The ranking of the top 25 players on the Notre Dame roster is an annual tradition that means football is almost here. Like everything in 2020, this year’s exercise was stranger and more confusing than usual. Our friend Douglas Farmer from Inside the Irish, who coordinates this activity across ND platforms with folks like us and some true experts, was on leave but now has thankfully returned. We will reluctantly consider NBC Sports back in our good graces since they’ve returned the positive presence of a Doug to the Notre Dame world (Farmer) and mostly removed a negative one (Flutie).

Members of our staff (Eric, Brendan, PBurns, me) each submitted our individual lists and created a composite 18 Stripes ballot. As usual, the criteria is in the eye of the beholder and is likely some subjective hybrid of individual skill, importance to the team, past performance, and potential. We initially filled out our ballots in July, then made some quick updates with the release of the depth chart this week and news like Kevin Austin’s injury.

2019 Postmortem

We hold ourselves accountable for our rankings here, so it’s an interesting trip back to our 2019 list. A few takeaways from our effort and the rankings:

  • It’s somewhat remarkable that the Irish went 11-2 despite some so-so performances from the top 10. Of that group, Okwara (1), Hainsey (8), Finke (9), and Armstrong (10) battled injuries and missed time. Claypool (7) and Kareem (3) were maybe the only selection that clearly exceeded expectations, with Book (2), Gilman (4), Pride (5), and Elliott (6) really meeting or slightly disappointing some lofty goals.
  • We were too low on Kyle Hamilton, Cole Kmet and Asmar Bilal (as was everyone!) and Tony Jones was not included and stands out as maybe the most notable omission.
  • Michael Young, Houston Griffith, and Armstrong stand out as guys who really never came close to sniffing whatever this list would have looked like at season’s end.

Without further ado, the 2020 list:

1. Ian Book

Book sneaking past the defenders at #2 and #3 on the list is likely commentary on his importance over his performance. A mini-leap was expected from Book in 2019, and while the offense put up strong numbers, Book struggled with his consistency in the first half of the year. He closed the season extremely strong, but questions remain – how will Tommy Rees plan to use him differently than Chip Long? How much will the losses of Chase Claypool, Cole Kmet, and Chris Finke sting? Can Book raise his game against elite opponents like Clemson?

2. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

It’s crazy to think back to a season ago when JOK wasn’t a guaranteed starter at rover until just before the season (#18 in our preseason ballot last year, which was higher than the average ranking of 20th). It took all of a few games before Owusu-Koramoah flashed as one of the best athletes on the field against Georgia, and he finished with a flourish with three sacks in the Camping World Bowl. He’s already receiving first-round draft buzz and should be a versatile and disruptive weapon at Rover. It’s surprising that he’s ahead of Hamilton, but he had a better 2019 season and if you switched their recruiting rankings, would we think about JOK the way we do Kyle?

3. Kyle Hamilton

This could look silly in a week or two because everyone knows Hamilton is the most talented player on the roster. The question is really how big of an impact he can have on how quickly he jumps from a complementary role as a freshman to high expectations and a leadership role. The coaching staff plans to use him in a number of ways depending on opponent and situation, and given Hamilton’s instincts and nose for the ball, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him finish as a consensus All-American as a true sophomore.

T4. Ade Ogundeji

This is a lofty ranking for a first-time starter, but Ogundeji has a wealth of big-game experience over the past two seasons and projects to step into Khaled Kareem’s shoes pretty seamlessly. While not as twitchy of an athlete as some of the young guys behind him, Ogundeji had impressive pressure stats and figures to be more well-rounded defending the run as well. Look for the veteran to kick inside on passing downs and allow the Irish to put four of their best pass rushers on the field together.

T4. Liam Eichenberg

Another player on the roster with first-round upside, Eichenberg checks all the boxes on paper for an All-American. Blue-chip pedigree, a wealth of experience, and ideal size for a left tackle are all there. He was very good last year, especially in pass protection, but the degree of difficulty goes up a level this year. Some of the mid to lower-level opponents on Notre Dame’s schedule like Duke, Wake Forest, and Pitt still boast some of the best defensive ends in the country. The opportunity to cement himself as a first-day pick will be there, but it’s a tough challenge.

