Notre Dame continued its tremendous run of landing top talent in the 2026 class today, as 4-star WR Kaydon Finley announced his commitment to the Irish Art by The Irish Tribune Finley is the son of former NFL star Tight End and Super Bowl XLVI Champion Jermichael Finley. Kaydon, a 6’2", 195lbs WR out of Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas, is a star in his own right and one of the top WRs in the nation. 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 110 overall recruit nationally, and the No. 14 overall wide receiver in the country.   Finley, a speedy wide receiver who runs a 4.5 40-yard dash, hauled in 81 receptions for 1,432 yards and 21 touchdowns in his junior season at Aledo High School. He averaged 17.7 yards per reception and 102.3 yards per game, with his longest catch on the season going for 91 yards. He joins Bubba Frazier, a 4-star WR out of Benedictine Academy in Savannah, Georgia, and Dylan Faison, a 3-star WR out of St Andrew’s High School in Boca Raton, Florida, as the current wide receiver commits for Notre Dame in the 2026 class.   Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Before committing to the Irish today, Finley held 31 D1 Offers from such notable schools as Texas, Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and Notre Dame, among others. This is a huge recruiting victory for WR Coach Mike Brown and the Notre Dame staff that adds even more star power to an already loaded class. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Haters of Notre Dame Football have been loud this offseason (USC, Penn State, etc.) and bashing the Irish for their refusal to join a conference. We look at why a private school in South Bend, Indiana, remains independent in this age of college sports below: Art by The Irish Tribune The first reason, and perhaps the reason that is not talked about enough, is that Notre Dame’s independence helps maintain its status as a national brand. The ability to schedule anyone and play in different geographic environments can play a major role in recruiting. Just in last year’s regular season, the Irish traveled to Texas, Georgia, New Jersey, and Los Angeles, bringing attention to Notre Dame football from coast to coast.  With the control Notre Dame has over their schedule as an independent, it is easier to maintain rivalries, which contributes to national brand status. The future of the USC rivalry is in doubt following their move to the Big Ten Conference; however, future games that are set to ignite old flames include Navy, Michigan State, Clemson, Indiana, and Michigan. This scheduling freedom is not possible within the constraints of a conference slate. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Another reason Notre Dame maintains its independence is because the amount of money they rake in annually is comparable to power conference schools. Currently, the Irish make nearly $67 million in media deals, with $50 million coming from NBC/Peacock and the rest coming from their exclusive partnership with the ACC.  Additionally, Irish independence benefits the program in regards to the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame does not have to win a conference to earn a bid, and starting this season, they will be able to earn an extra bye in the CFP with the new seeding rules. Financially, the Irish earned $20 million from last year’s CFP run. On the other hand, Ohio State was forced to split its winnings among the entire Big Ten. Over time, these ‘extra’ earnings can put Notre Dame over the top in certain situations (recruiting, upgrading facilities, extending coaches, etc.) These are just a few factors that allow Notre Dame football to maintain its independent status in today's ever-changing college landscape. Not every program is capable of pulling this off with the success that the Irish have, which is another feather in the cap for where Notre Dame stands in today's game. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Marcus Freeman and company are currently curating one of the best recruiting classes in the entire country, with presumably more commitments on the way. How has Freeman continued to raise the bar, and what makes this class so special? Photo by The Irish Tribune For years, Notre Dame has assembled impressive and competitive classes relative to the rest of college football. Usually ranked somewhere between 7 and 14, Notre Dame's classes over the last decade or so contained a few blue-chip prospects, but they were never able to assemble a truly elite group of high school prospects despite plenty of on-field success. Whether it was the old coaching staff, the academic standards, or even the location, Notre Dame struggled to establish itself amongst the nation's best on the recruiting trail. The 2026 recruiting class is beginning to tear down those narratives, and a lot of it is thanks to Marcus Freeman. After struggles in his first two years at the helm, Freeman's year three at Notre Dame returned the Irish to the pinnacle of the sport. Although Notre Dame fell a game short, he put college football on notice that Notre Dame was back. Not only did their run to the National Championship show the country that Notre Dame is capable of winning it all, but it also placed Freeman squarely in the national spotlight. At this time, Freeman's player-first coaching style was on full display, whether it be through nationally televised interviews or press conferences before playoff football games. It showed everyone Freeman's unique ability to connect with his players while also amplifying his charisma and command as a leader of the program. All of this, combined with his fiery and emotional nature on the sidelines, surely made Notre Dame an attractive and "cool" destination for future recruits - Something that's been missing at Notre Dame for a very long time. Yes, there is no denying that Notre Dame's NIL compensation is up there with the best in the country, but it is Freeman who has leveraged Notre Dame's 2024/2025 season in all the right ways to lift Notre Dame recruiting to new heights. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Despite being the face of Notre Dame, it is not just Freeman who has done all the heavy lifting. Notre Dame's coaching staff as a whole has shown an impressive ability to land talent on both sides of the ball. Most notably, Mike Mickens, Ja'Juan Seider, and Joe Rudolph. Mickens has continued to recruit the secondary at an incredibly high level, with recent commitments from elite DBs Joey O'Brien and Khary Adams. Former Penn State running back coach Ja'Juan Seider, has already landed two of the best running backs in the country with the commitments of Javian Osborne and Jonaz Walton. Lastly, Notre Dame's offensive line coach, Joe Rudolph, has shown no sign of slowing down, as he continues to add to what will already be one of the best offensive lines in 2025. With Freeman at the helm, directing the vision and public perception, backed by an elite group of position coaches working hard on the recruiting trail, the bar for what's reasonably achievable at Notre Dame in a recruiting sense just keeps getting higher. So, what is so special about the 2026 recruiting class? Well, to start, it has already become a top-three highest-ranked recruiting class for the Irish since tracking began on most major recruiting sites. With only 22 commits and possibly more blue-chip talent on the way, that ranking will only continue to climb, assuming the staff can hold on to the high-end talent they've been able to accrue thus far. The 2026 class is stacked with phenomenal talent, featuring players that Notre Dame is not used to getting in bulk. The class contains a multitude of players ranked inside the top 100, headlined with ferocious talent along the defensive front and in the secondary. Most recently, Notre Dame cashed in on some very successful visits to land the commitments of Joey O'Brien, Khary Adams, Ian Premer, and Grayson McKeogh. All of these players were highly sought after by the very best in college football. Altogether, the 2026 class has one of the highest blue-chip ratios in college football as it stands. This means that the majority of the class is ranked as four or five-star recruits. This culmination of talent has landed Notre Dame within the top five nationally across recruiting sites. The Fighting Irish and their fans hope that there is more to come, as this class continues to surge with the momentum created by the recent round of big-time commitments. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

