Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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28 PRESEASON 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 7. DE ADE OGUNDEJI Ogundeji's snaps increased after Julian Okwara's season-ending in- jury last November, and in the ex- tended work, he showed an array of pass-rush moves and physical tools that are a good NFL starter kit. He was a starting-caliber player stuck at a deep position behind two NFL players. Notre Dame lost a third- round pick when Okwara went down but its pass-rush remained strong. All of the then senior's 4.5 sacks came in the final three games. He has the makings of Notre Dame's sack leader and is the safest breakout pick of anyone on defense. 6. TE TOMMY TREMBLE The heir to a position that has seen every Notre Dame opening game starter since 2004 get drafted by the NFL — six in the second or first round, including Cole Kmet this past spring. Tremble, a junior, provides a unique vertical dimension at the po- sition with his speed that necessitates a defense having to account for him, especially in the middle. He had more receptions (16) and touchdowns (four) last year than any returning Irish player, and also posted a strong 82.8 run-blocking grade last year per Pro Football Focus. 5. CB TARIQ BRACY Bracy, a junior, is one of two return- ing Irish corners who has played a full season. Six of the nine scholar- ship corners are barely unwrapped freshmen or sophomores with four years of eligibility left. It's a posi- tion lacking sure things, and Bracy is ranked here because he is one even though he's not a surefire starter af- ter McCloud's addition. He hasn't backed down from chal- lenges or tough assignments. He was a rotation player last year, but still finished with a team-high seven passes broken up and was ninth with 34 tackles. 4. ROVER LB JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH Deceptively strong at 6-1½, 216 pounds, Owusu-Koramoah is the archetype at his hybrid position, especially versus the quick-paced spread offenses. The senior represents the model of "fundamental freakishness" that is required as an every-down player who can hold the edge versus the run, move laterally with aplomb and quickly close downhill — yet also serve as the "big nickel" in passing situations with his coverage. Possessing such versatile skill sets is a rare commodity, which is why ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has him No. 13 in his current NFL Mock Draft. 3. LT LIAM EICHENBERG Eichenberg was the steadiest and best performer on an offensive line often maligned but still effective. He posted Notre Dame's highest Pro 1. RB KYREN WILLIAMS Head coach Brian Kelly hinted Williams is ready to handle the moment and a notable role after it may have been too big for him last year. He took a redshirt in 2019 after earning only five offensive touches in the first two games of the season. The 5-9, 205-pound redshirt freshman brings pass-catching ability and a pen- chant for playing through contact. He has a versatile skill set that can earn him season-long playing time. 2. DE OVIE OGHOUFO The converted linebacker projects as a pass-rush specialist who brings speed off the edge. He's the presumed No. 2 vyper end behind Daelin Hayes and would complement Hayes' strengths as a run defender. The redshirt sophomore had six pres- sures and a sack in 50 pass-rush snaps last year, per Pro Football Focus. That snap number should increase. 3. LB JACK LAMB Lamb, Shayne Simon and Jordan Gen- mark Heath are competing for the Buck linebacker job, so all of them have a chance at starting. Lamb, though, impressed last year as a linebacker in nickel and dime packages, particularly in the game at Georgia. The redshirt sophomore is a former top-100 recruit with fluidity, speed and recognition skill that plays well at Buck. He totaled 2.0 tackles for loss and a forced fumble before suffering a season- ending injury Nov. 2 versus Virginia Tech. 4. DT JAYSON ADEMILOLA The junior produced in backup duty last year with 25 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and nine pressures in 228 defensive snaps. PFF gave him a strong 75.8 over- all grade, which was the highest among all Irish interior defensive linemen who played at least 100 snaps. He's slated to be a backup again, but Notre Dame likes to play two-deep at each tackle spot. Ademilola has an op- portunity to shine and perhaps force his way into a few more snaps. 5. CB CAM HART This is a bit of a reach, because no one has seen practice to determine if any of the six young corners has separated himself. But if Notre Dame wants to play four cornerbacks like it did last year, one of them will be in the rotation. Hart is intriguing because of his 6-2, 205-pound frame and ball skills as a con- verted receiver. There's no clear backup at boundary corner if graduate transfer Nick McCloud wins the starting job and Notre Dame keeps TaRiq Bracy on the field side or in the slot. The sophomore's size and physicality make him a logical fit there. This could just as easily be class- mates KJ Wallace or Isaiah Rutherford. — Patrick Engel Sophomore running back Kyren Williams has a versatile skill set that can earn him playing time this season. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER Five Breakout Players For 2020 These five players didn't make the top 25, but have a chance to establish themselves as important pieces with their presumed bump in workload.