The difference between top 20 vs. top 10 and top 10 vs. playoff contender teams often isn’t their top 22 players – it’s in their depth and their reserves. Elite teams attack you with waves of players so that they are fresh in the 4th quarter. Notre Dame might just have the deepest roster of the Brian Kelly era in 2018 because of their reserves. Those reserves could mean the difference between a legit run at the playoffs and just another flirtation that leaves fans asking what if once again.
Today we’ll take a look at eight players who likely won’t start baring injury in 2018 but who Notre Dame needs to have breakthrough seasons in order to legitimately contend for a playoff spot all season long – not just through the first two months.