It has been an incredible year for the Notre Dame football team, and here are our Defensive Awards for the regular season.
The Notre Dame football team has completed their third undefeated regular season under head coach Brian Kelly. As the Irish prepare for their rematch against Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, we at Slap the Sign would like to hand out some regular-season awards.
It is actually the second time in three years that the Irish have gone undefeated in the regular season, and they accomplished that feat with a 45-21 victory over Syracuse on Senior Day last weekend. One of the strengths of the 2020 Notre Dame football team has been the play of their defense. In their third year under defensive coordinator Clark Lea, the Irish defense has become one of the more consistent in college football.
Among teams in the “Power 5” conferences, the Notre Dame defense ranked 15th in pass yards per attempt allowed, ninth in rush yards per attempt allowed, and third in points per game allowed this season. It was a total team effort that showed the Irish can be elite on all three levels of their defense.
This Notre Dame football team has a few players who have been named as semifinalists or finalists for some of college football’s annual awards. However, our staff at Slap the Sign thought they deserved even more accolades.
We came up with five award categories: Best Newcomer, Impact Player, Most Improved, Mr. Reliable, and MVP. Each award will have one recipient from the offense and one recipient from the defense. Additionally, players are not eligible to win multiple awards. This gives us an opportunity to highlight more players who have played well this season.
With all that said, here are the winners of our regular-season awards for the Irish defense.
Notre Dame Football: 2020 Defensive regular season awards
Best Newcomer
It did not take long for Clarence Lewis to make his mark in South Bend, as he accomplished a ton during his first year on campus. The true freshman cornerback recorded 27 total tackles, one tackle for loss, six passes defended, and a forced fumble during the 2020 season, becoming a key as a cornerback for the Irish.
Those numbers would be impressive for a freshman in a normal twelve-game season. However, Lewis compiled all of those statistics in just seven games, including twelve tackles in a single game against the Syracuse Orange.
Though he appeared in all ten of Notre Dame’s games this season, he only officially started four games, as he split time with Tariq Bracy. It appears that Lewis has now passed Bracy on the depth chart and should be in line to start in the ACC Championship Game against the pass-happy Clemson Tigers.
The future is bright for Lewis in South Bend. Irish fans are hopeful that he can follow the same trajectory that former Notre Dame cornerback Julian Love did. The two share some similarities like great football instincts and a willingness to tackle.
Best Newcomer: Clarence Lewis (Cornerback)
Notre Dame Football: 2020 Defensive regular season awards
Impact Player
Despite never officially starting a game this season, Foskey recorded 17 total tackles, four and a half sacks, one pass defended, and one blocked punt that he also recovered for a touchdown. Every time he was on the field, Foskey seemed to find a way to make an impact play.
Four of his sacks came at relatively significant moments during games.
Foskey had a sack in the second quarter of the season-opener against Duke when the Blue Devils were knocking on the goal line. That sack forced a field goal and preserved Notre Dame’s lead in the game. He also had a sack on a fourth down in the first quarter of the USF game when the score was still close.
The Irish offense followed that stop with a touchdown drive to extend their lead.
Lastly, Foskey had two sacks that created third-and-long situations for both Georgia Tech and North Carolina. Both of those series ended in a punt.
Impact Player: Isaiah Foskey (Defensive End)
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)
Notre Dame Football: 2020 Defensive regular season awards
Mr. Reliable
In order for a defense to play consistent football week in and week out, they need veteran players like Notre Dame safety, Kyle Hamilton. The sophomore safety recorded 46 total tackles, three and a half tackles for loss, and five passes defended in nine and a half games this season.
I mention that Hamilton only played in nine and a half games because it is likely he would lead the team in tackles had he played a full ten games. However, a targeting penalty disqualified him from the second half against North Carolina.
If two plays against Boston College had gone differently, Hamilton could have had even more impressive statistics. He had one interception wiped out due to a penalty, and he dropped another interception that would have surely been a pick-six.
Hamilton is arguably the surest tackler on the Notre Dame defense, which is exactly what you want from the position that is your last line of defense. On top of that, his football IQ is off the charts, and his ability to diagnose plays quickly is second to none.
Even though Hamilton does not have numbers that stack up to some of the other top safeties in the country, anyone who watches Notre Dame football knows how special he is.
Mr. Reliable: Kyle Hamilton (Safety)
Notre Dame Football: 2020 Defensive regular season awards
Defensive MVP
Entering the 2020 season, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was projected to be selected in the first-round of the 2021 NFL Draft. A mere ten games later, the junior linebacker’s draft stock has risen even higher, and he just may be the first linebacker off the board next year not named Micah Parsons.
This season, Owusu-Koramoah has accounted for (*takes deep breath*) 49 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, one and a half sacks, two quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, a fumble returned for a touchdown, three passes defended, and one interception.
While those statistics are impressive, Owusu-Koramoah’s impact extends beyond the numbers you see in the box score. His versatility allows him to stay on the field on all downs, and opposing offenses have to game plan for him.
From big hits on running backs to blanketing slot receivers in pass coverage, Owusu-Koramoah can truly do it all. He will certainly make one NFL defensive coordinator a little bit happier next season.
Defensive MVP: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Linebacker)