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Notre Dame Football: 2020 Defensive regular season awards

By Jack Leniart

Oct 12, 2019; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive back Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) celebrates after sacking USC Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis (9) in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2019; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive back Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) celebrates after sacking USC Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis (9) in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ade Ogundeji broke out for the Irish in 2020. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame Football: 2020 Defensive regular season awards

Most Improved

This might be a confusing selection based on Ade Ogundeji’s statistics from this season compared to last season. However, if you look past those numbers, you will see a player who has shown significant growth.

Through ten games this season, Ogundeji recorded 20 total tackles, five and a half sacks, six quarterback hurries, and one forced fumble.

The biggest difference for Qgundeji this year was his effectiveness as a pass-rusher. Playing in three fewer games, he had recorded more sacks and quarterback pressures than he did during the 2019 season.

Those are the kind of improvements that will boost your NFL draft stock and get you paid.

In 2019, Ogundeji was a solid rotation player behind Khalid Kareem. In 2020, he stepped into a starting role. That came with more playing time and greater expectations. So far, Ogundeji has risen to the challenge and met those expectations.

Most Improved: Adetokunbo Ogundeji (Defensive End)

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