For Notre Dame to have a successful 2025 season, there are many things that need to go in the Irish's favor. Here are three simple must-haves for Notre Dame in the 2025 season. Art by The Irish Tribune As the calendar shifts to July and the college football season grows nearer and nearer, expectations and excitement are at an all-time high. For Notre Dame, a run to the championship and a surge in high school recruiting have tided over the appetite of the fanbase, yet leave more to be desired. Lofty expectations for the 2025 season and the expectancy of greatness are on the minds of the Fighting Irish faithful. In order for the Fighting Irish to have a successful season, there are facets that need to go in favor of the Blue and Gold. Split the First Two Games at Minimum The 2025 schedule is a gauntlet compared to last year's regular season tests for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame will start out with arguably two of its toughest games of the season right off the bat, traveling to Miami Gardens to open the year up against Miami and then returning home to face Texas A&M two weeks later. Even with the departure of No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, Miami's offense still should remain explosive with the transfer portal acquisition of Carson Beck. Beck, who was projected to be a first-round draft pick at the beginning of the 2024 season, is still recovering from a UCL injury he suffered in the SEC championship game. While Beck's 2024 season may have appeared lackluster and filled with turnover woes, he is still an extremely talented passer who is looking to rewrite the direction of his career in a Miami system that turned Ward into a Heisman finalist last season. After a tough opening game in a raucous environment, the Irish return home to South Bend, where their record under Marcus Freeman in home openers is 1-2, with a win over Tennessee State and two losses against Marshall and Northern Illinois. Luckily for the Irish, Texas A&M is a foe that cannot be overlooked. The Aggies come into South Bend under second-year head coach Mike Elko, and Marcel Reed returns as the starting quarterback. Reed and offensive coordinator Collin Klein have appeared to figure out how to operate the Aggie offense. Loaded with transfer portal acquisitions, Elko's Aggies should be a tough test, especially defensively, for a quarterback making his second career college football start. To go at least 1-1 through the first two games would be an enormous win for Freeman and the Fighting Irish and would certainly keep them in the race for the playoff picture. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Staying Healthy First off, health will be something to monitor throughout the season. Loren Landow enters his second year as Notre Dame's Director of Football Performance. Landow came to Notre Dame as a prestigious, world-renowned strength and conditioning specialist, but, in his first year at Notre Dame, the Irish saw many critical injuries throughout the season. If it weren't for the depth and young talent of the Fighting Irish, these injuries could've been seen more vividly and in turn, apply more scrutiny to the job being done. However, in Landow's defense, this past season was the longest college football season ever. Playing 16 games instead of 14 at most is something that the entire sport needs to adjust to. Load management is still being discussed and the transition into the longer season will be a gradual adjustment. Yet, in year two in South Bend, Landow's impact will be monitored more closely. 1,000-Yard Receiver In the grand scheme of things, this stat doesn't really matter the most, yet looking at how Notre Dame's offense will be designed to operate in 2025, having a 1,000-yard receiver would certainly be a good sign for the Fighting Irish. While Notre Dame and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock will lean on the running game of Heisman candidate Jeremiyah Love and big-play producer Jadarian Price, having a more accurate quarterback run the offense will certainly lead to downfield success for Notre Dame. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off If teams begin to load the box in an effort to stop Love, Price, or any other running back in Ja'Juan Seider's running back room, either CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey will have success finding one-on-one matchups for their wide receivers. This year, the wide receiving room is as talented as can be in recent memory. Juniors Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison have continued to develop throughout their time in South Bend. By adding proven commodities as well in the transfer portal, in Malachi Fields and Will Pauling, the top half of the wide receiver room is as talented as Notre Dame's seen in the last ten years. This is by far the best top four wide receivers the Irish have had on a roster, and there will certainly be many 1-on-1 opportunities for Carr or Minchey to explore and take advantage of. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Coming off the heels of a national championship game appearance, Notre Dame is going to keep most of the special teams unit in place, while replacing postseason hero, Mitch Jeter. Here, we breakdown whether each position will be improved or worsened from the 2024 season to 2025. Art by The Irish Tribune As the third and final installment of this series, it is necessary to get a sneak preview at the Notre Dame specialist unit. Last season, Marcus Freeman and special team's coordinator, Marty Biagi, were able to utilize special teams to help Notre Dame get even more of a leg-up on competition. From creative fake punts to great blocking on kick returns, the special teams unit was able to steal possessions and get points on the board last season. Bryce Young also made his presence known when it came to rushing the punter and getting his hands on field goal attempts. Outside of Young, let's take a look at the main players in this year's special team unit. Kicking Worse As effective as Noah Burnette had been during his career at UNC (79% career average), Mitch Jeter's postseason legacy will live on forever. For as shaky as Jeter was during the regular season, his groin injury had a clear impact on his kicking ability. In the postseason, Jeter went 7/9, with one of his kicks being blocked and one being pulled off the crossbar. His game-winning kick against Penn State in the Orange Bowl will be remembered forever, along with his three field goals against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. During the spring game, Burnette went 2/3, with two makes from 25 and 43 yards, and an ugly miss coming from 50 yards. As steady as Burnette has been, it will be hard to outshine the memories that Jeter fortified last season. Punting Better James Rendell enters his second season as Notre Dame's punter, as the Australian recorded 50 punts from a season ago, averaging 41.8 yards per punt. After a rough start at the beginning of the year, Rendell began to improve as he became more adjusted and comfortable to the college football level. This year, Rendell will be viewed as a leader within the special team's unit and should take a leap during his second year with the program. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Kick Return Constant Jayden Harrison had one of the best highlights from a season ago with his kick return to open the second half of the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. As Harrison departs from the program, Notre Dame will look to multiple people to replace him in the kick return game. Jordan Faison was a staple last season, and Jadarian Price was one of the kick returners during the 2023 season. Other candidates could include Jaden Greathouse and Will Pauling. Punt Return Better Max Hurleman was as sure-handed as could be, but Notre Dame should receive a bit more explosiveness with Jaden Greathouse returning punts for the Fighting Irish. Hurleman's long from last season was only 15 yards, but the now Pittsburgh Steeler was a reliable option for Biagi and Freeman. Whether it be Greathouse or Aneyas Williams, the Irish should get a lift in the punt return game in 2025. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Fighting Irish are a perennial exporter of elite NFL talent, but in recent seasons, it seems fewer and fewer wide receivers are rising to the levels of Notre Dame’s past wideouts. Is this reality? If so, how bad is it? Art by The Irish Tribune Across college football, certain programs have built reputations around the talent they produce at particular positions. Alabama is known as “Running Back-U” because of studs like Derrick Henry, Mark Ingram, and Trent Richardson. LSU is often called “Wide Receiver-U” because of their endless list of ball-hounds like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Malik Nabers. Over the last 20-25 years, Notre Dame has been lauded as “O-Line U” or “Tight End-U” and for good reason. Quenton Nelson, Zack Martin, Nick Martin, Ronnie Stanley, and Joe Alt highlight Notre Dame’s recent OL exports to the NFL, while Michael Mayer, Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Eifert, and Mitchell Evans round out their latest tight-end talents. For the most part, Notre Dame has remained consistent in its professional player development, but one of the most notable recent exceptions has been at wide receiver. While the Irish aren’t necessarily known as historical leaders at wideout, there’s been a noticeable shift in the group’s recent production. Since 2000, Notre Dame’s wide receiver corps has settled into four distinct periods, each with its own impact on today’s current situation. 