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 linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah?
The short answer to this question is: no one will replace JOK. His athleticism and versatility on the football field are something you only find at the elite college football programs. Despite the results of the 2021 NFL Draft, he is without a doubt a first-round talent.
Owusu-Koramoah had the second-most total tackles for the Notre Dame defense in each of the last two seasons. Over that same stretch, he forced six total turnovers and recorded ten sacks. His strong play last year earned him the 2020 Butkus Award, which recognizes the best linebacker in college football.
The Irish defense will look different this season following a coaching change this offseason. New defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman likes to use a variety of alignments and personnel. The rove position that Owusu-Koramoah played last season might not have an exact equivalent in 2021.
There are a handful of linebackers who will be stepping into a bigger role next season. Shane Simon, Jack Kiser, Isaiah Pryor, and (if fully healthy) Paul Moala. Of those four players, Kiser was the most productive last season – recording 20 total tackles and an interception.
Simon and Pryor saw action throughout the season. The former recorded 14 tackles in eight games and the latter recorded eight tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble in four games.
Moala was a key piece in the linebacker rotation last year, but he suffered an Achilles injury in Notre Dame’s third game of the season last October. While he may not be 100 percent by the start of the 2021 season, Irish fans are hopeful he can make an impact later in the year.