Injuries along the defensive line have forced the Fighting Irish to look to unlikely sources for production. Notre Dame needs these players to make greater contributions if the Fighting Irish want to have playoff aspirations. Photo By The Irish Tribune Seven weeks into the college football season, Notre Dame has had their own share of wear-and-tear. After Fall camp, Marcus Freeman praised Loren Landow and the strength-and-conditioning team for one of Notre Dame's healthiest camps in recent memory, despite losing starting left tackle Charles Jagusah. In the midst of Notre Dame's triumphant victory against Purdue, the Fighting Irish suffered some critical injuries. Veteran edge rusher Jordan Botelho and starting offensive lineman Ashton Craig both had season-ending knee injuries. After Botelho went down, redshirt freshman Boubacar Traore had the opportunity to fill in for the impact graduate senior. Traore excelled in his increased reps and established himself off the edge, until he suffered a knee injury in the Louisville game. Two season-ending knee injuries have hurt the depth of the pass rush but opened opportunities for freshmen to step up and make an early impact. Bryce Young and Loghan Thomas both got plenty of reps during the second half of the Louisville game and provided some pressure on Tyler Shough. Young and Thomas are raw natural athletes who haven’t fully grown into their frames yet, but both offer the kind of speed rush that’s sweeping the NFL by storm. Young, the bigger and more highly-touted freshman, is listed at 6'7", 258 pounds, and logged three solo tackles in Notre Dame's win over Louisville. Thomas, who needs more development than Young, still showed flashes two weeks ago. Before the ruling got changed to an incomplete pass, Thomas showcased his speed as he returned a fumble for a scoop-and-score, that eventually got called back. The development of the freshmen duo of Young and Thomas will prove to be necessary as the Irish attempt to navigate through the rest of the season. The Notre Dame defensive line also needs more out of RJ Oben and Junior Tuihalamaka. Oben, the prized portal get from Duke, has been nowhere all year for Notre Dame. Oben has only logged eight total tackles and doesn't have a single sack. The Irish need Oben to return to his Duke form after the bye week. As for Tuihalamaka, he has been the one constant for the edge rusher unit all year. He has recorded an interception and teamed up with Rylie Mills for a big sack against Louisville. Al Washington needs Tuihalamaka to continue to grow his confidence coming out of the bye. On the offensive line, besides Craig's season-ending injury, Billy Schrauth is also questionable for the Stanford game due to a right ankle injury. The offensive line has been a battle throughout the young season for the Irish. At the beginning of the year, the line attempted to mature given its youth and inexperience, and then as the unit was beginning to mesh, injuries derailed most progression. However, the play of backups Pat Coogan and Rocco Spindler, who were starters last year for the Fighting Irish, has proved pivotal during this unwary time. As it pertains to the defensive backs, Notre Dame's strongest unit grew quite thin during the game against Louisville. That week, Jaden Mickey opted to maintain his eligibility and redshirt for the remainder of the year and starting cornerback Christian Gray suited up, but didn't play because of a right shoulder injury. This left true freshmen Leonard Moore to start for the Fighting Irish in the biggest game of the year, and Moore played well. While he still got beat on some plays against talented wide receiver Ja'Cory Brooks, Moore held his own for most of the game. He also led the Fighting Irish in tackles that game and forced a fumble on a punch out that shifted the momentum in Notre Dame's favor. During the Louisville game, Benjamin Morrison missed a series as well, which forced nickel Jordan Clark to shift to cornerback. Clark has played exceptional all year and has cemented himself as the Irish's best transfer portal acquisition. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Legends Trophy will be on the line again this Saturday afternoon when Notre Dame hosts the Stanford Cardinal. The Irish own a 22-14 all-time lead versus the Cardinal, including a 56-23 beatdown last year at Stanford thanks to 238 yards and four touchdowns from former Irish running back Audric Estime.  Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Stanford is led by second-year Head Coach Troy Taylor. The former Cal and NFL quarterback is looking to improve upon his 3-9 record from last season. Before accepting the Cardinal job, Taylor went 30-8 during his three-year tenure with FCS Sacramento State. Ironically, Taylor and the Cardinal lost to his former school last season, in an embarrassing 30-23 defeat. The good news for Coach Taylor and Cardinal fans is they are on pace for more than three wins this year. This program has not won more than four games in five years. Here is how Stanford (2-3) has fared so far this season: TCU (L, 34-27) Cal Poly (W, 41-7) At Syracuse (W, 26-24) At Clemson (L, 40-14) Virginia Tech (L, 31-7) Offense, like last year, has been a struggle. Stanford is averaging 338.6 yards per game (107th-most among FBS teams) and 23 points per game (104th-most among FBS teams). They also have struggled in the red zone, only converting 71.4% of the time, a bottom-15 percentage.  Stanford’s passing offense has not been able to get going this season. Their 181.6 passing yards per game is bottom-30 in the country. It appears the issue is just a lack of talent almost  everywhere.  Starting quarterback Ashton Daniels is an athletic passer who is capable of beating opponents with his arm or feet. The junior signal-caller did not play last week due to injury but should be back for the trip to South Bend. Before missing last week, Daniels was struggling completing 68/115 attempts for five touchdowns while throwing six interceptions. Daniels is averaging 158.25 passing yards per game this season, compared to Riley Leonard’s 150. Like Leonard, Daniels can move his feet. Daniels is Stanford’s leading rusher with 250 rush yards on 50 carries. His five yards per carry is impressively 70th-most among FBS rushers. Despite this ground prowess, Daniels is yet to find the endzone with his feet this season.  Last week’s quarterback for Stanford was fellow junior Justin Lamson. The former Syracuse transfer is utilized more as a rusher than a passer. Lamson rushed for 334 yards and five touchdowns last season. He finished last week’s start 13/24 for 103 yards and an interception with no touchdowns as he ran for 36 yards. Lamson has recorded Stanford’s only two rushing touchdowns this year.  During last year’s season-ending finish with the Irish, Stanford had four different quarterbacks attempt a pass during the game. Daniels finished 15/25 for 152 yards and an interception during the blowout loss. A bright spot was Lamson’s rushing ability, recording 82 rush yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.  There is no question that the star of this Stanford squad is redshirt sophomore wide receiver Elic Ayomanor. The potential 2025 first-round pick is capable of dominating games by himself. After missing his entire freshman year due to a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus, Ayomanor exploded last season for 1,013 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 62 catches. He first caught the attention of fans during last season’s 46-43 overtime thriller at Colorado when he recorded a Stanford-record 294 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 13 catches . Seven of those catches, including two of the touchdowns, occurred while being defended by future first-round pick Travis Hunter. During last year’s meeting with the Irish, Ayomanor recorded seven receptions for 58 yards.  