Notre Dame football: Marist Liufau could be in for a huge 2022 season
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team will need players to step up on defense in a big way in 2022, and Marist Liufau could be a breakout star.
Going into the 2022 college football season, the Notre Dame football team has plenty of question marks on both sides of the ball. However, one position group that seems set is linebacker, as the team returns some talented veterans, and has some talent ready to step up into bigger roles.
One of those players is linebacker Marist Liufau.
In 2020, he shared a starting role with Shayne Simon, so going into the 2021 college football season, everyone thought he would be in for a monster year. He had beaten out Simon for the starting role for 2021, but then tragedy struck.
In August, his ankle got rolled up on, and he would end up displacing his ankle and breaking his fibula. The injury would end his 2021 season before it could even get started, so going into 2022, you can believe he is a player that Marcus Freeman is going to lean on in a big way.
As defensive coordinator last season, Freeman had glowing things to say about Liufau, and we are already seeing this spring that he is ready to take the next step forward.
Notre Dame football should be elite on defense in 2022
Looking ahead, Liufau projects to be the WILL for this team this season, being backed up by true sophomore Prince Kollie. Now healthy, Liufau is going to be one of a number of impact players for this Irish defense, including Vyper Isaiah Foskey, safety Brandon Joseph, and the Ademilola Twins.
To come back and have a standout season would be a real testament to Liufau, who has fought hard to get back on the field, and does not look like he has missed step. The 2022 linebacker group is loaded with talented players, and guys who have played big roles in big moments before, and with Freeman a linebacker guru, this group will go to new heights.