Once again the 18 Stripes crew was invited to participate in the annual “Counting Down the Irish” list of top 25 preseason Notre Dame players. While the votes are tied to my name, I like to go with a “wisdom of the crowds” approach each year, opening voting to the staff and then averaging our results.

For each player, we’ve included the results of our 18S average (voters: me, Eric, Brendan, and Alex /GoldenisThyFame) as well as the “composite” ranking from the beat writers. Our ballots were cast at the start of fall camp, so as you’ll see, there would be some updates if we voted again today based on injuries and new roster developments.

25. Xavier Watts (S)

Composite ranking: NR

The second starting safety spot feels like a wide-open competition still, with veteran options like DJ Brown and Houston Griffith battling for snaps with young talent like Watts and Ramon Henderson. It seems destined to be a rotation, at least early in the year, and could be matchup dependent even stretching late into the fall. Watts is a high-ceiling option with his athleticism – if he can transition from wide receiver to rover to meaningful reps at safety last fall, can he grab a starting spot a year later? And after Avery Davis’s injury, maybe some two-way upside if he is called on at wide receiver?

24. Jacob Lacey (DT)

Composite ranking: NR

Lacey’s breakout is a long time coming. He stepped in and contributed immediately as a freshman, but has battled injuries and been stuck behind veterans like Kurt Hinish and Myron Tagavailoa-Amosa for significant playing time. Lacey was terrific when Hinish missed time last year, and now will have a great shot at a starting role.

23. Logan Diggs (RB)

Composite ranking: 18

This ranking is likely much higher if Diggs is able to fully recover from his torn labrum and play in the opener against Ohio State. He flashed great potential as a true freshman, with great patience, agility, and pass-catching ability. If healthy Diggs could battle Chris Tyree for the most touches by any running back.

22. JD Bertrand (LB)

Composite ranking: 15

Bertrand seems unfairly maligned by some Irish fans for the way last season finished. Stepping in with injuries ravaging last year’s linebackers, Bertrand was an immediate contributor and led the 2021 team in tackles. His performance trailed off late in the season, banged up and playing out of position. Despite talented young guys pushing him, Bertrand is still the current favorite to start at MIKE and shouldn’t be underestimated.

21. Tobias Merriweather (WR)

Composite ranking: NR

The hype has rarely been higher for a true freshman, a result of both Merriweather’s talent and the desperate need at wide receiver. Merriweather has a massive frame and is reportedly one of the fastest players on the roster already. He was the fourth-ranked wide receiver on our list, but it wouldn’t be shocking if he ended the season at the team’s second most productive at the position.

20. Zeke Correll (C)

Composite ranking: 17

After an up-and-down season at guard, Correll returns to his natural position with Jarrett Patterson shifting over. Correll was solid in 2020 when Patterson went down with an injury, and has a ton of big-game experience. A big bump in 2022 with Harry Hiestand, the move back to center, and a better line as a whole seems reasonable.

19. Tariq Bracy (CB)

Composite ranking: 19

Bracy feels like he’s been on the verge of a breakout for three years – remember the big pass break-ups in Athens in 2019 to keep the Irish close against UGA? But the veteran corner hasn’t been able to put it all together – 2020 might have been derailed by COVID, and Bracy was burned in a few high-profile games. Last season saw a career-high in tackles and his first career interception, but not consistent playmaking. It’s a “now or never” season for Bracy, who is competing to start either as a field corner or at nickel.

18. Avery Davis (WR)

Composite ranking: 16

Obviously, this ranking was finalized before the news of Davis’s season-ending ACL tear. It’s a brutal blow to one of the team’s best leaders and few proven commodities at wide receiver. There could be ripple effects for many players on this list – potential bumps for guys like Merriweather or Jayden Thomas, or increased utilization for other position players in the passing game like Chris Tyree, Kevin Baumann, or Eli Raridon.

17. Jaden Mickey (CB)

Composite ranking: NR

It seems like most voters in this exercise either believed in Mickey to take a starting CB spot or Clarence Lewis to bounce back and retain his; our crew is on the Mickey hype train. The early enrollee has impressed in spring and fall practice reports, and seems to have a nose for the ball. The smart money is probably on the veterans to start the year, especially in a hostile environment in Columbus, but Mickey seems destined for significant snaps sooner rather than later.

16. Braden Lenzy (WR)

Composite ranking: 22

Lenzy feels like the wide receiver analog of Bracy above – seemingly primed for a breakout the past few seasons but never quite emerging as the difference-maker that’s been expected. After tearing through defenses at the end of 2019, injuries made 2020 a lost season when the Irish could have badly used a downfield threat. In 2021 Lenzy emerged as a more well-rounded veteran, making a difference in the short and intermediate passing game and the second most productive WR behind Kevin Austin. But it seemed like a tough fit with Jack Coan, who struggled to connect with Lenzy on the deep ball. Can Buchner better take advantage of Lenzy’s speed this fall?

15. Howard Cross (DT)

Composite ranking: 21

Cross finished last season strong, with three sacks in the final two games of the regular season. While a little undersized in the interior, Cross has outstanding quickness and terrific hands. This is a lofty ranking for a player likely to split time in a deep defensive line, but this seems like a player on a steady upward trajectory that might be hard to keep off the field.

14. Jack Kiser (LB)

Composite ranking: 14

Kiser had a very solid debut as a starter at rover in 2021, with two picks and two forced fumbles to go along with 45 tackles. Early buzz is that the senior has been a leader in getting the linebackers and defense into position in Al Golden’s defense, and Kiser may be the most well-rounded player in the position group.

13. Rylie Mills (DE)

Composite ranking: 13

Mills is another defensive lineman primed to take on a larger role, replacing Myron Tagavailoa-Amosa as the starting “big” DE. The ceiling is sky-high for Mills, who is physically a monster after a few seasons working with Matt Balis. He brings an imposing presence to a line that while talented, isn’t the biggest and offers the versatility to stay on the field and provide an interior pass rush on passing downs.

12. Chris Tyree (RB)

Composite ranking: 11

It was a disappointing 2021 for Tyree, who battled injuries after a terrific true freshman season. Still, as a sophomore he provided some massive plays like the kickoff return against Wisconsin and long TD reception in the Fiesta Bowl. More space to work behind an improved line and the opportunity to play a big role in the passing game makes Tyree an easy pick just outside the top-10.

11. Joe Alt (OT)

Composite ranking: 9

The trajectory of Alt’s early career is insane, to the point where this feels like an entirely reasonable expectation for a guy who was considered a tight end prospect by many services just a few seasons ago. Alt stepped into the left tackle job as a true freshman last year and held his own. He’s a giant human with easy NFL potential and seems poised to realize much of it sooner than expected.

10. Tyler Buchner (QB)

Composite ranking: 6

Buchner is one of the bigger boom or bust players on this list – he could easily finish in the top-5 or even #1! Or he might struggle with turnovers, consistency, and possibly lose the starting job. It’s all in play, but we’re relatively bullish about what Buchner can do with his arm and legs behind this line.

9. Cam Hart (CB)

Composite ranking: 10

Hart emerged last year as the best CB on the roster by a good margin, piling up 4.5 TFL to go with seven pass breakups and two interceptions. He’ll benefit from the strength of the pass rush and front seven and has NFL size to combine with his growing experience. Hart could also benefit if the unit as a whole is stronger than last year.

8. Jarrett Patterson (G)

Composite ranking: 4

Patterson feels like he has been in the top-10 in this exercise for an eternity! Rating offensive linemen is always difficult, but Patterson, if healthy, feels like a lock to remain a very strong performer even with the shift to guard. The offensive line will be a strength with Patterson leading the way and hopefully boosting his pro stock in the process.

7. Jayson Ademilola (DT)

Composite ranking: 5

The larger Ademilola returning for a 5th year was a massive boost after he led all defensive linemen in run stuffs last season. He should be incredibly disruptive in the interior of one of the team’s strongest units against both the run and the pass. He’s a very safe top-10 pick but maybe lacks the upside of the players ranked above him on our ballot.

6. Marist Liufau (LB)

Composite ranking: 12

If we’re too high on anyone, it could be Liufau, who we also were extremely bullish on last year before his season-ending injury. His recovery and ability to get back to max playing speed is the real question here, especially when combined with the depth at linebacker that could create more of a rotation. His talent and havoc potential is the reason for excitement though – he just has more boom or bust potential than most of the top 10.

5. Lorenzo Styles (WR)

Composite ranking: 7

Styles burst onto the scene late last year, putting up great numbers for a true freshman with the vast majority after the bye week. Styles was the most productive Irish wide receiver on a per-target basis, with a great mix of efficiency and explosiveness. He’ll be leaping into a much larger role this year, but he possesses all the physical tools needed to become an effective WR1 as a sophomore.

4. Brandon Joseph (S)

Composite ranking: 3

Joseph earned an early reputation as a ballhawk at Northwestern, and the staff seems incredibly excited to see those skills translate into a better and more talented defense. Already mocked as a potential 1st round pick, Joseph projects to be exceptional in coverage with the only potential weakness coming up in run support. Practice reports about Joseph and his leadership are glowing, and his arrival is the major reason to believe the secondary might be better this year despite Kyle Hamilton’s departure.

3. Blake Fisher (OT)

Composite ranking: 8

Our staff was extremely high on Fisher, who flashed enormous potential in his two starts as a true freshman. There’s a lot of reasons to believe, even going back to the reports of Fisher-Foskey battles last fall (which were widely misinterpreted as a reason for concern about Foskey instead of excitement for Fisher). Expectations are extremely high, but it wouldn’t be a surprise for Fisher to arrive as an All-American a year early.

2. Isaiah Foskey (DE)

Composite ranking: 2

Few things are more fun than expecting and needing a player to make a leap, followed by them totally delivering. That was the story with Foskey stepping into a leadership role last season, and his return to cement his status as an early-round pick was massive for the Irish. He’s a master of the strip sack, showed improvement against the run, and is the team’s best pass-rusher.

1. Michael Mayer (TE)

Composite ranking: 1

He’s either the best or second best player at his position in the nation, and will leave Notre Dame with a ton of program records for a tight end. Mayer was already an All-American caliber player as a sophomore – what else has he added now? Improvement as a blocker, possibly a little more agility, and honing in his route running? He’ll be a major focus of every opposing defense, but figures to be incredibly productive anyway.