The Notre Dame football team should be an exciting one to watch in 2022, but to do something special, these good players need to be great.
Looking at the 2022 Notre Dame football team’s roster, the Irish have a lot of talented players that could play at the next level. However, if the team hopes to do something special in the first year under head coach Marcus Freeman, some good players need to turn into great players.
We start in the defensive backfield.
Notre Dame football: Irish need these good players to be great in 2022
Cam Hart
The Notre Dame football team will take on an elite quarterback in Week 1, as the Ohio State Buckeyes have one of the best in the country in CJ Stroud. Last season, we saw the emergence of Cam Hart as a very good player, and a possible Day 2 NFL Draft pick, but in 2022, he has to become one of the elite, shutdown cornerbacks in the country.
Hart has everything you look for in a potential CB1, and now has the experience to go along with it. If he is great in 2022, it eliminates one side of the field, and that bodes well for an Irish team that should have one of the better pass rushes out there.
Notre Dame football: Irish need these good players to be great in 2022
Avery Davis
When looking at the 2022 roster for the Notre Dame football team, it is clear that they have some major depth issues at the wide receiver position. That is not to say that the wideout spot is without talent, as it is quite the opposite, but staying healthy and getting contributions from everyone will be paramount.
Last season, we saw the emergence of Lorenzo Styles Jr., and he has the talent to be a legitimate WR1 for this Notre Dame program for the next few seasons. Outside of him, it is a group of players that are either inexperienced or have yet to prove they can stay healthy, with Avery Davis certainly being added to the second list.
In 2022, not only does Davis have to stay healthy, but he has to be a leader within a position group with so many younger players. Like Kevin Austin Jr. last season, Davis has to be great, and assume the top spot along this rotation, because relying on a true sophomore to hold that title could prove problematic, even with how talented Styles is.
Notre Dame football: Irish need these good players to be great in 2022
Tyler Buchner
We finish with the most important position in all of sports, and that is the quarterback spot for the Notre Dame football team. Right now, one would assume that Tyler Buchner has the inside track to start this season, after developing the trust of offensive coordinator Tommy Rees in limited action last year.
For Buchner, he not only has to go out and earn the starting job this summer from Drew Pyne, who is neck-and-neck with him right now but then go on and have an outstanding season. Notre Dame football has very few holes on their roster and could do something special, but they need whoever earns the starting job to be great, much like Jack Coan was down the stretch in 2021.
Notre Dame football recruiting: Irish miss out on Carnell Tate
The Notre Dame football team seemed to be in the running to land Carnell Tate, but in the end, the five-star wideout chose Ohio State.
Playing quarterback for the Notre Dame football team is a prestigious honor, and for Buchner, he would have the luxury of having the best tight end in the country, one of the best offensive lines, a loaded backfield, and game-breakers on the outside. That is a good recipe for him to not only be good in 2022, but great, and if he can accomplish that, so will the Irish.