2000 - 2006 2007 - 2012 2013 - 2020 2021 - Present When examining these isolated stretches, some impressive, notable, and concerning trends jump out - mainly a sharp decline in receiving production over recent years. The numbers tell a story that we need to pay attention to. To provide greater context regarding the position’s recent struggles, we’ll examine these four periods alongside Notre Dame’s all-time wide receiver rankings The best single-season wideout performances since 2000 Quarterback performance Scheme/Identity Issues Previous position coaches We’ll begin by looking at Notre Dame’s all-time top-20 receiving rankings. Off the bat, there are three tight ends (Michael Mayer, Tyler Eifert, Ken MacAfee) in the mix that can be set aside, giving us 17 true wide receivers to examine. From those, we can remove everyone outside the 2000-2025 span (Derrick Mayes, Tim Brown, Tom Gatewood, Jim Seymour, Tony Hunter, Malcolm Johnson, Joe Howard, Raghib “The Rocket” Ismail, Bobby Brown). That leaves us with a top eight since 2000. What jumps out immediately from these remaining players is the floor for touchdowns and yards. No one in this bracket has less than 18 touchdowns, and no one clocks in with less than 2,100 career receiving yards, setting a relatively high floor for all-time achievement placement. This condensed list grows even more compelling when you take a look at each player’s tenure with the team. Six of the eight players listed here played all four years of their eligibility, with Rhema McKnight getting a 5th go-round due to injury. That leaves two anomalous players who managed to achieve their elite status in Notre Dame’s all-time rankings with just three seasons of play. Those two players are Golden Tate at the #2 spot in yardage, and Will Fuller, who sits at 5th all-time. Incredibly, Fuller comes in 2nd for all-time receiving touchdowns, just behind yardage leader Michael Floyd, and Tate trails at 4th with 26 career receiving scores. If Fuller had returned for a 4th season and put up just eight touchdowns, a statistic he had surpassed in 2/3 of his Notre Dame seasons, he would hold the program’s record, while all Golden Tate needed was one more 1,000 yard season under his belt to steal the all-time yardage leader spot from Floyd. These two individuals achieved the highest ranks of Irish receiving in less time than their peers, showing that the trend of collegiate athletes leaving for the big leagues early can somewhat skew all-time statistics. Subscribe to Tribune+ and stay in the know for Notre Dame football and recruiting! The next closest receiver just outside this list in total receiving yards is Equanimeous St. Brown, who has only 1,484 yards and 13 touchdowns over his career. To be fair, St. Brown only played for three seasons before electing for the pros, but he also never posted a 1,000-yard season. Now, credit must be given to Notre Dame’s all-time receiving leader. Not only is Michael Floyd well and away the top wideout on this list, but he leads in all three major statistical categories. During his four seasons in South Bend, Floyd compiled a record of 37 touchdowns, 3,686 yards, and 271 catches over 275 plays. He leads his former teammate Golden Tate by 114 receptions and 979 yards, and holds Notre Dame’s single-season receptions record with 100. We then examine how exactly those top eight players got there. A few things jump out when looking at Notre Dame’s most recent 1,000-yard seasons. Between 2000 and 2004, the Irish didn’t have a single 1,000 receiver until the combination of Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija, and Maurice Stovall came together in 2005. In that lone season, both Stovall and Samardzija went for 1,100+ yards, while each posted double-digit receiving touchdowns with a combined 26. That season was the last time Notre Dame had more than one wideout hit the 1,000-yard mark in the same year. From 2008 to 2011, Floyd and Tate combined to give the Irish four straight years with at least one 1,000-yard receiver, each posting the feat in back-to-back seasons. In his 2009 1,000-yard season, Tate set Notre Dame’s single-season receiving record with a ridiculous 1,496 yards, earning him the program’s only spot on the 100 best yardage performances in college football history at #76. In the same season, Tate also tied Notre Dame’s single-season receiving touchdowns record with 15, a mark shared by just two others - Jeff Samardzija and Will Fuller. More concerning is the gap at the other end of the timeline. The Irish were on a hot streak between 2005 and 2015, with only 2007 and 2012 marking seasons without a 1,000-yard performance, but after 2015, things got shaky. The Irish hit another multi-year drought from 2016 to 2018 without a four-digit outing until Chase Claypool barely eclipsed the mark in 2019 with 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns. Most concerning of all, following Claypool’s senior year performance in 2019, the Irish haven’t managed a single 1,000-yard receiver, marking the longest drought in receiver production since before the year 2000. During the 2000-2004 quiet period in Irish receiving, Notre Dame went through three wide receivers coaches. Urban Meyer was hired on for Lou Holtz’s final season in 1996, but left for the head job at Bowling Green following the 2000 season. For the purposes of our examination, Meyer had minimal effect on the ultimate trajectory of Notre Dame’s receiving room, for better or for worse. He was on staff through a coaching change and stayed on with fledgling Irish head coach Bob Davie, who played a larger role in recruiting and performance than Meyer. The same can be said for single-year position coach Joker Phillips, who was only in South Bend for the 2001 season and left after Davie and the program parted ways. Tyrone Willingham brought in Trent Miles to manage the wide receivers during his short stint as head coach, and both men were gone following the 2004 season. While Willingham and Miles didn’t help the wideouts perform at an elite level, some of what came next can be attributed to their recruiting and tutelage. 2000-2006 Things began to look up for the Irish when Charlie Weis came to town, alongside new wide receivers coach Rob Ianello. Under their leadership, Willingham and Miles’ recruits were coached up to a higher level, which led to a breakout in statistical performance. Samardzija, Stovall, and McKnight broke out between 2004 and 2006, cementing themselves at the top of the record books whilst ushering in their successors. Our first quarterback in this lineup is one of Notre Dame’s all-time greats. Brady Quinn played all four years with Notre Dame, rising through the ranks from a struggling true freshman to a Heisman candidate in both his junior and senior seasons. Quinn struggled in year one with more interceptions than touchdowns and under 1,900 yards passing. He improved noticeably in 2004, eclipsing the 2,500-yard mark with 17 scores and just 10 interceptions. Notre Dame’s patience paid off, and Quinn absolutely tore up his Junior year. He tossed nearly 4,000 yards, almost 1,500 more than the year before, and threw a ridiculous 32 touchdowns with a low 7 interceptions. Quinn also took a massive stride in his overall effectiveness, improving from 54.1%-64.9% in completion percentage while jumping from 125.9 QBR to a career high 158.4. Quinn’s 2005 season performance was the last time an Irish QB tossed more than 1,000 yards to two separate receivers. Weis was known for his role as the offensive mastermind of the Tom Brady Patriots, and he brought an almost exclusively offensive mindset to South Bend. This increased emphasis allowed Quinn to tee off and hit unprecedented levels of passing production for the Irish. 2007-2012 Clausen followed in Brady’s steps as the heir-apparent leader for the Irish offense. He was yet another gunslinger Weis could use to lead his passing-first offense. Despite the seamless fit, he had a rough first year, but was no worse than Quinn’s freshman outing; however, fans and staff had higher expectations. Thankfully, Clausen responded big in back-to-back seasons, posting two 3,000-yard-plus outings with 25+ touchdowns. Golden Tate headlined the next receivers unit under Weis and worked his way up the rankings in just three seasons, finishing with two 1,000-yard outings in tandem with Jimmy Clausen before both left early, just before the entire staff turned over.  Theo Riddick bridged the gap between Floyd and the next star, holding down the slot position for so long that he leads this group in total plays in blue and gold with 364 over four seasons. Ultimately, Weis-Clausen failed to match Weis-Quinn’s success, and the Irish went (3-9) in 2007, (6-6) in 2008, and (7-6) in 2009. The lack of team success clouded Clausen’s time with the Irish, and his pairing with Golden Tate just narrowly missed Quinn and Samardzija’s statistical production. Clausen boils down to a massive talent that just barely underperformed, but did so in the spotlight and on a struggling team whose coach was on the way out.  Following Weis’s exit from the program, new head coach Brian Kelly brought in Tony Alford, who held down the receivers coach spot until he eventually split duties with offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock for two seasons.  Following Clausen’s departure, the quarterback spot became a shaky position for Notre Dame. New head coach Brian Kelly split time between Dayne Christ and Tommy Rees in 2010, but Michael Floyd caught balls from each en route to his first 1,000-yard season. Kelly continued with Rees in 2011, who struggled mightily with interceptions but almost threw for 3,000 yards and helped Michael Floyd to his second 1,000-yard season. After just one year with no QB competition, Kelly had Rees fight for the job once again, but Everett Golson won out and had a respectable showing that only continued to muddy the position’s future.  Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off 2013-2020 In 2013, the team went back to Rees, who had his best statistical season thus far, with TJ Jones going for 1,108 yards and 9 touchdowns. Jones became Notre Dame’s next official #1 wideout option and played all four years. He compiled nearly 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns, both good for third place during his period. Following Tony Alford’s exit, Mike Denbrock assumed full-time OC/WR coaching duties in 2014 and led the next squad of Irish receiving talent. Golson came back in 2014 for a second go-round at QB and put in the best statistical performance from an Irish QB since Jimmy Clausen in 2009, going for nearly 3,500 yards and 29 scores. His #1 option was Will Fuller, who put up his first 1,000-yard season. Similarly to Michael Floyd, Will Fuller led this next group, and by a solid margin. Fuller’s 2,512 yards is 4th all-time at Notre Dame, and was 353 more than the next closest player during this period, Chase Claypool, who stayed for an entire year longer than Fuller.  Further, Fuller’s 30 career receiving scores put him at 2nd all-time and a whopping 11 ahead of the next player in this group, Chase Claypool, yet again. It’s quite evident that these two are far and away the leaders of this pack, and not coincidentally, are responsible for the program’s last three 1,000-yard seasons. Deshone Kizer earned the job as a true sophomore and immediately put up solid numbers for the Irish. Unlike most of the other quarterbacks on this list, Kizer was consistent but didn’t make a massive jump from year to year. He put up above-average stats on (8-5) and (10-3) Notre Dame teams, but left after his junior year for the pros. He did help Will Fuller earn his 2nd straight 1,000-yard season, but failed to have another 4-digit wideout in 2016. Ultimately, Kizer was a consistent and above-average mobile QB, who provided a sense of stability to the position that had not been present since Jimmy Clausen. He was less of a talent than Brady Quinn, but more of a plug-and-play system guy than Clausen. Mike Denbrock left the program after the 2016 season, and Brian Kelly brought in Del Alexander to head up the receivers’ room. 2017 began yet another series of back-and-forth battles for the QB spot for Brian Kelly and the Irish. Reps were mostly given to Brandon Wimbush, who excelled in mobility but was a below-average passer, forcing the team to put in Ian Book for a steadier pocket presence. Either way, the two collectively didn’t break 2,500 yards and only tossed 20 touchdowns.  2018 was a replica of the year before, just in reverse. The Irish went with Book’s more consistent passing threat, only supplementing with Wimbush’s legs. It paid off, and the 2018 Irish went 12-1 with a trip to the CFP. Book improved enough to keep his job for 2019, where he put up even better numbers. He set career highs in yards with 3,034, and the most touchdowns by an Irish QB since 2006 with 34. This was the last time Notre Dame had a 1,000-yard receiver, with Chase Claypool being Book’s #1 target.  2020 was a step back for Book statistically, but the Irish fought through a strange COVID season and finished (10-2) without a 1,000-yard receiver. Overall, Book was an excellent leader, but a safe choice to lead the offense, and one that didn’t particularly push the ball vertically down the field. After Fuller and Claypool, there’s a group of players in this period that together form a unique group. This “almost elite” group put up respectable numbers but seemed to fall just short of expectations. While each group on this list has had the stars and the backup, there’s multiple above average wideouts on this list that either didn’t stay long enough to achieve greatness, weren’t dominant enough to be the clear #1 option, or hang just below the cusp of Notre Dame’s elite outside threats.  Chris Brown and Chris Finke each get a pass here, as both played supporting roles during their time and were more complementary pieces than #1 go-to options. Brown backed up Fuller while Finke backed up Claypool. It’s the players around these 4 that leave something to be desired. Tori Hunter and St. Brown were bridge players between the Fuller/Brown tandem and the Claypool/Finke duo that never seemed to break out fully. St. Brown was supposed to be the #1 option, but only stayed for 3 years, never achieving the 1,000-yard mark or double-digit touchdowns in a single season. If St. Brown was the #1, then Hunter was his #2, which means he put up respectable numbers, but put up less than 1,000 yards total in his three-year career, and his six touchdowns are tied for the least on this list. Miles Boykin is one of the more complicated figures in this group, as he didn’t play his freshman year but put up similar numbers to four-year Finke. In actuality, Boykin should have been competing head-to-head with Claypool for the #1 spot, but ended his time behind both of them statistically, with his best season being 882 yards and 8 touchdowns. A decent share of the wide receiving corps’ shortcomings in this period should be attributed to Del Alexander’s coaching. For one reason or another, Alexander failed to fully develop Notre Dame’s increasingly deep and talented pool of wideouts. With the exception of Claypool, most of Alexander’s players failed to launch from rotational pieces into dominant targets on the college level, and his coaching failed to elicit the on-field production the team was looking for.  2021-Present Since roughly 2021, not a single Irish receiver has posted a career total of 1,000 yards, much less in a single season, and none have worked their way into the top 38 of all-time Notre Dame receivers. Both Lenzy and Tyree posted single-digit touchdown catches over their 4 year careers, and neither managed over 500 receiving yards in a single season. Ironically, Tyree was never a true wideout, and the coaching staff only moved him out wide due to a need for speed and production on the outside. Even then, he managed to produce equal or better numbers than his receiving counterparts. The more you look into the production numbers of this unit, the more evident it becomes that, more than any other factor, the Irish have not had a true #1 option that has stepped up and owned the top spot since Chase Claypool and Will Fuller before him. 2021 began an unfortunately inconsistent period with the Irish, as they looked to the outside for a gunslinger and began a trend. Jack Coan transferred into the program and had a surprisingly good season, tossing over 3,100 yards for 25 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions en route to an (11-2) Irish season. Uniquely, the Irish just barely missed out on a 1,000-yard receiver, with tight-end Michael Mayer hitting 840 receiving yards with 7 touchdowns, and Kevin Austin with 888 yards and 7 scores. This was the closest an Irish QB-WR tandem has gotten to 1,000 yards since Book-Claypool in 2019. Part of the wide receiver’s shortcomings came from something out of their control - scheme. Throughout the course of Brian Kelly’s tenure, the Irish were able to lean on tight end play, specifically with Tyler Eifert and Michael Mayer. As we’ve examined in the stats, these tight ends’ above-average production contributed significantly to a decline in overall wideout numbers. This, combined with 1,000+ yard running backs like CJ Procise, Josh Adams, Kyren Williams, and Audric Estime meant the Irish offense had too many weapons to spread the love evenly and not enough need to develop a struggling position group that gave them just enough production. After Brian Kelly departed South Bend for LSU following the 2021 season, Del Alexander also parted ways with the Irish, and new head coach Marcus Freeman brought in Chansi Stuckey to take over the receivers for 2022. That year, the Tyler Buchner experiment failed early, and the Irish settled on little-known QB Drew Pyne, who put in a solid if not uninspiring stat line of just 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns but remained accurate with only 6 interceptions. While the Irish didn’t have a 1,000-yard receiver, Michael Mayer went for 809 yards and 9 scores, leading the team in all categories, but the next closest receiver had less than 400 yards. Cue the savior himself, transfer Sam Hartman. He arrived in South Bend in 2023 to much fanfare, but individual and team-wide expectations weren’t met. While Hartman was a much-needed reprieve from Pyne, he only threw for a little over 2,600 yards, 24 scores, and 8 interceptions. It was a third straight season of one-and-done QBs, and Notre Dame’s receiving core further suffered because of it, unable to form any long-lasting QB-WR relationship.  The hiring of Chansi Stuckey had provided some hope for the position group’s turnaround, but Stuckey was let go after almost two seasons with the Irish and little on-field production from the wide receivers unit. His exit prompted an exodus of Irish wideout talent amidst the confusion, and critics began to credit Stuckey’s lack of overall experience for the group’s continued struggles and the loss of the room’s faith. Thankfully, the Irish held firm and responded with a solid hire in that of Wisconsin’s Mike Brown, who took over the wide receivers coaching spot, and the group once again braced for a comeback. Enter the 4th one-and-done quarterback, Riley Leonard. Leonard led the Irish to their best season finish since 2012, going all the way through the new 12-team CFP, Notre Dame’s longest path to the National Championship game ever. With that said, we need to talk brass tacks here. Statistically, even with the extra postseason games, Leonard only put up 2,800 yards through the air and the fewest passing scores of the one-and-done QB period. Additionally, he tied the mark for the most interceptions during this time, but finished with the highest completion percentage of the group. To his credit, he was hands down the best mobile QB the Irish have possibly ever had, and those stats partially contribute to his statistical shortcomings through the air. Regardless, Leonard contributed to a 5th straight season without a 1,000-yard receiver for the Irish, with the group’s top two targets only amassing 1,082 yards and 7 scores between them.  As we enter the 2025 season, Notre Dame only has 3 wide receivers with statistical experience in the blue and gold. Greathouse and Faison have been the only consistent assets for Notre Dame’s wide receivers room, and will once again be joined by two upperclassmen transfers and a slate of inexperienced freshman talent. Greathouse seems to have the highest upside of any returning Irish wideout, but will have to more than double the production from his best season so far to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. Faison has been a pleasant surprise, but it says quite a bit that a walk-on lacrosse player could outshine preexisting three and four-star talent. Coach Brown has been serviceable in his first season with the team, but only time will prove whether the hire was the right call or not. The most encouraging thing for the Irish should be the quality at the top of this group. Proven commodities like Greathouse and Faison should hold things down, while experienced upperclassmen like Field and Pauling can jump in and get their fair share of the action. Malachi Fields arrives as Notre Dame’s hot portal addition this offseason, having put up stellar numbers over the last two years at Virginia. He finished 2023 with 58 catches for nearly 1,000 yards and 5 scores, each good for 2nd among Cavs receivers. He followed that performance up with an almost identical stat line in 2024, but this time around, he led the receiving corps in all three major categories. He caught 4 balls for 81 yards against Notre Dame this past season, and announced his transfer to South Bend in late December 2024. With back-to-back years of consistently above-average production on a woefully inadequate Virginia team, Fields likely has the greatest chance out of any Irish receiver to break out and hit the 1,000-yard mark this season. Will Pauling spent two years at Cincinnati with little on-field production before transferring to Wisconsin. He had a breakout year in 2023, leading the Badgers in all three major categories while nearly hitting the 1,000-yard mark. Unfortunately, Pauling was hampered by several nagging injuries and missed some time in 2024. He failed to match his stats from the previous season and finished with roughly half the production. Still, his performance was good enough to place 2nd on the team in receptions, yards, and scores, and he managed all this while playing for a struggling team in a major conference like the BIG 10. Pauling underwent offseason surgery on his right foot after formally transferring to Notre Dame and is reportedly fully recovered. Then we are left with a bevy of young talent. Every freshman coming in is a 4-star recruit (with the exception of Bettis Jr.), and there’s never been a more talented group of young wideouts ready to take the next step. Freeman must maintain continuity with his staff and ensure Brown and Denbrock stay in South Bend, removing the excuse of inconsistent coaching from the equation and preventing another mass exodus of disillusioned players. Denbrock specifically has shown he can do it with talents like TJ Jones and Will Fuller, and at the very least, he’ll be able to assess if coach Brown has these boys moving in the right direction or isn’t the right fit for the job. Going Forward Ultimately, Notre Dame’s receiving core has taken a few steps back, but the change is more a regression to the mean rather than a true inadequacy. The Irish are still recruiting well at the wideout spot and are arguably playing with the most talent they’ve had in recent memory. While that may seem to contradict the idea that Notre Dame is underperforming at the position, the increase in average talent at wide receiver makes the lack of statistical success more indicting. A sizable portion of the blame should indeed be levied at the talent themselves, but equally at fault is a long-term combination of average to sub-par position coaching, a lack of staff continuity, schematic issues, and the real elephant in the room - the lack of a true gunslinger at QB, all combine to create an uphill battle for Irish wideouts. Thankfully, Freeman and Denbrock seem to have settled the quarterback debate and look to be running with the rookie, CJ Carr. While this will be a gamble, we can see quite clearly from past data that multi-year starters tend to have higher production ceilings. Freeman has stressed the importance of figuring out the quarterback battle early and developing QB-WR relationships as early as possible. This may be a clue to Notre Dame’s offense trending towards a more diversified playcalling scheme. As for the future, Notre Dame is currently in the best possible position to reverse this concerning trend. They have a deep pool of receiver talent - and growing deeper, and an uncharacteristically stable coaching staff, specifically on the offensive side of the ball. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, things can really only get better for the Irish. For example, look what they managed with a QB rental struggling to throw the ball to a receiver group with no alpha. Notre Dame’s typically above-average receiver production has settled into that of an average to slightly below-average group, and this trend has been present for quite a few years now. Thankfully, that means the Irish likely won’t regress further and are due for an uptick in production. Another 1,000-yard season feels closer than ever, but the real question going forward is - who pulls it off? 