Notre Dame’s Fifteen Most Important Players (1–5)

Jack Leniart
Jul 29, 2017 · 4 min read

Our third and final installment of this list takes a look at who we believe are the five most important players for the Irish in 2017. If you haven’t seen the first two pieces of our list, I would suggest checking those out first. Nathan Erbach broke down the players ranked 11–15 (and honorable mention), and Ben Belden covered 6–10.

5.) Drue Tranquill

Tranquill recorded the second-most tackles on the Irish defense last year; however, that was while he was playing safety. In 2017, Tranquill will line up at the Rover position in Mike Elko’s defense, which is essentially a linebacker-safety hybrid. He will be lining up closer to the line of scrimmage and blitzing more frequently, which leads me to believe that he will lead the team in tackles this season. The Rover is an integral part of Elko’s defensive scheme. The player at that position will be asked to line up in a variety of places and will be given a wide range of responsibilities. Fortunately for the Irish, Tranquill seems like a great fit.

4.) Mike McGlinchey

With 38 starts under his belt, McGlinchey will be one of the most experienced players on the entire team in 2017. The senior captain will be lining up at the crucial left tackle position, where he will be tasked with protecting the blind side of first-year starter Brandon Wimbush. However, McGlinchey’s responsibilities will not stop there. He will be anchoring an offensive line that should be the best unit on Notre Dame’s team. He will also need to serve as a leader for the offense and the team as a whole. McGlinchey is projected to be selected in the first-round of the 2018 NFL draft. A strong season could propel him into the top-10.

3.) Daelin Hayes

As a sophomore, Hayes saw action in all twelve games last year. While he wasn’t particularly productive, he had some flashes and showed improvement throughout the year. In 2017, the Irish will need him to be an impact player. Notre Dame desperately needs to improve their pass rush this season, and they are hoping that Hayes can help them do so. In addition to that, Hayes will frequently be asked to drop back into coverage this season. His long frame and athleticism make him equally disruptive as a pass defender. He displayed his athleticism and comfortability in coverage when he broke up a pass against Michigan State last season. In order to be successful on defense, the Irish will need more of those impact plays from Hayes this year.

2.) Jerry TIllery

The interior positions on Notre Dame’s defensive line might be the biggest concern heading into the 2017 season. Although both Tillery and Bonner played in all twelve games last season, the players behind them on the depth chart have little to no experience. Since defensive linemen are frequently rotated during a series, teams need to have quality depth at those positions. If the other players in the rotation are unable to hold their own, then Tillery will likely be asked to pick up the slack and play more snaps. The defense doesn’t need him to make splash plays every game. They just need him to hold his own, be consistent all year, and play smart. Tillery will be the lynchpin of the Irish defensive line in 2017. Without him, the line would virtually collapse, and when that happens, the defense as a whole collapses.

1.) Brandon Wimbush

The quarterback is the most important position on a football team. Period. I could just end my analysis there, but I’m sure you would like to hear more about Wimbush. While he has only attempted five passes at Notre Dame, Irish fans are very excited to have him leading the team this season. Part of that excitement might come from fans remembering his 58-yard touchdown run against UMass in 2015. Part of it might come from the fact that there is no apparent quarterback controversy this year. I think the source of the majority of that excitement is the weapons that Brandon Wimbush will have on this offense. He will be protected by a top-tier offensive line with two first-round draft picks. He will share the backfield with three dynamic running backs. Oh, and he’ll be able to throw to six different guys that are 6’4” or taller. So, why did we rank Wimbush as the most important player in 2017? Simply put: he is the one that makes the offense work. I expect Notre Dame’s defense to improve this year, but I don’t think they will be good enough to win games on their own. Wimbush and the new Irish offense under Chip Long will have to put points on the board for the Irish to be successful this season.

Golden Domer Daily

A one-stop blog for Notre Dame athletics and recruiting.

Jack Leniart

Written by

Notre Dame Grad '14. Writer for Golden Domer Daily (@NDDomerDaily). @Leniart_ND on Twitter.

Golden Domer Daily

A one-stop blog for Notre Dame athletics and recruiting.

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