Notre Dame football: 2023 recruiting class could yield nation’s best defense
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football program is loading up talent on their 2023 recruiting class, and the defense could end up being elite.
Last season, the Notre Dame football team went on a three-game run in which they failed to allow a single touchdown. Incredibly, they were able to accomplish that without elite safety Kyle Hamilton, who was injured during the USC game.
That run showed the kind of defensive mind that now-head coach Marcus Freeman has, as the then-defensive coordinators made life miserable for the opposition. This season, Freeman’s first at the helm, the Irish defense should be one of the best, but on the horizon, having perhaps the best defense in the country may not be out of the realm of possibility.
In 2022, the Irish will welcome an incredible collection of talent, including a linebacker group that is going to do some special things in South Bend. Notre Dame football also added some quality cornerbacks and two defensive linemen that should start early on in their careers.
Already, the 2023 recruiting class for this Notre Dame football team is one of the best in the country in the early going, and based on the defensive talent in it, the Irish could have something special on that side of the ball shortly.
Notre Dame football 2023 recruiting class loaded on defense
That 2023 class is very defense-heavy right now, including five of the top-100 players in the country per rivals247.com. Keon Keeley leads the way and is not only a top-20 player in the country but also considered top-3 in his position group. Drayk Bowen, Peyton Bowen, Brenan Vernon, and Justyn Rhett are also top-100 players, while Adon Shuler is currently in the top-150.
With how well Marcus Freeman and his staff are recruiting, this class, currently listed as No. 2 in the country, could end up being in the top-3 when all is said and done. That would be a huge jump from Brian Kelly’s last class at Notre Dame.
Freeman is one of the bigger defensive geniuses in the country, and to give him this kind of talent on the defensive side of the ball should be scary for opposing teams. Notre Dame football is already a playoff contender, but based on the talent coming in, they could end up having the best defense in the entire country.