One of my favorite players from the Holtz era is Mike Stonebreaker.
He was an absolute one man wrecking crew in 1988, and had he stayed healthy in 1989, I think that the Miami game would have swung our way. Craig Erickson was connecting on way too many easy passes, and while Don Grimm had a fine season as his replacement, he was getting picked on too easily during that game.
In 1990, after those awful injuries, he wasn't nearly in as good of a physical shape, but his football instincts and IQ were off the charts. He had some of the best anticipation out of any linebacker to have ever played the game, and was in the right place to secure a couple of game changing turnovers that season.
Link: https://247sports.com/college/notre-dame/Article/Etched-In-Stone-Michael-Stonebreaker-Notre-Dame-Football-College-Football-Hall-of-Fame-188795253/