The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will play the 2019 season without one of its best players on defense next season. All-American cornerback Julian Love has decided to forgo his final year of eligibility with the Irish and declare for the NFL Draft this spring.

A lot of people around the program thought Love would stay at Notre Dame one more year. He had expressed a desire to be a team captain, and had left several hints that he was leaning towards a return to South Bend.

The Irish will have a lot to figure out this spring. His absence in the Cotton Bowl was more than noticeable, and there was a giant drop-off in production with him on the sideline.

I’ll have more on this development later tonight, and its impact on the football team moving forward.