Notre Dame football: 3 impact players facing USC

With Notre Dame football set to face USC in southern California, who are the three players we think can make the most significant impact for the Irish?

Benjamin Morrison

This one is pretty straightforward. Morrison has been the best cornerback for the Irish this season, and as I’m sure you’ve heard, he’s a true freshman. Morrison is the only true freshman with 5 interceptions and is top 10 in the nation. The only other freshman close to him is redshirt freshman Kendal Daniels of Oklahoma State, with 3. Notre Dame football has a lockdown cornerback for years to come.

There is no doubt that Morrison is a lock for the Freshman All-American team. Frankly, he should be considered for the all-collegiate All-American squad. In his most recent performance, he secured those 3 great picks. He had 6 balls thrown his direction and only gave up one catch for 32 yards, albeit in blizzard conditions. According to PFF, his grade was a whopping 91.9.

Enter talented USC wide receiver and All-American Jordan Addison. A future first-round NFL draft pick, Addison has 765 yards and 8 touchdowns in just 9 games due to injury. The transfer from Pittsburgh instantly connected with talented USC quarterback Caleb Williams. Addison has the speed to be an issue for the Irish, but Morrison seems to be up for the challenge.

Ademilola Twins

With Isaiah Foskey drawing most of the attention, and rightfully so, the Ademilola brothers will need to apply the pressure this coming weekend. With Caleb Williams’ ability to not only throw the ball but move around the pocket, constant pressure is a must. Justin has 3 sacks this year, while twin brother Jayson has 2.5. Jayson missed the last game, and we’re hopeful he can suit up to face USC, but we’ll learn more as the week progresses.

Drew Pyne

This game may end up being decided by the arm and ability of Drew Pyne. Notre Dame is an outstanding defense, but we all know how potent USC’s offense can be. If the Irish want to win this game, they’ll need Pyne to make some plays with his arm. USC has the nation’s 68th-ranked run defense, so the Irish should move the ball effectively along the ground.

They allow just under 260 yards passing per game and are ranked 105th in the nation. If there’s a spot on defense, they can be exploited, it’s through the air. We’ve seen it all from Pyne this year. From his 13 of 27 performance against Stanford to his 289 passing yards and 3 touchdowns against North Carolina. The Drew Pyne that shows up against USC may decide the game’s outcome.

Notre Dame football can finish 9-3 with a win against rival USC. Yet again, the Irish are in another massive matchup, this time in the last contest before their bowl game. From Ohio State to USC and everything in between, there’s never a dull moment for the Irish.