Counting Down the Irish — 25 to 21, already highlighting Notre Dame’s defensive front-seven

While trying not to spoil the top 20 of this countdown of the expected most impactful players for Notre Dame in 2022, it is nearly impossible to rattle off even Nos. 21 through 25 without realizing how talented the Irish defensive front-seven is.

Logically, this list should include most of the starting 11 on offense, most of the starting 11 on defense, and a handful of key backups. When two of those backups are running backs, one not even healthy enough for contact yet, the defensive reserves could go underrepresented.

Instead, Notre Dame’s defensive front-seven is over-represented with nine entrants in this top 25. This space often reminds readers the Irish defensive line is the best position group on the roster, and it landed five names in this top 25 — in the top 21, to be more exact — more than any other group. Not even the offensive line could get all five of its starters in the top 25, largely because of the defensive line’s expected impact.

If the ceiling on Marcus Freeman’s debut season as a head coach is higher than nine wins, it is because of that defensive line.

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

No. 25 Audric Estime, sophomore running back — 35 pointsFour ballotsHighest rank: No. 15

The third-string running back does not usually warrant such lofty praise, but Estime may still open the season as the second-string Irish back, behind only junior Chris Tyree. Sophomore Logan Diggs is partaking in practice, and Freeman has said he expects Diggs to be part of the plan at Ohio State on Sept. 3, but until his red jersey comes off, one must assume Diggs’ labrum injury will limit him in September.

Thus Estime’s inclusion in this top 25.

“Bette