Notre Dame’s defense was elite in 2024, but with key departures, Marcus Freeman and Chris Ash need new stars to emerge. Who will step up at defensive tackle to anchor the line? Who wins the battle at Will linebacker next to Drayk Bowen? Can Notre Dame replace Xavier Watts at safety, and who takes over at strong-side defensive end? Tyler Wojciak breaks down the top defensive position battles ahead of spring practice, which kicks off on March 19th. Plus, who has the inside track to start, and could the Irish look to the portal for answers? Don’t miss this in-depth breakdown of the most important battles to watch this spring!

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