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Notre Dame Football stars dot Athlon’s 2021 preseason AA teams

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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Athlon Sports recently laid out their three preseason All-American teams for the 2021 season, and the Notre Dame Football program was well-represented.

Athlon Sports is one of the foremost authorities when it comes to college football, and they recently laid out their preseason All-America teams for the 2021 college football season. As is the case every year, the Notre Dame Football program was well-represented, placing players on the first, second, and third teams.

The only representative from the program on the first team was Kyle Hamilton, who many believe is the best safety in the country. In fact, when looking at recent mocks for the 2022 NFL Draft, Hamilton is one of the first defensive players selected, sometimes going within the top-5.

In the second round, the Irish saw two offensive linemen named to the team, as Cain Madden and Jarrett Patterson were two of the five offensive linemen selected. Both are expected to start at the guard positions for the Irish in 2021, giving Notre Dame Football an elite offensive line once again.

Two elite weapons made the third team, as Kyren Williams and Michael Mayer were named. Both are going to play key roles for the Irish in 2021, and both are coming off of breakout seasons in South Bend in 2020.

Notre Dame Football loaded with talent in 2021

Overall, this is an Irish team that is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, but new faces are going to have to step up. This is a program that lost 14 players to the NFL this past season, a monster amount of talent, and are returning to their Independent schedule, but a major drop off is not expected.

Jack Coan will likely step in for Ian Book, this after Book led the Irish to two of the last three College Football Playoffs, and despite the loss of eighty percent of their starting offensive line, strong players return. Also, the defense is stocked with veteran talent, which should make life easy for first-year defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman.

While some believe that the Irish could struggle this season, these preseason All-American teams are proof there is a ton of talent returning to South Bend. In fact, with how the schedule is laid out, there is no reason why the Irish won’t make another run at a spot in the College Football Playoffs this season.

These players will help lead the way.

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