Stop us if you've heard this before, but Notre Dame might actually be really good this season. We're talking about a possible playoff contender.
(Stop laughing. Seriously. We mean it.)
The Irish return a lot of stars, from linebacker Jaylon Smith to defensive tackle Sheldon Day and receiver William Fuller. If the quarterback situation with Malik Zaire can take off, this can be a scary-good team with NFL talent all over it.
Certainly, how a player projects at the next level is a factor in determining the most important players for the Irish.