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College Football 2018: Biggest question facing every Top 25 team in spring practice

By Nicholas Ian Allen

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Jalen Hurts (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Jalen Hurts (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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The Notre Dame bench erupts in celebration during the Citrus Bowl game at Camping World Stadium Monday, Jan. 1, 2018 in Orlando. Notre Dame won, 21-17. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images)
The Notre Dame bench erupts in celebration during the Citrus Bowl game at Camping World Stadium Monday, Jan. 1, 2018 in Orlando. Notre Dame won, 21-17. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /

Can the Fighting Irish avoid a step back in 2018?

Notre Dame rebounded from an ugly 4-8 season in 2016 to win 10 games last year. The Fighting Irish put themselves in the playoff hunt with an 8-1 start – the only blemish a one-point loss to eventual SEC champs Georgia – before being blown out by Miami in November. Brian Kelly’s crew then finished on a high note with a come-from-behind bowl victory over LSU.

However, there are concerns moving forward. Kelly rotated quarterbacks, again, and Brandon Wimbush and Ian Book are set to compete this spring and summer for the full-time job. Book has the edge in accuracy, but Wimbush is a dynamic runner who led the Irish with 14 touchdowns on the ground last season. He also posted a solid 16-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, so he’s capable of success in the passing game as well.

Regardless of who begins the season atop the QB depth chart, Notre Dame has question marks at every other offensive position as well. Leading rusher Josh Adams, leading receiver Equanimeous St. Brown and Quenton Nelson, one of a pair of All-American offensive linemen, are all off to the NFL a year early. Kelly and his staff have recruited well, but that’s a lot of star power to replace on one side of the football.

Plus, the defense isn’t without its flaws. Mike Elko helped turn the unit from a liability to an asset

his one year as defensive coordinator, but Elko left South Bend or Texas A&M. New coordinator Clark Lea, promoted from linebackers coach, must replace three of the team’s top four tacklers from a year ago.

Given the uncertainty on both sides of the football, and the usual difficult schedule that includes potential Top 25 programs Michigan, Virginia Tech, Stanford, Florida State, Northwestern and USC, as well as some dangerous up-and-comers like Wake Forest and Syracuse, our question is vague but obvious: can Notre Dame avoid slipping back into mediocrity in 2018?

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