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In Freeman We Trust

By Jamison Cook | September 24
In Freeman We Trust
Notre Dame's JD Bertrand and Kyle Hamilton make a tackle against Toledo - Photo Credit: Matt Cashore, USA TODAY Sports

One expected star and one surprising hero have the Notre Dame defense headed in the right direction

Heralded as the final piece to Notre Dame’s national championship puzzle, Marcus Freeman’s signing in the offseason promised to provide the Irish with a boost in recruiting and an elevation of the defense from great to elite through his renowned player development.

Notre Dame fans were therefore less than pleased when Freeman’s defense proceeded to give up 38 points to a now 0-3 Florida State team and 29 points to Toledo of the Mid-American Conference in the first two games of the season. With shaky play from the offensive line and defense in the first two games, Notre Dame’s identity was very much in question. There were questions in the air about Freeman’s ability to coach at a Power 5 level and if the defense would be able to stop anyone for the rest of the season.

Then came the Purdue game. The Irish defense took it to another level, holding the Boilermakers to 57 rushing yards and under 350 yards total. They invaded the backfield when they needed to, got key stops down the stretch, and forced multiple turnovers. As they accumulate more snaps and get guys back from injury, the defense can only get better. Things were looking a little bleak after Week 2, but Freeman showed a glimpse of the defense he can create if given the time on Saturday.

There has been, however, two guys on the defensive side of the ball that have not gotten caught up in the sporadic play of the defense. They have been the heart and soul of the defense through three games, and while one of these is not a surprise at all, the other has come out of the woodwork to play almost every snap and be the team’s leading tackler.

It is no surprise at all that Kyle Hamilton has been a constant for the defense. His two interceptions in Week 1 against Florida State showcased all the tools that have NFL scouts salivating over the junior safety. He also had an interception against Toledo that was called back, but I think his most impressive performance of the season came against Purdue. He displayed his elite closing speed and ability to read the offense on a fourth and short in which he came from the safety position to make a tackle in the backfield. He displayed his catching ability on his interception in the back of the end zone in the fourth quarter that effectively put the game away. Hamilton has been as good as advertised so far this season, and if he keeps up his current level of play, he will be a top 10 pick in the NFL Draft. Also, if Hamilton has another pick this weekend against Wisconsin, I would not be surprised if he breaks the single-season interception record at Notre Dame, which was set at 10 by Mike Townsend in 1972. You heard it here first.

But Hamilton is not the only Notre Dame defender playing excellent football. Sophomore linebacker JD Bertrand leads the team with 35 tackles, the most in the first three games for the Irish since Courtney Watson in 2001 and good for fifth-most in the country. But if you would have asked the casual Irish fan who Bertrand was six weeks ago, they probably would have no idea.

Marist Liufau was set to be the starting WILL LB for Notre Dame following an impressive spring and fall, but the junior suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the last week of August. Bertrand was then thrust into the starting position, sparking concern for fans and college football analysts alike. But he has responded with a three-game stretch unmatched in the last 20 years at Notre Dame. He has been all over the field in all three games thus far, even recovering the game-clinching fumble against Toledo. Bertrand has also recorded one sack.

Additionally, Bertrand has been on the field for a ridiculous number of snaps, almost to the point where the sustainability of his play comes into question. He played 81 downs against the Boilermakers, 45 more than LBs Drew White and Bo Bauer who both played 36 snaps. Bertrand’s performance has also been key in filling the hole left by the lack of production from White, who many expected to be Notre Dame’s best linebacker this season.

Freeman has rotated White and Bauer pretty evenly through the first three games, something that I and the majority of the college football world had not expected going into the season. Regardless, Bertrand has filled the void expertly.

With Wisconsin’s run-heavy attack looming this weekend, it will be extremely important for Bertrand to stay red-hot. Notre Dame needs him to clog up running lanes in the middle of the field if they hope to slow down the Badgers. If Bertrand plays anywhere near the level he has been for the first three weeks, I am very optimistic about Notre Dame’s prospects at Soldier Field. If not, well, let’s not think about that.

Kyle Hamilton will be his unbelievably talented self on Saturday, and I would be surprised if Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz tests Hamilton very often. The Irish and Freeman need Bertrand to be just as special against the Badgers. We all know how well Freeman can develop talent; is Bertrand his next diamond in the rough? So far it looks like it.