Notre Dame Football: 5 observations of the 2021 recruiting class

By Brad Weiss | Feb 7, 2021

Nov 7, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly leads his team out of the tunnel before the game against the Clemson Tigers at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame defeated Clemson 47-40 in two overtimes. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

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Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will have better talent around him in 2021. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football improved talent and depth in secondary

One area where the Irish need to improve this offseason is in the secondary, where they are losing starters in Shaun Crawford and Nick McCloud. The Irish do, however, have an All-American returning to the defensive backfield in Kyle Hamilton, who will likely be a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

A rare blend of size, speed, and athleticism, Hamilton had a breakout season as a 19-year old in 2020, and the best could be yet to come. Notre Dame football did also see a fantastic season from Clarence Lewis, who stepped in as a freshman and established himself as a starter for defensive coordinator Clark Lea.

With Hamilton and Lewis returning, there are starting spots still open, and cornerbacks Ryan Barnes and Philip Riley are already on campus putting in work. Also, safety Justin Walters will be joined by Khari Gee at the safety spot, with JoJo Johnson and Chance Tucker also being expected to come in and make an impact in Year 1.

Overall, the Irish’s 2021 class has significantly improved the talent and depth in the secondary.

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