After years of dominant play from Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills, Notre Dame now looks to their new core of playmakers on the defensive line to help anchor one of the most talented defenses in the country. Photo by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame has consistently produced solid to well-above-average defensive lines for years now. Not only that, but it has also had a continuous stream of players move on to the NFL. Mills and Cross III are just the most recent players to join that list. During their time at Notre Dame, the duo was a productive force that dominated the line of scrimmage. They were both well-equipped to not only slow down the run but also get after the passer. Together, they combined for 28 sacks and 300 tackles during their career at Notre Dame. Unfortunately for Notre Dame, they will lose all that production in 2025, forcing them to look elsewhere to continue a high level of defensive line play. Luckily for Marcus Freeman and his new defensive coordinator, Chris Ash, they have a lot of very talented young players poised to take the next step on defense. Last season, Boubacar Traore showed a lot of promise in the first three games of the year before going down with an ACL injury. Through three games, he led the team in sacks with 3.5 as only a redshirt freshman. Traore has a ton of potential to be a major impact player this season, as he will be a featured pass rusher on the defensive line. With his length and athleticism, he has all the physical capabilities to do the job, but it will be interesting to see what he looks like coming off a major injury. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! On the other side of the line, Notre Dame has another young, exciting pass-rusher primed for a breakout year. Bryce Young, son of legendary DL Bryant Young, was called upon last year due to injuries on the defensive line. While not always super productive, Young showed a lot of flashes of what he can eventually become as a player, particularly on special teams. With a long, athletic frame and incredible explosiveness, it was clear that Young is a unique talent. Physically, he is already one of the most talented players on the roster as just a sophomore. That youth is also the thing that is slowing him down. Young lacked the technique necessary to consistently impact the game last year. This season, if that technique is improved, he could easily be one of the biggest breakout stars. Freeman has already made it clear that Notre Dame can't replace Cross III or Mills. Instead, he looks to emulate their success through a committee of players. Among those looking to do so are Jared Dawson, Jason Onye, Donovan Hinish, Elijah Hughes, Gabriel Rubio, and others. Although none of these players appear to be as polished as Mills or Cross III, Notre Dame does have a lot of really solid options to rotate through. That depth will allow them to play as hard as they can every play, knowing they have subs ready to go. The group will also provide Notre Dame with some different strengths depending on the situation. Jared Dawson, the transfer from Louisville, offers the Irish a physical player in the middle who can fill gaps and stuff the run game, while others may be better equipped to rush the passer through the middle. Together, this group could form a strong interior line, but they will have to prove it, as they will be replacing what has been one of Notre Dame's strongest positions. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Jordan Botelho, Joshua Burnham, and Junior Tuihalamaka will also have their roles to play on this defensive line in 2025. Botelho was one of the many injured players from last season and faced another injury this offseason. Botelho is a smart and disciplined player who has the talent to put it all together this season. His biggest impact may come in the form of experience. He is surrounded by some talented young players who will need his leadership throughout the season. The same goes for Burnham and Tuihalamaka. Now a Junior, Burnham has been able to provide solid depth production for the Irish throughout his career. He provided the Irish defense with two sacks and a forced fumble last season. Tuihalamaka was maybe one of the most underrated players Notre Dame had last season. He had a real knack for being around the ball and made some crucial plays late in the year. This season, his role may be similar, but his production will be needed. Last season, the strength of the defensive line was in the interior with Mills and Cross III. This season, that could easily switch to the edge, with the potential emergence of Traore and Young. They have the raw skill to be special players on this defense, but only time will tell if they can reach their full potential. If they do, combined with a talented secondary, Notre Dame's defense could be a nightmare to face for opposing quarterbacks. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame’s newest NFL exports are making noise as the 2025 NFL season gets underway. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame is known as a perennial powerhouse in football talent production and leads all college programs with the highest number of all-time NFL draft picks, totaling a staggering 538 players. The 2025 NFL draft saw six Irish players added to that list, along with three undrafted free agents, and a handful more competing for a professional roster spot. In this piece, we will take a look at each Fighting Irish rookie looking to make a splash on the game’s biggest stage. Benjamin Morrison – Cornerback – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Background and College Career Height / Weight: 6′0″/ 190 lbs. Notre Dame Summary: Over three seasons (2022–2024), Morrison appeared in 31 games (26 starts), logging 84 tackles, 27 passes deflected, and 9 interceptions (1 returned for a touchdown). Accolades & Impact: Freshman All-American in 2022 and a Thorpe Award Semifinalist in 2023. He earned recognition as a Preseason All-American and team captain for the 2024 season before declaring for the NFL Draft. Draft and Contract Situation Drafted in the 2nd round with the 53rd overall pick. A league-wide second-round pick standoff delayed contract talks after early selections secured unprecedented fully guaranteed deals. Signed a four-year rookie deal worth approximately $8.21 million on July 21, 2025, just before camp opened. Training Camp and Early Impressions Missed most of the Bucs’ offseason program, rehabbing from hip surgery. Cleared for camp, quickly earned first-team reps, and drew praise for his composure and readiness. Notable highlight: In tight coverage vs. Rakim Jarrett, maintained inside leverage and intercepted a boundary pass. Bowles: “Did not flinch” when thrown in with starters; praised his intelligence, toughness, and technique. Latest Camp Updates Recorded an interception during team drills in early August, reinforcing his ball-hawking reputation. Suffered a hamstring tweak during the week of August 4th, causing him to miss multiple practices. Likely to miss preseason opener vs. Titans; absence provides opportunities for other corners (e.g., rookie Jacob Parrish). Remains listed as second-string cornerback behind Jamel Dean on depth chart despite injury. Style and Role Projection Physical at the line, patient in route recognition, wins at the catch point. Polished in both press-man and zone coverage, elite patience, and ball skills. Early projection: rotational CB with a chance to challenge for the starting role by late season if healthy. Quote on Progression “[He’s] smart, tough… picked up our system really well,” Bowles said. “He’s got good size, good speed, the ability to change direction. He’s progressing.” - Bucs head coach Todd Bowles. Xavier Watts – Safety – Atlanta Falcons (3rd Round, Pick 96) Background and College Career Height / Weight: 6′0″/ 203–204 lbs. Notre Dame Summary: In 53 career games, Watts logged 117 tackles (46 solo), 17 passes defensed, 13 interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 1.5 sacks. Accolades & Impact: Two-time consensus First-Team All-American (2023–24) and winner of the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player. In 2023, he led the nation with 7 interceptions and showed out in 2024 with 6 more, including a 100-yard pick-six and a Sugar Bowl Defensive MVP performance. Draft and Contract Situation Drafted in the 3rd round with the 96th overall pick. Signed a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $6.19 million. Training Camp and Early Impressions Nicknamed the “X-Factor” by teammates and “X-Man” by veteran Jessie Bates III, signals his budding impact and ball-hawking style. Early in camp, he alternated with Jordan Fuller for first-team reps on defense, emerging as a leader in a deep safety rotation. On Camp Day 2, he joined first-team defense with Jessie Bates—an encouraging sign of the staff’s trust. Camp Health and Performance Missed some 11-on-11 teamwork, although not injury-related; returned to steady reps. As the preseason began, Watts affirmed he was feeling “real good,” despite earlier absences. Roster Battle and Preseason Outlook Entering the preseason, Atlanta faces a tight safety battle among Watts, Jordan Fuller, and DeMarcco Hellams for a starting role alongside Bates, with analysts leaning toward Watts due to his early camp performance. Ahead of the Week 1 preseason game, Watts was confirmed to participate—a key opportunity in his push for a starting spot. Preseason Stats Recorded 1 solo tackle, no sacks, interceptions, or pass deflections in preseason action against the Lions. Jack Kiser – Linebacker – Jacksonville Jaguars Background and College Career Height / Weight: 6′2″/ 231 lbs. Notre Dame Summary: A six-year super-senior and Notre Dame’s all-time leader in games played (70). He finished his collegiate career with 275 tackles, 6 sacks, 4 interceptions (2 returned for touchdowns), 7 passes defended, and 6 forced fumbles. His senior year alone featured 90 tackles, 14 of which were solo. Accolades & Impact: He served as team captain and was awarded the “Man of the Year” award in 2024. Draft and Contract Situation Drafted in the 4th round with the 107th overall pick. Officially signed his four-year rookie deal worth $5.25 million by mid-July, completing Jacksonville’s rookie class contract signings. Training Camp and Preseason Highlights Reported early (rookie report: July 19), he quickly impressed by showing reliability in special teams and defensive packages. Day 6 camp reports noted that Kiser and DE Josh Hines-Allen both recorded would-be sacks during team drills, further confirming his disruptive presence. On Day 9 of camp, he delivered a major highlight: a pick-six on former QB Nick Mullens during an 11-on-11 drill, marking the Jaguars’ first defensive TD of camp. Jaguars media and analysts positioned him as arguably the second-best rookie in camp behind Travis Hunter, praising his consistency versus the run, coverage fluidity, and blitz ability. Minicamp previews separately highlighted his promising coverage skills in situational periods. Known as a high-IQ, instinctive linebacker with immediate special-teams value. Scouts flagged his limited elite athleticism but highlighted his tackling reliability, play recognition, and football savvy. Preseason Outlook A cerebral, dependable defender with polished special-teams chops. Exceptional consistency and intelligence highlight his playing style. Projects as a core special-teams contributor and valuable rotational linebacker. He’s positioned to find a rotational spot if veteran slots open (e.g., with Muma or Lloyd entering free agency). Rylie Mills – Defensive Line – Seattle Seahawks Background and College Career Height / Weight: 6′5″/ 290–291 lbs. Notre Dame Summary: Redshirt senior who played from 2020 to 2024. Rylie Mills posted 131 tackles, 17 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries over his 62-game career. Accolades & Impact: Notre Dame team captain and Second-Team All-American honors in 2024. Draft and Contract Situation Drafted in the 5th round with the 142nd overall pick. Signed a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $4.66 million. Injury Status and Rehab Suffered a torn ACL during the College Football Playoff and underwent surgery prior to the draft. Camp Activity By June’s OTAs, Mills was participating in “half-speed” drills, signaling positive rehab progress. Upon reporting for training camp, he was placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. As the only drafted rookie designated there, it reinforces that his ACL rehab continues. Outlook and Return Timeline The Seahawks’ GM anticipates a midseason or later return to the field. Most rookies on NFI returned rapidly after physical clearance, but Mills is expected to remain sidelined into midseason at the earliest. At practice, Mills was observed wearing rehab bands on his legs, a sign he’s still actively working on his recovery. Style and Role Projection Known for his rare blend of size, athleticism, and quickness, Mills can play both defensive end and interior line roles, showcasing lateral quickness, strong swim moves, versatility, and bull-rush power. He was rated a “high-floor player” poised to replace the departed Roy Robertson-Harris as a rotational pass-rusher. Mitchell Evans – Tight End – Carolina Panthers Background and College Career Height / Weight: 6′5″/ 258 lbs. Notre Dame Summary: Over four seasons, recorded 77 receptions for 903 yards and 5 touchdowns (via combine profile). Known for strong blocking technique, smooth route-running, reliable hands, and versatility across in-line and slot formations. High School & College: Starred as a quarterback in high school (over 2,100 passing yards in senior year), transitioned to tight end at Notre Dame.  Skill Set: Scout comparisons liken him to Michael Mayer—excellent route-running, reliable hands, and toughness in blocking, all honed in Notre Dame’s rigorous tight end room. Injuries: Overcame a broken foot in 2022 and a torn ACL in 2023, then rebounded to lead the team in receptions (43) in 2024. Draft and Contract Situation Drafted in the 5th round with the 163rd overall pick. Signed a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $4.59 million. Role Projection With veteran tight end and Notre Dame alumnus Tommy Tremble sidelined due to back surgery, Evans has seen increased exposure to first-team reps during camp, elevating his opportunity to challenge for a starter or tight end 2 role. Evans potentially has the most to gain in training camp, highlighting his polished blocking background and receiving instincts. Training Camp and Preseason Developments On August 1, Evans and Sanders both logged catches during the second 11v11 red zone periods, signaling active involvement in situational packages. Ahead of the Panthers’ preseason opener, analysts identified rookie pass-catchers—like Evans—as key figures to watch for their ability to stand out early. In Week 1 of the preseason against the Browns, Evans played 18 offensive snaps and contributed 2 special teams snaps (32% of offensive plays), displaying early trust from the coaching staff. He reeled in 1 catch for 5 yards. Playing Style & Fit Evans has been praised for his in-line blocking prowess, athleticism, and crisp route running—qualities critical in the Panthers’ offense, most especially in Tremble’s absence. He’s shown natural catching ability with solid ball skills and good route discipline, strengths that align with Brian Canales’s preference for clean, reliable tight ends. Roster Outlook Tremble’s rehab opens the door for Evans to stake a claim as tight end 2 or even a starter, while Ja’Tavion Sanders shares early responsibilities. With consistent camp involvement, preseason snaps, and trust from the staff, Evans is poised for an impactful rookie campaign. Riley Leonard – Quarterback – Indianapolis Colts Background and College Career Height / Weight: 6′4″/ 216 lbs. Notre Dame Summary: Transferred from Duke in 2024. At Notre Dame, he led the offense to a national title game with 2,861 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 906 rushing yards, and 17 rushing touchdowns. College Journey: Started at Duke (2021–2023) before transferring to Notre Dame in 2024. At Duke, he completed 3,449 passing yards and 20 touchdowns over two seasons. Draft and Contract Situation Drafted in the 6th round with the 189th overall pick. Signed a standard four-year rookie contract worth $4.43 million on May 9. NFL Entry and Role Entered a QB room led by Anthony Richardson and veteran Daniel Jones, positioning Leonard as a developmental option and potential third-string/“emergency” quarterback. Profile Strengths: Athletic dual-threat with a strong arm, high football IQ, and leadership presence. Philip Rivers praised his humility, competitiveness, and professionalism — a perfect fit with Colts coach Shane Steichen’s developmental culture. Training Camp and Practice Performance After a shaky start, Leonard posted one of his best practices to date on Camp Day 9, going a perfect 7-for-7 on his first drive, including a touchdown, followed by another long scoring pass. He missed just one throw, which was due to a receiver drop. Coach Steichen praised Leonard’s efficiency and growth, noting he’s made “great strides” through two weeks of training camp. Colts scouts view him as a developmental quarterback — physical, a fast learner, with future upside — while acknowledging he’s not expected to compete for the starting job in 2025. Preseason Debut Highlights In his first NFL action (Preseason Week 1 vs. Ravens), Leonard completed 12 of 24 passes for 92 yards with 1 interception, and scrambled for 34 yards, including a clutch effort that helped secure the Colts’ lone touchdown of the game. Head Coach Shane Steichen said Richardson’s dislocated pinky was “popped back in” and expects him to return soon, leaving Leonard to build his reputation on brief flashes in upcoming games. Role and Outlook Leonard is pushing to earn a spot as the third-string (or emergency) quarterback, a rare gameday-activated role that must reside on the 53-man roster. His performance in preseason games will be critical to securing that role. His combination of athleticism, intelligence, and character, along with strong camp and preseason performances, makes him a candidate to remain and develop into a reliable backup in future seasons. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Beaux Collins – Wide Receiver – New York Giants Background and College Career Height / Weight: 6′3″ / 201–206 lbs. Totaled 41 catches for 490 yards and 3 touchdowns in 16 games at Notre Dame in 2024. Also posted 91 catches for 1,290 yards and 11 touchdowns in three seasons at Clemson. Prep standout at St. John Bosco HS (Bellflower, CA), where he learned advanced offensive concepts from an early age. Played running back and linebacker before moving to wide receiver, giving him a physical, contact-ready style. Draft and Contract Situation Went undrafted in the 2025 draft but signed a three-year deal worth $3 million with the New York Giants as an Undrafted Free Agent. One of five undrafted wide receivers added by NYG (Da’Quon Felton, Jordan Bly, Juice Wells, Dalen Cambre). Training Camp Rise Immediately earned first-team reps during rookie minicamp, carrying momentum into training camp. Injuries to Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Jalin Hyatt opened additional opportunities; Bryce Ford-Wheaton’s Achilles tear created a roster opening. Through six camp practices, Collins was widely regarded as the most impressive UDFA receiver. Notable Praise and Highlights Art Stapleton: “Best practice of any Giant today… fierce blocker in the run game… offense’s sideline exploded with cheers in his direction.” The Giant Insider: “Best UDFA wide receiver… several standout plays, outmuscling defenders… big gains from both Russell Wilson and rookie Jaxson Dart.” Russell Wilson: “Shown some unbelievable growth.” Brian Daboll: Calls Collins a “young professional” who “handles his business the right way… smart, tough, picked up our system quickly.” He continued by praising Collins’ size, speed, and change-of-direction for a bigger WR. Known for intense, fearless blocking, he is described as a “throwback” player who will “throw his body around” to set the tone. Latest Camp Updates Limited during Day 10 of camp, alongside Darius Slayton. Did not participate in the Giants’ 12th camp practice ahead of the preseason opener. Playing Style and Fit Strong catch radius, physicality in contested situations. Uses linebacker/running back background for aggressive run blocking and toughness. Special teams play will be key to making the roster. Has been used across all offensive groups in camp, lining up at multiple WR spots. Roster Outlook Competing for one of the final wide receiver spots behind Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, and return man Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Main competition: Juice Wells, Da’Quan Felton, Jordan Bly, Dalen Cambre, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Montrell Washington, Gunner Olszewski, Zach Pascal. Collins is emerging as a frontrunner thanks to his polish, blocking toughness, and steady camp production. Quote on Transition to the NFL “It’s insane. I grew up watching Russ on TV when I was this tall… First couple times, I missed the feel with him just because of the speed of the game, but I really love catching passes from him. It’s amazing.” Preseason Stats Collins didn’t see any playing time in New York’s preseason game against the Bills. Jordan Clark – Slot Cornerback – New York Jets Background and College Career Height / Weight: 5’9” / 184 lbs. College Journey: Spent five seasons at Arizona State before transferring to Notre Dame for a sixth and final year. Across 56 collegiate games, totaled 176 tackles, 22 passes defended, and 4 interceptions (1 returned for a touchdown); at Notre Dame, added 37 tackles, 1 INT, and 5 pass break-ups in 16 games. Notable Lineage: Son of longtime NFL safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark. Draft and Contract Situation Went undrafted in the 2025 draft but signed a three-year deal worth $2.98 million with the New York Jets as an Undrafted Free Agent. Training Camp and Preseason Highlights Positional Focus: Head coach Aaron Glenn has treated Clark from the start as a slot cornerback specialist, honing his instincts and short-area quickness. In a practice on July 31, Clark deflected a pass that led to an interception by Marcelino McCrary-Ball, highlighting his awareness and playmaking in the slot. Roster Projection: Preseason roster predictions list Clark as the No. 2 slot cornerback behind Michael Carter II, suggesting he’s on track to make the 53-man roster despite being undrafted. Camp Resilience: Faced tough practices, but his father—also a former undrafted player—notes Clark’s capacity to process adversity mentally and grow confident over the offseason. Skill Set and Evaluation Technique & Fit: While lacking elite speed, excels in short-area quickness, tackling, instincts, and processing in the slot. Areas to Refine (from scouting reports): Needs improvement in run-through tackling and avoiding over-pursuit; coverage efficiency improved in his final season.  Adaptability: Has experience in multiple defensive back roles—nickel corner as primary, with coverage experience in both safety and perimeter situations. Roster Outlook A surprise undrafted free agent success story; likely to secure the No. 2 slot corner role behind Michael Carter II, with special teams potential enhancing his value early on. Howard Cross III – Defensive Tackle – Cincinnati Bengals Background and College Career Height / Weight: 6′1″ / 285 lb.  Son of former Giants tight end Howard Cross Jr., a Super Bowl champion.  Excelled at Saint Joseph Regional High School—a state champion wrestler and New Jersey Player of the Year. Played six seasons at Notre Dame (2019–2024): 65 games, 35 starts, 169 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 4 pass deflections, and 3 forced fumbles. Senior season: 28 tackles (14 solo), 5.5 TFL, 4 sacks—helped anchor a defense that held 12 opponents to 17 or fewer points en route to the National Championship game. Two-time Second-Team All-American (2023, 2024); known for wrestling-based leverage, high football IQ, and relentless motor. Path to the NFL and Contract Went undrafted in 2025 but signed with the Bengals on a three-year, $2.985 million deal on May 9th.  His reunion with defensive coordinator Al Golden—his defensive coordinator for the last three seasons at Notre Dame—strengthens his standing in Cincinnati. Training Camp and Preseason Development Reunited with Golden and quickly grabbed reps in training camp as the Bengals look to fill the fifth defensive tackle spot. Coaches noted his early impact: “The undrafted Cross has caught the coaches’ attention in camp (he took half the snaps Thursday and had an assisted tackle).”  Photographed frequently during camp drills, highlighting his steady participation in team work. Strengths and Projection High character, battle-tested, strong technique—especially hand work and leverage from wrestling background. Plays above his size with strong interior penetration and effort, especially effective in rushing the passer. Candidate to make the 53-man roster or, at minimum, a strong candidate for the practice squad. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle here ! Max Hurleman – Running Back – Pittsburgh Steelers Height / Weight: 5′11″/ 200 lbs. College Summary: Began his career at Colgate, where he played four seasons (2020–23), rushing for 814 yards with 1 TD on 194 carries (3.8 yard avg.), caught 80 passes for 841 yards and 3 touchdowns, returned 18 kickoffs for 308 yards, and 26 punts for 215 yards. He then transferred to Notre Dame in 2024, where he appeared in 16 games, recorded 13 tackles (11 solo), and returned 23 punts for 138 yards (6.0 yard avg.) After going undrafted, Hurleman signed a three-year $2.96 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers following a tryout during rookie minicamp. He’s quickly become “the camp darling,” showing versatility on both defense and special teams - handling punt returns, playing corner, and making plays, including letting a punt drop at the 10-yard line rather than taking a fair catch. In the Steelers’ preseason game against the Eagles, Hurleman caught 2 balls for 29 yards and 1 TD. RJ Oben – Defensive End – Kansas City Chiefs Height / Weight: 6′3″/ 255 lbs. College Summary: Spent three years (2019–2022) at Duke, where he compiled 67 tackles, 20 TFL, 14 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 1 interception. Transferred to Notre Dame in 2024, where he played 16 games: 19 tackles (10 solo), 1 sack. Pre-draft scouting notes describe him as a developmental pass rusher with good length and hand technique, though some concerns remain about his explosiveness and leverage. Oben received a rookie minicamp invite from the Kansas City Chiefs. As of now, no news has emerged about him progressing to training camp, signing a contract, or participating in preseason reps—so he remains at the minicamp stage. Mitch Jeter – Kicker – Minnesota Vikings Height / Weight: 5′11″ / 195 lbs. College Summary: Attended South Carolina for four years (2020-2023) before transferring to Notre Dame as a graduate student in 2024. He finished his collegiate career with 36-for-46 on field goals and 131-for-135 on extra points. Jeter was invited to the Minnesota Vikings’ rookie minicamp. There’s no public update yet on whether he moved on to a training camp roster or participated in Vikings preseason activities, so his status remains unchanged since the minicamp stage. Kris Mitchell – Wide Receiver – Las Vegas Raiders → Seattle Seahawks Height / Weight: 5′11″/ 182 lbs. College Summary: Played at FIU from 2019 to 2023, where he caught 100 passes for 1,663 yards and 11 touchdowns over 38 games. Transferred to Notre Dame in 2024, where he pulled in 22 catches, 224 yards (10.2 yard avg.), 2 touchdowns across 16 games Mitchell went undrafted but was invited to and signed a rookie minicamp deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Most recently, Mitchell received another opportunity with the Seattle Seahawks, who are bringing him in for a workout aimed at evaluating him ahead of training camp opportunities. With 6 players drafted, 3 signed undrafted free agents, and 4 more prospects with a shot to make a regular-season squad, Notre Dame continues to grow their professional footprint. As the 2025 NFL preseason unfolds and the regular season takes shape, check back here at the Irish Tribune for updates on Notre Dame’s latest additions to the league. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame has officially fit one more piece into the 2026 recruiting puzzle that truly helps solidify the defensive line for years to come. Art by The Irish Tribune After spending his freshman season at King George High School in Virginia, 4-star DL Elijah Golden transferred to the well-respected IMG Academy in his sophomore season, before landing at Cardinal Mooney High as a junior, which is where he broke out. Golden piled up double-digit sacks (10) and an eye-popping 29 tackles for loss. His efforts earned him All-American second team honors from MaxPreps. Golden gained a lot of traction among scouts as far as what he could become as a player. Already standing 6'4" and weighing between 270-280 pounds, Golden is a force on the line of scrimmage, showing he can line up and be successful from multiple alignments. I sat down to go over some film and came away with the following thoughts regarding some of his traits. Upfield Burst: Very Good (6) Golden is excellent when it comes to keying pass vs run off the snap. He attacks upfield without over-penetrating and losing sight of the ball. Has a quick get-off and good hand placement, allowing him to consistently win at the point of attack. Maintains his balance in traffic while working upfield. He is a big-time disruptor, blowing up run plays in the backfield and making the QB uncomfortable even when he does not get home for a sack. