Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons the Irish will be just fine without Mike Elko

4. Defensive veterans will help maintain Mike Elko’s foundation

While captain Nyles Morgan will be departing after his senior year, the Irish will still have a significant veteran presence on the defensive side of the ball heading into next year. Linebacker Greer Martini will also be departing, but the linebacker corps can still stay intact as Drue Tranquill, and possibly Te’von Coney, will be returning next year.

In addition, cornerback Nick Watkins along with defensive linemen Andrew Trumbetti and Jay Hayes all have the potential of staying for another season, furthering the Irish’s ability to recover from Elko’s departure. While some players on the offensive side of the ball have already declared for the draft, this defense has the potential to remain fairly unchanged.

A strong veteran presence can go a long way when implementing a new offensive coordinator, and in turn, a new scheme. With Elko being so efficient in the turnover battle, there’s reason to believe that the Irish benefit from building their new scheme on the foundation Elko provided. With multiple seniors expected to return, look for the Irish to make this switch exceptionally smooth.