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Notre Dame football: 2022 defense could be an ‘all-time’ unit

By Brad Weiss

Nov 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Justin Ademilola (9) reacts after recovering a fumble against the Stanford Cardinal during the second quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Justin Ademilola (9) reacts after recovering a fumble against the Stanford Cardinal during the second quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame football
Sep 11, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats safety Brandon Joseph (16) runs back a punt against the Indiana State Sycamores during the second half at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football: 2022 defense could be an ‘all-time’ unit

Defensive Backs

Losing Kyle Hamilton to the 2022 NFL Draft was a foregone conclusion, as the big safety is projected by many to be a top-3 pick this April. Luckily for the Irish, Notre Dame football was able to bring in an All-American to take his place in 2022, as Brandon Joseph makes this group one of the elite instantly.

Not to mention the fact that cornerback Cam Hart has first-round potential, and Clarence Lewis is entering Year 3 as a starter, there is a lot to like about this defensive backfield. Notre Dame also got word that D.J. Brown and Houston Griffith will be returning for another season in South Bend, bringing not only depth but veteran leadership to a secondary that will have many true freshmen coming in.

Jaden Mickey, Benjamin Morrison, and Jayden Bellamy are all outstanding cornerback recruits starting their Notre Dame careers in 2022, and Philip Riley and Ryan Barnes should take a big step forward in their second seasons on campus. Overall, the cornerback room may be young, but they are deep, and overall, the defensive backfield is an excellent blend of veterans and players looking to take their next step forward.

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