NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Head coach: Charles Fant (69-29 in eight seasons here and overall)
Returning starters: 7 offensive; 6 defensive
Key players: RB Khalil Spence (5-10, 170); OL/LB Hilton Hamilton (5-10, 225); OL/DL Maverick Tucker (6-2, 305); QB/LB Bennett Brinson (6-0, 185); WR/DB George Fillauer (6-3, 205); WR/DB Charlie Menham (5-9, 145); WR/DB Jalen Hagood (5-11, 165); RB/DB Alex Osborne (5-11, 175); TE/DE Tucker Berry (6-1, 225); OL/LB Gabe Irvin (5-10, 185); OL/DL Landon Cooling (5-10, 220); TE/DE Andy McGann (6-2, 210).
Team strengths: Speed at skill positions should be put to good use. Deception in the offensive scheme could work well, too, as athletes look to get free in space for big plays.
Team concerns: One of the toughest positions to play in football is offensive lineman, and the Irish could have used more practice time and preseason scrimmages to develop depth up front.
Breakout player: Fillauer missed the start of the 2019 season, but he did not miss a beat once he hit the field, rushing for more than 100 yards against Christian Academy of Knoxville, an eight-win team. He’ll be counted on for both offensive and defensive contributions this fall.
Season outlook: A slew of injuries last season took a toll on the Irish, who had their first losing season since 2011.
“We need to keep our players rotated on both offense and defense to limit the total number of plays in a game,” Coach Fant said. “This will keep most of the injury issues of last year at bay and help us to be a strong team at the end of the season.”
Tucker is Notre Dame’s strongest lineman and a talented blocker who will protect Brinson, who is making the switch from tight end. The Irish will need leaders to step up after the departures of Dallas Brown, who averaged 11 tackles per game, and standout rusher Jeffrey Watkins Jr.
“Because of all the uncertainty within our world, getting to play football this season means more to our kids and coaches than ever before,” Fant said.
Staff photo by Robin Rudd / Notre Dame’s Jalen Hagood finds a hole in the Ooltewah defense during a Times Free Press Best of Preps jamboree matchup on Aug. 17, 2019, at Finley Stadium.