The storyline from the Cotton Bowl meltdown for Notre Dame was the glaring difference at the skill positions. Clemson’s wide receivers were just on another level and made plays even when the Irish coverage was actually okay. To be fair, the Clemson wide receivers did the same to Alabama’s vaunted defense with Tiger receivers making ridiculous play after ridiculous play on their way to blowing out Bama. Those players don’t grow on trees and Notre Dame can’t manufacture them, but they can start to find some playmakers on their current roster this spring.
When Notre Dame lost Miles Boykin to the NFL a couple months ago, it may have just forced their hand in throwing some younger players on the field this spring.