Notre Dame football: 3 reasons the Irish will return to the CFP
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team may be replacing a ton of talent, but here are 3 reasons why they will be in the College Football Playoff again.
Looking at many of the national rankings heading into the summer, the Notre Dame football program is not projected to go to the College Football Playoff. After making the Final Four in two of the last three seasons, the Irish are replacing a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, and some feel it could be way too much to overcome.
However, there is also a lot of talent returning, and here we look at three reasons the Irish will return to the CFP this season.
Notre Dame football: 3 reasons the Irish will return to the College Football Playoff
Irish have an elite defensive unit
Looking at the Irish roster heading into the summer, you have to be excited about what they have on the defensive side of the ball. All three levels have veteran leaders to lean on, including the defensive line, which should not only be excellent coming off the edge with Isaiah Foskey but especially on the interior, led by Kurt Hinish.
The linebacker group is stout and is the area of expertise for new defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman. Freeman is going to love working with the likes of Drew White and Jack Kiser to name a few, as this is not only a veteran group, but a very deep group, and we could see a dynamic true freshman in Prince Kollie get some run in Year 1 as well.
In the defensive backfield, Kyle Hamilton is one of the better players in the country and is likely headed into his final season in South Bend, due to the fact he is projected as a top-5 pick next April. Clarence Lewis will lead a young cornerback group, and the return of Houston Griffith will prove to be major for the secondary alongside Hamilton at safety.