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Notre Dame Football: 5 Players who need to step up in the second half

By Daniel Morrison

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly is interviewed by ESPN College Gameday hosts Kirk Herbstreit and Maria Taylor during a live broadcast from Notre Dame Stadium before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Clemson Tigers on November 7, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly is interviewed by ESPN College Gameday hosts Kirk Herbstreit and Maria Taylor during a live broadcast from Notre Dame Stadium before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Clemson Tigers on November 7, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images) /
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BLACKSBURG, VA – OCTOBER 09: Kevin Austin Jr. #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with teammates after catching a pass for a two-point conversion to tie the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half of the game at Lane Stadium on October 9, 2021, in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA – OCTOBER 09: Kevin Austin Jr. #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with teammates after catching a pass for a two-point conversion to tie the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half of the game at Lane Stadium on October 9, 2021, in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame Football: 5 Players who need to step up in the second half

Kevin Austin-Wide Receiver

Make no mistake, Kevin Austin is one of the most improved players on Notre Dame’s roster. Between injuries and suspensions, Austin barely played during his time at Notre Dame until this year. His 18 catches are triple his career total before 2021. That’s insane in its own right, and plays like his two-point conversion catch are going to stand out to fans.

Still, he needs to take another step forward in the second half of the season.

How does Austin step up in the second half from his first-half performance? It starts with becoming a more consistent player. That means eliminating drops. He has had an issue with those, and they’ve limited his production. That problem has also lead to issues like not recording a single catch against Purdue.

It’s also important that he becomes a safety valve or outlet for these quarterbacks, who are struggling right now. That’s the role that Michael Mayer has filled, but he needs help doing it. After all, that becomes predictable. Besides, Mayer is banged up now and he needs help from athletes that are as talented as Austin.

Austin isn’t the only receiver who could step up. Avery Davis has the experience to be better than he has, while Braden Lenzy still needs to be a pure threat with his speed. However, Austin is the most naturally talented of any of them, so he needs to step up.

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