Counting Down the Irish — 20 to 16, led by Notre Dame’s defensive line depth and highlighting the lack of offensive options

Odd things jump out when looking at the rankings of the top-25 most expected players in Notre Dame’s 2022. Not too much time is spent comparing them to last year’s series, but when 10 of the top 20 were not ranked at all last season — and only safety Brandon Joseph because he was not on the roster a year ago — it raises an eyebrow.

When one of them fits in the exact same ranking as last season, but with some notable differences in how he got there, the difference between this year’s Irish and last year’s becomes quite clear.

Notre Dame was positioned to be driven by its offense in 2021. Scoring 35.2 points per game certainly fit that expectation.

There is every indication that will plummet this year, and the Irish defense will dictate the season.

As always, thank you to the 10 media members who took the time to rank the top quarter of Notre Dame’s roster …

No. 20 Justin Ademilola, fifth-year defensive end — 48 pointsFive ballotsHighest rank: No. 11

Once seen as the recruiting add-on needed to land his twin brother, tackle Jayson Ademilola, Justin Ademilola has now become a defensive leader. Finishing in this top 20 is even more noteworthy when realizing he is the third defensive end ranked.

It has been said here before and it will be said here again: The defensive line is Notre Dame’s best position group in 2022.

If anything is surprising, it is that five ballots left off Ademilola. The five that ranked him slotted him at an average of No. 16.4. That ballot with Ademilola at No. 11 — ballots will remain unnamed unless a panelist opts otherwise — had four defensive linemen in his top 11.

Rotating behind senior Vyper end Isaiah Foskey and junior “Big” end Rylie Mills may cut into Ademilola’s production, but most likely, it