Adding a fifth defensive lineman in this class needed to be a priority for Notre Dame. Before bringing in this grouping — three of which have already enrolled — the Irish had just two defensive tackles at each interior position, spots where going three-deep is often a forced necessity, and only two defensive ends in the previous two classes combined.
Notre Dame was without depth for the immediate future and reinforcements for years to come.
Enter consensus four-star tackles Jacob Lacey and Hunter Spears, both early enrollees. Enter consensus four-star ends NaNa Osafo-Mensah (early-enrolled) and Howard Cross.