Notre Dame Football improves in ESPN’s post-spring Top-25
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame Football team is replacing a lot of starting talent this season but is still rising in a recent ESPN top-25 for the 2021 season.
With the Blue-Gold Game in the rearview mirror, the Notre Dame Football program will now turn its eyes towards the summer. There are still a ton of question marks on this roster, and position battles to go through, especially with the true freshmen showing out so far in 2021.
Despite losing a ton of talent due to the 2021 NFL Draft, the Irish are still slated to be one of the best teams in the country. They are going back to their Independent schedule, and while talent is leaving, there are certainly enough reinforcements to step up.
Notre Dame Football ranked higher after Blue-Gold Game
In their initial way-too-early top-25 ranking, ESPN had the Irish as the No.15 overall team in the country. The article spoke of all the changes on this Notre Dame Football roster, which is understandable, considering the Irish had nine players draft in the 2021 NFL Draft.
However, after spring practice, and the Blue-Gold Game, the Irish have risen three spots in the latest ranking, and are now the No. 12 ranked team after spring practices. Mark Schlabach, a senior writer for ESPN, spoke about how explosive the Irish offense could be, though replacing the offensive line will be tough.
"With tailbacks Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree, tight end Michael Mayer and receiver Kevin Austin Jr. returning, the pieces are in place for an explosive offense. The Irish have to replace four starting offensive linemen, which won’t be easy."
Replacing the offensive line will be tough, but it is not like the cupboard was barren. Josh Lugg, Jarrett Patterson, and Zeke Correll are a few that will step up, as will true freshmen Blake Fisher and Rocco Spindler. In terms of weapons, Williams and Mayer are two of the best at their position groups in the country, and Jack Coan should be solid as a graduate transfer under center.
Notre Dame Football has won ten or more games in each of the last four seasons, and there is reason to believe that the 2021 club will continue that tradition. When all is said and done, I like the Irish to be at least a top-10 team, and possibly even higher if everything falls into place.