The Rip Miller Trophy is on the line once again this Saturday when the Irish travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the top-25 ranked Navy Midshipmen. Navy’s defense has been the embodiment of “bend but don’t break” this season. We preview the Midshipmen defense here: Photo by The Irish Tribune Navy (6-0) 2024 results: Vs Bucknell (49-21, Win) Vs Temple (38-11, Win) Vs Memphis (56-44, Win) At UAB (41-18, Win) At Air Force (34-7, Win) Vs Charlotte (51-17, Win) As a team, Navy allows 387.5 total yards per game, a number that is below average in the FBS. They have had their fair share of struggles in both the rushing and passing games. However, their 19.67 points per game allowed ranks second in the American Athletic Conference (AAC).  The total scoring defense number is so low due to Navy’s elite red zone presence. Opponents have only scored on 12 of 19 red zone trips (63.2%), with eight touchdowns. This number ranks second in the AAC, behind Army, and fourth nationally. Another point of success for this Navy defense has been their ability to score themselves. This unit’s three defensive touchdowns rank second in the AAC and tied for fifth in the country. Notably, all three scores were pick-sixes. This leads to Navy’s passing defense. The Midshipmen secondary is allowing 224.7 passing yards per game, which is below average, however, they have turned opponents over. Their 10 interceptions this season are tied-first in the AAC and tied-ninth among FBS teams. Pass rushers are also finding success this season, averaging 2.5 sacks per game which ranks fourth in the AAC. Let’s highlight some key members of the Navy secondary: One player the Irish offense will need to watch out for is senior free safety Rayuan Lane III. The senior is a third-year starter and was named All-AAC Third Team last season. He finished last year with 66 tackles while leading the team in interceptions (four) and passes defended (eight). In last season’s meeting with the Irish, Lane posted five tackles, two passes defended, and a forced fumble. This year, he has totaled 36 tackles, three forced fumbles (leads AAC and tied for third nationally), three passes defende d, and two interceptions including an 86-yard pick-six  against Memphis. In general, Lane has be en elite in all defensive phases as he is the third-highest-graded safety in all of college football according to PFF. The safety is capable of taking reps at slot corner as well. Another true safety to keep an eye on is senior Mbiti Williams Jr. The athletic senior can line up in either safety position as a versatile defensive back. Last year, Williams finished with 63 tackles, five passes defended, an interception, and a forced fumble. This season, Williams has recorded 22 tackles, two passes defended, and a forced fumble. Overall, Williams is a reliable tackler and run-stopper but he has struggled in coverage. He has allowed nine receptions for 178 yards and two touchdowns while targeted this year. This could be a key point of attack for the Irish passing offense on Saturday. Like Williams, junior Jaxson Campbell is another versatile defensive back. The former wide receiver is listed as a “striker” on Navy’s official roster. Campbell can typically be found playing slot corner or outside linebacker. He is experiencing a breakout season this year as he enters Saturday with 39 tackles, three passes defended, two and a half sacks, and an interception. The junior has five or more tackles in five of six games and two ten-tackle games. His best performance came against Air Force when he recorded seven tackles, two sacks, and a pass defended in the rivalry win. Like Lane, Campbell is a very good player in all defensive aspects, he just has not had the same overall production as the senior. Navy’s best true cornerback is senior Dashaun Peele. Last year, he was named an All-AAC honorable mention after finishing with 34 tackles, five passes defended, four interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Peele is on pace for another good year as he has totaled 19 tackles, three passes defended, three interceptions, includ ing two pick-sixes last week , and two sacks. His three interceptions have all come in the past two games and he now leads the AAC in this category. Peele has been great in coverage all season and is finally being rewarded for his efforts.  Navy’s run defense has allowed 162.8 yards per game this season, another below-average number. Despite the lack of team production, there are still several key pieces that are capable of playing great football. Firstly, senior defensive end Justin Reed is an integral edge rusher for this defense. He finished last season with 49 tackles, seven and a half tackles for loss, and four and a half sacks. Reed enters Saturday with 24 tackles, four sacks (leads AAC), and a forced fumble this year. His best performance this season came against UAB when he racked up seven tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. The senior edge rusher has struggled with tackling this season (six missed tackles) but he has produced against the pass.  Another edge rushing threat is junior Luke Pirris. Navy lists Pirris as a “raider,” which is essentially a defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid. Last season, Pirris totaled 62 tackles, 10 tackles for loss (led team), four and a half sacks, three passes defended, and three fumble recoveries. This year, he has notched 29 tackles, one and a half sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Overall, Pirris has been solid in both pass and rush defense, however, like Reed, he has struggled with tackling. He had two missed tackles last week, bringing his season total to five.  The heart of this defensive line is junior tackle Landon Robinson. The 6-foot, 285-pound lineman was named to Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” last summer. Robinson can squat 650 and bench 435 pounds in addition to his 33-inch vertical jump. Last season, he finished with 28 tackles and four sacks. The junior has already notched 29 tackles this year, including two sacks. He has recorded five or more tackles in four of his six contests. Robinson is a great tackler and run-stopper who has struggled in pass rush this season.  One of the unquestioned leaders of this Navy defense is co-captain and inside linebacker Colin Ramos. Receiving captainship at any military academy is a huge badge of honor that Ramos should carry with him for life. The honor is well-earned after totaling 110 tackles (led team), eight tackles for loss, four passes defended, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery last season. These numbers earned Ramos First Team All-AAC recognition. In last season’s meeting with the Irish, Ramos finished the game with five solo tackles. He is having another good year this season as he enters Saturday’s matchup with 68 tackles (leads team), two passes defended, and a sack. Ramos’ 11.3 tackles per game leads the AAC and is tied for fifth among all FBS defenders. He has recorded four games with 10 or more tackles, including a 20-tackle outing against Memphis. Ramos is, clearly, a great tackler who specializes against the run. He has struggled against the pass this season in coverage and as a rusher. The final key player to highlight on this Midshipmen defense is another interior linebacker, senior Kyle Jacob. After recording seven tackles in the season-opener against the Irish last season, Jacob unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury during practice the following week. The senior backer appears to come back strong as he has totaled 45 tackles (second-most on the team), an interception, and a fumble recovery. He has recorded five tackles in each game, including two games with 10 or more. Jacob, like Ramos, is a good tackler who makes more of an impact in the run game rather than pass.  As basic as it may sound, the key for the Irish offense should be to simply move the ball and score points. Notre Dame should look to establish the run early and often to limit any possible Riley Leonard throwing mistakes. Navy’s defense has been a brick wall in the red zone but the Irish should have enough firepower to get points on the board. Notre Dame’s offense has faced bigger tests this season and has, for the most part, dominated those tests. There is no reason Saturday should be any different. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

