Notre Dame football: 3 defensive players who need to be great in 2022

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Sep 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Kendric Pryor (3) is under able to pull in a pass against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Cam Hart (5) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

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.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 13: General view of a Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet on the field during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

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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.

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