Notre Dame football: 3 true freshmen on defense to thrive in a backup role

Notre Dame football: 3 true freshmen on defense to thrive in a backup role

Philip Riley, CB

Last season, the Notre Dame football program was looking for answers at the cornerback spot, and a true freshman stepped in and earned a starting role. Clarence Lewis will now assume a leadership role in the secondary, joining the likes of Kyle Hamilton and Houston Griffith as veterans looking to take this unit to the next level.

Across from Lewis in the starting lineup at cornerback will likely be Cam Hart, although Tariq Bracy could be in play as well. One true freshman who should be looking to get as much knowledge as possible in Year 1 is Philip Riley, who was rated one of the top-25 cornerbacks in the country coming out of high school.

Of course, Ryan Barnes is an exciting young cornerback as well, and we could see both true freshmen make a real push for a starting job in Year 1. However, if they are depth players, they are going to get an up-close look at how the position is played at the highest level of college football.

Overall, it is going to be interesting to see how this defense comes together in Year 1 under Freeman, who is widely considered one of the best defensive coordinators in the country. They have veteran talent, as well as some true freshmen who could make an impact in 2021, making this one of the more dangerous units in America.