Talented Stanford defenders that Notre Dame football will need to keep a close eye on this weekend

Notre Dame football heads into this week with a very intriguing game against Stanford . There’s no way around it, the Stanford defense is not good, especially from a pass defense perspective. Even with the Irish offense being very inconsistent, they have the clear advantage on paper.

As is typically the case, there are several defenders that could be a headache if you don’t attack them correctly. The Stanford Cardinal are the same. Here are the defenders to keep a close eye on. There is talent on that side of the football, just not a ton of it.

EDGE David Bailey

The most dynamic weapon on the Stanford defense is Bailey, and it isn’t particularly close. At 6-3 and 250 pounds, Bailey is a dynamic pass rusher with big time ability. Opposing offenses are very aware of No. 23, and they put their attention on him constantly. When he does get 1-on-1 opportunities, Bailey typically makes some big plays. So far through five games, Bailey has recorded three tackles for loss, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. He has the athleticism to take over a game if you let him.

LINEBACKERS

Notre Dame fans should be very familiar with Tristan Sinclair, who the team was very high on coming out of high school. You can combine Sinclair with former FIU transfer Gaethan Bernadel to make one of the more productive linebacker duos in the country. The two have combined for 68 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and a sack in five games. They are both downhill players who can make a lot of plays between the tackles.

CB Collin Wright

Stanford has an extremely poor pass defense, but Wright is an outstanding player and is very underrated. He’s a bigger cornerback at 6-0 and 195 pounds, and has no problem bringing physicality to the table. Wright is a very good run defender, including collecting 61 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and a sack in 2023. The junior is also incredibly physical in coverage, matching size and staying glued down the field. Wright has more than enough ball skills to make some plays with the football in the air.