This season, Ayomanor has had a solid start to his campaign, totaling 24 catches and three touchdowns for 317 yards. His 4.8 receptions and 63.4 yards per game are both top-100 among FBS receivers. Behind Ayomanor there has been a lack of production from Stanford’s receiving threats, specifically sophomore wideout Tiger Bachmeier who only has three catches for eight yards this season. Last year as a freshman, Bachmeier recorded 36 receptions for 409 yards. Against the Irish last season, Bachmeier was shut down as a receiver but did record a 14-yard touchdown run. Stanford’s second-leading receiver this season has been redshirt freshman Ismael Cisse. He has recorded 22 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns this year. Shutting down Cisse could be a key to victory for the Irish secondary as Stanford is 0-3 when he has under 25 receiving yards. He also recorded eight receptions in both Cardinal wins. Another receiver to watch this week is true freshman Emmett Mosley V. The Stanford receiver has multiple connections to Notre Dame. His father, also Emmett, played running back and receiver for the Irish from 1993-96. Mosley’s mother, Cindy, played soccer at Notre Dame where she won the Hermann Trophy (awarded to the top collegiate soccer player) in 1996. Coming out of high school, Mosley V was heavily recruited by former Notre Dame Wide Receiver Coach Chansi Stuckey but decided to stay closer to home in California at Stanford University. Mosley missed the first three weeks of this season with a leg injury but he has found some success early in his Stanford career. In his two games played, Mosley recorded 11 catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. He posted seven catches for 48 yards and a touchdown at Clemson. The former three-star recruit has been a nice addition to this struggling offense. The final true receiving threat on this Stanford offense is junior tight end Sam Roush. The 6’5 242-pound weapon has been somewhat productive in his first season as the clear starter after former Cardinal Benjamin Yurosek transferred to Georgia this offseason. Roush has recorded 12 receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown this season, including three straight games with at least three catches and 25 yards.  This Stanford offense finds their most success in the run game, as can be expected when the quarterback is also the leading rusher. Overall, the Cardinal rush attack ranks middle of the pack with 157 rushing yards per game (tied-71st among FBS teams). However, given this efficiency, backup quarterback Lamson holds the only two rushing touchdowns this season.  Stanford’s lead back is true freshman Micah Ford. The former three-star recruit has 47 rushes for 230 yards and 10 receptions for 59 yards this season. Ford was very efficient against a stout Clemson defense when he totaled 122 rushing yards on just 15 carries. Ford did leave last week’s contest early with an injury and will be a game-time decision this Saturday If Ford is unable to play this week, expect to see a lot from fellow freshman running back Chris Davis Jr. Coming out of high school, Davis was more sought after than Ford as he was rated a four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals. Davis has recorded 188 yards on 25 carries this season, with no production as a receiver to note.  Perhaps the largest reason that Stanford has been unable to sustain success, at least this year and last, is due to poor offensive line play. This unit was bad last season, however there was reason for optimism this fall as they returned all five starters from a year ago. Unfortunately for the Cardinal, they remain unimpressive. So far this season, this group is bottom 15 among FBS teams. They are allowing three sacks per game and nine tackles for loss per game (second-worst among FBS teams). To make matters worse, starting center Levi Rogers exited last week’s Virginia Tech contest early due to injury and was later seen in a walking boot. This will be another injury to watch as the week unfolds. A positive so far this season has been Stanford’s team discipline. They rarely cost themselves chances with penalties. As a team, Stanford averages 4.8 penalties per game for 38.2 yards per game. Both of these numbers are top-25 amongst FBS teams. It will be interesting to see how Coach Taylor and this Stanford offense plan to execute on Saturday against a top-20 Irish defense. It could be expected that the Notre Dame defense has a field day against this struggling Cardinal offense. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame is coming off their bye week ranked No. 11 in the country with their eyes now set on Stanford. Throughout the first part of the season, the coaching staff has been a point of contention for a lot of fans. This has been prompted by Notre Dame's inconsistent play and an inexcusable loss to NIU. Here, I'll take a look at Marcus Freeman, Mike Denbrock, and Al Golden and review how each coach has been fairing so far this season. Photo by The Irish Tribune Head Coach - Marcus Freeman Freeman's third year came with a lot of expectations. These expectations were born from a very talented roster and a rich history of success for Notre Dame coaches during the third year of their tenure. Freeman, now accustomed to the job, has brought in a new, vibrant energy to the program, and that showed in the opening game at Texas A&M where Notre Dame got this season off to a fantastic start. In that game, Freeman displayed a lot of growth as a coach. He showed his ability to motivate and encourage the players, a willingness to take chances, and all the nuance it takes to win a game like that. All of the praise Freeman earned from that win quickly dissipated when Notre Dame was stunned by NIU the following week. In a loss of that caliber, the blame often rests on the shoulders of head coach, and rightfully so. These are the type of games Freeman no longer has the luxury of sleepwalking through as he had done in the past. It is his job to have the players mentally and physically prepared for each and every game, and Freeman has shown a pattern of failure in this regard. Whether it was the players and coaches listening to all the hype, or overlooking their opponent, it is Freeman that must ensure consistency on a game-to-game basis. This has been the main critique of Freeman's coaching prowess throughout his short career as a head coach. He has shown that he can beat high level teams, but he seems to have a hard time getting his players to play above their competition when they are the superior team. There is no better proof of this than this than the loss to Northern Illinois. Before week six, Notre Dame was the only team in the country to have two ranked wins, but it is hard to celebrate that feat when their only loss is to NIU. After that very large hiccup, Freeman has done a good job weathering the storm. Notre Dame has managed to bounce back, and has now found themselves back in contention for a playoff spot. Freeman does deserve credit for the team's resilience, a trait that the seems to be able to instill in all his teams. As of now though, it still feels like this Freeman-led Notre Dame team has yet to take that next step. Gamedays are better with a lab! - https://www.hideawaylabs.com/ Offensive Coordinator - Mike Denbrock Well, to start the season, this offense has been confusing to say the least. After a promising performance against Texas A&M, this Irish offense has been bogged down and very one-dimensional. Many of the offensive problems stem from Riley Leonard's struggles throwing the ball downfield. This has forced the offense to be predictable with its main source of points coming through the ground game. Denbrock came back to Notre Dame after a very successful stint at LSU, where he conducted one of the best offenses in college football history. Many were hoping that this high-powered offense would translate over to Notre Dame, but Denbrock and the rest of the offense is still trying to find their footing, ranking only 74th in total offense. Denbrock's offense does operate better with a mobile quarterback, which Notre Dame has, but there has not been a real downfield threat to keep defenses honest. In Notre Dame's most recent game, Denbrock may have figured out some things, though. The first half against Louisville was the offense's most complete half of the season. The combination of the pass and run was keeping Louisville on their toes, and Leonard even found Jaden Greathouse for a big play, resulting in a touchdown. Denbrock's offense was dynamic and hard to keep up with for a lot of the first half, but the second half showed a lot of the same old Notre Dame attack that was predictable and hard to watch. In the second half, Denbrock did have a stroke of genius that resulted in a Jeremiyah Love touchdown on a well executed screen play. It is this sort of play-calling and timing that this offense will need to continue to find to keep things fresh and explosive. One silver-lining has been Notre Dame's rushing attack, which ranks 13th in the country. Denbrock must find ways to continue to free up space for Love, Jadarian Price, and Leonard as defenses start to key in on them. The next challenge for Denbrock and this offense will be finding a way to play like they did in that first half of the Louisville game consistently. That offense is good enough to beat a lot of teams, especially paired with a suffocating defense. As of where things stand, it's not much of a stretch to call Denbrock's tenure thus far disappointing. Of course, recognizing that Riley Leonard is not Jayden Daniels, and that Notre Dame's weapons on the outside aren't up to par with what LSU has been producing are certainly a big part of why this success hasn't translated. As the season goes on, I wouldn't be surprised to see Denbrock adapt a lot faster to what is and isn't working for Notre Dame, and at the very least, produce a product that isn't nearly as one-dimensional. Defensive Coordinator - Al Golden Al Golden continues to be one of the most impressive coordinators in the entire country, as he coaches another dominant Notre Dame defense. This defense has been the biggest bright spot of this team, and continues to find ways to win games. Yes, this unit is loaded with talent at almost every position, and it is now showing its impressive depth due to Notre Dame's recent injury bug. Golden's defense has proved that it is also an incredibly disciplined and intelligent defense. If you watch closely, this defense is constantly in the right place at the right time, and there is not a single defender that is hesitant to make a play. This all comes down to coaching. Golden has given these defenders the confidence to play well, and they seem to believe in him. He's done an incredible job in preparing some of the underclassmen such as Drayk Bowen, Adon Shuler, Leonard Moore and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, who are now featured more prominently on a stout Irish defense that looks scary for years to come. Although offenses has proven this defense can give up yards at times, they quickly adjust and limit explosive plays. So far this season, Notre Dame's defense ranks ninth in the country in points per drive. Along with this, they rank eighth in scoring defense, only allowing 12.6 points per game. Notre Dame faced a dynamic offense in their most recent game against Louisville, but it was the defense that made the winning plays late in that game. This is the theme of Notre Dame's season thus far. It will be interesting to see if Golden and this defense can keep it up, but there has been no evidence this defense has any plans of slowing down. Golden's defensive scheme's and game-planning have been highlighted as some of the more intricate and difficult to face in the entirety of college football. Outside of a few injuries, it's hard to imagine this season could be going much better for coach Golden and his defensive staff. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame has some of the best uniforms in the nation. From the crisp navy blue jerseys to the shiny gold helmets, why would anyone want to change it up? Well in 2009, Notre Dame started playing the Shamrock Series where they would go play at a neutral site once a year. In 2012, they decided they would create a special new uniform to wear each year in these games. Today, I'll be ranking each uniform from worst to best: 2021 vs. Wisconsin These are good uniforms. They are last on my list solely because they're a little too plain for me. Notre Dame's traditional uniforms are clean and minimalistic. In the Shamrock Series, I like to see the Irish mix it up and do something different. Some of the best Shamrock Series uniforms would be terrible every-week uniforms. These are just a bit too basic to be ranked above the others but are still a nice-looking uniform. 2012 vs. Miami These were the first alternate Shamrock Series uniforms. The jerseys are nice and clean. The Irish on the front with the different numbers is a nice touch. Still kind of plain in that regard, to be honest, but clean. The pants are okay, the stripes are a bit much. The helmet is where they lost me. I liked the style of bright gold that they wore when Adidas made alternate uniforms, as seen on half of the helmet, but the split helmet design is brutal, and that's why I ranked them near the bottom. 2016 vs. Army These were a super cool idea. The homage to the details of the Basilica on campus is unique. Unfortunately, I don't think it panned out very well. The colors clash with each other and don't pop like the typical Irish green and gold. The design on the helmet isn't very clear either. I think the idea behind these could've produced a very cool uniform, these just aren't that. I appreciate the Celtic-style font. 2014 vs. Purdue This was another uniform that, at the time, I thought could be a good fit if Notre Dame ever decided to abandon their tradition and wear new uniforms. At the time, I was 11, so I don't think I'd feel the same now. This was Under Armour's first Shamrock Series uniform. The helmet is kind of cool and has a pattern on it similar to the golden dome. The detailing on the shoulders is also nice. The stripes on the pants aren't my favorite look. These weren't the best, but I don't think they were the worst either. 2015 vs. Boston College Everything about this game was great: playing at Fenway Park, the uniforms matching the green monster and winning a nail-biter against rival Boston College. Kelly Green has always been a great look for Notre Dame. The script "Irish" on the chest looks great in gold lettering. I am not a fan of the stripes fading, but other than that, these were cool. The two-tone facemask was something I've never seen before and made the uniforms that much better. The small striping on the inside of the numbers was also a nice subtle touch. 2024 vs. Army I think these uniforms are phenomenal and I can't wait to watch them on-field this year. The shade of blue-grey to honor the four horsemen is great and also goes perfectly with the Gotham feel that they were shooting for. It also contrasts perfectly against the chrome gold numbers and bright helmets. The Gothic font is another great aspect of this uniform. While there aren't a bunch of different components of these uniforms, I think it's the perfect balance of flashy and simple. 2018 vs. Syracuse One of the most polarizing uniforms in Notre Dame's history, these have received their fair share of hate. Given the fact that they played at Yankee Stadium, I think these are some of the coolest uniforms they've worn. The pinstripe pants, the Yankee script font on the chest, the subtle touches of gold, I love these. I would have liked to see them try to mimic the Yankees hats with their helmets, but overall I still think that these were awesome uniforms to only wear one time. 2013 vs. Arizona State These were beautiful. Green, gold, and white, is a perfect color combo. Similar to the uniforms this year against Louisville, these colors go great together. The gold helmet with the chrome shamrock is a great look. These are flashier than the traditional uniforms but could pass as every-week uniforms if you wanted them to. These are some of my favorites. Again, a great balance of flashy and simple. 2022 vs. BYU These uniforms are perfect. The shoulder stripes and all the gold accents gave off the perfect Vegas feel and included the golden dome. The number font, color, and outline were great. I'd like to see Notre Dame experiment with gold numbers outlined in blue again like this. The font across the chest fits perfectly with the theme and still looks so clean. The shamrock with the design on the sleeve looks great. The only thing I would change about these is maybe add a stripe on the pants, but these are the best uniforms that have ever come out of the Shamrock Series. The Shamrock Series is a great tradition. The flair of something different is great for fans, recruiting, players, etc. There are plenty out there who don't think they should ever stray from the classics, which is a fair take. To fall in love with Notre Dame is to fall in love with tradition: the uniforms, the fight song, the alma mater, the pregame rituals, everything. But I think with all that, it's awesome to mix it up once a year. Editor Note: All photos via Notre Dame Athletics Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame basketball fans were riding the wave of excitement last week after Coach Micah Shrewsberry was able to get three Top 100 players to commit to the Irish in five short days. Notre Dame was not only able to land 4-star PF Brady Koehler, and 5-star SF Jalen Haralson who is the highest ranked commitment in school history, but they ended the week by securing a commitment from 4-star SF Ryder Frost. Many fans wondered if Coach Shrewsberry was done, or if he would land another star for the class of 2025. That answer came just a few days later, when it was announced that 4-star C Tommy Ahneman had committed to Notre Dame. Photo via Tommy Ahneman, Instagram (@tommy.ahneman) Ahneman is a ℅ 2025 4-star Center from St. Paul Minnesota. The 6’11" 252lbs Center out of Cretin Derham Hall in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is currently ranked by 247Sports as the No. 16 Center in the country, and the No. 1 player overall in the state of Minnesota. He’s the 2024 ND Gatorade Player of The Year, and has a 7’2” wingspan. He holds 13 offers from many big name schools, but ultimately chose the Irish over Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa. Ahneman played his junior year at Sheyenne High School in West Fargo, North Dakota, and averaged 20.3pts, 13.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game while winning a state championship. He transferred to Cretin Durham-Hall High School, where he will finish his Senior year.  I was fortunate enough to catch up with Tommy Ahneman after he committed to Notre Dame to find out how his recruitment went, what his relationship is like with the coaches, and why he chose Notre Dame over all the rest. Tommy was gracious enough to answer those questions and more. For a big time recruit such as Ahneman, you would expect that teams were beating down the door to give out offers, but that wasn’t necessarily the case with Tommy. He wasn’t really getting a lot of attention, but that changed his junior year thanks to the help of his AAU coach. “I called my assistant AAU coach because I wasn’t getting any looks from any schools even though I was averaging 20 points and 13 rebounds a game. I spoke to my coach to see what I could do to get the exposure I needed to get the attention of college coaches. He told me to send him my game footage and he’d see what he could do. He called up the University of Portland, and shortly after they came to one of my practices and they immediately offered me. That was my very first offer. Notre Dame actually didn’t come into play until after Penn State offered me. They were actually the last school to offer. I was very excited when they did, and now I get to call it home.”  Although Ahneman only got the chance to visit Notre Dame once when he went for his official visit on September 28th, that was more than enough to know that Notre Dame was where he was supposed to be.  “Because my family was in the process of moving to St. Paul, I never had the chance to visit Notre Dame until my official visit. That was the first time I had ever been on campus. But I knew I was committing to Notre Dame halfway through the third quarter of the football game. Right after they snapped the ball over the punter’s head and we got the touchdown, I was like alright here we go! Let’s do it”  Gamedays are better with a lab! - https://www.hideawaylabs.com/ Student athletes pick where they want to play at the collegiate level for a multitude of reasons. Whether it be for academics, being close to home, or development just to name a few. For Tommy, Notre Dame reminded him of home, and from the first time he stepped on campus, he just felt how great the fit would be.  “South Bend reminded me a lot of my hometown, Fargo. Because it reminded me of home, I felt comfortable as soon as I walked off the plane. Even our airports are similar. To have that type of home-like familiarity made me feel like this is where I should be.” Wanting to commit so fast after just one visit like Tommy did, you would have to imagine that the coaches and the team made quite an impression on him - and to no surprise, they did just that.  “The players were ultimately what did it for me. They went out of their way to show me a good time. They took me around campus and introduced me to everyone. It was the first visit I had been on where the whole team was together. Usually I’m just with the freshmen when I visit, but I got to be with the whole team. It was just a really good time and I felt like I meshed really well with all of them. I really felt like I fit in with what the program wants and needs in a player.” The players obviously went out of their way to make Tommy feel at home, but what about the relationships he has with the coaches?  “The first time I met Coach Shrewsberry was the week before my official visit. I talked on the phone with him and we had a really good conversation. I could tell that we were going to have a great relationship, and that relationship grew even more on my official visit. He’s a genius when it comes to the sport of basketball. He’s a great coach that wants to develop you as a basketball player and to get you to the next level. I can’t wait to get on campus and learn from him. Coach Kyle Getter was also a very important part of my recruitment to Notre Dame. He was my main contact through all of my recruitment, and I talked to him at least once a week. Even before they offered me, he was in constant contact with me and I’ve developed such a great relationship with him.”  So what can Irish fans expect to get from a player like Tommy Ahneman?  “I’m the type of player who’s going to put his head down and make plays. I’m always looking to make the smart play and do what’s best for the team. I’m a hard worker that’s always looking to get better each and every day, and I’ll do whatever it takes to help my teammates succeed.”   There’s so much to look forward to when it comes to the future of Notre Dame basketball. Coach Micah Shrewsberry is truly building something special, and it all starts with players like Tommy Ahneman. Tommy is a very talented and humble young man who knows exactly what he wants when it comes to his future. We at The Irish Tribune wish Tommy luck on his journey to the next level.   Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame heads into the bye week with a 4-1 mark on the season. While there are certainly signs the blue and gold are finding their groove, what are the essential areas Marcus Freeman, Mike Denbrock, and Al Golden should be honing in on during the week-long respite, particularly with rival Stanford getting set for a trip to South Bend next Saturday. On this week's show, Clayton Stohler dishes on Deuce Knight's, shall we say, interesting flip from Notre Dame to Auburn. What was the driving force behind the change and what impact will this have on Notre Dame recruiting moving forward? Plus, the Irish offense continues to show signs of legitimacy with each passing week. After a sluggish start last Saturday against visiting Louisville, what should the blue and gold be focusing on during the bye week from an offensive standpoint? Clay talks all this and much more. Trust us, you don't want to miss it! Go Irish! Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

