3 most compelling 2024 Notre Dame football position battles
![Linebacker Drayk Bowen (34) goes through drills Linebacker Drayk Bowen (34) goes through drills](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1874,h_1054,x_0,y_134/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/167/01hn795ahamky65qne1n.jpg)
Now that the calendar has officially turned to 2024, it’s time for the Notre Dame football program to look toward next season. That’s starting with the Blue-Gold spring game. The preparation for next season will include quite a few position battles.
Some of those battles are going to be more interesting than others. There are some that will decide whether or not the Fighting Irish are going to compete for the National Championship. The right guys emerge as starters, the team could be hard for anyone to beat.
There are some positions that are going to need to be watched more closely than others. Starting with whoever will replace Audric Estime.
Notre Dame football running back
It’s possible that the Fighting Irish are going to be going with a kind of running back by committee in 2024. It’s also possible that one of the returning backs could take the helm. Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and Gi'Bran Payne have all been waiting their turn to be “the man.
Love is the leading returner with 385 yards in 2023. Price had 272 and Payne rushed for 168. One of these guys could step up. A longer shot will be one of the freshmen, Kedren Young or Aneyas Williams.
Notre Dame football middle linebacker
The Irish defense is getting a lot of players back. But if there’s one position that will have a relative unknown and a relative rookie starting, it could be at middle linebacker. Drayk Bowen is the odds-on favorite, but the sophomore-to-be has not taken the position yet.
It looks like it will either be a sophomore, or freshman Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa winning that spot. Bowen had all of 14 tackles a year ago. Either way, the middle of the linebacker corps is going to be someone with very little experience.
Notre Dame football left tackle
Charles Jagusah is the man who smart money will be on to win over left tackle but he could also be moved to the other side of the field. This position is the one that could be shaped the most by the arrival of Mike Denbrock.
Aamil Wagner is the guy who could really shake things up for the Notre Dame football team at this position.