After another big win against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Notre Dame now gears up for one of their most storied rivalries, the Navy Midshipmen. With the Naval Academy now sitting at 6-0, and scoring an unprecedented amount of points, this game is shaping up to be one of the most surprisingly exciting games remaining on the Irish schedule. These two teams are set to clash on Saturday at MetLife Stadium for the 97th time. Let's take a trip down memory lane, and highlight some of the more exciting matchups between these two teams in recent history, as well as pay homage to a great rivalry that is rooted in respect. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame versus Navy is the longest lasting intersectional rivalry dating all the way back to the first annual matchup in 1927. Although the two teams have been playing since the late 1920's, the series took on a whole new meaning during the height of World War II. During this time, Notre Dame was having significant financial troubles due to low enrollment. Notre Dame, an all boys school at the time, lost a lot of their students to men enlisting to serve in the military. Because of this problem, Notre Dame reached out to the Navy and offered their facilities to help train Naval officers. This agreement not only helped solve Notre Dame's financial problems, but it is also helped the Navy and the war effort. As a debt of gratitude, Notre Dame's president at the time, Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, pledged to always open a spot for Navy on Notre Dame's football schedule. This matchup has been mainly dominated by Notre Dame, holding an 80-13-1 record all-time. The record also contains a 43-game winning streak, which is the longest streak for any annual college football rivalry. Although this is football, and the goal is to win, this game has always been about more than that. The main theme of this game is always about respect. Navy is grateful to Notre Dame for always leaving a spot on their schedule, and Notre Dame always wants to help pay off the debt that they owe them. Not only for helping keep the school afloat, but it is also for all the courageous work the Navy does for this country. Both schools cherish this long lasting rivalry that has been around for almost as long as the sport itself. This respect shows up on the field at the end of every game, thanks to former Notre Dame head coach, Charlie Weis. In 2005, following a Notre Dame Victory, Weis had his players stand behind Navy during the Navy alma mater. Since then, this has become a tradition in this rivalry, even following Notre Dame losses. Although this series has not exactly been competitive, Navy has been able to pull off a few upsets throughout the years. This most recently came in 2016, when Navy beat Notre Dame 28-27 in Jacksonville, FL. This also isn't the first time they have faced off at MetLife Stadium. That happened in 2010, and saw Navy win in commanding fashion, 35-17. Notre Dame walks into this upcoming matchup on a six-game winning streak against Navy, however. Last year, the two teams faced off in Dublin, Ireland, in the first week of the season. The game was not close, as Notre Dame won 42-3. This year, it may not be so lopsided. Both teams come into this game ranked with serious playoff implications on the line. Notre Dame cannot afford to lose another game if they want to control their own destiny into the playoffs, and Navy may not be able to lose a single game if they want a chance to see the playoffs. So far, Navy has avoided losing, but Notre Dame will be their biggest test by far. This will surely be one of the most important games of this rivalry for both teams. Although this rivalry is not used to a lot of upsets or close games, it does not mean they are don't happen. Let's take a look at some of the most recent memorable moments of this historic series. Notre Dame Crushes Navy, 42-3 (2023) Notre Dame and Navy got the 2023 season kicked off at a special venue in Dublin, Ireland. The game was never really close, as Notre Dame scored on the opening drive and never looked back. Their new quarterback, Sam Hartman, had a very successful Irish debut, throwing for four touchdowns. The defense was just as impressive in this game. They managed to hold Navy's unique triple-option offense to just 126 yards rushing, spurred by elite defensive line play from the Irish. This win got Notre Dame off to hot start, going 4-0 until losing a heartbreaker to Ohio State in South Bend. Notre Dame Holds on and Beats Navy, 35-32 (2022) At another neutral sight game in Baltimore, Notre Dame was close to blowing a big second half lead against Navy. In the first half, it looked like it would be another easy game for Notre Dame. QB Drew Pyne was responsible for five touchdowns, and gave Notre Dame a 35-12 lead heading into halftime. This game was a tale of two halves, however. In the second half, Navy proceeded to score 20 unanswered. Notre Dame's offense completely stalled, but they were able to run out the remaining time and escape with a win in a game that came down to the final play. Navy Secures Win over Notre Dame, 28-27 (2016) In this game, the two teams faced off in Jacksonville, amidst Brian Kelly's worst year as the Notre Dame head coach. Notre Dame's defense was the downfall for the Irish in this matchup, as they were unable to get stops, allowing Navy to piece together their signature quarter-eating drives, and limiting possessions for the Irish. Notre Dame brought the game back to just a one point deficit with a little over seven minutes to go. Unfortunately, Notre Dame's lackluster defense failed once again on the ensuing drive, allowing Navy to run out the remaining time. This loss continued the already nightmarish season for the Irish, who ended up finishing at 4-8, their worst record since 2007. 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While Notre Dame's schedule entering the season certainly had some noteworthy games, including Texas A&M and Florida State, the biggest, at least to this point in the season, might be Saturday's contest with Navy in New Jersey. With confidence on their side despite injuries on both sides of the ball, will Al Golden's defense -- and Riley Leonard's athleticism -- lead the Irish to a crucial victory over one of its biggest rivals? On this week's show, Pete and Clayton recap Notre Dame's victory over Georgia Tech, while highlighting some of the new wrinkles the Irish will see this weekend against the Naval Academy, specifically as it relates to Navy's offense. Will Al Golden's unit, which has been hampered by injury in recent weeks, be up to the task? Can the offense FINALLY give ND an early lead? The fellas break it all down, so tune in NOW! Go Irish! Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

Notre Dame squares off with an undefeated Navy Midshipmen squad on Saturday in MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets. The top-25 ranked Midshipmen feature an offense that is capable of exploding for a big play at any given moment. We preview the Navy offense here: Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Navy (6-0) 2024 results: vs Bucknell (49-21, Win) vs Temple (38-11, Win) vs Memphis (56-44, Win) at UAB (41-18, Win) at Air Force (34-7, Win) vs Charlotte (51-17, Win) The Midshipmen have surprised everyone this year amidst their hot start as they are receiving national attention as a legitimate College Football Playoff contender. This is not the same old Navy team that the Irish have beaten six straight times. Although the triple option is still king, first-year starting quarterback Blake Horvath has caught opponents off-guard by throwing through the air with consistent success. This new wrinkle in their offense is one of the reasons they rank among the nation’s best in total offense.  Navy’s 44.8 points per game are the fourth-most among FBS teams and their 435.8 total yards per game ranks third in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and 34th nationally.  A major reason for this scoring production has been their success in the red zone. Navy has not just been successful; they have been perfect without settling for field goals. The Midshipmen have scored on all 23 of their red zone trips, with 22 ending in touchdowns. This 100% red zone success is tied first with four other FBS programs. Another reason for Navy’s early season success has been their ball security. As a team, they have turned the ball over just two times, both interceptions. This security is fairly standard for Navy offenses, however, it is still special when you can run whenever you want without worrying about fumbling the ball.  