Where Notre Dame football's standouts ended up in ESPN's top 100 players preseason poll

On Tuesday, ESPN unveiled its preseason top 100 players in college football for 2023 rankings and just two Notre Dame players made the list. Fighting Irish left tackle Joe Alt and quarterback Sam Hartman each cracked the top 25.

Here’s how ESPN determined the rankings, according to senior writer Ryan McGee:

Methodology: Voters were presented with a series of one-on-one votes. For example, “Who should be ranked higher for the 2023 season: Blake Corum or Caleb Williams?” Think of it as an Oklahoma drill of statistical reasoning. More than 10,000 votes later, these were the results.

Alt checked in as the top offensive tackle at No. 11 overall. According to ESPN’s analysis, Alt is “the latest in Notre Dame’s run of premier offensive linemen and projects as an NFL first-round draft pick in 2024 who could possibly go in the top 10.”

Last season, the 6-foot-8, 322-pound Alt earned first-team All-America honors from five media outlets, including ESPN. Alt started in all 13 games and only allowed one sack and three pressures. He aided the Irish O-line unit in ending the season ranked 16th in the nation in the least tackles for loss allowed per game.

Alt’s quarterback, Hartman, slotted at No. 25 overall and eighth among quarterbacks. Hartman’s ranked behind USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, Washington’s Michael Pennix Jr., Florida State’s Jordan Travis, Oregon’s Bo Nix, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Utah’s Cameron Rising.

Still, ESPN declared Hartman “arguably the biggest prize of the quarterback portal.” “He thrived in an RPO-based offense and must adjust to a more traditional system at Notre Dame, which will lean on his experience, production and accuracy,” they continued.

After five seasons at Wake Forest, Hartman transferred to Notre Dame in the offseason. He brought with him to South Bend the ACC’s career touchdown passes record (110) to go along with 12,967 yards passing in his collegiate career. He finished last season as an All-ACC third-team selection with 38 touchdowns and 3,701 yards in 12 games. Hartman also registered a career-high 63.1% pass completion.

ESPN analysts explain their observations of where Notre Dame players ranked in the top 100 players preseason poll

In another article, four ESPN analysts added their observations of the top 100 players preseason poll.

While ESPN ranked Alt as the No. 1 offensive tackle, Adam Rittenberg said he should have been in the top 10 overall players.

“(Alt) is likely to hear his name called in the top 10 picks of the 2024 NFL draft,” Rittenverg said. “Alt has continued Notre Dame’s incredible run of offensive linemen, becoming a starter early in his true freshman season and earning first-team All-America honors last fall. If transfer quarterback Sam Hartman makes the impact the Irish hope he will, Alt’s blindside protection will be a big reason.”

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach disagreed with Hartman’s ranking compared to other quarterbacks.

“I don’t have a problem with Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr. being ranked ahead of Notre Dame’s Hartman, but I’m not sure I’d want Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels or Cameron Rising instead of him,” Schlabach said. “Hartman is about to begin his sixth season in college football and first with the Fighting Irish. If it’s as good as the past two, he will be among the Heisman Trophy contenders. In his last two seasons at Wake Forest, he threw for 7,929 yards with 77 touchdowns. He completed 63.1% of his pass attempts in 2022. He threw for 12,967 yards at Wake Forest, which ranks second in ACC history to Philip Rivers’ 13,484 at NC State, and set the conference record with 110 touchdowns.”

Schlabach also questioned why cornerback Benjamin Morrison did not make the cut.

“Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison should be on the list,” Schlabach said. “He was a freshman All-American after picking off six passes, which tied for seventh in the FBS. His six interceptions were the most by a Notre Dame defender since Manti Te’o had seven in 2012. He also had 33 tackles and four pass breakups.”

Notre Dame opponents have 15 players featured on the list

The Fighting Irish will face the following players this season. Ohio State led the way with six selections.

No. 3: Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
No. 13: Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka
No. 21: Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
No. 26: Clemson running back Will Shipley
No. 33: Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson
No. 34: Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter
No. 47: Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg
No. 50: Ohio State running back Miyan Williams
No. 52: USC wide receiver Dorian Singer
No. 63: USC safety Calen Bullock
No. 66: Clemson defensive tackle Tyler Davis
No. 85: Ohio State defensive lineman JT Tuimoloau
No. 81: NC State linebacker Payton Wilson
No. 90: Duke left tackle Graham Barton
No. 92: Duke quarterback Riley Leonard