When a far-too-early look at the 2020 NFL draft includes genuine mention of three Notre Dame defensive ends, it makes it clear where the Irish strength will come from this season. Instinct insists some SEC program, or somehow Clemson despite just producing three first-round defensive linemen, will churn out a more-imposing defensive front than Notre Dame will come fall. Expecting otherwise overlooks a decade of precedent.
But there might not be a better defensive end duo in the country than seniors Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem. There almost certainly will not be a better quartet than those two plus classmates Daelin Hayes and Ade Ogundeji.