6. Drew White

From unrated on last year’s list to 80 tackles, 8 TFL, and 2 sacks, somehow White may still be a little underrated and underappreciated. He had more run stuffs (11.5) than any Irish defender besides Asmar Bilal, and his experience at Mike figures to help Bilal’s replacement(s). White provides a high ceiling for the ND defense and still can take another leap increasing his disruptiveness.

7. Braden Lenzy

After a quiet first half of the year, Lenzy exploded in the second half of the season as a big-play threat. He had just 24 touches on the season (13 carries and 11 receptions) but averaged 19 yards a play when combining his rushing and receiving. If he doesn’t see 100 touches this season, something has gone wrong – he’s a versatile weapon that forces defenses to devote significant resources and attention his way on every play. Even as a decoy Lenzy opens things up for others in the run game and in the receiving corps, and he’s an easy selection as the top receiver with Kevin Austin’s injury.

8. Daelin Hayes

On a defensive line with Julian Okwara and Khaled Kareem, Hayes looked like the best defensive end in the games he played before a season-ending injury last fall. His pass-rushing numbers have never quite lived up to their potential, but the film and PFF grades show a guy who can create consistent pressure and can also be a strength in the run game. It’s a luxury to return two veteran DEs like Ogundeji and Hayes even after losing Okwara and Kareem to the draft, with high-upside underclassmen pushing for time behind them.

9. Tommy Kraemer

You can still find Kraemer as a projected early-round draft pick despite some ups and downs in his Irish career. With a five-star pedigree he earned early playing time on the dominant 2017 line, but since then has moved positions and struggled with consistency in the face of injuries. 2019 was his best season before a season-ending injury, and this ranking assumes he’ll pick up where he left off this fall.

10. Robert Hainsey

Hainsey and Kraemer next to each other on our list is fitting. Before his season ended with an injury versus Virginia Tech, Hainsey also hadn’t allowed a sack in 400+ snaps per Pro Football Focus. The talent on the ND offensive line is so close together among the starters that sometimes it seems like Hainsey gets short-changed as the default tiebreaker is their rating as an NFL draft prospect, where he’s more of a tweener with his size. Still, he was voted offensive lineman of the year by the staff and his teammates in 2019 and will be a two-time captain with nearly 30 starts under his belt, not too shabby!

11. Tommy Tremble

Among an extremely deep and talented tight end room, Tremble is the favorite to produce the most offensively. He improved over the course of the season as a blocker, and on a per-target basis compared favorably with Cole Kmet (more efficient with only 0.6 yards fewer per catch). Tremble’s athleticism and vertical threat at the position should make Ian Book’s life easier, and the presence of Michael Mayer fighting for snaps behind him should keep the junior hungry.

12. Aaron Banks

An early all-ACC selection, Banks’ position in the offensive line pecking order comes down to conditioning and health. His upside and pro potential may outweigh every but Eichenberg, but he has to be more consistent and athletic than he was in 2019 on the heels of an impressive 2018 debut.

13. Shaun Crawford

A late-career position change to safety was a surprise, but the switch makes a ton of sense. Crawford has always been a smart and instinctive player, and while a little undersized at safety, he’ll pair with Hamilton to form a pair of ballhawks with noses for the ball. Clark Lea’s defenses have been elite nationally in preventing big passing plays, and Crawford’s presence at safety should ensure that continues another year.

14. Myron Tagavailoa-Amosa

One of the strongest players on the roster, MTA is another veteran force on the defensive line that still has eligibility through 2021. He earned about 2/3 of the snaps at three-technique last season with the remainder going to Jayson Ademilola, and that split may narrow this year. This ranking could end up a little high if Ademilola steals more snaps or outperforms Tagavailoa-Amosa in around the same number.

15. Kyren Williams

Seizing the top running back spot was a little surprising after a redshirt freshman season, but a welcome development for many fans. Last season the Irish running backs lacked some elusiveness and pass-catching versatility, and Williams brings those strengths to the table. The only question with this ranking is how snaps will be divided – does this guarantee him 15 touches a game, or will Tyree, Smith, or Flemister be stealing snaps or fed if they get hot?

16. Jarrett Patterson

This could be too low for a player that in his first year starting did not allow a sack in 854 snaps last season. It’s always difficult to evaluate offensive linemen, but Patterson was unnoticeable in a good way in 2019 as a redshirt freshman. The bar for success has not increased from proving himself as a solid starter to becoming an asset in both the passing and run game.

17. Tariq Bracy

In a list of guys that feel like fairly known quantities, Bracy feels like he has a wider range of outcomes than most. A good athlete who quickly worked his way into early playing time despite a slight frame, he’s the favorite to start at field corner. Bracy has big-game experience against opponents like USC and UGA and seemed to gain confidence as 2019 went along. From the latest depth charts, it seems he is being pushed by true freshman Clarence Lewis, but it would be encouraging if that’s more a sign of depth than a commentary on Bracy. The junior stands out as one of the swing players whose improvement could make a pretty dramatic difference on the defense as a whole.

18. Chris Tyree

Expectations keep rising for Tyree as the accolades roll in following fall camp. The true freshman brings home-run hitting speed back to the running back position and has more straight-line speed than even Dexter Williams and Josh Adams, who each routinely broke off long touchdowns. Reports so far are that his conditioning and size have been encouraging as well as his ability to run between the tackles.

19. Kurt Hinish

Hinish flies under the radar – at his best he’s eating double teams in the middle of the Irish defense but not tallying up big stats. He’s a steady force against the run who has been incredibly durable and consistent at a position of need. Hinish should be at his best this season as a veteran in Lea’s defense and with sophomore Jacob Lacey able to keep him fresh.

20. Nick McCloud

This feels a little low, as McCloud now appears to have the strongest grip on a starting corner spot of any player. The NC State transfer will be by far the most experienced corner with Crawford at safety and brings size and physicality to the boundary position. He has a high floor but his speed could limit his ceiling against the most dangerous matchups like Clemson, UNC, and Louisville. Still, the gift of a grad transfer to bring a big corner in with experience is a godsend for Clark Lea.

21. Jayson Ademilola

Few backups typically make this list, but Ademilola projects to rotate in significantly behind MTA. A season ago he had 5.5 run stuffs and 4 TFL in limited time, the defensive tackle rotation is in good hands for a long time with Ademilola and Jacob Lacey both with multiple years of eligibility remaining.

22. Jonathan Doerer

Kickers are sometimes hard to rank on these lists, but Doerer was a stud in 2019. He didn’t miss a PAT and was 17-20 on field goals, including some bombs. When you make 3 field goals over 43 yards against USC in a pressure-packed game, including a 52-yarder, that’s the stuff of legend. Generally, it’s not great to settle for field goals, but it’s a huge asset to have a dependable kicker with serious distance in case of an emergency.

23. Ben Skowronek

Skowronek went from a strong insurance policy to a key contributor very quickly when Kevin Austin broke his foot. He’ll battle with Javon McKinley for spots outside, but there are significant snaps up for grabs with the departures of Chase Claypool, Cole Kmet, and Chris Finke. He’s being labeled as solely a possession receiver, but with Book’s accuracy on intermediate routes and back-shoulder throws he could quickly become a favorite target.

24. Lawrence Keys

It feels like fans have been waiting on a Keys breakout for a few seasons, as there have been consistent reports of unique after the catch ability from his high school tape and practice. With Chris Finke departing, the opportunity is wide open. There were glimpses of his ability when he snagged three catches for 35 years at UGA despite playing out of position on the outside. Avery Davis could compete for snaps, but the best version of the ND offense would feature Keys working out of the slot as an explosive option.

25. Isaiah Foskey

The last spot on the ballot is snagged by Foskey, who had one massive game as a true freshman at Stanford and oozes potential. This could go to any number of potential young edge rushers though – Jordan Botelho, Justin Ademilola, or Ovie Oghuofo are all candidates too with 3 or more years of eligibility remaining. The guys just missing the cut here – Marist Lifau, Shayne Simon, Jacob Lacey, Michael Mayer, Jordan Johnson, Houston Griffith, Isaiah Pryor – speak to the depth of this team.