Whenever someone mentions Notre Dame greats at the wide receiver position, the name Michael Floyd always comes up. The argument could be made that Floyd, the most decorated WR in school history, is the greatest to ever play the position at ND. He is Notre Dame’s career leader in receptions (271), receiving yards (3,686), TD receptions (37), and 100-yard games (17). Floyd went on to become the 13th overall pick for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2012 NFL draft. He spent eight seasons in the NFL, where he played for Arizona, New England, Minnesota, and Washington. He played in 102 games where he had 266 receptions for 3,959yds and 25TDs for his professional career. He retired from football in 2019. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Recently, I was able to catch up with Michael for an interview, where we talked about his recruitment, why he chose Notre Dame, what it was like to play for Charlie Weis, how hard it was to adapt to a head coaching change, and much more. Michael Floyd went on to become one of the greatest WRs to ever play at Notre Dame. So, one would think Notre Dame had him in their sights all along when it came to his college recruitment. Right? The answer may shock you. “My recruiting experience was awesome. When I started my sophomore year, Notre Dame was actually looking at a prospect, Matt Carufel, who was an offensive lineman at my high school (Cretin-Derham Hall) in Minnesota. Coach Rob Ianello noticed me in his (Carufel’s) highlight tape. He came back that next week and offered me a scholarship. That was one of my first offers along with the University of Minnesota. Overall, it was a very good experience for me and I waited until the last minute, but I knew where I wanted to go and Notre Dame was the best fit for me.” Michael found something very familiar about Notre Dame that hit close to home for him, and it was because of this that he knew Notre Dame was the best fit for him. “I chose Notre Dame because it was most like my high school. Great academics, a great football program, a lot of tradition, and I knew that my high school at that time kind of had a pipeline going there. I didn’t actually know much about Notre Dame until I read up on some history of the University. I did know that it was one of the best in the world in academics with a great football program and a lot of history behind it. That’s mainly why I chose it, but I later learned once you’re done with school and get that degree, it goes a long way and it opens a lot of doors for someone who has graduated from Notre Dame. That’s what I think separates Notre Dame from any other school is that degree, and how it helps you going into the business world.” Calling all Irish fans! The Irish Tribune has recently partnered with Autograph, an app that rewards you for ... being a Notre Dame fan ! Autograph serves as a one-stop sports hub for your fandom, tailored to all your favorite teams. Read all your favorite Irish blogs (including The Irish Tribune!), listen to all your favorite Irish podcasts and -- get this -- no-fee tickets  to Notre Dame stadium all season long. Autograph truly has everything a Notre Dame fan needs, all in one place. Prove your fandom, earn Fan Coins, level up and unlock incredible rewards, from Irish merch to free tickets! Click here to get started! Charlie Weis had great success when it came to coaching offenses, and it was one of the reasons he was hired to coach at Notre Dame. So what was he like as a head coach? Floyd shared his thoughts on why he liked playing for Weis. “Playing for Coach Weis was always a good time. Great offensive minded coach that expected the most out of us, especially the group that we played with being Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, and myself, along with a really good offensive line. We were a very tight group, and we should have won a lot more games than we did, but he got us ready for the next level. He’s the type of coach that is a straight shooter, who doesn’t play around, and he's always going to tell you what he thinks. That’s what I liked the most about Coach Weis, or any coach, is someone who is honest and will tell you like it is.” Michael went through something not all college athletes have to go through, and that’s transitioning from one head coach to another. In his fifth season as head coach, things weren’t going well for Charlie Weis, and on November 30, 2009, he was let go and his contract was bought out by Notre Dame. Just ten days later on December 10, 2009, it was announced that Brian Kelly would be taking the head coaching job at Notre Dame. So what was it like for Floyd to adjust to a new head coach? Not as bad as you would think. “I don’t think the transition was a big difference from Weis to Kelly. It did get me ready for the next level with the no huddle offense, and figuring out plays called in from the sideline. I would say that both coaches were great to learn from because of the different offenses they ran, and what I learned from both of them helped get me to the next level.” There were so many great games to look back on in Michael Floyd’s career at Notre Dame, but what game was his favorite? Notre Dame fans will love this answer, as it ends with a victory against Notre Dame’s biggest rival. “I think my favorite game I played at Notre Dame was on my 21 st birthday at USC. We beat them for the first time in 10 years out in southern California. That was a fun flight home after 10 years of not beating them because they handed it to us the last decade. Also, the weekend I committed to Notre Dame they got blown out by USC, and they were the only school in the country that didn’t offer me a scholarship that I wanted to go to. So I wanted to go to a school that played them every year because I was pretty upset about it. Pete Carroll offered me to come to a one day camp, and I was like no chance. So, beating them was definitely my favorite game.” During his career at Notre Dame, Michael Floyd was a human highlight reel who left fans in awe after many of his catches. But what was his favorite play/plays during his career at ND? For Floyd, it was a specific game during his sophomore year. “I’d say my favorite plays because I can’t pinpoint just one, but I’d say my favorites were during my Sophomore year when we played Nevada. It was just jump balls the whole time, and one on one coverage with a lot of good blocks from the wide receivers that sprung me loose. It was a good day for us, and a good day individually for myself. I had 3 touchdowns for almost 200 yards, so it was an all around good day.” Michael had one of the best careers you could ever ask for when it comes to the stat sheet for a wide receiver. In fact, he’s currently the career leader in receptions, receiving yards, TD receptions, and 100yd games for Notre Dame. He’ll go down as one of the greatest to ever play at ND. But what does Michael feel are his biggest accomplishments? Of course, he holds his records in high regard, but there’s two other things he’s very proud of. “Obviously we didn’t have the seasons that we wanted to at Notre Dame with the talent that we had, but for me, holding all those wide receiver records at such a prestigious University like Notre Dame is a big accomplishment for me. I believe records are meant to be broken, and I don’t know when mine will be, but for now, holding all the records for wide receivers along with graduating from Notre Dame and being the first in my family to do so are my greatest accomplishments.” So what’s Michael up to now that he’s retired from football? Well, he’s gone from competition on the field to the very competitive business of real estate. “I work for EXP Realty in Minnesota, and I enjoy my time doing so. I cold call and door knock every single day, looking for people who had an agent but they couldn’t get the job done. I research their number from a public database record and cold call them to try and setup a meeting so then I can help them sell their home. One of the benefits of being in realty is that I know real estate agents from all over the country, so if there is anyone looking to buy or sell anywhere in the country, I can find them the best Realtor to help them get their home sold or help them buy their dream house.” There you have it Irish fans, Michael is still very much in a competitive field where he works hard to get the job done each and every day. Just like he did each and every Saturday in the fall at Notre Dame. If you need any help buying or selling a home but you haven’t been able to through your Realtor, you can reach out to Michael at michaelmatthewfloyd@gmail.com . He just may be able to help you. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Highly-touted 2025 QB Deuce Knight has decommitted from the University of Notre Dame, and flipped to Auburn in a move that's been expected for the better part of a few months. Photo via Deuce Knight Since his commitment in September of last year, Deuce Knight had been the crown jewel of the 2025 recruiting class. He had been working hard to recruit elite talent to Notre Dame, and had become a fan-favorite recruit. Despite Knight's efforts, Notre Dame's offensive class didn't see a ton of traction, missing on three priority targets at the receiver position in the month of July. Around the beginning of August, rumblings began that Knight would likely visit Auburn for their "Big Cat" weekend, setting the stage for a lengthy battle for the Irish staff to keep him in the fold. Gamedays are better with a lab! - https://www.hideawaylabs.com/ Knight would take multiple visits to Auburn over the course of the early season, and the allure of playing in the SEC as a Mississippi native likely played a role in his decision to sever his ties to Notre Dame. Auburn's recruiting surge to end the summer saw the Tigers land multiple top recruits, and skyrocketed Auburn's class near the top of the recruiting rankings. Despite limited on field success, Hugh Freeze has seemingly sent an all-out blitz on the trail. Auburn's struggles at quarterback this season may also open a door for Knight to earn playing time earlier than he would have at Notre Dame, which may have also been a factor in this decision. As for Notre Dame, well, this is less than ideal. A highly rated commit who had seemingly been all in has once again spurned the Irish. This has become an unwelcome trend for Notre Dame over the course of Marcus Freeman's tenure at Notre Dame, as the Irish will once again need to scramble in the latter stages of the recruiting cycle to procure another option. The Irish pattern of starting the cycle red hot, and then losing traction down the stretch has caused plenty of headaches for fans, and I'm sure for the staff as well. Notre Dame will need to find a way to make these kids stick, and the answer still eludes them. Alongside Ivan Taylor, Notre Dame has now lost the pledge of their top two committed players in the class of 2025. The loss of Knight now leaves a thin offensive class even thinner. There is no indication at this time where Freeman and company will turn their attention, but as the writing has been on the wall for quite some time, I'm sure the staff has a plan moving forward. For now, it's another tough pill to swallow for Notre Dame. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

By any metric you choose to use, Notre Dame's secondary currently ranks among the best in the country. Surefire future NFL first round pick Benjamin Morrison and last years Bronco Nagurski award winner Xavier Watts headline a group that is allowing a shade under 165 yards passing per game. Both Morrison and Watts will be playing on Sundays come next season, leaving a talented albeit generally unproven DB room behind. It is not easy to replace an All-American safety, and a true lock down cornerback is hard to come by, but it certainly softens the blow when you bring in the type of recruiting class in the secondary that Notre Dame will be rolling out in 2025. Photo via Mark Zackery, Instagram (@markzackeryiv) One of the crown jewels of the 2025 cycle for the Fighting Irish is 4-star Cornerback, Mark Zackery. The Indianapolis, Indiana product is the sixth ranked CB in the class and brings an extremely high ceiling. In my opinion, (and not just because I played it in high school) corner is the hardest position in football. You have to play with patience and anticipation, have a high football IQ, and must also be willing to come down and make tackles in run support. After getting a chance to watch film on Zackery, I am extremely encouraged that he possesses all of these traits in spades, and then some. Lets break down some of the main things that stood out. As always, the player's skills will be evaluated on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Gamedays are better with a lab! - https://www.hideawaylabs.com/ Athletic Ability : Very good (6) Zackery possesses incredible closing speed. Has rare stop and start ability, showing he can drop his hips, transfer his weight, and drive on underneath passes. Very smooth in his backpedal, has very good hip fluidity, and his change of direction almost looks effortless. He shows plenty enough straight line speed to be left on an island and athletically is everything you want in a corner. Mental Processing: Very Good (6) This will somewhat tie into Zone Coverage ability, which I will get into next, but it only took me a few plays to see he plays with a very high football IQ and good understanding of the game. He also takes plenty of snaps at receiver, which no doubt contributes to his route recognition ability. Has great instincts and consistently reads and reacts on time, getting himself in position to make plays both in the passing game and in run support. For as long as Al Golden is around, Notre Dame will continue to implement multiple coverage looks, and someone with the football smarts of Zackery will have no problem learning them all. Zone Coverage: Elite (7) READ AND REACT. I mentioned it under Mental Processing, but worth mentioning it here again, because it is a huge part of playing Zone Coverage. Zackery does an incredible job of reading the Quarterback's eyes and reacting to what he sees. Plays with proper depth when in a Cover 2, allowing him to drive on routes to the flats, while also maintaining enough depth to drop underneath anything to the sidelines behind him. Good technique and leverage when in a Cover 3 look, and recognizes when to open up and carry anything vertical. Special player in Zone, and I really look forward to seeing him continue to polish this part of his game. Man Coverage: Very Good (6) If you want to be an elite corner at any level, you better be able to play some man coverage. Zackery shows good patience at the line of scrimmage, not overreacting to a receiver's initial jab step. Stays in phase all the way through the route, and is rarely not in the WR's hip pocket. Hovering around 170 pounds, will need to add some weight to his frame in order to consistently be able to play press, but that will come with a college weight lifting and diet program, so not a whole lot of concern there. Will occasionally open his hips too early, and due to his excellent recovery speed, it did not really hurt him too much to this point at the high school level, but against more polished D1 route runners, that extra second it takes to flip your hips the opposite way could be the difference between a complete and an incomplete pass. Overall, very good in this department as well, and should only get better with more repetition. Ball Skills: Elite (7) Being able to knock down a pass is good play, but being able to make the opposing QB pay by turning bad reads into turnovers is game changing. This is another area that also being a wide receiver certainly helps, because Zackery does this with relative ease. Has the ability to outjump receivers and high point the ball, as well as catching it in stride as if he was running the route himself. His speed in the open field will turn interceptions into pick 6's more times than not, and he is an absolute momentum changing player. This is one of those traits that can separate good from great players, and I'm sure is one thing that really stood out to Freeman and his staff when watching film. Notre Dame will look to carry over the success it has had defending the pass as of late for years to come, and Mark Zackery figures to play a huge role in that. Along with fellow 2025 recruits such as Dallas Golden and Jadon Blair, South Bend will continue to be a no fly zone for opposing offenses, and a school synonymous with producing Offensive Linemen and Tight Ends will start to push schools like Ohio State for at least a share of the title of "Secondary U". Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Hockey season is underway with the Irish hard at work in training camp to prepare for the upcoming season that begins October 4th. The Irish will be led by legendary Head Coach Jeff Jackson for one final season, just a year following the disappointing 2023-24 campaign.  Photo by The Irish Tribune Last season’s Irish squad finished 15-19-2, the program’s first season finishing with under a .500 win percentage since 2014-15. Their fifth-place regular season conference finish led to defeat at the hands of Michigan in the Big Ten quarterfinals. As mentioned before, this will be the final season for Jeff Jackson leading Irish hockey. The former Team USA assistant has been in charge of the Notre Dame program since 2005, currently holding a 407-266-73 record during this time. Current associate head coach and former Irish player, Brock Sheahan ‘08, will be Jackson's replacement next year.  The Irish enter this season ranked 19th in the USCHO Poll. Coach Jackson will have some work to do early in his final campaign, namely replacing the starting goaltender and three of the top six point scorers from a year ago.  