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Pass Rush: Good (5) The first thing that stood out to me was his ability to get consistent pressure using a bull rush. His strength is really on display when he uses this technique, especially when lined up as a traditional nose tackle right over the center. He will occasionally come off the line with too high of a pad level, which limits leg drive when converting speed to power, but he also has an excellent rip and swim move that he mixes in his rush package. What makes him even more dangerous as a pass rusher is his ability to line up anywhere on the LOS. I saw him take reps from a 0-technique, 1-technique, and 3-technique and EDGE in the film I watched. This gives the ability to utilize match-up specific packages in key situations. Run Stopping: Very Good (6) Golden is a certified run stuffer. His combination of burst and strength makes for tough treading when teams choose to run in his direction. He shows he can anchor down and hold up vs double teams without losing lane integrity. He also likes to use his rip-and-swim maneuver in the run game, quickly shedding blocks to pursue the ball carrier. He is a sure tackler once he gets his hands on the runner and limits any type of extra yardage. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Pursuit: Good (5) I always appreciate when the big men in the trenches are willing to try to chase plays down that are going away from them. Golden shows really good effort and motor in this area, hustling from the backside to bring down ball carriers that are still on their feet. For a player of his size, he shows good change of direction and burst to quickly try to close the distance between himself and the ball carrier. Some things don't show up on the stat sheet, but they show up in the film room and build trust from the coaching staff to know a player will never give up on a play. With Elijah Golden now officially committed, Defensive Coordinator Chris Ash and Defensive Line Coach Al Washington have to be thrilled about what they see happening on the defensive side of the ball as of late. The recruiting staff has now loaded up on talent at every key position, and there is no reason to think the Fighting Irish won't be near the top of the best defenses in the country for quite some time. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame continued its dominance on the recruiting trail today, as 4-star DL Elijah Golden announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish. Golden is a 6’4", 275lbs DL out of Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Florida. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 107 overall recruit nationally, and the No. 12 overall recruit in the state of Florida.   Art by The Irish Tribune Golden is a force on the line of scrimmage, demonstrating his ability to line up and be successful from multiple alignments. As The Irish Tribune's Head of Scouting, Max Uretsky puts it: “The first thing that stood out to me is his ability to get consistent pressure using a bull rush. His strength is really on display when he uses this technique, especially when lined up as a traditional nose tackle right over the center. He will occasionally come off the line with too high of a pad level, which limits leg drive when converting speed to power, but he also has an excellent rip and swim move that he mixes in his rush package. What makes him even more dangerous as a pass rusher is his ability to line up anywhere on the LOS. I saw him take reps from a 0-technique, 1-technique, and 3-technique in the film I watched. This gives the ability to utilize match-up specific packages in key situations.”   Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Golden transferred to Cardinal Mooney High School last season and helped the Cougars make the semifinals in the Florida 2A Playoffs. He ended the season with 61 tackles (29 tackles for a loss), 10 sacks, 8 QB hurries, and a pass breakup in 11 games, earning him MaxPreps Junior All-American second team honors. He joins Rodney Dunham, a 5-star Edge out of Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, Ebenezer Ewetade a 4-star Edge out of South Garner High School in Garner, North Carolina, and Tiki Hola a 3-star DL out of Bastrop High School in Bastrop, Texas as the current defensive line commits for Notre Dame in the 2026 class.   Before committing to the Irish today, Golden held 41 D1 Offers from such notable schools as Alabama, Oklahoma, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame, among others. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As fall camp continues on, it is a perfect time for Notre Dame fans to begin to comprehend the path that lies ahead of them in 2025. Art by The Irish Tribune In the fourth and final installment of the season preview, Notre Dame is entering the tenth game of the year, as the Irish look to finish strong in November. At this point of the season, health will be critical as the Irish will be traveling plenty in the month of November as they make their final push towards the College Football Playoff. In this volume of The Anatomy of the Schedule, Irish fans will see the uphill climb the Golden Domers will face in 2025. Week 12 @ Pitt 2024 Record: 7-6 No. of Returning Offensive Starters: Seven No. of Returning Defensive Starters: Seven After starting the 2024 season 7-0, the Pittsburgh Panthers dropped the final six games of the season. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi will be entering his 11th season with the program, as he returns 14 total starters to the 2025 roster. This includes one of the nation's best running backs in Desmond Reid. Last season, Reid rushed for 966 yards and five touchdowns. The Panthers will also be returning quarterback Eli Holstein, who will be entering his sophomore season after throwing for 2,225 yards as a redshirt freshman. On defense, the Panthers will return two vital pieces in the middle of their defense in linebackers Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles. The pair combined for 181 total tackles last season. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Week 13 vs Syracuse 2024 Record: 10-3 No. of Returning Offensive Starters: Three No. of Returning Defensive Starters: Four The Syracuse Orange will strut into South Bend on Notre Dame's Senior Day, which may prove to be one of the Irish's most difficult Senior Day opponents in recent memory. The Orange are entering year two of the Fran Brown era, in which the Syracuse head coach seemingly revamped the roster talent overnight. While Brown returns very little production from last year's successful team, he was active in the transfer portal as Syracuse brought in 16 players into the program. Last season, the Orange had success with the portal as Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord found success in the offense and threw for 4,779 yards. To fill McCord's shoes will be either LSU transfer Rickie Collins, or a familiar face for Notre Dame fans: Steve Angeli. There is an ongoing quarterback battle, but there is no doubt Angeli will return to South Bend looking for revenge against his old team. Outside of the quarterback room, Syracuse will need to look to replace 1,000-yard rusher LeQuint Allen Jr. and top two receivers Jackson Meeks and Trebor Pena. Week 14 @ Stanford 2024 Record: 3-9 No. of Returning Offensive Starters: Five No. of Returning Defensive Starters: Six As always, Notre Dame will finish the season on the West Coast, but this year it will be on The Farm against the Stanford Cardinal. The Cardinal, who are off the heels of a 3-9 season and an unusual coaching change, were put in a difficult situation that featured a mass exportation. With Stanford's academic prestige, it is quite uncommon to see players transfer out of the school, yet amid all of the turnover, 27 players transferred out of the program. The Cardinal and Football General Manager, Andrew Luck, will most likely ride the arm of Elijah Brown, who will be entering his sophomore season. While Brown didn't get much playing time last season as a freshman, hails from Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei, in which he faced premium competition in the Trinity League. On defense, the biggest impact returner is safety Scotty Edwards who was second on the team in total tackles (80) and fourth on the team in PBU's (2). Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As of now, the 2026 class for Notre Dame is stacked with Wide Receiver talent from all over the country. Blue chip prospects like Kaydon Finley, Bubba Frazier, and Brayden Robinson give that position group a high ceiling for many seasons to come. As recruiting efforts turn towards the 2027 cycle, there is a WR on Notre Dame's radar that is currently the No. 2 prospect in the nation at his position. Photo via Monshun Sales (X, @__1problem) Monshun Sales, who plays his high school ball at Lawrence North in Indianapolis, just a couple of hours away from South Bend, is a composite 5-star WR who has already landed 36 offers before his Junior season begins. Sales, who was in attendance for Notre Dame's Spring Game in April, will be back on campus for an "unofficial visit" during the Texas A&M game, which is shaping up to be a big recruiting weekend for the Fighting Irish. The film on the 6'5 pass catcher is promising, and I'll break down everything that stood out below. As always, the criteria for evaluation will be graded on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it! Athletic Ability: Good (5) Sales is a long strider, who is faster than he is quick. He is a very smooth runner who maintains his speed throughout the entirety of the route. He possesses good leaping ability that paired with his length, gives him an above-average catch radius. He seems to have an extra gear he can hit after the catch to pick up additional yardage. Already standing 6'5, there is definitely more room for him to fill out his almost 200-pound current frame, giving him prototypical perimeter receiver physical traits. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Catch Ability: Very Good (6) When it comes to the most important trait for a WR, Sales does not disappoint. He was heavily used as a vertical threat during his Sophomore year, and consistently showed his high-level ability of tracking the ball deep. He is very aggressive at the catch point and routinely battles through contact to make the grab. He can throttle down and come back for underthrown passes, showing his ability to adjust mid-route. He provides plus value in the Red Zone due to his size, shielding defenders with his big frame on Slants, and can go up and get it on Fade routes. Will need to watch his footwork near the sidelines, making sure to get a foot down in time. Sales has the tools to be a QB's best friend, with the type of size and strong hands that not every throw will have to be perfectly accurate for him to come down with it. Route Running: Solid (4) The physical traits for Sales scream high-level potential; it is the more subtle attributes that will let him fully realize it. Sales does a fairly good job of stacking defensive backs on vertical routes, giving the QB a chance to lead him on throws, but it is in the short and intermediate areas of the field that he could really benefit from improved route running. There is no real suddenness when he gets in and out of breaks, although for being 6'5, he still does an okay job of sinking his hips at the top of routes. When he is running out breaking patterns, he needs to work on flattening the route more and not rounding out at the top, which gives the defensive back a chance to undercut throws. Sales does a good job when it comes to crossing the face of the DB on in-breaking routes, which gives the QB a window to fit it into. Route running is generally never at an advanced state as a Sophomore in high school, so if he can slowly develop this area of his game in his final two seasons, watch out, because even as a raw route runner, his competition has a very tough time shutting him down. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Competitive Toughness: Very Good (6) I think the competitive toughness for Sales shines through in the film. His aggressiveness when dealing with contact going up for the ball does not seem to waver and is a constant part of his game. His downfield blocking also stands out, and it is not only on his initial block on the perimeter, but the way he continues to work downfield and make additional key blocks on other defenders to help turn a good run into a home run. He will need to clean up his hand placement to avoid penalties, as right now he is more so a wrestler in his blocking style, but his willingness and play strength to do so can not be questioned. I also think his competitive nature, just in general, is evident by the way he reacts after a big catch or big block. You can tell he loves the game, and when that is the case it is always easier to develop a prospect. There is no longer a single position that Notre Dame can not compete with the biggest names in college football when it comes to recruiting. Monshun Sales is certainly a big fish for the Fighting Irish to try to reel in, and after already landing a blue chip signal caller from the C/O 2027 in Teddy Jarrard, plus the deep and talented running back room, the offensive side of the ball is well underway to becoming a consistent juggernaut in the sport. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

When it comes to surprises, good or bad, college football is chock-full of them. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are no exception, as each year, there are always some unanticipated developments. Today, my goal is to cherry-pick a few bold predictions and hopefully nail a few (or maybe all) of them. Let's get into it! Photo by The Irish Tribune Malachi Fields - 800+ Receiving Yards (Regular Season) Want to know the last Notre Dame pass catcher to eclipse the 800-yard mark? That would be Michael Mayer in 2022. The last wide receiver to do it? Kevin Austin Jr. in 2021. Although this prediction may not sound like the boldest, it's important to remember that Notre Dame has a stable of running backs that are likely to be the feature of the offense, with Jeremiyah Love at the forefront. Similarly, Notre Dame's wide receiver room is probably the most talented it has been in a long time. With this much production being attributed to one player, it might be a little less attainable than it initially sounds. Fields, a Virginia transfer, amassed over 800 yards in his last two seasons on a mid-to-bottom-tier ACC team. The big-bodied perimeter threat should get the lion's share of the targets on the outside throughout the season, and will be a very comfortable safety blanket for whoever starts under center. I think there is certainly the potential for him to reach this milestone for the third straight season, especially given that Notre Dame will march out a quarterback who has high-floor arm talent. Can he outshine the rest of Notre Dame's emerging talent in the wide receiver room? My prediction is yes. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Boubacar Traore - 10+ Sacks Notre Dame's defensive front was ravaged by injuries last season, leaving a lot of folks wondering what could have been for a talented redshirt freshman EDGE rusher. Boubacar Traore had been turning heads for quite some time at Notre Dame before he even played his first snap. Last season, before suffering a season-ending ACL tear, Traore had amassed three sacks and a pick-six in just five games. He looked like one of the best defensive players on Notre Dame's roster and should be primed to bounce back in a big way, provided his recovery timeline stays on track. With Notre Dame losing its senior production on the interior in Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills, a thundering presence off the edge is an absolute must for the Irish to make some noise this season. And while I have a lot of faith in Joshua Burnham and Bryce Young, I believe it will be Traore's time to shine this season. Look for him to be a major factor in games this season. If teams aren't already game planning for Traore, they will be after they see him take the field for the first time this season. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Jeremiyah Love - Wins Heisman Trophy I'm not going to mince words here. Jeremiyah Love is easily one of the most electrifying Notre Dame players I've seen in my lifetime. And if recent Heisman Trophy winners have proven anything, they certainly needed those "wow" factor plays to set themselves apart. Love has given us plenty of those moments throughout his Notre Dame career thus far, whether that be leaping over defenders countless times, willing his way through tacklers on the goal line, or hitting a home run play when the team needed it most. Love has all the talent and expectations in the world heading into his third season at Notre Dame. I don't think there will be much of a question about his ability, but more so his workload and health throughout the season. In all likelihood, we're going to see a similar split carry look from Notre Dame that we saw this past season. Although Love will be the featured back, we'll still see plenty of carries go to Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams throughout the course of the season. With Love averaging a little over ten carries a game last season, that number will certainly need to increase for him to have a shot at taking home the Heisman. The good news is that Love looks to be recovering well from a nagging injury that hindered a lot of his production in the later stages of the season. If he can stay healthy, half the battle is already won. He'll also be running behind an offensive line that boasts more experience this season, which should only serve to aid in his efforts. Finally, Notre Dame won't have Riley Leonard at their disposal this year, so Love is in a position to collect plenty more touchdowns and carries in the red zone this season that would have otherwise likely gone the way of a designed QB run. If Love can get an extra 4-5 carries a game, there's no telling what he'll be able to do as a result. Is it a long shot? Maybe. But is this also the best position a Notre Dame running back has been in to take it home? I'd argue yes. So, what do you think? Are these takes a little too hot? Not hot enough? We'd love to hear your opinions and any other takes you might have in the comments below! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Notre Dame quarterback room has been the talk of the offseason, with a starter yet to be announced. With no transfer coming in, this room will finally feature exclusively homegrown talent. Photo by The Irish Tribune For the past two seasons, Marcus Freeman's teams have been led by one-and-done transfer quarterbacks. In his second year, that QB was Sam Hartman. Hartman came in with high expectations after having a prolific career at Wake Forest. His time at Notre Dame got off to a good start, but unfortunately for Hartman and the Irish, his success began to wane in the second half of the season. As a whole, Hartman's time at Notre Dame can be looked at positively, but games like Louisville will always leave a bad taste in Notre Dame fans' mouths. Last season, Freeman's second transfer QB stepped into the starting role at Notre Dame. Leonard, also coming from the ACC, had a strong track record in the ACC. This gave many faith that he would be able to properly lead a Notre Dame team to where they wanted to go. That belief expanded after Notre Dame's big win in week one against Texas A&M, but that immediately went away after their embarrassing loss against NIU. After that point, Leonard excelled in his role, leading the Irish to the National Championship game. Although Leonard had limitations as a QB, Notre Dame fans adore Leonard's toughness, heart, and love for Notre Dame. The era of transfer QBs at Notre Dame will end this year, a sign that Freeman and his staff have finally recruited well enough and believe they have their QB of the future in-house. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Starting with CJ Carr, he is who many consider to be the eventual starter at Notre Dame. Carr has been a big name at Notre Dame for a while now, even though he has never seen the field. In high school, Carr was a highly rated four-star prospect who was set on his intentions to come to Notre Dame early in the process. Many saw him as the future of the position, and there is good reason for that. Carr has all the arm talent to be a great QB. In the spring game, Carr was throwing the best-looking balls all game. Whether that was throwing the ball across the middle or dropping a ball right over a defender, Carr is a very accurate passer. With that accuracy, Carr also possesses enough arm strength to make every play on the field. Outside of his physical gifts, Carr has also been credited with a very mature and cerebral approach to the position. Contrary to some of Notre Dame's former QBs, Carr does not fit the dual-threat mold that has been prevalent at Notre Dame for years. Although Carr is athletic, he appears to be most comfortable when he can drop back in the pocket, set his feet, and find a receiver. As only a redshirt freshman, he offers Notre Dame a bright future at the position. While that is true, the same could be said for Kenny Minchey. Minchey's path to Notre Dame couldn't have been much different from Carr's. While Carr made it clear early in his recruitment that Notre Dame was his choice, Minchey found Notre Dame at the very end of his recruitment. Minchey initially committed to Pitt, but de-committed in November of 2022 and committed to Notre Dame shortly after. At the time, this was a huge commitment for the Irish. As a four-star prospect, Minchey was the first building block to a QB room that now shows a ton of promise. Now, as a redshirt sophomore, he is in a position to show that promise. One thing that is immediately apparent about Minchey is his athleticism. In his two spring games, he has shown the ability to be a productive playmaker with his legs, whether that is running for touchdowns or rolling out to find a receiver downfield. As more proof of his athleticism, he even pulled off an impressive backflip celebration in this year's spring game. As a runner, he isn't going to wow anyone with his speed or elusiveness, but he is quick and, with a solid frame, may be hard to bring down. He truly does fit the term dual-threat. As a thrower, he can be explosive while also being accurate. Last season, Notre Dame QB coach Gino Guidugli deemed him a "gunslinger" for his willingness and ability to take chances downfield. Many people in the national media have been overlooking Minchey as the potential starter, but there is a lot to like in his game. Carr and Minchey have been getting all the attention when it comes to the QB room due to their current battle. That battle illustrates the healthy amount of talent and competition that should belong in any QB room. It is a sign that things are beginning to change at Notre Dame, but they, of course, are not the only ones in the group. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Anthony Rezac is coming back for his sophomore year at Notre Dame. Rezac was a three-star prospect from the state of Nebraska and offers Notre Dame an athletic depth option. Rezac's biggest weapon as a quarterback is his smooth athleticism, which allows him to make some difficult plays look easy. With that talent, he plays an important role for the Irish, providing depth and serving as a scout team quarterback to better prepare the defense. As the lone freshman in the group, Blake Hebert will almost surely redshirt this year and take the time to develop. Hebert committed to Notre Dame late in the recruiting cycle after flipping from Clemson. Hebert has prototypical QB size, standing at 6'3" and 225 lbs. That size, combined with impressive throw power, makes him an interesting piece for the future of this room. Lastly, and a fan favorite, is Tyler Buchner. Buchner has had one of the more unique college journeys in the sport. After his time playing at Notre Dame, he transferred to Alabama with a chance to start. Buchner was beaten out by Jalen Milroe, which caused him to come back to Notre Dame, but not for football. Instead, Buchner was on scholarship for Lacrosse, where he won a national championship. On the football side, he accepted a role as a walk-on wide receiver, special-teams player, and scout team QB. Simply put, he did whatever the team needed. Now, his role has changed to mentor. With a room full of young, inexperienced QBs, Buchner's wisdom and experience are vital for the development of the room. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Since leaving Penn State to become the Running Backs Coach at Notre Dame, all Ja'Juan Seider has done is help bring in top-tier talent for his position group. Seider's recruiting prowess led to the commitment of not one, but two, of the most coveted running backs in the country from the class of 2026, in Javian Osborne and Jonaz Walton. Pair that with the fact that Notre Dame currently has the best RB tandem in college football, with Jeremiyah Love being a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate, and all signs are pointing up for the runners in South Bend. If recent news is any indication, an even brighter future for that position group may be in the store, which is hard to fathom. Photo via Kemon Spell (Instagram, @kemonspell) Kemon Spell, who has been committed to the Nittany Lions for just about a year, is the number one running back in the 2027 class and the number one player in the state of Pennsylvania. Spell, who picked up an official offer from Notre Dame in March of 2025, has now set an "unofficial" visit to South Bend in September for the Texas A&M game. Can Seider once again work his magic and reel in an elite blue-chip talent away from his former employer? What Kemon Spell did as a Sophomore was nothing short of phenomenal. His almost 1,700 yards and 24 rushing touchdowns helped lead McKeesport High School to a 4A Championship appearance, but the real eye-popping number was his 10.7 yards per carry. Averaging a first down every time you touch the ball is no small feat at any level of football. It feels like he is just getting started, and playing in an option-style offense will give him plenty of opportunities to make plays, and I would not be surprised if he cracked the 2,000-yard mark in one or both of his final high school seasons. The film is what you would want to see from a No. 1 prospect, and Spell is worth the hype. As always, the criteria for evaluation will be graded on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it! Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Competitive Toughness: Elite (7) I'll start this section by commenting on a few things that stood out to me that are unrelated to him being a running back. Spell also doubles as a cornerback for his high school squad, and plays the position with a hard nosed style, not scared to lay the wood on opposing receivers but more importantly, never giving up on plays, showing a consistent high effort level, with a willingness to try to chase plays down no matter where he is on the field. That same effort shows itself on offense, in the form of hawking down defenders that pick off his QB, showing no signs of picking and choosing when to go full speed. On the running back side of things, you couldn't ask for a better competitor. At 5'9 and over 200 pounds, Spell has a strong base and plays with a low center of gravity, giving him elite contact balance and play strength that shows itself time and time again. He constantly runs through contact from defenders at ALL three levels, and utilizes a well-timed stiff arm when he hits the open field that keeps defensive backs from being able to wrap up. He is always fighting for more yardage and at times seems like he is the one seeking the contact. He spent a lot of time as an upback in a Wishbone offense which is much different than playing from depth as a running back, so it will be interesting to see how his ability to be patient and allow blocks to develop comes together at the next level, as he will not always be able to just run through the line of scrimmage head first. Athletic Ability: Very Good (6) Spell's burst is elite and a big part of his overall athletic profile. He gets the handoff and gets through the line and up to the second and third levels extremely quickly. He has very good agility in the open field, with the ability to dead-leg a defender without slowing down much. Spell's balance is second to none at the high school level and is the reason for his absurd yards per carry average. His change of direction and jump cut acumen allow him to press the hole and bounce it outside, and reverse field when he hits traffic. He may not possess top-end long speed, but his acceleration allows him to create enough distance that he does not get caught from behind very often. Has some receiving back potential as well, with the ability to win 1 on 1 vs linebackers on things like Wheel Routes and Angle Routes due to his quickness. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Vision: Good (5) Vision is not an area of concern; it's more so an area that is hard to gauge due to the style of offense Spell plays in. As an upback in a triple option, there are not many keys to read; you more so get it and go. The glimpses of his vision that I do see are promising though. He always seems to have a game plan of how he wants to set up defenders and work off his blocks once he gets into some open space. He has a good feel for when the edge defender loses containment and will bounce plays outside in that moment. As mentioned above, when he enters college, it will require a lot more nuance in how he reads blocks and processes the defense, but the foundation is there. His football IQ, which ties in, is not a question for me, as when I watch his reps as a Zone cornerback, which is a more mentally demanding coverage to be in, he generally has himself in the right position to make plays. Yards After Contact: Elite (7) This trait ties into competitive toughness but takes the physical ability to do something into account more than the mental willingness. To say Kemon Spell is a human wrecking ball is an understatement. There was no play on his Sophomore film that I watched, where Spell was not either breaking tackles or falling forward for additional yardage. He can go through a defender just as much as he can go around them, and he doles out more punishment than he absorbs. His double-digit yards per carry is a testament to how hard he is to bring down in the open field, especially when he makes it up to the secondary players who routinely whiff on leg tackles. He does an excellent job of keeping his lower half churning and maintaining momentum after the first hit which leads to continuous chunk plays. Spell has a ways to go to fill out his frame, but projects to have a similar stature to last year's Heisman runner up Ashton Jeanty, who is 5'8 and 215 pounds and also used that low center of gravity to his advantage, racking up an FBS record of 1,970 yards AFTER contact in 2024. Spell can't be put in those types of conversations quite yet, but he certainly appears to have a bright future ahead of him. Players taking visits after committing to other schools is just a part of the recruiting experience, and is the opportunity for players to see campuses and meet coaches they otherwise would probably never get an opportunity to, which is why I always see the value in them taking as many visits as possible. In some instances however, a recruit may see enough on their trip to lead to a re-opening of their commitment and make for some intriguing conversations among recruiting analysts and fans alike about where a player may land. It's too early to tell which of the two Spell's pending visit to South Bend may be, but if Ja'Juan Seider has any say, this may still be a recruitment worth monitoring. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Last month, we examined Notre Dame's recruiting efforts on the offensive side of the ball and graded each position group's progress so far this cycle. Today, we attempt to do the same for the defensive side of the ball. Let's go! Photo by The Irish Tribune Defensive Line: A I know what you're going to say - how is this position group not an A+? And while I wrestled with this grade for quite a while, I landed on an A for one simple reason: To push this class to heights truly unforeseen, Al Washington absolutely must land Elijah Golden. The Irish were involved early on with Golden, and an official visit last month had things trending in the right direction. Then, Golden pushed his commitment date back, and now we'll have to wait and see if it will be the Irish or the Crimson Tide. Golden is the missing piece that will tie this truly elite positional class together. With that being said, Al Washington and Marcus Freeman are due some incredible praise for being able to pull in arguably the best defensive line class in the country, with or without Elijah Golden in the fold. The Fighting Irish have secured commitments from two of the top EDGE rushers in North Carolina in 5-Star Rodney Dunham and 4-Star Ebenezer Ewetade. Both possess incredibly high upside and have the potential to anchor the Irish defensive line for years to come. As the Irish Tribune's Head of Scouting, Max Uretsky, says of Ewetade: "Ewetade truly is an all-around balanced defensive end. He displays excellent hand usage, violent get-off, and a high motor. He plays with good leverage in the run game, which allows him to consistently set the edge. He knows how to disengage at the point of attack and is a strong tackler. Can close backside versus zone, and has a knack for punching the ball out and forcing fumbles. In pass-rush situations, he has very good upfield burst and does not stop moving his feet as he works to disengage from blocks. His athleticism shines through when it comes to his ability to bend and flatten off the edge when using an outside rush." Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! And of Dunham: "Dunham is everything you want in a pass rush specialist. Like Ewetade, he has rare bend ability, especially for being 6'5. He has elite upfield burst, and there is not any wasted movement when he gets off the line. He has enough power and leg drive to split double teams off the edge and get home to the QB. He runs through chip blocks while maintaining his balance, and it will be very hard for quarterbacks to get outside of him when they leave the pocket due to his change of direction and length. Dunham shows a high level of mental processing when it comes to diagnosing when the ball is coming out quickly and gets his hands up in passing lanes, resulting in plenty of knockdowns. His pursuit effort is top-notch, whether he is on the front or backside of plays. When it comes to stopping the run, Dunham comes off the line with power and uses his long arms to create space between himself and the offensive linemen before quickly slanting inside to make plays on interior runs." You can tell EDGE was a position of focus for Notre Dame on the trail the past few cycles, as they have landed top-tier talent at the position pretty consistently. Similarly, the interior defensive line has been a pretty specific need for Notre Dame. The Irish addressed that in the portal this offseason by snagging Louisville transfer Jared Dawson, but are looking to establish less of a revolving door at the position after the departures of Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III. Enter Tiki Hola, an elite run-stuffer who has the size and strength to develop into one of the nation's elite at the position. If Notre Dame can pair Hola with Golden, I would put this class up against any other in the nation. Hats off to Al Washington. Linebacker: B+ Notre Dame hasn't had any issues attracting elite linebackers to South Bend, as they have landed plenty of big names at the position over the past few cycles - most notably Madden Faraimo last cycle, and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa the cycle before. The reason I have linebackers graded as a B+ is not because of the talent at the position in this class, but rather the depth. I think Notre Dame certainly could benefit from adding another player to this class, but there haven't been any rumblings about possible additions. Regardless, we've made it no secret that we think Kobe Clapper is one of the most outrageously underrated prospects in Notre Dame's recruiting class. His elite blend of run-stopping and mental intangibles will only serve to aid in his development as a downhill linebacker. As Max Uretsky puts it: "Your off-ball linebackers better be able to stop the run, and Clapper delivers in this area at a high level. He displays good play speed, which allows him to knife in and beat blockers that are coming across the line of scrimmage to their spots. His play strength and balance show his ability to take on chip blockers and maintain his leverage on the ball carrier. His hand usage borders on elite, and he is very adept at shedding blocks, not just from inline tight ends, but guards and tackles as well. He knows how to work through traffic while staying square to the line of scrimmage, rarely overrunning plays. He has a very good feel when playing Zone Runs, filling the backside cutback lanes and meeting running backs in the hole. Excellent tackler who wraps up and explodes through his hips. He is efficient on both the frontside and backside of plays, and shows a lot of juice pursuing plays that are going away from him. Clapper truly does check all of the boxes as a run stopper, and what makes this trait even more special is his ability to do it from multiple alignments." On the other hand, Thomas Davis Jr. was one of the first commits in the class of 2026, and even after an offer from his father's alma mater in Athens, the Irish were able to keep him in the class, and he shut his recruitment down completely. As mentioned, Davis Jr. has NFL bloodlines and some serious talent. "Davis Jr. can close on the ball in a hurry. When he is trusting his eyes, he plays extremely fast and explosively. He displays the lateral quickness to be able to chase down outside runs when playing from an off-ball linebacker position. He has also been used as a safety, which speaks to how well he moves as 200+ pound player. Although he may not have as much straight line speed as someone like Notre Dame great Jaylon Smith, he has plenty of quickness to stay in on all three downs and be effective in passing situations." Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Secondary: A+ I was going to divide the secondary grades into corner and safety, but because they both fall under the responsibility of Mike Mickens, and they both would also receive an A+ grade, why not combine them? This class is Mickens' magnum opus at Notre Dame, and it has proven that retaining him on staff was incredibly important. At safety, Joey O'Brien will continue the lineage of the "unicorn" athletes that have filled in before him, in players like Kyle Hamilton, and newcomer JaDon Blair. It's clear the Irish have targeted a specific type of player at the position - length and elite ball skills. O'Brien possesses both, possibly to the highest degree, and has earned 5-Star status because of it. He's the crown jewel of Notre Dame's secondary class and was a massive win for Mike Mickens over Penn State and Oregon. Securing the commitment of O'Brien is what I like to view as the turning point for this recruiting class, and it will only serve to benefit the Irish in future recruiting battles. Similarly, you can't overlook players like Nick Reddish and Ayden Pouncey, who each bring complementary skillsets to the back end of the defense. Pouncey's blend of football IQ and coverage skills positions him well for the future. "When Pouncey is playing from a deep Zone, his processing speed is off the charts. He reads the QB's eyes and is breaking on routes well before the ball is thrown. When asked to play as a Cover 2 corner, Pouncey does an amazing job of reading the flats while sinking with enough depth to be able to make plays on short/intermediate out-breaking routes that the quarterback is trying to layer between him and the safety. He proficiently reads WR screens and quick throws to the sidelines and blows them up before they ever get started. Any player that can alternate between Zone and Man efficiently, looks like a corner and a safety, and can thrive on the offensive side of the ball has a high football IQ and will earn more opportunities from the coaching staff." Nick Reddish, on the other hand, will come at you in a flash in run-support. The Irish have covered all of their bases at the safety spot. "When Reddish is playing as a deep safety, he displays very good change of direction with the way he can plant his back foot and drive, allowing him to help play the run from depth. He is a big hitter who knows how to attack the ball as he tackles, leading to some forced fumbles. He has the ability to play in the box as well, doing a good job of keeping his outside shoulder free when he is the containment player near the line of scrimmage. Reddish has an excellent pursuit and hustle quality about his game, with a willingness to chase down ball carriers from the opposite side of the field and never giving up on the play. Reddish is definitely a player you can move around based on the down and distance, with run support not being an issue regardless of alignment. He could also carve out a role for himself on special teams coverage units due to his pursuit, hitting, and proficiency at leveraging ball carriers." At corner, the lockdown duo of Khary Adams and Chaz Smith round out this incredible defensive class for the Irish. Adams is viewed as a top-5 CB in the class of 2026, and Smith recently received a much-deserved bump in the recruiting rankings. As Uretsky says of Adams: "Adams has elite height for the position, standing at 6'2", with a good wingspan and a frame that will still allow him to bulk up some. He possesses true 4.4 speed, which shows up on both sides of the ball as a cornerback and as a wide receiver, where he was able to average a little over 16 yards a catch during his Junior season. His change of direction is a crucial part of his athletic profile and serves him well, especially when in off coverage. He also possesses excellent stop-and-start ability with top-notch acceleration. Adams has short-area quickness, long speed, and everything in between. He has all the makings of a boundary corner, and his athleticism, paired with more development, gives him the chance to become a true lockdown." And of Smith: "One of the most impressive things about Smith's game is his ability to vary his eye discipline for when he is in Man Coverage vs Zone Coverage, which is rare for a young corner. A lot of times, cornerbacks will play with eyes on the quarterback no matter what in hopes of jumping routes and making plays, which is great for Zone, but watching the QB in Man is an easy way to lose your assignment and become susceptible to double moves. When Smith is lined up one-on-one in coverage, his vision is locked on the WR, and only turns back when it is time to locate the ball in the air. He also has an excellent feel for when offenses are going to the quick game, planting his back foot and driving on WR screens, blowing them up behind the line of scrimmage. Smith occasionally gets burned as a two-deep safety, where he shows an understanding of playing with proper depth and has a good feel for when to break and drive on routes in his area. Smith will come in as a very intelligent player, which will give him a leg up, as that is not an easy trait to develop." It really isn't a stretch to call this secondary class, and perhaps even this defensive class, the best in the country. Marcus Freeman has the recruiting department moving like a well-oiled machine, and by securing the commitment of elite 2027 QB Teddy Jarrard, it's hard to believe that Notre Dame recruiting will take a hit anytime soon. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As fall camp officially kicked off, it is a perfect time for Notre Dame fans to begin to comprehend the path that lies ahead of them in 2025. Art by The Irish Tribune In the third installment of the season preview, Notre Dame is entering the seventh game of the year, as they set off to face their arch-rival. As the Irish attempt to navigate through the middle of the year that features games on the road at Arkansas before hosting Boise State and NC State, the Irish enter the second half of the season in a pivotal string of games. In this volume of The Anatomy of the Schedule, Irish fans will see the uphill climb the Golden Domers will face in 2025. Week Eight vs USC 2024 Record: 7-6 No. of Returning Offensive Starters: Five No. of Returning Defensive Starters: Three With all of the offseason commotion about the sake of the rivalry, this game will probably be the most hyped matchup between USC and Notre Dame in quite some time. Especially, with this year's edition being the 20th anniversary of the "Bush Push" game, tensions and emotions will be at an all-time high. In terms of X's and O's on the gridiron, USC is in a bit of a weird position within its program. The Trojans have plenty of firepower, especially with Lincoln Riley calling the shots, but even more so with wide receivers Ja'Kobe Lane and Makai Lemon. The explosiveness of the offense relies on the arm of Jayden Maiava, who will be entering his first camp as the starter at USC. Last November, Maiava lit up the Irish's stout passing defense with 360 yards and three touchdowns. However, the only plays that will live on from that game are the two 98-yard and 104-yard pick sixes from Christian Gray and Xavier Watts that iced the Trojans and cemented Notre Dame's playoff hopes. On defense, the Trojans don't return a lot of production, yet they were heavy contenders in the transfer portal to fill some needs. Kentucky transfer Keeshawn Silver was the prized recruit from the transfer portal haul that should add stability and an explosive presence on the Trojans' line. The addition of cornerbacks DJ Harvey and Chasen Johnson should aid the back half of USC's defense as well. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Week Ten @ Boston College 2024 Record: 7-6 No. of Returning Offensive Starters: Five No. of Returning Defensive Starters: Seven After a much-needed BYE week following the USC game, the Irish will shoot up to Chestnut Hill for the first time since 2017. It will be Bill O'Brien's second year as the Boston College head coach, and he will be returning plenty of talent from 2024. Specifically on defense, the Eagles return five defensive backs, including KP Price, the team's leading tackler from a year ago, and Carter Davis, who led the Eagles in interceptions last year with five. On offense, O'Brien will shift from Thomas Castellanos, who transferred to Florida State, and will be running with Grayson James, who took over for Castellanos toward the latter half of last year. James was efficient in the starting role, throwing for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns. The Eagles also return Lewis Bond, who led the team in receptions by a wide margin, as he hauled in 67 receptions last year. For reference, Michael Mayer had 67 receptions in the 2022 season. This game is one that will be overlooked when looking at the season at a glance, but this game will certainly be no small task because of the talent the Eagles return on defense. Week Eleven vs Navy 2024 Record: 10-3 No. of Returning Starters: 17 Notre Dame will have three-night games this season, two of which we already covered in Texas A&M and USC, but the Navy game being the third night game of the season came to a surprise to most. The pedigree of a night game is one that is reserved for the biggest of games, and maybe NBC is counting on the Midshipmen to have a similar season to 2024. A noon kickoff game, Navy entered the matchup undefeated and knocking at the door of the group of 4 CFP bid. The end result, as most fans know, a 51-14 thrashing. Although, Navy returns starting quarterback Blake Horvath, who had one of the best seasons from a Navy quarterback in recent history. Also, add-in senior backs Eli Heidenreich and Alex Tesca, and the Midshipmen have a similar offensive attack to the year prior. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun