Replace and Reload: Notre Dame's Cornerback Future Remains Bright

Notre Dame had arguably the best cornerback tandem in college football in 2023, but the position will have a different look next season. That is because star cornerback Cam Hart is now headed to the National Football League. Replacing Hart won't be easy, but the Irish are still loaded at the position.

WHAT WAS LOST

Hart was outstanding for Notre Dame the last two seasons, but he was especially good in 2023. According to Pro Football Focus, the Irish field corner gave up just 15 completions for 137 yards all season, and he allowed just 4.9 yards per target and 9.1 yards per completion. Opponents failed to complete a single touchdown pass against Hart.

For context on how good that is, consider that during his All-American season in 2018, former Notre Dame cornerback Julian Love gave up 42 completions for 413 yards. That's good for a 5.2 yards per target average and 9.8 yards per completion.

Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry was a first-team All-American this season, earning consensus honors. He allowed 17 completions for 183 yards, good for a 4.9 yards per target average and 10.1 yards per completion, giving up one touchdown on the season.

Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean was a unanimous All-American this season, but in just 10 games he gave up 21 completions for 205 yards. That's a 4.4 yards per target average and 9.8 yards per completion.

Hart wasn't just a talented player on the field, he was also a captain, which means Notre Dame must also replace his leadership on the entire defense, not just at cornerback.

WHAT RETURNS

Notre Dame will still have star cornerback Benjamin Morrison playing the boundary next season, which is certainly an excellent foundation to build the cornerback group around next season. Going into his junior season, Morrison is now in position to become the leader at the position group and not just being its best player.

On the opposite side we'll likely see a pair of players battle for the job of replacing Hart at the field spot.

Rising junior Jaden Mickey was listed as Hart's backup this season, and he stepped into the lineup first when Hart went down with a minor injury against Pittsburgh.

Mickey is 5-11 1/2 and 180 pounds, so he has a much different body type than Hart, but he's a very strong player and projects to have the ability to be an impact edge run defender and screen defender. That was a key part of what made Hart such an impactful defender.

Mickey also showed an improved coverage ability this season. After giving up a 77.8% completion rate and giving up 244 yards and three touchdowns as a true freshman in 2022, Mickey allowed just a 44.4% completion rate and 126 receiving yards in 2023, and he didn't allow a touchdown while picking off a pass against Pittsburgh that he returned for a score of his own.

Rising sophomore Christian Gray will provide stiff competition for a starting role next season, if not in the bowl game. He played just 168 snaps this season (PFF), but opponents completed just six passes on 16 targets for 78 yards. In the final four games of the season, Gray gave up just four completions on 13 targets and gave up just 45 yards.

Gray pleased a season-high 42 snaps in the 45-7 win over Pittsburgh with Morrison out for the game, and Hart getting injured early in the game. Notre Dame didn't miss a beat with Gray and Mickey in the lineup at cornerback.

The St. Louis native is smooth, long, fast and he is a smart football player. It's eerie how much he looks and plays like Morrison on the outside. He's a surprisingly strong player as well, and that will only get better as he spends more time in the strength program.

Having two players like Mickey and Gray gives the Irish a chance to go into next season with a strong complement - or two - to Morrison.

Rising senior Chance Tucker is a quality talent in his own right. If not for such a loaded group of younger players he could be a productive player for the Irish as well. Having Tucker in position where he could be the fourth outside cornerback as a senior speaks volumes about the talent the Irish have on the outside.

NEWCOMERS

Notre Dame welcomes a pair of talented cornerbacks in the summer with Texas standout Leonard Moore and Ohio corner Karson Hobbs expected to sign on Wednesday. Both have the tools to play the field cornerback position, and they will add the kind of talent that forces older players to be on top of their game.

Moore is a smooth and long cornerback with very good long speed. He's one of my favorite players in the class and one of the more underrated corners in the country. He was banged up for a chunk of his senior season, which might limit his ability to help out right away, but this is a really talented cover man with a very high ceiling.

Hobbs was a player I wasn't overly high on when he committed but he continued to improve his game. His senior film was quite impressive, and a big part of that was a jump in speed. Hobbs went from a player I questioned Notre Dame taking to one that presents an exciting future on the back end of the defense.

It's yet another example of why questioning Mike Mickens as a recruiter can be a very bad idea.

Landing Moore and Hobbs follows a two-year stretch that included Gray and Micah Bell in the 2023 class, and Morrison and Mickey in the 2022 class. Since Mickens really got settled in at Notre Dame a case could be made that Notre Dame has recruited the cornerback position as well as any team in the country, and it's why the Irish are in position to continue being strong at the position despite losing a player of Hart's caliber.

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