Notre Dame Football: 3 unheralded players who’ll become stars in 2020

Notre Dame football has a lot of new faces this season. Here are three unheralded players who could have breakout seasons in 2020.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are in an interesting position this season. They have won double-digit games for three consecutive seasons including a trip to the College Football Playoff. Many fans and prognosticators have not figured out what to make of the Irish, however.

Brian Kelly feels strongly that the narrative and expectations in South Bend have changed. In his mind, the Fighting Irish are national championship contenders. This season, the coaches in South Bend feel strongly that the combination of returning talent fused with the players they’ve developed will lead them back to the playoff.

There is a lot that has to go right for Notre Dame to return to the College Football Playoff. There is a pretty good chance they’ll have to go undefeated to have a chance. This season that means beating Clemson.

It also means specific players have to come up big this season. Ian Book has to be great this season. One from the stable of unproven running backs has to take the RB1 position. The wide receiver room is in a similar situation.

The defense has to improve against the run and figure out a way for the secondary to be as lights out this year as they were last season. They also need to find a pass rush as consistent as it was last season.

Who will step up? Who will break out? Here are three unheralded players poised to have big seasons.