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How Notre Dame's Pass Catchers Have Improved Heading Into 2025

Updated: Jul 22

Notre Dame has been weak when it comes to true receiving threats over the past few years. With the group heading into 2025, that could very much change with a deep wide receiver room and solid tight ends.

Football players in white uniforms and gold helmets celebrate on a field. A cameraman captures the moment. Crowd in background.

Photo by The Irish Tribune


Notre Dame fans have gotten used to a mundane passing attack that always lacked explosive playmakers. There have been exceptions, whether that was Chase Claypool, Miles Boykin, and a few others throughout the last ten years. More recently, that passing attack has severely lacked that type of player, making Notre Dame's offense incredibly one-dimensional. The running game has always been productive at Notre Dame, but it was always asked to carry much of the load on the offensive side of the ball. Last year, that running game was good enough to get the Fighting Irish to the National Championship. In 2025, Notre Dame may finally be able to match an explosive running game with a passing game to match.


It starts with the players that Notre Dame is bringing back, most importantly, Jaden Greathouse. At the end of last season, Greathouse began to show glimpses of a true WR1 that Notre Dame has desperately needed for years now. Whether it was contested catches on the outside or finding holes in the middle of the defense, he showed that he can hurt the defense anywhere on the field. The next step for Greathouse will be to do this on a week-to-week basis. Luckily for Greathouse and the rest of this offense, he is not the only returning player who can make plays through the air.


Jordan Faison is also a player to watch out for this upcoming season. As Notre Dame's do-it-all, gadget receiver, Faison is an excellent weapon to have in the slot. Last season, Faison was still a viable option for Notre Dame, even while dealing with a nagging ankle injury that he battled all season. KK Smith is also returning after not seeing much time last season. He does possess exceptional speed, making him an interesting rotational player and a possible special-teams player.


As for the younger guys, Cam Williams and Micah Gilbert may finally be able to see some playing time this season. Both were highly touted recruits coming out of high school, and Notre Dame fans are eager to see that talent on the field. Williams has a promising blend of size and speed that could make him a weapon on the outside. Gilbert is a bit smaller, but he does contain all the speed needed to become an explosive target. Logan Saldate was another player who joined the team in the same class as Williams and Gilbert. He may struggle to see the field as a slot wide receiver. Logan does, however, provide excellent depth for the position.


Notre Dame also has some exciting freshmen wide receivers who may not see playing time, but will be able to provide depth and learn under the older guys. Elijah Burress, Scrap Richardson, and Jerome Bettis Jr. all fit this category. The three have all shown promise in spring camp and the Blue-Gold game. Richardson may have been one of the best surprises thus far, as it was clear his speed can be a future asset to this offense.


The last part of this wide receiver room is the incoming portal transfers. Notre Dame landed two talented players who will immediately make a difference. Malachi Fields headlines the new additions as one of the best portal wide receivers available in the portal. Fields is a big-bodied target with amazing speed for someone of his size. He is a proven commodity, producing for a lackluster Virginia offense for the past few years. The other addition to the group is Will Pauling. Pauling has had some injury problems in his past, but when healthy, he is an elusive, sure-handed receiver. Mainly playing in the slot, Pauling and Faison will create a dangerous tandem to work the middle of the field.


The tight end position also has a lot of depth to add to this already deep roster. Notre Dame has a storied history of producing some of the country's best tight ends. This season, there may be no elite option that is bound for a huge year, but the group does contain a lot of really solid options to help this team win. The senior, Eli Raridon, is the presumed starter to start the season. Raridon is a talented player, but a pair of ACL injuries has hindered his ability to really reach his full potential. If healthy, Raridon is a solid option in the passing game and a good blocker to help in the run game.


Junior Cooper Flanagan saw playing time last season and looked good in his limited playing time. With that playing time, he provides the room with more playing experience, something a team can never have too much of. Maybe the most interesting player in this room is Ty Washington. Washington transferred to Notre Dame in the winter after playing at Arkansas. Washington did not see many snaps while playing for the Razorbacks, but his athleticism is undeniable. He moves incredibly well for a player his size, standing at 6'4", 247 pounds. This will make him a tough man to guard downfield. With that being said, there is still a lot of unknown with Washington, so time will tell.


Looking at one of the younger guys in the room, Jack Larsen's spring game gives a glimpse of what the future might hold for this group. Still just a freshman, Larsen will probably not see any playing time, but he did perform well in the spring game with a few nice catches. Kevin Bauman is another tight end who is lower on the depth chart but shows how deep this group can go, a nice luxury heading into a season Notre Dame hopes goes well into December.

1 Comment


Irish42
Jul 22

“Kevin Bauman is another young tight end who is lower on the depth chart” seriously? Dudes a 6th year player…

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