Notre Dame Football: 5 freshmen who could become instant starters in 2018

The Fighting Irish finished with a strong class, but which five 2018 class signees could become starters for Notre Dame football in 2018?

The 2018 recruiting class is in the books and Notre Dame has to feel good about finishing with a top-10 group. Brian Kelly is just two years removed from being on the “hot seat” after finished the 2016 campaign with a 4-8 record. Now he has a team that could contend for the College Football Playoff in 2018.

Notre Dame’s 2018 class was solid on paper, but that doesn’t always translate to the field. This group is different, though. The Irish have a number of strong contenders to see the field and burn their redshirt next season.

Which five incoming freshmen could start for Notre Dame at some point in 2018?

Unfortunately for Notre Dame, it’s losing a number of top offensive linemen to the NFL. Guys like tackle Mike McGlinchey and guards Quenton Nelson are graduating and have a chance to be first-round picks.

That means Brian Kelly will have to look at his incoming class of freshmen to potentially replace that departing group. The first name that comes to mind is four-star tackle Jarrett Patterson who saw an opportunity to play early on and committed to the Irish on National Signing Day.

Patterson is a 6-foot-5, 285-pound tackle from California who could find himself contending for a starting role this summer and into the fall.

Not being an early enrollee may hurt his chances, but he has the size and potential to be a force on that offensive line. He was ranked the No. 214 overall prospect and 17th-best tackle, per 247Sports, and picked Notre Dame over UCLA and Michigan.