Notre Dame Football: 3 breakout candidates for 2021 season

Notre Dame football is fresh off its second playoff berth in three seasons and while the Irish are losing a lot of talent from that 10-2 team a season ago, they also return plenty.

The Irish only have three returning starters on offense, but they do have guys finally getting healthy such as Braden Lenzy, along with 1,000-yard rusher Kyren Williams and star tight end Michael Mayer. There’s talent on this side of the ball.

Defensively, the Irish bring back six starters and could have one of the nation’s top units despite losing Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and defensive coordinator Clark Lea.

The Irish have potential breakout stars littered across the roster, but who stands out?

If you’re like me, you expected Jordan Johnson to have a big season for Notre Dame in 2021. The former five-star receiver decided to transfer after spring ball to UCF, leaving the receiving corps in a shaky state, especially after losing Javon McKinley to graduation this offseason.

Notre Dame now has very little experience in the receiving corps with Avery Davis back as the leading receiver from last season after catching 24 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns.

Not great for a team coming off a playoff berth, but the Irish do bring back Kevin Austin Jr. and Braden Lenzy who should be a full-go this season. There’s plenty of talent behind them but incoming freshman Deion Colzie just has all the pieces to be a star in the receiving corps in South Bend. He’s a track star with great size at 6-4 and 195 pounds.

Colzie and Lorenzo Styles Jr. are going to be a tremendous duo in the receiving corps for years to come, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see the former get an immediate nod to contribute.