One key to watch out for is Navy’s fourth-down success. They are not super aggressive about going for it in these situations, but when they do it has worked out. The Midshipmen have converted six of seven fourth-downs (85.7%), which ranks tied-fourth in the FBS. Notre Dame’s defensive prowess has to factor into any fourth-down attempt, so it would not be surprising if Navy does stick with the kicker/punter in these scenarios on Saturday. As usual, Navy is reliant on a heavy-rush attack featuring the triple option. The Midshipmen average 274.8 rushing yards per game, fourth among FBS teams. This season, they have been led by quarterback Blake Horvath and fullback Alex Tecza on the ground. Navy’s starting quarterback and leading rusher is Blake Horvath. The junior is accounting for 251.5 total yards and 20.7 points per game this season, the seventh-most among FBS players. As a rusher, Horvath has 79 carries for 621 yards and 10 touchdowns (third-most in the AAC). His 103.5 rushing yards per game are also third-most in the AAC while his 7.86 yards per carry ranks third-most among all FBS rushers. The dual-threat signal-caller has four games with at least one rushing touchdown and three games with at least 100 rushing yards. Horvath exploded in last month’s contest against Memphis when he recorded 211 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, including a 90-yard score , with just 12 carries.  The other true rushing threat is junior fullback Alex Tecza. The six-foot, 200-pound backer led Navy in total rushing last year and was named an All-AAC honorable mention. Tecza finished last season with 758 yards and five touchdowns on 126 carries. Last year’s matchup with the Irish was Tecza’s first collegiate action as he was limited to 38 yards on eight carries. The fullback has settled into his new role as the team’s second-leading rusher this season. He has recorded 306 yards and seven touchdowns (tied-31st among FBS rushers) on 49 carries. Tecza has found the end zone in five of six contests and has three games with 50-plus rushing yards. The backer appears to have caught fire as he has recorded two rushing touchdowns in each of the past two games. Although he does not pose as a true receiving threat, he did add a 46-yard touchdown reception  l ast week. Navy has attempted the second-fewest number of passes among FBS teams, only behind Army, yet they rank ahead of multiple schools including the defending National Champion Michigan Wolverines in pass yards per game. One reason for this bit of success is due to great offensive line play (three sacks allowed this season) and Horvath’s ability to keep plays alive. As a passer, Horvath has completed 46 of 72 attempts for 888 yards and 10 touchdowns with one interception. He has recorded over 100 passing yards in each game and a passing touchdown in five of six contests. The junior had a career-best passing game last month at UAB when he completed nine of 11 throws for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Also, Horvath is coming off a career-high three-passing touchdown game in the dominant outing versus Charlotte. The number one target for Horvath is running back Eli Heidenreich. The junior is a freak athlete who is built like a fullback with receiver instincts. He was the team’s leading receiver last season when he finished the year with 19 catches for 382 yards and four touchdowns. Heidenreich has already surpassed these numbers through six games this year, entering Saturday with 23 catches for 485 yards and five touchdowns (third-most in the AAC). Additionally, his 80.8 receiving yards per game leads the AAC as he has recorded just one game with under 65 yards. His best performance this season occurred earlier this month against Air Force when he recorded five catches for 101 yards while adding another 100 yards on the ground via six carries. As a rusher, Heidenreich has run for 179 yards on 22 attempts with no scores. He is on a two-game skid with no touchdowns after recording at least one in each of the first four games.  Navy’s second-leading receiver is running back Brandon Chatman. In general, the junior is a smaller but quicker version of Heidenreich. He finished second in receiving last year for Navy when he totaled 19 catches for 254 yards. This season, Chatman has racked up 177 yards and three touchdowns on nine receptions. The receiving back had multiple highlight plays this season including a 42-yard score  against Bucknell and a 46-yarder  agai nst Memphis. He added his third receiving touchdown last week on his only reception of the game. As a rusher, Chatman has 31 carries for 170 yards and a touchdown this season. Both Heidenreich and Chatman have posed as larger receiving threats rather than rushing this year and that should remain the case on Saturday. As mentioned earlier, Navy’s offensive line has been near-perfect this year. They returned starting tackles Connor McMahon and Javan Bouton and starting center Brent Self from a year ago. This unit’s 2.17 tackles for loss allowed per game ranks second-fewest in the country, behind Army. Their 0.5 sacks allowed per game ranks fifth nationally. Saturday’s contest will undoubtedly be this unit’s largest test of the regular season but they have the reasons for confidence.  Likewise for the Irish, this could very well be the most dangerous offense they see all year. While they lack the names and national recognition, this Navy group is playing winning football led by a high-powered rushing offense that ranks amongst the best in the country. The biggest key defensively for the Irish will be containing Blake Horvath, if that is possible. This Navy offense relies on Horvath's production and if he underperforms or is contained, the Irish should be able to handle the top-25 matchup on Saturday. 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After months of delay, the inevitable finally took place with Deuce Knight flipping his commitment from Notre Dame to Auburn. Although it was a generally unsurprising move, Notre Dame fans still wondered if Marcus Freeman would be able to salvage the 2025 recruiting class as far as signal callers were concerned. There were some rumblings as to who ND would try to turn their attention to, and it did not take too long to find out. A little less than two weeks after losing Knight, Notre Dame announced the addition of four star Quarterback Blake Hebert, who the staff were able to flip from Clemson. The 6'3" Greenwich, Connecticut product is widely regarded as a top 10 dual threat QB in the 2025 recruiting class, and his film matches his hype. After evaluation, here are some things that stood out. As always, the criteria for evaluation will be graded on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Photo via Blake Hebert, Instagram (@blakehebert12) Athletic Ability: Very Good (6) The days of having a complete statue under center are all but extinct. The quarterback position will always come to down to arm talent first and foremost, but in today's world of college football, the ability to extend plays with your legs is more than just an added bonus - it's a necessity. Hebert can do much more than just extend plays, as he displays very good acceleration and straight line speed in the open field, and is a legitimate threat on QB designed runs. He keeps his eyes downfield when he breaks the pocket, but knows when to tuck it and run after a play breaks down. His status as a dual threat passer is definitely warranted. Accuracy: Very Good (6) Accuracy may be my favorite part of Hebert's game as of now. Shows tremendous touch, especially the further down the field the pass travels. Has an uncanny ability to drop the ball where the receiver never has to break stride, and consistently gives wideouts the chance at YAC. Can layer the ball very nicely, getting it over second level defenders without leading WRs into big hits by safeties, and knows when to work the back shoulder. Every throw seems to be with purpose, protecting his WRs with excellent ball placement over and over again. Arm Strength: Very Good (6) The very first pass attempt of Hebert's I watched definitely made me rewind three or four times. It only traveled about forty yards in the air, which is good but not eye popping by any means. The part that made me keep going back was the fact that it traveled like that with just a flick of the wrist. Facing backside pressure, he never really was able to step into the throw, but dropped an absolute dime over the shoulder of his WR downfield effortlessly. Further into his film, he was dropping bombs from over fifty yards when he had a clean pocket, and I have no doubt with arm development at the next level he can easily get it downfield from 60+. Arm strength did not just show up on his film with vertical shots, he also showed he can throw darts to the sideline from the opposite hash, meaning defenders have to worry about covering every inch of turf when he is on the field which is a huge advantage. Mental Processing: Elite (7) Being able to get through multiple reads at the high school level is not as common as you would think. A lot of times quarterbacks are basically told where to go with the ball regardless of coverage. In Hebert's case, I saw him work through different progressions and consistently make the right decision on where to go with the ball based off how the defense was playing on the back end. He also throws with top tier anticipation, getting the ball out before the WR makes his break leaving the defensive back no real time to react, which reflects a high football IQ and superb understanding of the game. If you were to ask one hundred Notre Dame fans how they feel the transfer portal has worked out as far as quarterback play, I am sure you would get plenty of varying answers. One thing is undeniable though - to be a consistent contender in the new college football landscape, you have to be able to recruit the high school ranks well, and no position is more important to a program than the quarterback. Blake Hebert would be a much needed piece of the puzzle that is the Notre Dame's QB room, adding more talent from the high school level without having to go pluck an established a QB from another school come December or next spring. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Notre Dame fanbase and everyone around the program was ecstatic when C/O 2025 4-star IOL Cameron Herron announced his decision to flip from Iowa to Notre Dame on October 14th, 2024. Herron is a very talented player with the size and skillset to end up playing either guard or center. He is a highly touted player with 24 D1 offers from notable schools like Iowa, Louisville, Indiana, Wisconsin, and of course, Notre Dame. Photo via Cameron Herron, Instagram (@shocktheworld_cam) Herron is a 6’4" 280lbs interior offensive lineman from Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is currently ranked by 247Sports as the 6th overall best player in Indiana and the 240th-best player in the country. He’s the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in Indiana, an All-State Junior, First Team All Marion County, and a 2x First Team All Mic. So it's very easy to see why the coaches and the fanbase were ecstatic about landing Herron. I was able to catch up with Cameron for an interview about his recruitment, why he flipped to Notre Dame, his relationship with the coaches, and more. Cameron committed to Iowa back in June, but eventually flipped his commitment to Notre Dame earlier this month. But how did Notre Dame come into the picture? According to Cameron, Notre Dame was always a factor, and it all started when the Notre Dame coaching staff came to his school to recruit a fellow classmate. "Notre Dame has been a factor in my recruitment for a while. This past off-season, they came to my school to recruit Damien Shanklin, and I stopped in the office to introduce myself and I met Coach Rudolph. We started talking and exchanged contact information, and I could just tell from the beginning he liked me. I went on three visits during the off-season and started gaining some attention from there. Coach Rudolph and I developed a great relationship and continued to talk on a very regular basis." Coach Rudolph saw something in Cameron that day, but there was one problem. Notre Dame didn't have any scholarships open to be able to offer Cameron at that time. But it was Coach Rudolph's honesty and belief in Cameron, and Cameron's willingness to get Notre Dame's attention that kept the possibility of an offer possible. "At the time, they didn't have any spots open for me but Coach Rudolph continued to push for me to be at Notre Dame. He asked me to come to the Irish Invasion camp to show Coach Freeman and the other coaches what he saw in me and what I was capable of. I went and had a really strong camp. Afterward, I talked to Coach Rudolph and he told me that they didn't have any spots open at that time, but he was going to continue to push for me to get an offer because he believed I belonged at Notre Dame." Honesty is a great quality in any leader, and Coach Rudolph's honesty and belief in him from the beginning and throughout the process meant everything to Cameron. "That's what I love and respect so much about Coach Rudolph is that he has always been honest and upfront with me about everything. That means the world to me. He was honest about not having any spots, and he stayed true to his word about pushing for me and finding a spot for me at Notre Dame. I also really loved the way he coached me at those camps and the things I learned from him at that time. He's honestly the best offensive line coach I've ever met." So, what was it like leading up to the call from Coach Rudolph that started it all? "A few weeks ago Coach Rudolph called me to let me know that he had continued to fight for me, that a spot had come open, and they were going to offer me to come to Notre Dame. He said we got to get you up here for a visit. So, I went on an official visit and got to meet all the coaches and I just absolutely fell in love with Notre Dame and committed shortly after." As you can imagine, for a guy like Cameron who had worked as hard as he could in hopes of one day getting that offer from Notre Dame, the moment had to be special. As Cameron told me, it was a feeling of great joy to finally get the offer he had been waiting for. "I felt great! I had been waiting to get that offer forever. I talked to some of the staff and they said Cam you've worked so hard for this and it was a long journey to get here, but you've earned this and we couldn't be happier to offer you. It felt so great when I finally received the offer." As you can tell, Cameron is very excited to now be committed to Notre Dame, but how does his family feel about him staying in state and calling ND home? Well, according to Cameron, they're just as excited as he is. "My family is more than ecstatic for me to be coming to South Bend. A lot of them are Notre Dame fans already, so they're beyond excited for me to be headed there." What is it about Notre Dame that made this a dream offer for Cameron? And how did the Notre Dame coaches convince him that it truly was home for him? "Growing up in Indiana, Notre Dame has always been the best "In-state school" when it comes to football and academics. They really sold me on my visits about how important the education, degree, and the connections at Notre Dame are for life after football. I also just love how much the offensive line room in general pushes each other beyond measure to be better every day. Being around that type of competitiveness and motivation is only going to make me and the team better and that's important to me." As you can tell this was quite a journey for Cameron to end up at Notre Dame. But what can Notre Dame fans expect to get from a player like Cameron? "They're getting a tough blue-collar kid that's going to come in there on day one and work to the hardest of my ability. They're getting a hard-working team first player that sees it, wants it, and will do whatever it takes to get the job done and to help my teammates get better." There you have it Irish fans. Cameron is a very talented young man who has had his eye on Notre Dame for a long time. He's worked very hard to get to where he is, and he's very excited to get started at Notre Dame. He's a hard worker who's willing to do what it takes to help his team get better. We at The Irish Tribune would like to wish Cameron and his family good luck on this new journey. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame Hockey held its home-opening series this weekend versus the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (UAF) Nanooks. UAF entered South Bend seeking their first win after dropping their first four contests of the season in sweeps to Penn State and Michigan Tech. We recap the weekend split below: Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Friday Result: 4-1 Win The Irish dominated their home opener behind two-point performances from forwards Justin Janicke (2-4-6), Hunter Strand (1-2-3), Cole Knuble (4-2-6), and defenseman Henry Nelson (1-1-2).  Irish goaltender Owen Say improved his record to 2-0-0 after another impressive showing that featured 25 saves, including 12 in the third period. Say’s only mistake occurred about five minutes into the third when the Nanooks’ pressure in front of the net created an opportunity for Alaska to light the lamp.  