Notre Dame football: 3 defensive players who need to be great in 2022
By Brad Weiss
![PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 09: A Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the game on November 9, 2013 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 09: A Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the game on November 9, 2013 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/7470b75b3408ea50399cdb8b44245ffbe92619f1dcf1b5f03903600278822163.jpg)
Notre Dame football: 3 defensive players who need to be great in 2022
No. 3: Cam Hart
Staying in the defensive backfield, it remains to be seen whether or not Cam Hart will declare for the 2022 NFL Draft, but all signs are pointing to him staying. If he returns, he will be counted on in a big way in this secondary, as there are plenty of question marks behind him on the depth chart.
As it stands, Hart will return as a starter and be joined once again by Clarence Lewis, with Tariq Bracy likely in the slot. In 2021, Hart established himself as one of the premier cornerbacks in the country, and many feel he could be a Day 2 pick if he entered the 2022 NFL Draft, but as of now, he remains with the Irish.
This is a secondary that is going to have to come up big, and luckily for head coach Marcus Freeman, it is a veteran group in terms of the starters. Behind the starters, especially at cornerback, are players who are either entering the program, or did not play much as true freshmen in 2021, so Hart having another standout season looms large for the Irish.