Notre Dame Football 2021: 25 Most Impactful Players, No. 25-21

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: Running back Najee Harris #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide carries the football over linebacker Shayne Simon #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame Football 2021: 25 Most Impactful Players, No. 25-21

No. 23: Shayne Simon, Linebacker

Best Ranking: 16
Worst Ranking: Unranked

Shayne Simon was a four-star prospect and a member of Notre Dame’s 2018 recruiting class. The linebacker from New Jersey did not have to wait long to see his first in-game action, as, during his first two seasons in South Bend, Simon appeared in 19 total games and recorded 12 tackles, a sack, and a pass break-up.

Irish fans were hoping to see Simon have a breakout season as a junior last year, but unfortunately, that did not come to fruition. He played in 11 games for Notre Dame in 2020 and started in eight of those games, finishing the season with 14 tackles and four pass break-ups.

There is reason to be optimistic about how he will perform in 2021, though. Simon had a great spring and played well in the Blue-Gold Game. Entering fall camp, he is the (slight) favorite to win the starting weakside linebacker job but is in for a battle to lock down the role leading into the matchup against Florida State.

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