Notre Dame football: 3 defensive players who must step up in 2021

The Notre Dame football team should be solid on the defensive side of the ball, especially if these three players step up in a big way.

The 2021 Notre Dame football team has plenty of question marks on the offensive side of the ball, as they are revamping the entire offensive line, going with a new quarterback, and we still do not know who is going to step up at wide receiver. On defense, it is another story, as not only are the Irish solid on all three levels, but they are solid with veteran talent.

Here, we look at three members of the 2021 defense that must step up if the Irish are to return to the College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame football: 3 defensive players who must step up in 2021

Houston Griffith

When it comes to the safety position, the Notre Dame football team has the best one in the land in Kyle Hamilton. A presumed top-5 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Hamilton is the best player not only on this defense but is considered one of the top-5 defensive players in the country, after starring his first two seasons with the Irish.

Heading into the offseason, it had looked like Houston Griffith, who is to start alongside Hamilton for Marcus Freeman, was going to transfer, only to change his mind and come back to South Bend. Since coming back, he has drawn rave reviews from Freeman, and if he can excel for the Irish in 2021, that gives the team two safeties taking away both halves of the field deep.