Three Notre Dame Players Ranked Among The Nation's Best Returners
Pro Football Focus released its Top 10 returning players in the country at each position for the 2023 season, and Notre Dame had three players make the list.
Rising junior left Joe Alt was named the nation's best returning offensive tackle for the 2023 season. Alt is coming off a season in which he was named a first-team All-American this past season by the Associated Press, CBS Sports, ESPN and PFF.
"As was the case for quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end, an argument can be made that 2022's best offensive tackle in college football is returning to school.
"Alt was both the highest-graded and most valuable tackle in the country according to PFF’s wins above-average metric. The sophomore’s 91.0 run-blocking grade led all FBS tackles while his 99.0 pass-blocking efficiency score was fifth. Alt looks like a potential top-five pick in 2024 and the best offensive tackle prospect since Penei Sewell." - Max Chadwick, PFF
Rising sophomore cornerback Benjamin Morrison ranked as the No. 4 returning cornerback for the 2023 season. Morrison was a freshman All-American in 2022 after picking off six passes and thriving in coverage all season.
"Johnson wasn’t the only true freshman who excelled at corner this past season.
"Morrison was a ballhawk for the Fighting Irish in 2022, as his six interceptions were tied for the most among Power Five corners while his 29.2 passer rating allowed ranked third among that same group." - Chadwick, PFF
Incoming transfer quarterback Sam Hartman also made the list, coming in as the No. 7 returning quarterback in college football. Hartman ended his Wake Forest career as the school's all-time passing leader after throwing for 12,967 yards and 110 touchdowns.
"Hartman was the biggest prize of the transfer portal this offseason, eventually deciding on Notre Dame. The former Wake Forest signal-caller is the most valuable Power Five player over the past two seasons, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. The redshirt junior’s 92.5 grade in that span trails only Bryce Young among Power Five quarterbacks. The Demon Deacons’ slow-mesh system definitely aided him, but Hartman should still be the best quarterback the Fighting Irish have had in the PFF College era." - Chadwick, PFF
Notre Dame is tied for the 10th most players on the different Top 10 lists. Irish 2023 opponents Ohio State (7) and USC (4) both had more than the Irish, while Clemson tied Notre Dame with three players in the rankings. Ohio State tied LSU, Georgia and Michigan for the most players to make the rankings.
Duke (2) and Stanford (1) were the only other Notre Dame 2023 opponents to make the list.
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