The Notre Dame Football team is replacing a lot of talent heading into the 2021 college football season, but the defense could be elite.
Heading into the summer months, the Notre Dame Football program will begin to embark on practice and get ready for their season opener against Florida State. For the Irish, this could be a season of transition, as they saw 14 players go to the NFL after a successful 2020 campaign where they went undefeated during the regular season.
Losing that much talent could decimate some programs, but this is Notre Dame Football, where their backups could start for most universities. There is plenty of talent left on the roster, and on the defensive side of the ball, they could be even better than they were a year ago.
Sure, losing defensive ends Daelin Hayes and Ade Ogundeji is going to hurt, and you can never fully replace Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, but there is more depth than last season. Also, they have some first-round talent on that side of the ball, so there is no reason why the Irish won’t be absolutely solid on defense in 2021.
Here, we look at three reasons why the Irish defense could end up being one of the top-10 in the country this season.
Notre Dame Football: 3 reasons the Irish defense will be top-10 in 2021
The Irish are a veteran group on that side of the ball
In terms of college sports, you can never have too much veteran talent, especially with how often players leave their schools early for the pro ranks. For the Notre Dame defense, they saw some key defensive stars leave for the NFL, as JOK, Hayes, Ogundeji, and Shaun Crawford, to name a few, are gone.
However, on the defensive side of the ball, veterans remain, and new defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman is getting a solid group of leaders. From Kurt Hinish up front along the defensive line to a stacked group at linebacker and a talented secondary, he is taking over position groups that have guys who have been through the fire.
Remember, this is a Notre Dame football program that has been to two of the last three College Football Playoffs, so they have played in some big-time games. That kind of veteran leadership is going to go a long way when the team is in a dogfight, and against some elite offenses, they should be able to get crucial stops.
Notre Dame Football: 3 reasons the Irish defense will be top-10 in 2021
Playmakers on all three levels of the defense
Looking at the depth chart for the 2021 Notre Dame football defense heading into the summer months, it is exciting to see so many playmakers. In fact, the Irish not only boast veteran leadership on all three levels, but players who can flat out change the outcome of a game at any time.
Upfront, Kurt Hinish leads a group that is going to be special, as players like Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Jayson Ademilola are guys who have a ton of experience. At Vyper, you can expect a breakout season from Isaiah Foskey, who has the size, speed, and power to be a disruptive force in the backfield all season long.
At linebacker, Drew White returns in the middle, and he leads a group that is seasoned, and ready to do some damage. Shayne Simon and Jack Kiser should start alongside White, but Bo Bauer, Marist Liufau, and Isaiah Pryor are certainly going to impact games for one of the best linebacker coaches in the country in Freeman.
Finally, the secondary has one of the best defensive players in the country in Kyle Hamilton, who could end up being a top-5 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Clarence Lewis came out of nowhere to start at cornerback in 2020, and Cam Hart and Houston Griffith round out a starting four that could be one of the best in America.
Notre Dame Football: 3 reasons the Irish defense will be top-10 in 2021
Marcus Freeman
Finally, the third reason why the Irish should have a top-10 defense in 2021 is their new defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, who was coveted by most teams in America after the 2020 season. Freeman is as elite as they come in terms of the scheme and recruiting, and he inherits a group that will certainly benefit from him being in South Bend.
A mastermind when it comes to the linebackers, Freeman was able to make Cincinnati’s defense one of the best in the country, and he is working with much more talent at Notre Dame. Not only will the 2021 defense be one of the best in the country, but there is even more talent coming, and while Freeman may just coach so well that he will be a head coach soon, the hope is that he can stick around long enough for a possible national title.
Notre Dame Football: Where would Kyle Hamilton be drafted in 2021?
The Notre Dame Football program has a probable 2022 first-round pick in Kyle Hamilton, but where would he be drafted if he was eligible this year?
Overall, this Irish defense has the depth, and talent to be one of the best in America this season, and certainly has the right person at the helm in Freeman. For Notre Dame to do anything of substance, they will have to see the defense flourish early and often in 2021, and it certainly looks like they have the players to do just that.