Notre Dame Football: 5 commits who’ll have an instant impact in 2018

The linebacker position faces the same issues as the offensive line does on the other side of the ball. All three starting linebackers for the Irish ran out of eligibility. Rising senior, and leading tackler, Te’Von Coney fills in seamlessly at one of the linebacker spots.

However, Notre Dame still will likely turn to a freshman that can make an immediate difference, connecting a talented defensive line to a developing secondary. Four-star inside linebacker Jack Lamb is a highly-touted recruit that is already enrolled with the Irish.

It’ll either be Lamb or fellow signee and four-star linebacker Shayne Simon, that will make the difference. Both Lamb and Simon are top 100 recruits nationally, and were huge gets for the Irish. Yet, the area where Lamb has the edge is enrolling early. He’ll likely play in the Spring Game and get that valuable early exposure.

Moreover, Lamb has a slightly larger frame and more developed tackling ability than Simon does. Lamb has everything going for him in terms of a freshman linebacker who will help ease a large amount of defensive turnover with just one position group.