34 PRESEASON 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED
BY BRYAN DRISKELL
T
he last three seasons have been
quite the roller-coaster ride for
Notre Dame. Sandwiched be-
tween a pair of 10-3 efforts in
2015 and 2017 was the 4-8 implosion
in 2016.
Notre Dame will now look to build
on its most recent success and put
together the program's first back-to-
back double-digit win seasons since
1992 and 1993. The Fighting Irish
return a deep roster, but they must
also replace most of their top players
from a season ago.
All-American offensive linemen
Quenton Nelson and Mike Mc-
Glinchey are both gone after being
selected within the first nine picks
of the 2018 NFL Draft. Running back
Josh Adams also bolted to the NFL
after rushing for 1,430 yards and,
despite a disappointing 2017 sea-
son, leading receiver Equanimeous
St. Brown also departed for the NFL.
Despite those losses, Notre Dame
enters the season with high expecta-
tions. It was slotted in at the No. 11
spot in the preseason coaches poll,
and ESPN predicted that Notre
Dame would make the College Foot-
ball Playoff (CFP) in 2018.
Playmakers will have to emerge
on both sides of the ball if the Irish
are going to meet or even exceed
expectations.
The 10 most important players on
the roster — based on talent, the im-
portance of their position and their
opportunity to make impact plays
— follow:
