Notre Dame lands in top 10 of ESPN defense future power rankings

A third coordinator change in three years and the departure of an All-American safety hasn’t lowered the outlook for Notre Dame’s defense in 2022 – internally or externally. One prognostication even thinks the Irish are in a healthier spot for the next three years than they were last spring.

ESPN’s 2022 top 25 defense future power rankings slotted Notre Dame at No. 6, up five spots from No. 11 last year. ESPN analyst Adam Rittenberg compiles the list annually, ranking defenses’ outlooks for the next three seasons “accounting for current rosters, incoming recruits and transfers, and potential NFL departures. Coaching changes also are a factor.”

Notre Dame has withstood a few coordinator switches in recent years, though, with no significant drop-off in unit performance. The Irish are banking on Al Golden continuing the success.

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“Since Notre Dame hired defensive coordinator Mike Elko before the 2017 season, the unit has ranked ninth nationally in points allowed (19.4 PPG) and in the top 20 for most major categories,” Rittenberg wrote. “The past three playcallers — Elko, Clark Lea and Freeman — have become head coaches, with Freeman fast-tracking into the Notre Dame job after only one season as DC.”

Golden, the former Miami and Temple head coach, has not called a defense since 2005 at Virginia. He is not tearing up Notre Dame’s existing framework, though. He inherits a defense that returns six starters and adds a 2020 All-American in former Northwestern safety Brandon Joseph. Freeman helped sign nine four-star defensive recruits in the 2022 class, per the On3 Consensus. The Irish’s 2023 class has five commitments from defensive players ranked in the top 125.

The returning talent and recruiting trajectory were more than enough to offset a few important personnel losses in Rittenberg’s mind.

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“Golden will oversee a defense that loses standout Kyle Hamilton and veteran linemen Kurt Hinish and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, but returns a good group at all three levels,” Rittenberg wrote.

“The line received a nice postseason boost as sacks leader Isaiah Foskey returns for one more season, alongside senior end Justin Ademilola, promising junior end Rylie Mills and veteran tackles Jayson Ademilola, Howard Cross III, Jacob Lacey and Harvard transfer Chris Smith, a first-team All-Ivy League selection in 2021.

“The development of non-seniors such as Mills, Nana Osafo-Mensah, Tyson Ford and Jason Onye will be significant for 2023 and 2024. Notre Dame also has a commitment from Keon Keeley, ESPN’s top-rated defensive end and No. 23 overall recruit in the 2023 class, and two other ESPN 300 line recruits (Brenan Vernon and Boubacar Traore).”

The defensive line looks like Notre Dame’s best position in 2022. Recent recruiting results suggest it could stay that way beyond this season. Ford and Gobaira were top-200 players in the 2022 consensus. Keeley, Vernon and Traore are all in the top 125 of the 2023 On3 Consensus, with defensive tackle commit Devan Houston at No. 216. Notre Dame’s two 2024 commits are also On3 Consensus top-250 players.

There’s also intriguing talent at linebacker that could make it a strength beyond 2022. Freeman signed a quartet of blue-chip linebackers in the 2022 class, led by Jaylen Sneed, the No. 33 overall player in the consensus and a five-star in On3’s own rankings. The 2022 linebacker rotation will likely be a senior-laden one.

“JD Bertrand, who led Notre Dame with 101 tackles last season, has two years of eligibility left, as does Jack Kiser (eight starts in 2021) and Marist Liufau, who returns from a major ankle injury,” Rittenberg wrote. “Talented junior Jordan Botelho enters a big year after showing some flashes in 2021.”

Joseph’s spring game performance was a sign he might have regained his All-America form, which would help offset Hamilton’s departure and give the secondary a playmaker. If he puts up anything like his 2020 season (52 tackles, six interceptions in nine games), he might only be around for a year. Notre Dame has six underclassman corners on the roster that will have a major role in shaping the secondary’s outlook for 2023 and beyond.

“Joseph and veterans DJ Brown and Houston Griffith stabilize the [safety] position through 2022, while Ramon Henderson has multiple seasons of eligibility left,” Rittenberg wrote. “Cornerback also projects decently as TaRiq Bracy returns for a final season alongside juniors Cam Hart and Clarence Lewis, who have combined for 20 pass breakups in their careers. Secondary depth after 2023 is worth watching, especially given Notre Dame’s strong recruiting push under Freeman.”