Notre Dame Football: Who replaces each player heading to the NFL?
By Jack Leniart
Notre Dame Football: Who replaces each player heading to the NFL?
Who will replace wide receivers, Ben Skowronek and Javon McKinley?
Javon McKinley and Ben Skowronek were Notre Dame’s top two receivers during the 2020 season. Among wide receivers, that pair ranked first and second in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
They were big targets – figuratively and literally — for quarterback Ian Book. McKinley is 6’ 2’’ and Skowronek is 6’ 3’’. That size will be missed in Notre Dame’s wide receiver group this year. Currently, there is only one receiver on the roster who is a least 6’ 2’’.
That receiver is Kevin Austin.
Austin is expected to be the number one receiver for the Irish offense this season. The rising senior from Pompano Beach, Florida has had injury problems in the past that have kept him on the sideline. If he can stay healthy, though, he could earn some national recognition.
Avery Davis, Braden Lenzy, and Lawrence Keys are also expected to make significant contributions to the Notre Dame offense this year. Davis finished fourth on the team in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns last season.
Lenzy and Keys both missed time due to injury during the 2020 season. However, they still combined for 12 catches, 114 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown.