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Notre Dame Football: Top 3 candidates to replace Clark Lea as defensive coordinator

By Dante Pryor

Cincinnati Bearcats defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman high fives Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Tyler Scott (21) as he comes off the field following a special teams play in the fourth quarter during an NCAA college football game against the Army Black Knights, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats won 24-10.Army Black Knights At Cincinnati Bearcats Sept 26
Cincinnati Bearcats defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman high fives Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Tyler Scott (21) as he comes off the field following a special teams play in the fourth quarter during an NCAA college football game against the Army Black Knights, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats won 24-10.Army Black Knights At Cincinnati Bearcats Sept 26 /
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Apr 22, 2017; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston watches warmups before the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston watches warmups before the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Mike Elston, defensive line coach, Notre Dame

Mike Elston is the Notre Dame defensive coaching staff senior member, serving as a coach or coordinator in South Bend for 11 years. He has been with Brian Kelly since 2004 when he was the head coach at Central Michigan. Elston would follow Kelly to Cincinnati and then to Notre Dame.

While at Notre Dame, Elston has coached the defensive line, special teams and linebackers while also serving a stint as recruiting coordinator. When Mike Elko went to Texas A&M, Elston was promoted to assistant head coach. Kelly has commented that he is more ready to run a program than any other coach on the Notre Dame staff. He has coached some of the better defensive linemen the Irish have produced in quite some time.

Most notably, Elston has coached Jerry Tillery, Stephon Tuitt, Khalid Kareem and Julian Okwara. While coaching the linebackers, Elston coached Butkus Award winner Jaylon Smith. He has helped the Irish recruit consecutive top 15 recruiting classes as well.

Elston would likely continue the 4-2-5 system used under Elko and Lea. Reports have Elston as the most likely candidate to replace Lea as defensive coordinator. If he is promoted, defensive analyst Nick Lezynski is likely to become the new defensive line coach.

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