Notre Dame football: 10 most important players in 2021

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: Kurt Hinish #41 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish blows kisses to the fans after the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-14. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: 10 most important players in 2021

6. Kurt Hinish, Defensive Line

Pushing 300lbs on the defensive line, Kurt Hinish is a fifth-year senior who should dominate for Notre Dame this season. An All-ACC honorable mention in 2020, Hinish is going to get the opportunity to become the dominant force of the interior defensive line.

That means that Hinish is going to be key in stopping the run game, particularly against opponents like Cincinnati and Navy. Meanwhile, if he can take up gaps and get push up the middle against teams like Purdue and North Carolina, Hinish will also be able to impact the passing game.

Don’t expect Hinish’s numbers to jump out compared to some of his peers on the Irish defensive line, though. He’s a block swallower, as he’s a hit the gap hard and forces a double team kind of defensive lineman.

Hinish needs to be the reason why offensive linemen can’t get to the second-level blocking. This, in turn, opens up linebackers to make plays at the line of scrimmage and in the backfield.

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