Notre Dame Football: 3 Upperclassmen who must step up in 2022

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Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jack Kiser (24) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Jack Kiser: ROVER

Cleveland Browns’ linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah brought lots of notoriety to the ROVER position in the Notre Dame defense. He won the Butkus Award and was a unanimous All-American in 2020.

Isaiah Pryor played ROVER last season and was solid but not nearly what Owusu-Koramoa was as a senior. Jack Kiser takes over at ROVER this season and needs to take over the position. He (Kiser), Pryor, and Paul Maola split time last season. The platoon had a nominal impact.

Kiser is a player who worked himself into the rotation last season and could work himself into taking the lion’s share of snaps this season. Kiser is a grinder who wins from physicality and being in the right position more than his pure athleticism. Make no mistake, however, Kiser has the lateral movement and range to play ROVER.

What Notre Dame football needs from Kiser is someone to help a run defense that surrendered nearly 140 rushing yards per game. Schools that were able to get to the second level got a lot of chunk plays on the Irish defense. Owusu-Koramoah spent lots of time in the backfield with 11.5 tackles for loss in 2020.

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Kiser needs to take sole possession of the job and be a key cog in the Irish run defense.

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