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Notre Dame Football: Projecting the 2021 starting lineup

By Andrew Hall

Oct 7, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly leads the team on to the field at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly leads the team on to the field at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame Football
Kyren Williams will obviously play a huge role for the Notre Dame football team in 2021. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images) /

After losing 31-14 to Alabama, Brian Kelly begins the task of rebuilding Notre Dame football and preparing for the 2021 season.

Notre Dame football head coach Brian Kelly needs to replace a significant amount of players next season, including multi-year starting quarterback Ian Back. Although Notre Dame needs several players to step up in 2021, the coaching staff built significant depth during the recent Irish resurrection.

New starters will have received substantial playing time before kicking off the season against Florida State next Fall.

Draft declarations, injuries, recoveries, and graduate transfers could impact who starts for the Fighting Irish. Aaron Banks, Tommy Tremble, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah all declared for the NFL Draft, and those are all key players for the program. However, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Kurt Hinish plan to return next season, as Hinish will take advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic.

While the offense will benefit from continuity under offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, the alignment of the defense could alter dramatically in 2021. The Irish recently hired a new defensive coordinator to take over for Clark Lea, who took the head coaching job at Vanderbilt, and he is a good one.

Marcus Freeman was the most sought-after defensive coordinator prospect in college football, and he decided on South Bend over LSU. The defense could change a bit in 2021, for example, the “rover” spot might change, and this alteration could leave some players without an ideal position.

Whether or not the NCAA allows spring practice could have a major impact on the starting lineup as well. If Notre Dame is not allowed to practice this spring, more experienced players have a leg up on younger, more talented players. Only a few players have a firm grasp on their positions like Kyren Williams at running back and Kyle Hamilton at safety.

Here is a way-too-early preview of Notre Dame’s projected 2021 lineup.

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