As always the Big Ten slate will provide must-watch entertainment every single game, with each team being ranked or receiving votes in the preseason USCHO Poll. Here are Big Ten foes currently ranked within the top 20: #4 Michigan State, #6 Minnesota, #7 Michigan, and #10 Wisconsin.  One of the more notable games is scheduled for January 3rd. The Irish will be participating in “The Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series,” which will be held at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Notre Dame is set to face Penn State for this outdoor game under the lights, with puck drop listed at 7:30 local time. Coach Jackson is excited about this “great experience” as the Irish will need to maintain poise during this important Big Ten battle. The schedule is no easy ‘walk through the park’ as the Irish are slated to face some very talented teams during out-of-conference play. Here are notable OOC games: 10/4 vs USNTDP (exhibition) 10/11 at St Lawrence 10/12 at Clarkson 10/25 & 10/26 vs Long Island Friendship Four in Northern Ireland 11/29 vs Harvard 11/30 vs #3 Boston University or Merrimack The Friendship Four series is a week that Irish hockey players and staff have marked on their calendars. The week-long trip to Northern Ireland will provide a “once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Coach Jackson stated. Additionally, the Big Ten gave Notre Dame a bye week following this mid-season trip.  Regarding the roster, Notre Dame lost talent in each position group this offseason so it may take some time to determine where exactly the team has its strengths and weaknesses. Coach Jackson explained he is excited for the returning players who look like “they have been on a mission” to take steps and improve their game. Key returnees mentioned by Jackson include forwards Danny Nelson (9 G, 14 A, 23 Pts), Cole Knuble (9 G, 11 A, 20 Pts), Maddox Fleming (3 G, 9 A, 12 Pts), Carter Slaggert (3 G, 4 A, 7 Pts), Jayden Davis (2 G, 1 A 3 Pts), Hunter Strand (4 G, 15 A, 19 Pts), Grant Silianoff (4 G, 7 A, 11 Pts), and defenseman Paul Fischer (2 G, 14 A, 16 Pts) and Michael Mastrodomenico (1 G, 6 A, 7 Pts). Center and 2023 New York Islanders’ second-round pick Danny Nelson's 23 points were the third-most on the Irish a year ago. The 2024 U.S. National Junior Team gold medalist missed six games last season but Nelson is looking to rebound and build off his impressive rookie season. Fellow sophomore center Cole Knuble is also looking to grow on his 20-point freshman season. Knuble was the owner of the Irish’s lone hat trick last year, which was a part of one of his two multi-goal games. The center also led the Irish in faceoff wins (376) and percentage (52.2%).  Another returning sophomore is defenseman Paul Fischer. The 2023 U18 World Junior Championship gold medalist's 14 assists last year were the third-most on the Irish. Coach Jackson remarked he would like to see more “grit” from Fischer this year, a value that is required in the competitive and talented Big Ten. Jackson added that Fischer will be relied upon in the power play and penalty kill.  The sophomore star trio of Nelson, Knuble, and Fischer are a part of a key class that also includes Fleming, Slaggert, and Davis who Coach Jackson acknowledged have had solid preseason performances. Upperclassmen that Coach Jackson is expecting to see jumps from this season include Strand (senior), Silianoff (grad student), and Mastrodomenico (junior).   An influx of new faces will be introduced to the program this season, including five incoming freshmen and five incoming transfers. Freshmen forwards Jack Larrigan and Michael Schermerhorn have been and will continue to compete for depth roles this season. Defensively, the Irish bring in freshmen Jimmy Jurcev and Jaedon Kerr who will also be competing for depth roles as Coach Jackson commented that these young defensemen are “developmental projects” with “great potential.” The final freshman is goaltender Nick Kempf, former USNTDP netminder and 2024 fourth-round NHL Draft pick by the Washington Capitals. Kempf has impressed throughout camp and with no true starting goalie on the Irish roster, expect to see him in the rotation. Coach Jackson admitted Kempf has “a lot of potential,” however he is young and may need time to adjust at this level.  Coach Jackson and the Irish staff needed to be active in the portal and they did just that, bringing home five transfers, four of whom should make instant impacts.  The most recent transfer was former Air Force captain and defenseman Luke Robinson (2 G, 7 A, 9 Pts). For various reasons, including being a late transfer, Robinson is not currently listed on the Irish roster, however, he is practicing with the team. Assuming the veteran leader is eligible to play, his best chance to see ice time may only occur when the Irish dress ten defensemen, rather than the usual nine. A reason for this is due to Coach Jackson’s commitment to developing younger talent.  The first true impact transfer is the Swedish defenseman, Axel Kumlin (2 G, 9 A, 11 Pts), a junior from Miami (OH). Kumlin is expected to be a top-four defenseman right away this season as Coach Jackson raved about his offensive instincts and playmaking abilities during his season-opening press conference. Jackson added he has “high expectations” for Kumlin including making an “immediate impact” on the power play.  In addition to Kempf, the Irish added Mercyhurst junior transfer goalie Owen Say in an effort to replace elite starter Ryan Bischel, who is now in the Boston Bruins organization. Say holds the most NCAA experience in the Notre Dame goalie room, including a 50-save performance against the Irish last year. He finished last season with a solid save percentage (91%) with a below-average defense in front of him. The goaltender battle of Say, Kempf, and junior Jack Williams will be one to watch, especially early in the season. Coach Jackson admitted “The big question mark for us is going to be identifying who the starting goaltender is,” and he did not shy away from naming Kempf and Say ahead of Williams at this time. The unknown of a starting goaltender has not phased Jackson as he praised all three goalies, stating, “This is the first time since I’ve been here that we have three goalies that all look pretty good.” There is a chance all three play in the exhibition opener. The Irish also brought in a combination of forwards with Ian Murphy (11 G, 12 A, 23 Pts) and Blake Biondi (8 G, 11 A, 19 Pts). Murphy served as the captain at Princeton before deciding to spend his graduate year in South Bend. The former ivy-leaguer totaled 71 points in 81 games during his time at Princeton. Coach Jackson expects Murphy to compete for a “top-six forward” spot right away in addition to power play and penalty kill opportunities.  Blake Biondi, like Murphy, is also a graduate transfer. The former Minnesota Mr. Hockey comes over from Minnesota Duluth as a potential 20-goal scorer for the Irish. Biondi was a fourth-round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. The talented forward has dealt with injuries in past seasons, most recently missing the bulk of last year due to a shoulder issue. Positively, Coach Jackson claimed that Biondi has been “one of our best players in camp.” A great sign for this upcoming season. Senior forward Justin Janicke (4 G, 12 A, 16 Pts) remarked about how Biondi reminds him of his brother, former Irish assistant captain Trevor Janicke, and how they play similar "power forward" styles. As a whole, this Notre Dame squad is not short on motivation. The first, and probably less important, motivation factor has been the disrespect shown by preseason polls, picked to finish fifth out of the seven Big Ten teams. When asked about this, Janicke replied “...it’s exactly where we want to be, the teams at Notre Dame that have done well are the ones who are underrated…using it as motivation.” During Janicke’s presser, he placed heavy emphasis on playing for each other and as a team this season. The largest motivator this season is sending out Coach Jackson a winner in his final season. Senior forward Tyler Carpenter (5 G, 4 A, 9 Pts) commented, “(we) want to make a lasting impact on Coach Jackson’s last year, make it one to remember…obviously a national championship is the goal but ‘wants to take it one day at a time.” This message has been sent and received by everyone in the Notre Dame locker room. Expect to see a hungry Irish hockey team hitting the ice this season with a chip on their shoulder. As always Notre Dame will be tested early and often especially when Big Ten play commences in November. Coach Jackson will want the focus to be on the team and its current operations but there is no doubt the looming passing of the torch at the head coaching position will be at the forefront of Irish fans’ minds as the season gets into full swing. Author Note: All quotes are taken from either the 09/18 or 09/31 press conferences Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame came away with a huge win Saturday against the University of Louisville. This was a big game that featured two Top 25 teams, and excitement surrounding this game was on high alert. So, it’s not surprising that there was a lot of future talent that attended this game. One of those in attendance was C/O 2026 3-Star OT Sullivan “Sully” Garvin from Allegan, Michigan.  Photo via Garvin Family Garvin is a 6’5" 300lb offensive tackle from Allegan High School. He is currently ranked by 247Sports as the No. 13 player in the state of Michigan. In his first 4 games this season, he’s allowed 0 sacks and has 15 pancakes, so he’s already putting together an impressive junior season. Before yesterday’s visit at Notre Dame, he had seven Division-1 offers from schools across the Midwest, but there was one offer he was really waiting on - Notre Dame. That came following the Louisville game, when Coach Joe Rudolph approached him with the offer he was waiting for. Sullivan described it on social media as a “Dream offer after an amazing game day visit.”  Gamedays are better with a lab! - https://www.hideawaylabs.com/ I reached out to Sullivan to find out more about his gameday experience, how his trip to Notre Dame went, his relationship with the coaches, what it meant to him to get an offer from Notre Dame, and more. It was a big day for the Irish, and many recruits and commits were in attendance to witness it, but what was Sullivan’s trip like, and how did he enjoy his game day experience? “My trip was amazing, the hospitality was awesome and everyone was so helpful and kind, the atmosphere was second to none, the fans are crazy and I love that.” So what was Sullivan’s favorite part of his trip? His answer is not surprising after a big win against a Top 25 team, but what he got to witness after the game made Notre Dame even more special for him. “My favorite part was going in the locker room after they won and getting to witness that, made me feel even more connected to ND.” For recruits to receive an offer from any school has to be an amazing feeling, but to receive an offer from the school that’s on your wish list has to be that much more special. How did Sullivan take the news? “I was astounded when Coach Rudolph offered me, when we first got there I had a gut feeling they might be offering me, but I didn’t expect them to do it that day. The offer from Notre Dame was so special to me because from the first time I stepped on campus, the place just felt so special and comforting.” What’s his relationship like with the coaches? “My relationship with Coach Rudolph and Coach Freeman is great, we all text pretty frequently so it’s really good I’d say.” We’ve learned a lot about Sullivan “Sully” Garvin during this interview. How he enjoyed his visit, what it was like to receive an offer from a dream school, and how his gameday experience went. But what would Notre Dame be getting if he were to commit to Notre Dame? “If I were to commit to Notre Dame, they would be getting someone who will put their head down and work as hard as possible, someone who’s coachable and willing to always do whatever my coaches ask of me.” As you can see, Sullivan “Sully” Garvin is a very talented and humble young man who’s continuing to grow and get better each and every day. He’s a hard worker that’s willing to put his head down to help his team. Notre Dame would be lucky to have him, as there's no doubt he will continue to grow into a great offensive line talent at the next level. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Size is a good place to start when it comes to scouting offensive lineman. Thankfully, not unlike fellow 2025 commit Owen Strebig, who I’ve discussed previously, Will Black does not lack in that department. Standing at 6’7", and weighing a little under 300 pounds, Black already exhibits the prototypical size you would want in somebody tasked in protecting a quarterback’s blindside. Height and weight do not always equal success, but in his case, it amplifies an already well defined skill-set that will only get better with coaching at the next level. When Marcus Freeman named true freshman Anthonie Knapp the starting left tackle in week one of the 2024 season, he showed he is not afraid to play young athletes with potential. There are not many players in the 2025 class with more potential than Will Black. Let’s break down some traits that contributed to Black’s lofty 5-star status. As always, the criteria evaluated will be on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Photo via Will Black, X (@Will_Black60) Play Strength: Elite (7)  There have been plenty of players over the years that have had the right measurables, but did not have the functional strength to match - Will Black is not one of those players. His exceptional lower body strength and leg drive is consistently on display, getting low and exploding at the point of attack. He wins his one-on-one blocking assignments routinely, controlling and steering defenders right out of running lanes with force.   Competitive Toughness: Elite (7) Whether in the run game or the passing game, Black finishes every block with a little something extra. You can quickly pick up on the pride he shows when it comes to playing through the whistle. Every rep I watched ended with his blocking assignment on the ground, usually followed by Black laying on top of him to ensure no late play defensive pursuit could take place. You like to see some “bully” out of your trench players on both sides of the ball, and Black more times than not is the biggest one on the field.   Run Blocking: Very Good (6) We've seen Black be deployed as a lead pull tackle, a front side zone blocker, and everything in between. Black is efficient in most areas of run blocking, but when he is used in a Power Scheme, he shines brightest. As mentioned above, his strength is off the charts, which allows him to get a consistent push on the man lined up in front of him. He does an excellent job of turning himself and sealing edge defenders, allowing ball carriers to come right off his backside.   Pass Blocking: Very Good (6) I was very pleased to see where Black is as a pass blocker, considering he is just now entering his senior season, and run blocking is usually much further ahead at the high school level. Has very good punch timing, getting his hands into the chest of the defender right before he gets into his rush moves, essentially stopping him in his tracks. Moves feet well against edge players that try go wide around him, and once he is engaged, stays in control and does not allow many attempts at double moves. Also shows glimpses of his Football IQ in the way he recognizes defensive line stunts, and stays in good position to take on the looping defender. He will need to become more polished on his hand placement as he can get a little outside and grabby, which does not get called much now, but refs are a little more flag happy in college.   Anchor: Very Good (6) Being able to stonewall rushers looking to convert speed to power and run through you on their way to the QB is a major part of what it takes to be a great tackle. It helps that Black towers over most of his current competition and can simply overpower them, but even from a technique standpoint, he does a good job of planting with a good base and holding his ground against bull/power rushes. Does not allow his pad level to get too high, and his lower body strength allows him to absorb the rush and protect the pocket.   Will Black is an outstanding prospect and well deserving of his high composite recruiting score. He already shows proficiency in both the run and pass game, and looks the part from a physical stature standpoint. When he arrives next season, he will join a very talented position group and very well may find himself as the next underclassmen contributing early on for the Blue and Gold. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun