Blue and Gold Illustrated

August 2021

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2021 29 tled in and out. With three potential departures from the line after this season, they'll have opportunities to start in 2022 if they don't filch a spot this year. • Linebacker JD Bertrand flashed as a blitzer in the spring game and is a special teams ace, but his path to a regular role or starting job is prob- ably a year away from clearing. The same goes for defensive end Osita Ekwonu, a special teams mainstay who moved from linebacker this spring. • Brendon Clark opened last year as the backup quarterback, but missed the second half and all of spring due to a knee injury. His main focus is getting healthy. It's hard to see exactly where he fits in the short and long term at the position. Un- seating Wisconsin graduate trans- fer Jack Coan and sophomore Drew Pyne this year feels like a big ask. Can he put himself in the 2022 com- petition if Coan, the expected starter this year, leaves? • Safety Litchfield Ajavon, origi- nally the third-highest-ranked recruit in the class, has played in just six ca- reer games. Freeman highlighted his progress this spring, which showed up in the spring game with four tackles, two passes broken up and a couple big hits. Ajavon is competing to be the fourth safety, a role which doesn't often earn much playing time, but continuing to build trust will help his case to compete to start as a senior. Notre Dame could have both safety jobs open in 2022. • Spears has battled significant in- juries and has not played since 2019. There's not much indication he will be on the depth chart this year. ✦ Players Signed: 22 Players Available In 2021: 19 2019 Recruiting Rankings: No. 14 by Rivals and ESPN, No. 16 by 247Sports Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Kendall Abdur-Rahman RB/WR 5-11½ 190 Transferred to Western Kentucky this spring after appearing in one game over two seasons. Litchfield Ajavon S 6-01/8 198 No. 106 overall recruit has played one defensive snap in his two seasons. JD Bertrand LB 6-1 228 A core special teams player who enters this season as the No. 3 middle linebacker. Jay Bramblett P 6-1½ 193 Earned primary punting duties as a freshman and averaged 42.8 yards per punt in 2020. Quinn Carroll OG 6-63/8 306 Former top-70 recruit was a backup in his first two seasons and worked with the second-team offense this spring. Brendon Clark QB 6-15/8 212 Was Notre Dame's No. 2 quarterback at the start of 2020, but missed the end of the campaign and all of spring due to a knee injury. Zeke Correll C 6-3 295 Started two games at center in place of Jarrett Patterson in 2020 and will take over that role in 2021. Howard Cross III DT 6-07/8 275 Earned a spot in Notre Dame's defensive line rotation in 2020 and can play either defensive tackle spot. Osita Ekwonu DE 6-0¾ 236 Special-teams staple in 2020 who moved from linebacker to defensive end this spring. Isaiah Foskey DE 6-47/8 257 The presumed starter at vyper defensive end after notching 4.5 sacks in a rotational role last season. Kyle Hamilton S 6-4 216 Projected top-10 pick in 2022 NFL Draft and returns as Notre Dame's best defensive player. Cam Hart CB 6-2½ 207 Converted wide receiver enters fall camp as the favorite to start at boundary cornerback. Jack Kiser LB 6-15/8 227 Started one game at Will linebacker in 2020 and is the favorite to be the primary rover in 2021. Andrew Kristofic OL 6-5¼ 292 Worked at center, tackle and guard in spring practice, and will compete to start in training camp. Jacob Lacey DT 6-15/8 293 Earned a rotational role as a freshman but was hampered by a shoulder injury in 2020. Projects as the No. 2 nose tackle. Marist Liufau LB 6-2¼ 226 Took hold of starting Will linebacker duties late in 2020 and is battling to hold onto them this offseason. NaNa Osafo-Mensah DE 6-31/8 249 Missed most of 2020 due to a knee injury but is attempting to crack the rota- tion at either defensive end spot this spring. John Olmstead OG 6-4½ 283 Transferred to Lafayette after a redshirt year as a freshman. Isaiah Rutherford CB 6-0½ 189 Former top-150 recruit transferred to Arizona in January after playing 28 defensive snaps in two years. Hunter Spears OG 6-35/8 304 Moved from defensive line to offensive line and has struggled with injuries throughout his career. KJ Wallace DB 5-10¼ 189 Converted cornerback is competing to be the nickel back this season. Kyren Williams RB 5-9 195 Became Notre Dame's No. 1 running back as a sophomore, rushing for 1,125 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2020. Junior Class Review Kyren Williams totaled 1,438 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns in 2020 after claiming No. 1 running back duties in fall camp. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS

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