Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons the Irish will be contenders in 2018
By Jacob Wilson
1. The Irish can enter next season with virtually the same team
Perhaps one of Notre Dame’s greatest accomplishments as a program has been their ability to get players to stay for an extra year or two despite the enticements of the NFL Draft. Should the Irish follow that same trend this year, we could see one of the most cohesive units in Notre Dame history.
For starters, Notre Dame currently has a handful of seniors considering starting a career in the NFL this season. Some of the more consequential players include defensive ends Jay Hayes and Andrew Trumbetti, defensive tackle Jonathan Bonner, offensive guard Alex Bars, linebacker Drue Tranquill, punter Tyler Newsome and cornerback Nick Watkins.
Of that group, Tranquill has already committed to a fifth year at Notre Dame, but we’re still waiting to here back from the others. Bonner, a linchpin on the Irish defensive line, has decided he will not be returning for another season. As for the juniors, defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, linebacker Te’von Coney, and running back Josh Adams are all considering the draft.
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Of that group, each and every decision is still up in the air. However, each and every one of those players also serve a near irreplaceable role for the Irish. However, if Kelly is able to convince the majority of these players to return for one more year, don’t be surprised to see them playing in the College Football Playoff next season.