Notre Dame football: Could Isaiah Foskey reach double-digits in sacks?
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team is relying on Isaiah Foskey in a big way in 2021, and he has all the tools to put on a show as the starting Vyper.
Last season, the Notre Dame football team relied on the talented Daelin Hayes at the Vyper position, and he played the position at an elite level. Parlaying his outstanding final season in South Bend into being a draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens, Hayes left a void in this defense that will be filled by Isaiah Foskey in 2021.
Foskey, who has everything you look for in a player to man this role, has a golden opportunity in front of him, as well as some high expectations. Many publications are saying he is going to be a breakout player for the Irish this fall and could be in for a monster season under defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman.
For Foskey, the size, speed, and athleticism are there for him to impact the season in a big way, and for this Irish team to continue to trend towards another College Football Playoff, he is a key piece of the puzzle.
Notre Dame football leaning on Foskey in 2021
Last season, Foskey appeared in nine games for the Irish in a reserve role, but he showed explosiveness in terms of getting after the quarterback. A former four-star recruit for the Irish, he has had to bide his time to secure a starting job, and his versatility is going to make him a matchup nightmare for the opposition.
Douglas Farmer of Inside the Irish spoke with defensive line coach Mike Elston, and this is what the coach had to say about Foskey.
"“The other cool thing is Isaiah Foskey, we can move him all over the field now. We can put him at our Vyper position, we can play him at the boundary end position, we can play him to the field, play him inside at three-technique.”"
Being able to move him around is going to enable the Irish to put him in a position to impact the game on every play, which could lead to a season that jumps off the stat page.
Foskey is one of the more exciting defensive players on this roster, and he is going to be given every opportunity to impact each game in a big way. He racked up 4.5 sacks last season playing as a role player, and with a starting position heading into 2021, doubling that and then some is not out of the question.