Both teams played clean with only five total penalties assessed, two to Notre Dame. The Irish were able to capitalize on a power play opportunity when Janicke took advantage for his third-period goal. The penalty kill performed just as well, allowing no goals on seven shots in four minutes of Irish penalty time. Notre Dame outshot UAF 38 to 26, including a favorable second period when the Nanooks were only able to manage five shots on goal compared to 15 from the Irish. In addition to the shot total, the Irish also commanded the faceoff circle, winning 66.7% of draws. Strand led the way at the dot, winning 11 of 12 opportunities.  The Irish opened the scoring in the first period about 13 minutes into the contest when an Alaska turnover led to Knuble’s fourth goal  of the se ason. Forward Ian Murphy (0-2-2) forced the key turnover and, along with Janicke, was credited with an assist for the early goal.  About five minutes into the second period, the Irish extended their lead to 2-0 thanks to a delayed UAF penalty that gave a man advantage to Notre Dame. Henry Nelson, brother of Danny, net ted his first career goal   off a one-timer slapshot that was created by defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico (1-2-3) and Strand, his first of two assists Friday night.  Just under two minutes after UAF made it a one-score gam e, Janicke connected on a powerplay opportunity for his second goal  of the season. The senior weaved through three UAF defenders to connect on the highlight-reel play that was assisted by Knuble, his second assist of the year, and defenseman Paul Fischer (0-3-3).  Notre Dame put the icing on the cake about halfway through the third period when forward Grant Silianoff (1-0-0) added his first goal  of the y ear. The graduate’s goal came off a great, quick assist from Strand, his second of the night. Henry Nelson was also credited with an assist, which marked his second point of the game.  The emergence of Henry Nelson could be notable for Irish fans, as the defenseman recorded just one point last season.  For the first time since 1969, Notre Dame Hockey had won each of their first three games by at least three goals.  Saturday Result: 0-1 Loss Unfortunately, the Irish suffered their first defeat of the year at the hands of UAF in a chippy Saturday night tilt. Both teams played great defensively, especially Nanook goaltender Nicholas Grabko who finished with a 37-save shutout to secure UAF’s first win of the season.  Despite outshooting the Nanooks 37 to 23 and winning 55.1% of faceoffs, the Irish were simply unable to find the back of the net. Notre Dame’s best chance came with about five minutes to play in the second period when forward Blake Biondi’s (1-0-1) shot was stopped right in front of the goal line  by Grabko. Just under eight minutes into the game, the Irish killed any momentum they had when defenseman Ryan Helliwell (0-1-1) received a five-minute major and game ejection after committing an illegal cross-check. Fortunately, like most of the night, the Irish penalty kill performed great for all five minutes.  The second period was intense. Six penalties alone were called in this period, two on the Irish including an offsetting roughing call against Biondi.  Irish goaltender Nick Kempf allowed the only goal of the game about 12 minutes into the second off a UAF rebound opportunity. The freshman goalie finished with 22 saves as his season record dropped to 1-1-0. Through two contests, Kempf has flashed his great potential but the more-experienced Owen Say may be taking the lead in this battle for the starting goalie position.  As the game concluded, two UAF players and two Irish players (Strand and Murphy) each received roughing majors before being sent to their respective locker rooms.  Notre Dame will need to clean up their discipline and power play to have any sort of success in the future. The opportunities to capitalize were present but the Irish were simply unable to finish these chances Saturday.  The 3-1-0 Irish will look to bounce back when they host Long Island University next weekend. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame was able to revamp their performance after another sluggish first quarter as the Irish ended out on top 31-13. Photo By The Irish Tribune ATLANTA -- Last week against Stanford, Marcus Freeman preached for a fast start and the Irish did not deliver. Once again, a week later, Notre Dame came out flat against Georgia Tech and found themselves in yet another 7-0 deficit. After being punched in the mouth on all phases of the ball in the first quarter, Notre Dame responded. Riley Leonard, who had a terrible interception on an overthrow to Beaux Collins, bounced back and played his most completed game of the year. Leonard was able to utilize his legs and showed great accuracy and decision making on run-pass options. Leonard finished the game with 209 passing yards on 20/29 throwing and had two rushing touchdowns, for 51 yards. Mike Denbrock also displayed a play-calling masterclass as he built Leonard's confidence back up after the first quarter interception and the Irish rolled in the second. Through the air, Notre Dame found their most success all season. Beaux Collins was able to create separation on slant routes, Jaden Greathouse had a 28-yard gain, and Mitchell Evans made his biggest impact so far with a collection of catches that extended Notre Dame drives. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price once again had very solid performances balancing the offensive attack. Love added a rushing touchdown once again, which extended his season-long touchdown streak. Love finished with 36 yards rushing, and Price ended the game as the Irish's leading rusher with 69 yards. Aneyas Williams is yet another running back that continues to deliver stellar performances. Primarily as the third down running back, Williams is great in pass protection and showed the ability to catch and run on a pivotal third down in the redzone. On the defensive side of the ball, the Fighting Irish linebacking core stole the show. Georgia Tech came into the game leading the ACC in rushing yards, and the Notre Dame defense only gave up 64 rushing yards. Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry were the standouts in this one. Bowen's physicality up the middle and in the run-game was enormous in this one. Auberry's ability to make tackles in space and cover sideline-to-sideline makes the Fighting Irish defense tough to beat. The secondary has been getting a lot of national media attention this week with Benjamin Morrison enduring a season-ending hip injury, but the young cornerbacks shined in this one. Leonard Moore was fantastic in open field tackling and Christian Gray was great in coverage, as well. The veteran of the group, Xavier Watts, adding to his interception collection, and collected his third interception of the season. His fellow safety Adon Shuler added a pick six at the end of the game as well that aided Notre Dame's effort to boost their style points of this victory. In the special teams' department, walk-on backup kicker Zac Yoakam went 1/2 from the field, and made his first field goal, banging in a 42-yard attempt in the fourth quarter. Even though the Irish started off slow once again, they did enough to beat the Yellow Jackets in a triumphant fashion. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

For only the third time this season, Marcus Freeman and the now No. 12 Fighting Irish hit the road, heading to Atlanta, Georgia to face historical rival Georgia Tech for the 38th time. The series dates all the way back to 1922, but this year’s contest comes with a twist. This will be the first game in the series to be held at a neutral site, with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons, playing host. It marks the first of three matchups the 2024 Irish will play in professional stadiums this season, followed by Navy at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands, and Army at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. A road win would both extend Notre Dame’s current win streak to 5 in a row, while also pushing their series win streak over Tech to 4 straight. Once again, the Irish have a lot riding on a game that on paper should be an easy win, but as we all know too well, a single slip-up could change the whole trajectory of the season. The Irish have managed to work their way off the ropes and back into the fight once already this year, but can they continue their progress, or will the Yellow Jackets play spoiler to a CFP hopeful yet again? Photo by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame 2024 OFFENSE PASSING YPG 2024 OFFENSE RUSHING YPG 2024 DEFENSE YPG ALLOWED 2024 DEFENSE PPG ALLOWED 108th - 184.3 16th - 216.5 11th - 270.0 8th - 11.7 All hope seemed lost following Notre Dame’s Week 2 home loss to NIU, but over the last 4 games, the Irish have recovered some confidence and have slowly built a more balanced offensive identity. In those 4 games, the Irish outscored their opponents by a whopping 174-41 while maintaining one of the nation’s most elite defenses. Although confidence in this squad may not be quite as high as it was following the week 1 win over TAMU, the Irish have managed to steadily improve week-to-week and slowly mend their public image. Even with that improvement, the early loss to NIU put Notre Dame in a “win or die” position for every game left on their schedule, as a single loss would formally kill any hopes of scraping their way back into the 12-team CFP conversation.  Notre Dame is fresh off a much-needed display of dominance, pummeling Stanford 49-7 just last week. While the final score wasn’t as impressive as it was against Purdue, this win is the closest this team has been to their “final form” all season. Leonard had his best game so far, tossing 229 yards and 3 touchdowns with another on the ground, while Love and Price both scored out of the backfield. As impressive as the offense was, the defense put on yet another clinic. After allowing the Cardinal to score on their first drive of the game, Al Golden and the Irish defense held Stanford scoreless, racking up 4 sacks and a turnover while allowing only 200 total yards on the day. It was one of the defense’s best performances of the season, and the by far most balanced offensive performance we’ve seen from Denbrock and Leonard all year. The good news brought by the Stanford win was quickly followed by more injury woes. Team Captain and CB Benjamin Morrison was formally ruled out for the season following a hip injury diagnosis and a season-ending surgery. This marks the 13th season-ending injury for the 2024 Irish and removes arguably the most talented player on an elite Irish defense already thin on reserves. In his first two seasons, Morrison recorded 9 interceptions and had not given up a single touchdown through 6 games in 2024. Due to Jaden Mickey’s redshirt and portal departure, Al Golden will be forced to fall back on true Freshman Leonard Moore and Karson Hobbs to fill in for Morrison, and that makes yet another defensive unit only a single injury away from desperation.  As for non-season-ending injuries, the Irish currently have 3 players that will likely be game-time decisions. Injuries Heading Into Georgia Tech Sophomore WR Jordan Faison Ankle - Available V. Georgia Tech Hurt V. TAMU - Reinjured V. Louisville Missed NIU, Purdue, & Stanford Junior OL Billy Schrauth Right Ankle - Questionable V. Georgia Tech Hurt V. Purdue Missed Miami OH, Louisville, & Stanford Grad Student K Mitch Jeter Right Hip - Questionable V. Georgia Tech Hurt V. Stanford Of these three, kicker Mitch Jeter’s absence may hurt the most. If Jeter isn’t cleared to play on Saturday, backup Junior kicker Zac Yoakam will be asked to step up in his place. Yoakam is 7/7 on extra points this season, split between his late game appearances in the Stanford and Purdue blowouts, but has yet to kick a field goal. If he does get the nod over Jeter, the Irish won’t be able to rely as heavily on their kicker if needed, and we may see some misses due to inexperience. As for Jordan Faison, Marcus Freeman said he was dressed for the Stanford game, but ultimately didn’t make an appearance. We could see a very similar approach again from the coaching staff, who may feel the situation out and possibly keep him out again if the offense doesn't need a shot in the arm. Georgia Tech 2024 RECORD 2024 PORTAL RANK LAST GAME SERIES SCORE 5-2 65th ND - 55-0 (2021) ND - 30-6-1 2023 RECORD 2023 SOS 2024 GAME +/- 2024 SOS 7-6 37th 4.5 4th 2023 OFFENSE YPG 2023 OFFENSE PPG 2023 DEFENSE YPG ALLOWED 2023 DEFENSE PPG ALLOWED 34th - 424.6 43rd - 29.7 120st - 437.1 100th - 30.8 2024 OFFENSE PASSING YPG 2024 OFFENSE RUSHING YPG 2024 DEFENSE YPG ALLOWED 2024 DEFENSE PPG ALLOWED 59th - 240.1 27th - 204.4  35th - 327.4 48th - 21.4 GAME SPREAD GAME SCORE +/- ND -14.0 - ESPN Bet 49.5 - ESPN Bet Former Georgia Tech offensive lineman Brent Key got the head coaching job at his Alma Mater in 2022 where his Yellow Jackets went 4-4, eventually improving to 7-6 in 2023. Coach Key fields a prolific triple-option offense led by former Texas A&M QB Haynes King - who ran for 10 TDs and tossed another 27. King’s partner in crime is RB Jamal Haynes - who collected 1,059 yards on the ground in 2023, along with 7 scores. The Yellow Jackets also return their two best targets on the outside, WR Eric Singleton Jr. and Malik Rutheford, who combined for over 1,200 and 10 TDs in 2023, making Tech a threat through the air as well as on the ground.  So far, 2024 has been solid for Key and the Yellow Jackets. Before week 0 weekend shocked the nation, The Irish Tribune had Georgia Tech pegged as one of Notre Dame’s two trap games this season, and boy were we right. The Yellow Jackets came out and stunned FSU in Ireland on the season’s opening weekend, and showed everyone on their schedule just how much of a problem they were going to be this year. Tech won the physical battle at the line on both sides of the ball, manhandling FSU’s supposedly dominant defensive unit for 190 yards on the ground while holding the Seminoles offense to 98 rushing yards and only two touchdowns all game.  Tech went on to beat Georgia State 35-12 before losing to Syracuse on the road 28-31. They then rebounded with a 59-7 skunking of VMI before losing their second game at Louisville 19-31. Key’s squad responded once again, beating Duke 24-14 before a big 41-34 road win at UNC. Thus far, Jamal Haynes and Haynes King have been the same dynamic 1-2 punch from last year. Jamal Haynes’ 96 carries have gone for 536 yards and 7 touchdowns, while Haynes King has 62 rushes for 353 and 6 touchdowns. Rutherford and Singleton have also continued their performances from 2023. Rutherford leads with 40 catches for 509 yards and 2 scores, while Singleton Jr. follows closely with 30 catches for 399 yards and 2 touchdowns. Like Notre Dame’s win over Stanford and the loss of Benjamin Morrison, Georgia Tech’s win over UNC cost them dearly. Yellow Jackets QB Haynes King exited the game against the Tarheels late in the 4th quarter with some sort of injury to his throwing arm but left his team with a 10-point lead. Tellingly, Georgia Tech quickly squandered their advantage but managed to pull out the win behind RB Jamal Haynes’ game-winning 68-yard rushing touchdown. The injury was a massive blow to Tech’s season, but King was listed as questionable until about 5:00 PM on Friday, October 18th, when it was confirmed he would not be cleared for play against the Irish. King’s replacement will be redshirt sophomore backup Zach Pyron, who has thrown only 5/7 passes this season for 64 yards and a touchdown along with 17 rushes for 60 yards and 4 touchdowns. He isn’t known for his passing prowess and is primarily utilized as a run-focused copy of Haynes King, so there’s concern he may not have enough skill through the air to exploit Notre Dame’s rapidly thinning secondary. Thankfully, the Yellowjackets can lean on arguably their greatest offensive group during their QB re-acclimation, the offensive line. Tech’s front 5 have been ridiculous this season, only giving up 1 sack in 7 games, good for the fewest in the nation. For context, Notre Dame is tied for 50th in sacks allowed, giving up a surprising 9 through only 6 games. If the Yellow Jackets look to stand a chance in this game, their offensive line will need to buy Pyron enough time in the pocket to make the right decisions. Georgia Tech will challenge the Irish in a similar fashion to Stanford; a prolific dual-threat running attack with little coming through the air, and a solid rush defense with a secondary primed for exploitation. The Yellow Jackets front 7 have held opponents to a meager 103.7 yards per game on the ground, but their secondary has allowed 223.7 yards per game through the air. Despite stopping the run, Tech’s pass rush has only recorded 9 sacks in 7 games, the 114th worst mark in the country, making it clearer why they struggle so much through the air. If Notre Dame’s line and Leonard’s legs can buy them enough time, this may be just the kind of game the Irish need to further develop their passing game against a team not fully capable of stopping it. The bottom line is - the Yellow Jackets must pressure Leonard if they have a shot at stifling an aerial attack on the upswing.  