the NFL, many might contest that the Irish have some rebuilding to do on defense. But that simply is not the case, and much of that has to do with who the Irish will use to replace their defensive leaders from a year ago.

While no one would ever wish for an injury, a torn labrum in the fourth game of the season allowed for Daelin Hayes to return to the Irish in 2020. And while the loss of Julian Okwara cetainly hurts Notre Dame’s defense, having a talented 5th-year player–one who has started games for Notre Dame–to replace him is just not something you see every day.

And Hayes isn’t even the only experienced player that will get his opportunity to step into a bigger role in 2020.

Ade Ogundeji, who I maintain could have started for most college football teams a season ago, will fill in for Kareem at the other defensive end spot for Notre Dame. If you’re not convinced of Ogundeji’s talent, think back to the Cotton Bowl from 2018. Before the game got out of hand, it was Ogundeji who sacked Trevor Lawrence, forcing Clemson into a field goal attempt just before halftime to keep the game close.

Outside of the two defensive end spots, Notre Dame brings back most of its defense. Certainly there are still spots to be decided at cornerback and at safety, but with the experience of Hayes and Ogundeji up front, the Irish have a good start to their defense in 2020.