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Notre Dame has already put together one of the most impressive recruiting classes in recent memory this cycle, but now they've got a jump on 2027 by securing the commitment of 4-star LB Ellis McGaskin from Mobile, Alabama. Art by The Irish Tribune As we mentioned last week , the Irish played host to some of the county's elite talent at their annual Irish Invasion camp earlier this month, and McGaskin was one of those players in attendance. The Irish Invasion camp gives the staff a unique opportunity to scout and build relationships with underclass high school players and potentially hand out some offers if they like what they see. The staff clearly made quite the impression on McGaskin, as he would choose the Fighting Irish over a plethora of other schools, which include LSU, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Michigan, among others. McGaskin's versatile skillset as a linebacker, and his willingness as a tackler stand out the most on film. As a sophomore, McGaskin compiled 130 total tackles, with a staggering 21 TFL in just ten games. Even as a freshman, McGaskin produced similar numbers, cementing himself as a true difference maker in the front seven. McGaskin also doubled as a running back for Williamson High School, where he averaged nearly six yards per carry this past season. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! As The Irish Tribune's Head of Scouting Max Uretsky puts it: "McGaskin is a tackling machine who has compiled 273 total tackles and 5 sacks over his first two years of high school. He plays from both the "Sam" and "Mike" linebacker positions and has been very successful from each spot. He is very proficient at shooting gaps quickly vs the run, beating linemen to their spots to blow up plays in the backfield. He can hold the point of attack vs tight ends with relative ease, and does a good job of being explosive through his lower body to knock blockers off balance. He has very good eye discipline when it comes to reading counters and misdirections. He is a hit stick waiting to happen, punishing ball carriers and forcing fumbles in the process. McGaskin has excellent timing off the edge as a blitzer, and the top-end speed and closing burst to make QBs uncomfortable. He has some good awareness when asked to drop in Zone Coverage, and has the foot speed to carry tight ends up the seam and disrupt passing lanes. McGaskin possesses enough athletic ability to get out and cover the flats from his MLB position, limiting YAC on dump-off passes. On top of what he brings to the table as a linebacker, McGaskin has all the makings of a special teams ace. His speed, ability to beat blocks, and his prowess for making huge hits could make him the star of the coverage units. If there are any questions about just how athletically gifted McGaskin is, he also averaged almost 6 yards a carry, doubling as a running back." Marcus Freeman and the recruiting staff continue to make building relationships early in the cycle a priority, and it's paying dividends on the trail. McGaskin joins Long Snapper Sean Kraft as the second commit in the class of 2027, as Notre Dame looks to keep the recruiting momentum rolling. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Throughout most of the 2026 recruiting cycle, 4-star tight end Ian Premer was heavily linked to the Kansas State Wildcats. The university, only 2 hours away from where Premer plays his high school ball, was the front runner to land his services, until they weren't. Photo via Ian Premer, Instagram (@ianpremer) Premer announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Thursday to much surprise and excitement from Irish fans. The multi-sport star is among the top 5 tight ends in the country, and his commitment is another major one for the Blue and Gold amid an unbelievable run on the recruiting trail. With Premer joining Preston Fryzel, who also committed earlier this week, the 2026 class is ensuring that Tight End U is alive and well. The film is exactly what you expect for such a highly regarded prospect, and the evaluation was eye-opening.  As always, each trait 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! Athletic Ability: Elite (7) Premer has rare movement skills for the tight end position. Rare enough that he also snagged three interceptions, one being a pick 6, as a safety, and has returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He not only possesses the acceleration and straight line speed to be able to win vertically, but his change of direction and agility in the open field after the catch is not something you see every day. This is all packed into a 6'5" frame, which makes him a matchup nightmare for defenses. His leaping ability shines in red zone situations, and he has picked up some major yardage from out of the backfield as a split back and even as a wildcat QB. It is reminiscent of how Penn State used 2024 Mackey Award winner Tyler Warren a season ago, and with Premer bringing a great deal of versatility to South Bend, he may be in line for future accolades himself. Release: Elite (7) When lined up wide, Premer has excellent use of hands when it comes to defeating press coverage. His timing, combined with his play strength, allows him to fight through pressure at the LOS and, in many cases, knock the defensive back off balance. He has top-notch acceleration when getting into his route with a powerful first step and is explosive off the snap. He understands leveraging and how to set up defensive backs with his stem. He gets to his spot with no wasted movement and seems to understand route concepts well. He creates quick separation at the top of his route, utilizing a jab step to get the defender to open his hips. It is an area of the game that is often overlooked, but any wide receiver or tight end needs to have a good release package to be successful. Yards After Catch: Elite (7) When you think of the best tight ends of all time at any level, none of them were getting taken down by arm tackles, and it usually took multiple defenders. Premer is no exception. Once the ball is in his hands, his unique blend of shiftiness and play strength in the open field leads to a lot of explosive plays. He has good stop and start ability, making defenders overpursue before he changes direction and gets back upfield. He also uses an efficient stiff arm against smaller defensive backs. Premer knows how to use his blockers downfield, and has the vision to know where his lanes are setting up. When he can not win with elusiveness, he still has the power to lower a shoulder and run through a defender, which makes choosing how to attack him as a tackler a tall task. He will not only be a security blanket in the short and intermediate passing game, but his after-catch skill set will make him someone defensive coordinators have to game plan around. Blocking: Good (5) As is the case with many uber-athletic tight ends at the high school level, Premer takes the majority of his snaps detached from the line of scrimmage, being split out wide or playing from the slot. This leaves a bit of a question mark in terms of how he would hold up in the trenches in pass pro vs defensive ends, or if he would be able to move linemen and linebackers in the run game. One thing that is not in question, though, is his competitive toughness and willingness to get after it as a blocker when called on. H does a very good job downfield and on the perimeter vs defensive backs, washing them out of the play and helping spring runners for big gains. His hand placement and leg drive are both good, and he seems to take pride in finishing a block and playing through the whistle once he engages a defender. Premer, who is currently 220 pounds, will still add some more weight to his frame under a college-level diet and weight training regimen, which could help him be successful if asked to play some snaps inline, since the consistent aggressiveness is already there. Ian Premer truly lives up to his recruiting ranking, and Notre Dame has not had this caliber of athlete at the tight end since Michael Mayer. Joining a school that historically develops the position better than anyone else should set up Premer to have a remarkable collegiate career that could very well extend beyond to the next level. All the tools are in place for the young tight end, and the 2026 class continues to get even better. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Following up on my previous article , which focused on the offensive standouts that showed up to this year's Irish Invasion, it's time to flip to the other side of the ball. Photo by The Irish Tribune Coming off the heels of commitments from 5-star Joey O'Brien and 4-star Khary Adams, who joined C/O 2026 standouts like 5-star Rodney Dunham, 4-star Thomas Davis Jr, 4-star Ayden Pouncey, and 4-star Ebenezer Ewetade among others, the buzz around the future of the Irish defense is growing like a wildfire. And although those players are yet to take a snap for Notre Dame, it doesn't mean you can't look beyond to the next class to begin the process of acquiring even more talent. Plenty of highly touted 2027 prospects showed up on campus for this year's annual recruiting camp, but there are four intriguing players I want to focus on today. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here CB - Xavier Hasan (Raleigh, NC) The No. 2 ranked player out of the state of North Carolina is a true game changer who tallied seven interceptions as a Sophomore. Hasan is athletically gifted and has the foot speed and change of direction to be a sticky Man corner. He has also proven to be very comfortable in Zone coverage, understanding proper depth to play with, along with a very good feel for reading the QB's eyes. He has the speed to close on in-breaking routes from off coverage, and does not allow himself to be stacked vertically. He has elite ball skills and forces plenty of turnovers while understanding how to play through the WR's hands. He is very dangerous with the ball in his own hands, both after a turnover and also on special teams in the return game. You may not always think of cornerbacks as the toughest players on defense, but Hasan has elite competitive toughness, never giving up on plays and showing a willingness to take on ball carriers aggressively. He is very viable in run support and is a good wrap-up tackler who can slip in a big hit once in a while as well. Hasan is a very clean prospect in all areas of the game, and I am calling my shot that he will be bumped to 5-star status before his high school career is finished. LB - Ellis McGaskin (Mobile, AL) McGaskin is a 3-star tackling machine who has compiled 273 total tackles and 5 sacks over his first two years of high school. He plays from both the "Sam" and "Mike" linebacker positions and has been very successful from each spot. He is very proficient at shooting gaps quickly vs the run, beating linemen to their spots to blow up plays in the backfield. He can hold the point of attack vs tight ends with relative ease, and does a good job of being explosive through his lower body to knock blockers off balance. He has very good eye discipline when it comes to reading counters and misdirections. He is a hit stick waiting to happen, punishing ball carriers and forcing fumbles in the process. McGaskin has excellent timing off the edge as a blitzer, and the top-end speed and closing burst to make QBs uncomfortable. He has some good awareness when asked to drop in Zone Coverage, and has the foot speed to carry tight ends up the seam and disrupt passing lanes. McGaskin possesses enough athletic ability to get out and cover the flats from his MLB position, limiting YAC on dump-off passes. On top of what he brings to the table as a linebacker, McGaskin has all the makings of a special teams ace. His speed, ability to beat blocks, and his prowess for making huge hits could make him the star of the coverage units. If there are any questions about just how athletically gifted McGaskin is, he also averaged almost 6 yards a carry, doubling as a running back, much like our next prospect. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! DT - Jeremiah Williams (Tustin, CA) That's right, the 300+ pound west coast product also plays running back, where he averaged over 5 yards per carry. Although that is beyond impressive, Williams' bread and butter is the defensive tackle position, where he dominated CIF Division 3 during his Sophomore campaign, racking up 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. Although Williams does not play in the toughest conference of California high school football, the skill set he shows on film would translate to any division, in my opinion. Williams can play as a nose tackle, 1-tech, 3-tech, and a little bit of everything in between. He has elite upfield burst, getting off the line of scrimmage explosively and pairing it with good pad level and balance. He has impressive use of hands, showing off a quick swim move he utilizes to get over linemen and mixes in a rip maneuver as well. Williams has plenty of power to Bull Rush and collapse the pocket up the middle. He can hold up vs double teams at the point of attack, making him useful in a two-gap system, and his top-level play strength shows rep after rep. Williams is very athletic for his size, showing the lateral quickness to jump in and out of gaps to be able to chase down runs to the outside. He has excellent closing speed and is a sure tackler once he gets his hands on the ball carrier or QB. His level of competition may not be among the best in the country, but if he continues to dominate the way he has, I still expect him to get a bump up to blue chip status before it is said and done. EDGE - Isaac Miller (Waukesha, WI) Miller is a bit more of a raw product that possesses NFL size, which makes him very intriguing. At 6'5" and 250 pounds, the Wisconsin native towers over a lot of his competitors in the high school ranks. He was 1st Team All-Conference as a Sophomore, and I'd be surprised if he didn't maintain that distinction through his Junior and Senior seasons as well. Miller has extremely good length, which he utilizes when it comes to getting his hands up in passing lanes. He had a lot of knockdowns at the LOS as a Sophomore, and he makes it very difficult for QBs to throw the ball over him. Miller can set the edge in the run game and disengage from blockers to make the tackle as the play comes to him. His play strength is already very evident, and with two more years of development to go as a high schooler, that's a scary situation for opposing offenses. Miller plays a little high at times, which is expected for someone who is bordering 6'6", but it does limit some of his leg drive, which will be needed to hold up against bigger and stronger offensive tackles. He has the arm length to be able to stack and shed blockers at an elite level once he elevates his use of hands off the line. There is still a lot of technique that needs to be worked on to become an elite edge defender, but the foundation vs the run and physical traits are there, and he should keep getting better. 2027 is shaping up to be another dynamic class, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Marcus Freeman is making Notre Dame the place to be, and the recent string of top-level recruits to land with the Blue and Gold has all signs pointing up for future classes. All, some, or none of the recruits in this article could end up in South Bend, but it shows Notre Dame is keeping their eyes squarely on the top talent in the country, knowing that players will want to join something special. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame's dominance on the recruiting trail in the month of June continues, as they managed to secure the commitment of high 4-Star TE Ian Premer out of Great Bend, Kansas. Premer, a top 50 recruit, joins Joey O'Brien, Khary Adams, Grayson McKeogh, Preston Fryzel, and Charlie Thom as the sixth commit this month for the class of 2026. Art by The Irish Tribune Standing at 6'5", 225 lbs, Ian Premer is built to be the next great Notre Dame Tight End, and his play backs up the praise. Playing out of Great Bend High School this past season, Premer racked up 543 yards receiving and eight touchdowns, while also rushing for 260 yards and two additional scores on the ground. Premer's best performance of the season came against Buhler High School, where he hauled in five receptions for 167 yards and a staggering five touchdowns. Playing as a Free Safety on the other side of the football, Premer totaled 50 tackles and three interceptions in his Junior season. Premer would help Great Bend finish the season with a 9-1 record. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Premer's size, hands, and play strength make him a threat from anywhere on the field, and securing his commitment was no easy task. The Irish had to beat out in-state schools Kansas and Kansas State for the elite Tight End's services, and before today, things seemed to be trending away from the Irish. Like the majority of the battles for high-priority recruits this cycle, the Irish were able to close it out. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame hosted a multitude of talented athletes from the 2027 and 2028 classes for their annual Irish Invasion camp. Many recruits were on campus that weekend, and one of them was Xander Edwards. Edwards is a C/O 2028 running back at Bolles High School in Jacksonville, Florida, where he competes in both football and lacrosse. Photo via Xander Edwards   Xander is the son of former Notre Dame captain and fullback Marc Edwards. Marc played for the Fighting Irish from 1993-1996 and was named a captain for his senior season. During the 1995 season, following his team’s upset victory against then #5 USC, Edwards became the second ever Notre Dame player to be carried off the field by his teammates, the first being Rudy during the 1975 season. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft with the 55th overall pick. He went on to win Super Bowl XXXVI with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots before retiring from the NFL in 2005 after stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cleveland Browns.   