Prediction This is yet another “should win, could lose” game for the Irish. They’ll be the best team Georgia Tech has faced so far, particularly on defense, but the game will boil down to 3 things. Can the Irish replicate their passing performance against Stanford? Will the injury bug prevent Notre Dame’s defense from maintaining its dominance? Can the Irish front 7 exploit the absence of Haynes King and make Tech’s offense completely one-dimensional? With all due respect, this game is far more about Notre Dame than it is about Georgia Tech. The Irish hold their fate in their own hands, and it ultimately comes down to continuing their progression. If Leonard can establish at least a consistent passing attack, it would likely overwhelm a Georgia Tech defense already contending with Leonard’s running threat and Notre Dame’s prolific rushing attack. If either Notre Dame’s offense or defense takes a step back or just decides not to show up, Tech is talented enough to steal this game. But without Hayes King at the helm, the Yellow Jackets would essentially need to stay perfect while forcing the Irish into mistakes if they have a realistic chance to win. Both teams will look to grind the ball on the ground, but the QB with a better day through the air should leave with the W. On first look, a “neutral site” matchup should essentially nullify any home-field advantage for either team, but the decision to play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is curious. It's only 1.8 miles away from the Yellow Jackets homefield “Bobby Dodd Stadium” making it just as easy for their fans to attend and boosting the capacity from 55,000 to 71,000. Essentially, this is an elevated Georgia Tech home game in a significantly more intense atmosphere. This is a trap game because of the location, stage, and talent on Georgia Tech, not because the Irish are again overlooking the team in front of them. This one will be competitive all game long, but the final score may not necessarily make it look like a close one. Look for the Irish to leave with a solid, well-earned win against one of the hardest teams they’ll face all year. Look for: Notre Dame’s defense to force a turnover Notre Dame’s defense to record 2+ sacks Jeremiyah Love to rush for at least 1 touchdown Riley Leonard to throw for at least 1 touchdown and rush for at least 1 touchdown Beaux Collins to catch his 2nd touchdown of the season Win: (6-1) ND: 33 - 16 :GT Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame heads down south for the second time this season, this time being Atlanta, Georgia. The Irish look to come out of Mercedez-Benz Stadium with a win over 5-2 Georgia Tech. Our staff make their official predictions below. Photo by The Irish Tribune Clayton Stohler - First & Gold Podcast Score Prediction: 37-24 Notre Dame Notre Dame’s defense has its struggles. The jet motions, scheming players in the right position, and the ability to strike at any moment will prove to be ND’s biggest challenge all year long for Al Golden’s unit. What GT does well on offense, is something ND’s defense has struggled with all year. And that will show in this game. The only problem for GT is that the Irish will firmly establish themselves as an offense that can exploit just about any defense across the country, especially those with secondaries that haven’t shown they can cause any form of disruption. ND builds off of the things that they have slowly revealed throughout the year, and it all comes together at the right time. It will be a big day for Riley Leonard, Mitch Evans, and KK Smith as the offense bails the defense out in a game that will mean more for style points than people think. Max Uretsky - Recruiting Analyst Score Prediction: 36-19 Notre Dame Haynes King being out for this game certainly changes some of the dynamics of how Georgia Tech likes to run their offense. They run a lot of designed QB runs but Zach Pyron is not the runner King is so they will probably lean more on their talented RB Jamal Haynes to carry the load. Notre Dame has been good to very good when it comes to stopping the run all year and will need to be once again against a team that averages over five yards a carry. Tech has only given up one sack all year and given the injuries that have piled up in the front seven for ND, they may struggle to generate a consistent pass rush. When the Irish have the ball, we know they want to establish the run and utilize Riley Leonard's legs, but this Tech secondary has been burned on occasion this year and I will call for Leonard to have his best day as a passer, yes, passer, thus far this year with 300+ yards and a couple of scores. Liam Farrell - Associate Editor & Senior Football Writer Score Prediction: 38-14 Notre Dame. Haynes King being out helps a newly depleted Irish defense. Notre Dame starts off slow once again, but Riley Leonard continues to grow as a passer. Jeremiyah Love continues his touchdown streak and the ND offensive line starts to become a strength of this team. Two bold predictions are that Leonard Moore will have an interception and Leonard will have a 50+ yard passing touchdown. Brenden Duffy - Associate Editor & Senior Staff Writer Score Prediction: 35-7 Notre Dame Georgia Tech struggles without their star QB Haynes King, and Notre Dame's defense dominates an inexperienced backup. I would expect a similar offensive performance from last week for the Irish. GT has been good against the run but ND should be able to find their footing in this game. Noah Wehby - Writer Score Prediction: 38-10 Notre Dame Notre Dame continues to put together statement wins. The offense has another really good game and looks very similar to their game against Stanford. The defense, even without Benjamin Morrison, plays a very complete game. Georgia Tech will be without their starting quarterback which will make Notre Dame’s life a lot easier. Bruce Straughan - Recruiting Writer Score Prediction : 35-14 Notre Dame The announcement that Georgia Tech’s starting QB Haynes King has been ruled out changes the entire dynamic of this game. With him out, I see more of a dominance by Notre Dame whereas before I believe it would’ve been a little closer. With Notre Dame’s defense and stacked top secondary talent, I don’t foresee Benjamin Morrison being out for the season much of a factor in this game. The offense has continued to show good progression weekly and I don’t foresee it stopping in this game. The offense will have a big day and I believe Mitchell Evans will get involved and get a Touchdown in this game. Connor Regan - Long-Form Writer Score Prediction: 33-16 Notre Dame The Irish find a way to build off of their Stanford performance, but this time against a better team. There’s less flash and polish this go around, but Denbrock employs a similar balanced game plan to last week’s, and overwhelm an outmatched Yellow Jackets squad. With Haynes King out, the Irish defense will have an easier time containing Tech’s run game, and the one-dimensional offense should lead to a level of pressure in the backfield they’re not used to, forcing turnovers, sacks, and ill-advised throws from a career backup QB. Tech’s offense will rely on Jamal Haynes and field goals to keep this one competitive. Look for the Irish to have a slow start once again, but ultimately get things together in a win that feels more competitive than the final score may show. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Irish have looked good since their Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois, and with a huge showdown against Georgia Tech on tap this weekend in Atlanta, Riley Leonard an Co. will look to keep things churning on offense, particularly as it relates to the ever-developing passing game. On this week's show, Pete and Clayton discuss Notre Dame's upcoming matchup with the Yellow Jackets, and how ND's schedule looks a lot more challenging than it did at the start of the season, largely due to strong campaigns from Georgia Tech, Virginia, Army, and Navy. Plus, the loss of Boubacar Traore last week was a huge blow to the Irish defense. Now without the services of star corner and presumptive first-round draft pick Benjamin Morrison for the remainder of the campaign, what players will be expected to step up in order to keep the blue and gold defense playing at a high level? The guys are all over these topics and more, so tune in NOW! Go Irish! Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

Notre Dame hits the road this weekend when they travel to Atlanta to play the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. For an offensive preview, click here . Now we move to the other side of the ball where Georgia Tech features an overall solid defensive unit. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Here is how the Yellow Jackets (5-2) have fared so far this season: vs Florida State (in Ireland) (24-21, W) vs Georgia State (35-12, W) at Syracuse (31-28, L) vs VMI (59-7, W) at Louisville (31-19, L) vs Duke (24-14, W) at North Carolina (41-34, W) Georgia Tech features a stout run defense however they have had issues against the pass. This season, the Jackets rank 36th in total yards (327.4) and 41st in points (20.57) per game allowed.  One major improvement from last year has been their success on third downs. Last season, this Georgia Tech defense finished last in the ACC in third down stops. This year, opponents have only converted 28 of 88 opportunities, a 31.8% clip that ranks 28th in the country. Fourth-down stops have been much harder to come by. Opponents have converted 11 of 16 fourth down attempts (68.8%), which ranks near the bottom in the country. Regarding Notre Dame’s offense, they have been very successful on fourth downs, converting seven out of ten attempts, which is top-25 nationally. It would not be surprising to see Irish Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock be aggressive when it is fourth and short.  As mentioned before, Georgia Tech’s defense has struggled against the pass. Their main issue appears to be the lack of a legitimate pass rush. As a unit, the defense allows 223.7 passing yards per game, 83rd-most in the country. The pass rush has only generated nine sacks this season (1.29 per game), second-worst among ACC teams. Notably, the Jackets did have to replace 17 sacks from last season after losing edge rusher Kyle Kennard to South Carolina and tackle D’Quan Douse to Michigan State. Additionally, opposing quarterbacks are averaging a 141.83 passing efficiency rating, the third-worst among ACC teams. To top off all these struggles, the defense has only one interception this season, tied for last in the country. Regardless of these disappointing stats, Georgia Tech’s defense has the talent and capability to be better than they have shown. The Yellow Jackets secondary has received production from a duo of corners and a group of athletic safeties.  The two Georgia Tech cornerbacks to keep an eye on are Ahmari Harvey and Warren Burrell. Harvey, a redshirt junior, is enjoying a breakout campaign after finishing last season with 31 tackles, three passes defended, three interceptions, and a forced fumble in 11 games. The 6-foot 190-pound corner has already recorded 34 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and the team’s lone interception this season, which came two weeks ago against Duke. Redshirt senior corner Warren Burrell is graded as the best coverage defensive back on this defense, per PFF. The Tennessee transfer has recorded 19 tackles and leads the team in passes defended (four) this year. The Yellow Jackets defense also features four dynamic safeties: Clayton Powell-Lee, Taye Seymore, Omar Daniels, and LaMiles Brooks. Powell-Lee and Seymore typically fill the free safety role. Powell-Lee, a junior, finished second on the team in tackles last year with 70. The 6'2, 195-pound defensive back can also line up at slot corner if called upon. He has been better against the run compared to the pass this year, totaling 23 tackles, two passes defended, and a fumble recovery. Sophomore Taye Seymore is enjoying his first impactful year after primarily appearing on special teams last season. He has recorded 28 tackles, three for a loss, and two passes defended. Seymore has been better in coverage than Powell-Lee, however, they both pose bigger threats as run-stoppers. The two other safeties for the Irish to keep an eye on are Omar Daniels and LaMiles Brooks. Similar to Powell-Lee, Daniels can also be featured as a slot corner. The redshirt junior and former Kansas State transfer is experiencing a breakout campaign after making just one start last season. Daniels has recorded 24 tackles and two passes defended this season. He is a pure tackler who has not been super reliable in pass coverage this season. Finally, LaMiles Brooks is a senior who experienced his best year in 2022 when he earned Third Team All-ACC honors. Last year Brooks dealt with various injuries that limited his snap count throughout the season. This season Brooks has been healthy and recorded 14 tackles and two passes defended. Although Brooks may not reach his All-ACC potential again, perhaps due to injuries, he is still capable of making a big play if needed.  The Yellow Jackets defense has relied on a dominant run defense to get them to this point. Just one year after allowing 5.8 yards per carry (second-worst among Power Five teams), this unit currently ranks second in the ACC with 103.7 rush yards allowed per game. This number also ranks 26th among all FBS teams. Notre Dame will likely be Georgia Tech’s toughest test in terms of rushing as the Irish are averaging 216.5 yards per game on the ground, 16th among FBS teams. Two keys to this dominant rush attack are interior linebackers Kyle Efford and Trenilyas Tatum.  Efford, a redshirt sophomore, led the team in tackles last year with 81 despite only starting the final seven games. He is on pace to lead the Yellow Jackets in tackles once again as he has already racked up 52, including a sack against Syracuse. He has three games with 10 or more tackles this year, including last week. The talented backer is a great tackler capable of stopping the run by himself. The other interior backer to keep an eye on is senior Trenilyas Tatum who is coming off his best game. Last week against UNC, he recorded six tackles, a forced fumble, and half of a sack. This season the senior has totaled 29 tackles, five for a loss, one and a half sacks, a pass defended, and the forced fumble from last week. If anyone on this defense is going to disrupt Irish quarterback Riley Leonard on Saturday, odds are it will be Tatum. On the edges, Georgia Tech has three solid rushers who are capable of posing issues for the Irish offense: Romello Height, Sylvain Yondjouen, and Kevin Harris II.  Height is a redshirt junior transfer from USC who is experiencing his best career season. The Irish saw Height last season in their matchup with USC, although he only recorded one tackle in the meeting. This season, Height has 25 tackles including four for a loss as one of the more complete defenders on this squad. Yondjouen, a 6’4 260-pound beast from Belgium, is not as featured as Height in this defense but he has been productive in his somewhat limited playing time. The redshirt senior missed all of last year after suffering a season-ending injury in week one. He appears to have come back strong as he leads the team in sacks (two) in addition to his 12 tackles, four for a loss, and two passes defended. Like ILB Tatum, Yondjouen is coming off his best performance when he recorded three quarterback pressures, two tackles, and a sack on just 22 snaps. The third key edge rusher is former Alabama transfer, senior Kevin Harris II. The 6’4 250-pound edge has underwhelmed so far this season, only recording seven tackles and a sack despite receiving good playing time. If he can clean up his tackling, he could pose a larger threat. Similar to the edges, the interior of the defensive line has also received production from three individuals: Defensive tackles Zeek Biggers, Makius Scott, and Thomas Gore. Biggers, a senior, has tallied over 30 tackles in each of the past two seasons. The 6’6 320-pound tackle appears on pace to reach that number again as he has 12 tackles this season, in addition to two passes defended and a fumble recovery. Biggers is a great tackler who thrives in defending the run. Makius Scott, also a senior, had 34 tackles last season. The 6’4 290-pounder is coming off his best performance of the year, when he recorded four tackles and half of a sack against UNC. He has not exactly been a game-wrecker this season but the former South Carolina transfer is capable of disrupting the run. The final interior lineman to highlight is Miami (FL) senior transfer Thomas Gore. The 6-foot 290-pound tackle had quite the journey to end up at Georgia Tech. He spent four years at Georgia State where he was named an All-SBC honorable mention before transferring to Miami last season. After receiving limited playing time at Miami, Gore made the move back to Atlanta, except this time with Georgia Tech. This season he has not been heavily-utilized but, like Scott, he is a good tackler and run-stopper. He has struggled the past two weeks specifically, only tallying one quarterback pressure and no tackles in his somewhat limited playing time. Overall, this defense is reminiscent of Stanford’s unit from a week ago. A solid run defense mixed with a below-average pass defense that Coach Denbrock and Riley Leonard should be able to succeed against. If the Yellow Jackets want to upset the Irish on Saturday, they will need to disrupt Leonard, something Georgia Tech has yet to do this season. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun