The biggest question mark for Notre Dame entering the 2024 season was, to many, its offensive line. Now, after starting left tackle Charles Jagusah was lost for the season due to a torn pectoral, Irish o-line coach Joe Rudolph will be tasked with reimagining ND's front five. And he'll have to do it quickly. Photo by The Irish Tribune There is absolutely no way to spin out of the devastation that follows this news. There will be no cope that is offered by the following article. Additionally, there are no words that can express the unfortunate nature of this injury. From Charles Jagusah's prospects for this season, to his needed development throughout it, this is an unfortunate setback for a rather promising talent. The answer as to whether or not the 6'7, 330-lb. redshirt freshman is able to bounce back will have to wait until next season. However, Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph is now tasked with providing answers in the immediate, as Jagusah officially begins his recovery process. Entering his second year at Notre Dame, it was already a must that Rudolph delivered an improved product from 2023. Without his unit stepping up in a meaningful way, the offense would have a clear ceiling placed above it. Now, he is in a position where he'll have to accelerate the development timeline significantly for his already young room. Rudolph is not without options he can tap into. Notre Dame has recruited the front well, with players that can admirably step up at the left tackle position. The Irish also retained Tosh Baker, a now-suddenly massive development. If we were to take the depth chart at face value, next in line would be Anthonie Knapp. That's not happening. The true freshman is simply not physically ready to step in and play at the level needed at that position. As such, Rudolph will have to look elsewhere. Amil Wagner is a much more likely option. There are some that hold the opinion that Wagner should've been the left tackle to begin with, with Jagusah playing at his more "natural" position -- left guard. Wagner had a strong spring at right tackle, and looked to have secured the starting job only a handful of practices into fall camp. The questions now will center around his comfort level with playing on the left side. That would then open the battle at right tackle, yet again. More specifically, Tosh Baker versus incoming five-star freshman, Guerby Lambert. Weighing in at 318 pounds, and towering at 6'7, Lambert is a special talent. At the beginning of camp, it wasn't necessary that Lambert arrive to campus game-ready. But circumstances have changed. If Notre Dame elects to move Wagner to left tackle, it will be necessary that Lambert is at least battle-ready to be able to take on the most veteran member of the offensive line in Tosh Baker. Speaking of Baker, he could also be an option to transition to left tackle. It makes sense to put the perceived safe and steady veteran on the left side. The potential problem is that when Baker gets beat, he gets beat in horrific fashion. He will certainly have his opportunity to prove that he can limit those moments, and if he is going to win this battle, it is an undeniable must that he does just that. Bad beats on the right side of the line were inexcusable enough, but protecting Riley Leonard's blind side is of utmost importance -- as it is on any team. Baker has a tough hill to climb to instill confidence he's capable of doing so. Another intriguing option is redshirt freshman Sullivan Absher. Similar to Lambert, Absher is 321 pounds and an imposing 6'7. He looks the part. While at left guard right now, it's not out of the realm of possibility to slide him out wide. Early reports out of fall camp indicated that Absher is becoming hard to ignore. If he continues to step into himself, Notre Dame not only has an option that reveals itself as a stabilizing force, but one that can project dominance. Absher was slated as someone who was expected to be really good down the road. He should be granted the chance to cut that timeline down. The scenario Notre Dame is now dealt with can play out in a variety of ways. The key for Rudolph is to avoid "robbing Peter to pay Paul." How do you save one position while not taking away from another? Do you go with experience or high upside, yet unproven talent? The good news is that Rudolph won't have to wait until Week 1 to find out if his options can perform against a quality defensive line. Because come Wednesday's open practice, they'll be lining up against the Notre Dame defense. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Despite recent struggles on the offensive recruiting trail, Notre Dame has recruited exceedingly well on the other side of the football. One position group stands out in this class, and it’s the defensive backs. Today I will be breaking down all the defensive back commits in the 2025 class, and what to expect from these extremely talented athletes once they arrive in South Bend. Photo via Mark Zackery, Instagram (@markzackeryiv) Ethan Long: Safety (Greenwich, CT) Long is a sleeper for a lot of people, but that won't last. Scouts have said that Long has a strong IQ for the game and praise his mentals. Long is a straight up ball hawking athlete and can play just about anywhere on the field with his build and size. The 6’2", 185 pound safety also has a basketball background, adding to his athletic prowess. Don't let the publication rankings fool you, Ethan Long has all the physical tools to be an elite playmaker in the secondary, and