Notre Dame football: 10 most important players in 2021

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: Running back Najee Harris #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide carries the football against cornerback Clarence Lewis #26 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter of the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: 10 most important players in 2021

4. Clarence Lewis, Cornerback

The casual Notre Dame fan has probably only heard of Came Hart in passing. An academic junior, Hart is going to need to take a major step forward to round out the talent on the defensive side of the ball. As a freshman, Hart only got to play in three games before his season was ended due to injury.

In 2020, Brian Kelly brought in reinforcements to a cornerback position that he sensed was weak. Leaning on Nick McCloud to save the secondary, the corner position stayed a weak point through the season.

It’s clear that Kelly still has his concerns here, as he went after Tulsa transfer Akayleb Evans, and lost out to Missouri. Now, unless the Irish target a new transfer less than two months before the season starts, Notre Dame has to roll with what they have on the roster.

That means Clarence Lewis will be a starter, likely on the top wide receiver from whoever the Irish are playing that week. Across him, either Cam Hart or TaRiq Bracy. Either way, Notre Dame needs Lewis to step up and play lockdown coverage. This will let All-American safety Kyle Hamilton worry about the other side of the field and support in the run game when necessary.

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