Xander is proving to be a very talented football player in his own right. In his freshman season, he had 78 carries for 558 yards and 8 TDs on 7.2 yards per carry. He also hauled in 4 receptions for 46 yards. Ninety percent of Xander’s stats came in just the final 6 games of the season after one of the starting running backs suffered an injury that ended their regular season. Xander stepped in and went on to become the top running back on his team at the end of the regular season.   Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Being a very talented young player and a Notre Dame legacy, I wanted to find out more about the gifted young running back. I reached out to Xander to find out about his recruitment, growing up with a Notre Dame Captain and Super Bowl-winning dad, his experience at this year's Irish Invasion, and more. I was curious to see how the early recruiting process was going for Xander and his family, as it really has started to pick up as he attends more and more camps. For Xander, it’s been very exciting while picking up early offers from schools such as USF, SMU, Pitt, and Syracuse. "The recruitment process so far for me and my family has been going great. The summer going into my freshman year of high school, I picked up my first offer from USF after attending their camp. I had a solid freshman football season, and in January, recruitment really started to heat up. I earned six more offers, including SMU, Pitt, Syracuse, and I've now talked to over 20 schools, including Notre Dame.  I’m just starting to compete in some camps, and I've already been to Clemson and Notre Dame. I will be hitting a few more in the next week or two leading up to the season."   So what was it like growing up as the son of a former Notre Dame Football captain and Super Bowl champion? For Xander, that was where his love for football started. "My dad was the reason I wanted to play football. It’s very helpful to learn from him since he has already lived my dream. He knows what’s best for me and what to do during my recruiting process. I’m lucky to be able to talk to somebody who has been through what I’m experiencing."  As you can imagine, especially with Xander's background, he's been to Notre Dame a lot growing up for games, but he's now been to two camps, including most recently Irish Invasion, showcasing his skills for the staff. What was it like for him to be there as a potential future recruit and not just visiting for games? "My visit to ND was amazing. It gets better and better each time I go up there. They have some of the best coaches in the country, and I am lucky to have worked with them and learned from them. I got to compete against high-level competition at Irish Invasion, and it brought the best out in me.  I was also happy and honored that I got to meet Coach Ja'Juan Seider, one of the best running back coaches in the country. Just talking to him, I can tell he's a coach I would love to play for." What was Xander's favorite part of this year's Irish Invasion Camp? "I loved the competition aspect of the camp. The coaches really emphasized that we are here to compete.  My favorite part of the visit was the grill and chill after the camp. I loved how they emphasized life after football because football will always end for everybody. I also liked how the coaches and recruiting department took care of the recruits.  I was able to talk with some ND coaches and get feedback about my performance at the camp.  They were helping me get better." Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Recruitment starts and ends with the relationships that are built between the recruit/player and the coaches. Although Xander is just beginning to build those relationships with the Notre Dame coaches, he's enjoying the time he's spent with them so far. "I'm really just starting to build those relationships with the coaches. I got to meet and spend time with the running backs Coach, Ja'Juan Seider, the day before the camp. Then I got to work with Coach Trent Miles at the camp and got good feedback about my skills and how I could improve. I also had a great conversation with the DL Coach Al Washington. I really appreciated all the time the coaches took to speak with me and give me advice."    Getting an offer from any D1 school is special for any recruit, but for Xander, an offer from Notre Dame would mean the world to him for multiple reasons. "A Notre Dame offer would mean the world to me because they are very selective in the players they offer.  ND just doesn’t take anyone… You have to fit the football, educational, and cultural profile to be right for this place.  It would show that my hard work and dedication are paying off on and off the field." So what's next for Xander? And will he be visiting Notre Dame again anytime soon? "Nothing solid right now, but I will likely hit a game or two in the fall. It will most likely be a night game, as I would have to fly up Saturday morning due to playing football on Friday nights. But I will be visiting in the winter or spring after the season for sure. I can't wait to get back on campus soon." Being that Notre Dame is a school that was founded on faith, it doesn't come as a surprise when it plays a factor in a recruit's decision to want to go there. For Xander, this rings true with him and plays a big role in his decision to want to continue his football career at the next level. "Faith plays a big role in my decision. I love how ND takes faith very seriously. I love how, before every game, they go to mass at the Basilica and do the walk to the stadium.  I got to see that as a recruit last year at the FSU game.  And my dad told me all about it from his time at ND. It's just so special there and unlike anywhere else I've been." As you can tell, Xander Edwards is a very talented and humble young man who knows exactly what he wants when it comes to his future, and that's to be a part of the Fighting Irish Football Program. We at The Irish Tribune would like to wish Xander good luck on his journey to the next level.   Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame coaching staff continue to add to their loaded 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of Preston Fryzel, a three-star tight end. Art by Irish Tribune Although Fryzel visited right before the Irish Invasion weekend, the staff continues to prove its recent recruiting effectiveness, as Fryzel is now the third recruit to commit following this recent round of visits. The 2026 class is gaining a ton of momentum, and as the first tight end in the class, Fryzel is a big reason why. Stay on top of the recruiting game with special intel and insight from Insider Bruce Straughan and the rest of the Tribune staff. There's never been a better time to be a part of Tribune+ ! Before joining the Fighting Irish, Notre Dame was going toe-to-toe with schools like Miami, Indiana, Duke, and Iowa, while also fighting off a local school like Cincinnati. In the end, Fryzel decided to be the next part of Notre Dame's illustrious history of developing great tight ends. Although he may not receive the same "pop" or excitement as a four- or five-star recruit, Fryzel is an upcoming prospect who brings impressive depth and talent to what is shaping up to be a special recruiting class. Fryzel will be joining the Fighting Irish by way of Toledo, OH, where he has been a standout player at Central Catholic, the same school that gave Notre Dame DeShone Kizer. In the state of Ohio, Fryzel ranks as the 24th best player in the state, according to 247Sports, a respectable ranking for a state known for producing quality football players. Nationally, he is listed as the 23rd-best tight end in the country, according to 247Sports. Of course, those rankings can always change as he continues to play high school ball. Fryzel is a tad light for the position, weighing in at 220 lbs. Although that may be a little light, he has plenty of time to continue to bulk up, and he will surely put on weight once he joins the Irish strength program. His lighter frame does allow him to become a real threat in the passing game. Fryzel is a terrific pass-catcher, recording 46 catches, 807 yards, and 10 touchdowns during his 2024 season, according to 247Sports. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Use code IrishTribune20 for $20 off Fryzel is the first tight end to join the class, but he is not the only one Notre Dame is looking to add. 4-star tight end Ian Premer is another player that Notre Dame is recruiting heavily. With a commitment, they could be an image of what the future of the position looks like at Notre Dame. Tight end has always been a position Notre Dame and its fans take great pride in, so there are expectations Fryzel and others like him have to live up to. Regardless, Fryzel's commitment will continue to add quality players to the 2026 class and boost the class's overall rankings further up the national list. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun