Heading into the 2024 college football season, expectations for the Notre Fighting Irish are at an all-time high. The team heads into year three under head coach Marcus Freeman, which will be a pivotal one. After some hiccups and growth over the first two years, fans are ready for what should be a fun year.
On the defensive side of the football, Notre Dame projects to have one of the best defenses in the entire country in 2024. A big reason for that is some prominent players returning. There are also several younger players who could provide a big boost this season, who the team will be depending on big time.
EDGE Boubacar Traore
If you aren’t familiar with Traore, go back and pop on the Notre Dame-USC game from last season. Right before halftime, Traore had the chance to rush the passer against Caleb Williams. Pinning his ears back, the true freshman won quickly around the right tackle and finished for the sack. That quick win was eye-popping, jaw-dropping, and whatever team you would like to use.
We haven’t seen enough of that from the Irish in recent years, quick wins around the edge in big moments. Traore gave us a taste of that upside as just a true freshman. Now a sophomore, Traore is going to be counted upon to make his presence known on a more regular basis. The 6-4, 240-pound defensive end has all the upside in the world, and should at least present some upside in 2024 as a pass rush specialist.
LB Drayk Bowen
Outside of quarterback, middle linebacker is a position that tends to be highlighted most by the average fan. That is a position that JD Bertrand had been holding down over the last couple of seasons but is off to the NFL now, drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft in April.
The fans who follow recruiting closely are very familiar with Bowen, who was a gem in the 2023 recruiting class. Blessed with outstanding size and explosiveness, the Indiana standout is a downhill player with true sideline-to-sideline speed. The expectation is for Bowen to come in and become a playmaker from the middle of the defense.
CB Christian Gray
Like Traore, we saw some impressive flashes of Gray in 2023. We even saw him start the final game of the season in their bowl victory over Oregon State. His most impressive moment of the season came against Pittsburgh where Gray made a spectacular one-handed interception down the sideline. That play made everyone giddy for the future at field cornerback.
Losing a player like Cam Hart is a bummer for Notre Dame. Funny enough, Gray is so talented that most Irish fans aren’t even worried about that defection. That’s a testament to Mike Mickens and what he has built at the cornerback position. You want to avoid Benjamin Morrison this fall? Say hello to Mr. Gray.
S Adon Shuler
Notre Dame has one of the best secondaries returning to college football in 2024, maybe the best. At safety, they bring back Xavier Watts, fresh off of seven interceptions and All-American honors last season. Watts is looking for a running mate, needing another solid producer to create one of the best safety duos in the nation.
The Irish brought in Rod Heard from Northwestern this offseason who looks poised to compete for that spot. One player to keep a close eye on is sophomore Adon Shuler, who is an extremely gifted player. He showed as a freshman that he is extremely physical and gets downhill in a hurry. Opportunity is certainly in front of him.
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