Notre Dame returns proven veterans in ’24, underscored by 2023 expectations

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 23 Ohio State at Notre Dame

At some point, Notre Dame’s 2024 expectations should begin to be tempered, simply acknowledging logic. But even looking beyond the Irish successes in roster management across the last month-plus, there are underlying endorsements for Notre Dame’s Playoff hopes in the first year of the 12-team Playoff.

Look back to the preseason. Some of the following names may have disappointed, but those were largely tied to injury, not on-field performances. In fact, of the dozen players returning in 2024 that were also in the top 25 of this preseason’s “Counting Down the Irish” rankings — the anticipations of the 2023 season by 10 Notre Dame beat writers — it can be easily argued six of them were underrated in retrospect.

Returning not only contributors but contributors still on upward trends bodes well for the Irish in 2024.

There is a precedent here. Just look back a year ago. Notre Dame returned 12 players from the 2022 “Counting Down the Irish” rankings in 2023. Only 11 of them landed in the 2023 rankings, though, nine of which ticked upward in the wonderings.

That is natural, older players more likely to impact a season. And such a glut of proven veterans leading a roster for years at a time creates a heightened floor, propelling Notre Dame to the top 15 and a 10-3 record in Marcus Freeman’s second season as a head coach.

Recognizing that, the likes of cornerback Benjamin Morrison (No. 3 in 2023’s rankings), linebacker Jack Kiser (No. 9) and safety Xavier Watts (No. 12) raise Notre Dame’s floor for next season, not to mention defensive tackles Rylie Mills (No. 10) and Howard Cross (No. 13).

This thinking furthers thoughts of receivers Jayden Thomas (No. 7) and Jaden Greathouse (No. 25), and running back Jadarian Price (No. 20) propelling the Irish offense as…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/counting-down-irish-review-notre-210000371.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-01-05 21:00:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.