Notre Dame football: 3 things that’ll make Irish contenders in 2023
![Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman with players shortly before taking the field for Friday's Gator Bowl game. The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish took on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game in Jacksonville, Florida's TIAA Bank Field Friday, December 30, 2022. The first half ended with South Carolina holding a 24 to 17 lead. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 123022 Bs Gatorbowl 15](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F5bf51c564ccaae80970bf2ed7b0729e4a0c9adc85f661b9e950b87abbde4a04b.jpg "Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman with players shortly before taking the field for Friday's Gator Bowl game. The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish took on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game in Jacksonville, Florida's TIAA Bank Field Friday, December 30, 2022. The first half ended with South Carolina holding a 24 to 17 lead. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 123022 Bs Gatorbowl 15")
![Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman signals to his team during the third quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl of an NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish held off the South Carolina Gamecocks 45-38. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jki 123022 Ncaaf Nd Usc Cp 17](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F93fd8e2ed0a1d49533aa0c5adec547f28a61ae4270a61532ac64353e51e6f2e2.jpg "Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman signals to his team during the third quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl of an NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish held off the South Carolina Gamecocks 45-38. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jki 123022 Ncaaf Nd Usc Cp 17")
2. Quality defensive additions from the portal
Notre Dame is losing a ton on the defensive side of the ball and that means it will have to replace some starters via the 2023 recruiting class and also the portal.
Sure, there’s enough talent that’s been waiting in the wings to rise up and take over a starting spot, but competition breeds greatness. The Irish could use some portal additions on the defensive side of the ball if they’re going to improve in 2023.
Notre Dame has already landed linebacker Javontae Jean-Baptiste from Ohio State and safety Thomas Harper from Oklahoma State via the portal.
That’s not going to be enough to make up for the losses.
Marcus Freeman needs to hit the portal to add some quality instant impact-type players on the defensive side of the ball.