with a coach who's pedigree is that of Mike Mickens, it shouldn't be too difficult to get the best out of the Greenwich product. Cree Thomas: Cornerback (Phoenix, AZ) Thomas is definitely one of the more underrated players in this class as a whole, but I absolutely love watching his tape throughout his high school career. Similar to Long, Thomas can jump a route just as fast as the average human can blink. In his junior year alone, he tallied five interceptions for Brophy College Prep, and looks to build on that success in his senior campaign. For a corner, he is very long and rangy, but that also allows him to be a very secure tackler, something that the defense has lacked as of late. When we interviewed Thomas after his commitment, he emphasized his confidence in his versatility, stating: "I'm just going to do anything I need to do to help the team. Anywhere they want to put me, I'm willing to play multiple positions. I played safety in high school as well so I am versatile and I'll be ready to do whatever they need me to do." JaDon Blair: Safety (Winston Salem, NC) The newest addition to this loaded 2025 class is none other than JaDon Blair. This pickup was huge for Freeman and Co., as the Irish were in a tight battle with Penn State, Michigan, and others for Blair's services. Blair has a very lengthy build and is very versatile in the field. He stands 6’4", 190 pounds, and is a freak of nature in coverage. The more I hear it, the more I see it, but Blair is eerily similar to former Safety, and current NFL Pro Bowler, Kyle Hamilton. This was a big part of the pitch to Blair from the staff, as they were able to draw a lot of the same similarities. The kid can hit you hard, run you down in a race, or be a nightmare for QB’s. Blair’s size will help tremendously, both defending the run and the pass. Ideally, he’s to be avoided in zone, but would like to see some more experience in man-to-man as his development progresses prior to his arrival in South Bend. Blair looks to become another unicorn-type player in the Irish secondary that teams will need to plan around. 4-Star Dallas Golden: Cornerback (Tampa, FL) Golden is another lengthy prospect that sits at 6’0", 185 pounds. Golden is listed as a safety, but projects extremely well at corner for the Irish - and there are even some murmers that he has the ball skills to be an excellent receiving threat. Golden actually rushed for more than 3,200 yards and scored 37 touchdowns the course of his last two seasons in high school at Berkeley Prep. His sharp cutting ability along with his elusiveness brings so much value and talent to this class. As much as I would love to see a two way player, the more he focuses on a singular side of the ball, the more dominant he will become. He attacks the ball aggressively through the air with his size and cover skills, which is one of his biggest assets as a defensive back. Another skilled talent with all the tools to be a household name in the Irish secondary. 4-Star Mark Zackery: Cornerback (Indianapolis, IN) Zackery is another big time blue-chip prospect for Notre Dame. He fits in so many different schemes and there’s so many ways for DC Al Golden to use him. He’s a lockdown corner, and there's no question about it after watching the film, as he is great in zone and holds it down in man to man. The Indy playmaker is very advanced for his age according to multiple scouting reports. Not only is he great in coverage, but a very solid open field tackler. Like Long, Zackery is also a standout basketball player, which is a plus for coordination and ball skills - part of the reason he also played wide receiver and posted impressive statistics. Zackery chose the Irish over big name schools like Michigan, Ohio State, and even Georgia. Freeman beat out some of the toughest recruiters in the land, and it was not easy.

Over the past week, the NFL has slowly released their player-voted top 100 players list. As always, the Irish were well represented across the board. Here are the former Irish stars who made this year’s list: Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Julian Love (Rank: 95; Seattle Seahawks) Love makes his first appearance on the NFL Top 100 list following his career-best season. The lockdown defensive back spent three seasons in South Bend before declaring for the NFL Draft following his All-American junior campaign.  In 38 career games with the Irish, Love totaled 176 tackles, 39 pass deflections, five interceptions including two pick-sixes, and four fumble recoveries. He was selected in the 4th round of the 2019 draft by the New York Giants. During his four-year Giants tenure, Love made 32 starts in 64 appearances. He finished his New York career with 291 tackles, 18 pass deflections, five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two recoveries. Love was also an impact player for the Giants special teams units during this time.     After playing out his rookie contract, Love entered free agency and signed a two-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks in 2023. This past season Love appeared in all 17 games with 12 starts. He earned his first Pro Bowl appearance after posting 123 tackles, 14 pass deflections, five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a recovery. His most notable performance came in Seattle’s week 15 upset win versus the Philadelphia Eagles when he recorded two interceptions and nine tackles, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Love’s breakout campaign earned himself a nice payday, as he recently signed a 3-year, $33 million extension this offseason. Harrison Smith (Rank: 93; Minnesota Vikings) Besides Carolina Panthers long snapper JJ Jansen, Harrison Smith is the longest tenured former Irish player currently active in the NFL. The six-time Pro Bowl safety is entering his 13th NFL season, all with the Minnesota Vikings.  