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Notre Dame Football: 3 storylines to follow in spring 2021

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) hands off to running back Kyren Williams (23) against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half in the Rose Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) hands off to running back Kyren Williams (23) against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half in the Rose Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame football is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance and the Irish will have plenty of questions to answer this spring.

Brian Kelly is fresh off his second College Football Playoff trip in three years, but the quarterback who helped get him there both times is moving on.

Losing Ian Book is going to hurt, but the Fighting Irish have recruited at a higher level recently and they may be reloading instead of rebuilding. They still have plenty of questions to answer this offseason and storylines to follow.

What should fans be watching for this offseason concerning the Irish?

3. Will someone step up as the No. 1 receiver?

One of the main issues with Notre Dame in 2020 was the lack of a true go-to receiver. Javon McKinley stepped up in the middle of the season and carried that No. 1 receiver role, but he was never truly built for that in the first place. He finished with 42 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns but he’s gone now and Notre Dame needs to fill that role.

Will it be Braden Lenzy finally or a potential rising star in Jordan Johnson? Fans have been waiting for Lenzy to break out for years, but injuries kept that from happening in 2020.

Michael Mayer will take some pressure off the receivers at the tight end spot and if healthy, Lenzy could be a true go-to receiver. Johnson also has that WR1 potential and vets like Kevin Austin Jr., Avery Davis and Lawrence Keys III will round out a solid receiving corps.

Will someone step up this spring as the No. 1 receiver?

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