2021 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

Key Players Returning:

RB/KR Chris Tyree, RB Kyren Williams, WR Avery Davis, TE Michael Mayer, OG Jarrett Patterson, DE Isaiah Foskey, DE Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, NT Kurt Hinish, LB Bo Bauer, LB Shayne Simon, LB Drew White, FS TaRiq Bracy, CB Clarence Lewis, FS Kyle Hamilton, PR Matt Salerno, PK Jonathan Doerer, and PT Jay Bramlett.

Key Players Departing:

QB Ian Book, WR Javon McKinley, WR Ben Skowronek, OG Aaron Banks, OG Tommy Kraemer, OT Liam Eichenberg, OT Robert Hainsey, LB Daelin Hayes, LB Adetokunbo Ogundeji, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, CB Nick McCloud, and DB Sean Crawford.

Top 10 Recruits:

4 Star Recruits: 
OT Blake Fisher (Avon, Indiana), OG Rocco Spindler (Clarkston, Michigan), QB Tyler Buchner (La Mesa, California), WR Deion Ciozie (Athens, Georgia), WR Lorenzo Styles (Pickerington, Ohio), DT Gabriel Rubio (St. Peters, Missouri), LB Prince Koile (Jonesborough, Tennessee), TE Cane Berrong (Hartwell, Georgia), RB Audric Estime (Montvale, New Jersey), and OG Cain Madden (Marshall transfer).

2020 Results:

G01  DUKE  W  27-13
G02  USF  W  52-0
G03  FLORIDA STATE  W  42-26
G04  LOUISVILLE  W  12-7
G05  at Pittsburgh  W  45-3
G06  at Georgia Tech  W  31-13
G07  #1 CLEMSON  W | 2OT  47-40
G08  at Boston College  W  45-31
G09  at #19 North Carolina  W  31-17
G10  SYRACUSE  W  45-21
ACC  vs. #3 Clemson  L  10-34
PLA  vs. #1 Alabama  L  14-31

Team Info:

2020 Overall:  12-2 (2nd in ACC)

Home:  6-0
Away:  4-0
Neutral:  0-2
ACC:  9-0
Non-ACC:  1-2

Head Coach:  Brian Kelly

Notre Dame:  48-34
Career:  219-91-2
Bowls:  5-4

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:  Drew Pyne (2-3, 12 yards, 66.7%, 4.0 avg.,0 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing:  Kyren Williams (211 car., 1125 yards, 5.3 avg., 13 TD)
Receiving:  Michael Mayer (42 rec., 450 yards, 10.7 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored:  Kyren Williams (14)
Sacks:  Isaiah Foskey (4.5)
Tackles:  Kyle Hamilton (63)
Interceptions:  Bo Bauer/Kyle Hamilton/Jack Kiser (1)
Pass Deflections:  Clarence Lewis (7)
Tackles For Loss:  Drew White (9)
Forced Fumbles:  4 Tied (1)
Kick Returns:  Chris Tyree (22 ret., 456 yards, 20.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Matt Salerno 10 ret., 45 yards, 4.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Jonathan Doerer (15-23 fg/fga., 65%, 49-49 xp/xpa., 94 pts.)
Punting:  Jay Bramblett (43 punt, 1839 yards, 42.8 avg., 12 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  17  Jack Coan  (GR/TR)
RB:  23  Kyree Williams  (JR)
WR:  4  Kevin Austin  (SR)
WR:  00  Braden Lenzy  (SR)
WR:  3  Avery Davis  (GR)
TE:  87  Michael Mayer  (SO)
LT:  54  Blake Fisher  (FR)
LG:  52  Zake Correll  (JR)
OC:  55  Jarrett Patterson  (SR)
RG:  62  Cain Madden  (GR/TR)
RT:  75  Josh Lugg  (GR)
KR:  25  Chris Tyree  (SO)
PK:  39  Jonathan Doerer  (GR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  95  Myron Tagvailoa-Amosa  (GR)
NT:  41  Kurt Hinish  (GR)
DT:  57  Jayson Ademilola  (SR)
DE:  7  Isaiah Foskey  (JR)
LB:  27  J.D. Bertrand  (JR)
LB:  40  Drew White  (GR)
LB:  24  Jack Kiser  (JR)
CB:  5  Cam Hart  (JR)
CB:  6  Clarence Lewis  (SO)
FS:  14  Kyle Hamilton  (JR)
SS:  3  Houston Griffith  (SR)
PR:  29  Matt Salerno  (SR)
PT:  19  Jay Bramlett  (JR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  A
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense:

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  C

Special Teams:

Kick Returns:  C
Punt Returns:  C
Kickers:  B
Punters:  B

Schedule:

09/05 
at Florida State Seminoles  |  Notre Dame trails the series 4-6.  The Fighting Irish are 2-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (21-37) was in 2014.

09/11  TOLEDO ROCKETS  |  First meeting between schools.

09/18  PURDUE BOILERMAKERS  |  Notre Dame leads the series 58-26-2.  The Fighting Irish won (30-14) the last meeting between schools in 2014.

09/25  vs. Wisconsin Badgers  |  Notre Dame leads the series 6-2.  The Fighting Irish won (31-7) the last meeting between schools in 1964.

10/02  CINCNNATI BEARCATS  |  Notre Dame won (58-0) the only prior meeting between schools in 1900.

10/09  at Virginia Tech Hokies  |  Notre Dame leads the series 2-1.  The Fighting Irish won (21-20) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

10/23  USC TROJANS  |  Notre Dame leads the series 49-37.  The Fighting Irish are 6-3 since 2019, and they won (30-27) was in 2019,

10/30  NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS  |  Notre Dame leads the series 19-2.  The Fighting Irish are 3-0 sine renewing the series in 2014, and their last series loss (24-29) was in 2008.

11/06  vs. Navy Midshipmen  |  Notre Dame leads the series 79-13.  The Fighting Irish are 8-1 since 2011, and they won (52-20) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

11/13  at Virginia Cavaliers  |  Notre Dame leads the series 2-1.  The Fighting Irish won (21-20) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

11/20  GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS  |  Notre Dame leads the series 29-6-1.  Last season’s 31-13 win was the first meeting between schools since 2015.

11/27  at Stanford Cardinal  |  Notre Dame trails the series 21-13.  The Fighting Irish are 4-5 since 2011, and they won (45-24) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

Predictions:

Home:  4-2
Away:  4-0
Neutral:  1-1

Overall:  9-3