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Notre Dame Football: Kyren Williams named a sleeper to win Heisman

By Brad Weiss

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs against Jahlil Taylor #52 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs against Jahlil Taylor #52 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The Notre Dame football team has a lot of work to do in terms of figuring out their starting lineup next season, after losing a ton of talent on both sides of the ball after the 2020 season. On defense, they have to replace All-American linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who is likely ticketed for the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Also, the defense will lose some quality players upfront in Ade Ogundeji and Daelin Hayes, two players who were invited to this year’s Senior Bowl.

Offensively, nearly the entire offensive line will be different, and it is a tremendous group to replace, as they were finalists for the Joe Moore Award. All-Americans like Liam Eichenberg and Aaron Banks are leaving, as are Robert Hainsey and Tommy Kraemer, so it is going to be almost an entirely new unit in from of whoever is at quarterback, and star running back Kyren Williams.

Last season, Williams took the college football landscape by storm, rushing for over 1,000 yards for the Irish. He played his best ball in the biggest situations, and in 2021, he will be leaned on even more.

Notre Dame football RB Kyren Williams named a ‘deep sleeper’ for Heisman

Recently, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report released an early look at the 2021 Heisman Trophy, naming sleepers and favorites for the award next season. Within the deep sleeper list was Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams, and rightfully so after the redshirt-freshman season, he had in 2020.

Williams was named the ACC’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, the only season the Irish will actually play in the conference. It did not take him long to make an impact, as he was the conference’s Offensive Player of the Week in his first start against Duke, a game that saw him nearly rack up 100 yards on the ground and through the air.

All told, Williams rushed for 1,125 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Irish in his first season as the starter, and not only did he play well on the ground, but he was also a capable pass-catcher out of the backfield, as well as an outstanding blocker.

Next. Notre Dame Football: Marcus Freeman’s impact goes beyond Xs and Os. dark

It would take a monster season for Williams to bring home the Heisman, and while it is certainly not likely, being named to the list does show just how much he is thought of on a national scale. Losing Ian Book at quarterback is a big one for this Notre Dame offense, but Williams has the ability to shoulder the load and be the focal point for the Irish moving forward.

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