5 Notre Dame football players with the most to prove in 2021

May 1, 2021; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Jack Coan (17) takes the snap in the first half of the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2021; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Jack Coan (17) takes the snap in the first half of the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – MAY 01: Joe Wilkins Jr. #18 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches the football in the first half against Cam Hart #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Blue-Gold Spring Game at Notre Dame Stadium on May 01, 2021, in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – MAY 01: Joe Wilkins Jr. #18 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches the football in the first half against Cam Hart #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Blue-Gold Spring Game at Notre Dame Stadium on May 01, 2021, in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

5 Notre Dame football players with the most to prove in 2021

No. 2: Cam Hart

One area of great concern heading into the summer is the cornerback spot, where Clarence Lewis is looking for the player who will start alongside him this Fall. The Irish revamped this position group with young talent this offseason, adding talented true freshmen like Ryan Barnes and Philip Riley, two guys who are going to press for playing time.

However, one returning player is in line to start alongside Lewis this season, and that is Cam Hart, someone who has a lot to prove in 2021. With so much talent coming in this Fall, as well as the 2022 recruiting class, the junior has to establish himself as a playmaker in this defensive backfield, one that has an All-American at safety in Kyle Hamilton.

Hart is a former wide receiver prospect and one who really took a major step forward this spring, likely earning the starting job. He will have to prove he deserves to stay in the role in 2021, because players will be breathing down his neck, but all indications are that he will be a strong point in this defense moving forward.