This isn’t an attempt at being cute or different; Julian Okwara earned this honor. Simply put, the pass rush changed the way Notre Dame football was able to defend as opposed to year’s past, and he was the best of the bunch. Outside of that, Okwara became a much more accomplished drop end in 2018, consistently dropping into coverage while also playing solid against the run.
Okwara’s final stat line doesn’t necessarily jump off the page. He made 37 total tackles, 11.5 for loss, while also accumulating seven sacks and an interception. However, he also led the team in QB hurries with 21 — one of the better totals in the country.