Notre Dame Football: 5 signees who will have instant impact in 2019

2. Isaiah Rutherford, CB

Nothing was made more clear in the Irish’s Cotton Bowl loss to Clemson than the lack of depth at cornerback. After limiting the Clemson offense early in the first quarter, standout corner Julian Love was removed from the game after suffering what was initially speculated to be anything from a hamstring injury to a concussion.

Nevertheless, backup cornerback Donte Vaughn entered the game and gave up touchdowns on consecutive drives. While both were results of impressive catches, it was clear that nobody feared throwing to Vaughn’s side of the field. Clemson would eventually pull away big, leaving Notre Dame and their championship hopes in the rearview.

Assuming Troy Pride Jr. serves as the Irish’s number one corner and Shaun Crawford remains at nickel, there will likely be an intriguing battle for who lines up opposite Pride. Vaughn will likely have first dibs, but the coaching staff will undoubtedly take an extensive look at some of their other options throughout the spring.

Rutherford will have his hands full when competing for playing time as he’ll have to climb a ladder that includes talented prospects like Houston Griffith, DJ Brown, Noah Boykin, and Bracy, among others. Nevertheless, Rutherford boasts the frame for a successful cornerback and could make some noise this fall should he make significant early strides in his development.