The best returning player Notre Dame faces at every offensive position in 2022
Notre Dame’s 2022 schedule is filled with multiple top-notch matchups and high-profile players. The Notre Dame defense will have its hands full of offensive impact players at various positions nearly every week.
Who will be the most difficult player to face at every position? Here are a few options.
Note: This list does not include any incoming true freshmen.
Quarterback — Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud
This is a tough one because Notre Dame faces several top quarterbacks in 2021. I went with Stroud because he has proven himself as a starter, finishing in third place in the Heisman trophy voting in 2021. In total, the California native completed 71.9 percent of his passes for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and six interceptions. Stroud had seven games with at least four touchdown passes.
Honorable mention: USC’s Caleb Williams, Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei
Running back — Syracuse’s Sean Tucker
Tucker rushed for 1,496 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and caught 20 passes for 255 yards last year, setting numerous program records along the way. The all-purpose nightmare posted a run of 50-plus yards in four games last season and had nine games with at least 100 rushing yards. Against a vaunted Clemson defense, Tucker had 177 all-purpose yards.
Honorable mention: Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson, Marshall’s Rasheen Ali
Wide receiver — Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba
After last season’s Rose Bowl, this one seems like it’s really non-negotiable. Ohio State has become a wide receiver factory in recent years, and it seems as though Smith-Njigba won’t be an exception. In total, Smith-Njigba had 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021. He closed out the year in the aforementioned Rose Bowl with 15 receptions for 347 yards and three touchdowns.
Honorable mention: North Carolina’s Josh Downs, BYU’s Puka Nacua
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Tight end — Stanford’s Ben Yurosek
Yurosek returns to Stanford for his third year with lofty goals after leading the team in receiving yardage in 2021. In total, he caught 42 balls for 653 yards and three touchdowns. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Yuroshek is very capable of going up to grab contested balls like a wideout. He had five catches for 87 yards and a 49-yard touchdown against Notre Dame last year.
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Honorable mention: Boston College’s Joey Luchetti, UNC’s Kamari Morales
Offensive tackle — Clemson’s Jordan McFadden
The South Carolina native has made massive strides since he signed with Clemson as a three-star recruit and barely a top-800 player in 2018. McFadden is locked in at left tackle for the Tigers for 2021, but he has also been a starting right tackle. Last season, the second-team All-ACC tackle allowed just one sack (against Georgia) and five hurries. He also plays very clean football. In nearly 2,000 snaps and 25 starts played over his career, he has just two penalties.
Honorable mention: BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia, Ohio State’s Dawand Jones
Offensive guard — Boston College’s Christian Mahogany
Mahogany will be a third-year starter for the Eagles next year and will likely hear his name called early in the 2023 NFL Draft if he lives up to expectations this season. Mahogany allowed just one sack, two quarterback hits and four quarterback pressures all season in 2021.
Honorable mention: USC’s Andrew Vorhees, BYU’s Clark Barrington
Center — USC’s Brett Neilon
The USC lineman elected to return for his sixth season of college football, and it will be his fourth year in the starting lineup for the Trojans. Neilon played 575 snaps in 2021 and allowed zero sacks and one quarterback hit.
Honorable mention: Ohio State’s Luke Wypler, BYU’s Connor Pay