Smith spent four seasons in South Bend from 2008-2011, finishing his Irish career with 307 tackles, 20 pass deflections, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a recovery. All seven of his interceptions occurred in the 2010 season, tied for the 6th-most interceptions in a season by an Irish defender. The Vikings selected Smith with the 29th overall pick in the 2012 draft. Although he may not be a NFL Hall of Famer, he has certainly left his mark on the league over the past decade-plus. Amongst active NFL defenders throughout their careers, Smith has the 2nd-most interceptions and 5th-most tackles. Over his 12 seasons, Smith has made 176 appearances with 175 starts. In all, he has surpassed over 1,000 tackles while recording 86 pass deflections and 34 interceptions including four pick-sixes.  Smith’s accolades include the following: Six Pro Bowl selections  Seven NFL Top 100 appearances (including this year) 2012 NFL All-Rookie Team Two-time AP All-Pro (1x 1st-Team) Two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week The 35-year old has withstood father time so far as he is still acknowledged as a top defensive back in the NFL. There are rumors that this could be his final season based on the way his contract is currently structured. Regardless, Smith is an Irish and Vikings legend who’s impact on the game should be acknowledged for years after he ultimately calls it a career. Kyren Williams (Rank: 78; Los Angeles Rams) The most surprising addition to this list is running back Kyren Williams, entering just his 3rd NFL season, he has already garnered his peers’ respect. Injuries in the LA Rams running back room this past season opened the door for Williams to shine. And he did exactly that.  In 12 games played last season, Williams made 11 starts and totaled over 1,300 all-purpose yards with 15 touchdowns. As a rusher, he ran for 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns on 228 attempts. In the pass game, he recorded 32 receptions for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns. Arguably, his best performance occurred in a week 12 win at Arizona when he rushed for 143 yards and added two receiving touchdowns, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Here is where Williams ranked amongst the NFL’s best during his 2023 Pro Bowl campaign:  1st in rushing yards per game (95.3) 3rd in total rushing yards (1,144) 3rd in total touchdowns (15) 6th in yards per rush attempt (5.0) Prior to setting the NFL on fire, Williams spent three seasons at Notre Dame. Williams joined elite company in South Bend after posting back-to-back seasons with 1,000-plus rushing yards. In 28 games played, Williams finished his Irish career with 2,153 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns on 419 carries. As a receiving threat, he racked up 78 receptions for 675 yards and 4 touchdowns. His 14 rushing touchdowns in the 2021 season are tied for 8th all-time by an Irish rusher in a single season. In addition, his 27 career rushing touchdowns are 10th all-time by an Irish rusher. The Rams’ selection of Williams in the 5th round of the 2022 draft is easily considered a steal now. Williams will look to build off his Pro Bowl campaign as he enters his athletic prime. Zack Martin (Rank: 53; Dallas Cowboys) The stalwart offensive lineman, Zack Martin, was a captain on the 2012 BCS Championship runner-ups. His dominance in the trenches led to him being drafted 16th overall in the 2014 draft by the Dallas Cowboys.  Since then, Martin has been one of the more consistently great guards in the league. His favorite stat is probably that he has more Pro Bowl selections (9) than holding penalties (8) during his career. It is no surprise Martin has made over $93 million in career earnings as his accolades speak for themselves: 2014 NFL All-Rookie Team Nine-time AP All-Pro (Seven-time 1st-Team) Nine-time Pro Bowler Eight NFL Top 100 appearances (including this year)  Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2010’s Team The 34 year old has acknowledged retirement is in the “realm of possibilities”  following this season. You could probably debate whether he is first-ballot or not, but there is no question Zack Martin deserves a spot in Canton eventually. Kyle Hamilton (Rank: 43; Baltimore Ravens) Finally, the highest ranked former Irish player is defensive back Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton is the highest ranked safety on the NFL’s Top 100 list after just one season as a full-time starter.  At Notre Dame, Hamilton spent three seasons with the Irish, most notably as a key contributor on the 2020 CFP team. In 31 career appearances, Hamilton recorded 138 tackles, 16 pass deflections, and eight interceptions including a pick-six his freshman season. Hamilton’s impact was widely acknowledged across the country as he was named a 2021 Consensus All-American despite only playing seven games. This prominence led to his eventual selection as the 14th overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Baltimore Ravens. This past season, Hamilton started all 15 games he appeared in, helping lead the Ravens to the AFC North division title. At just 23 years old, Hamilton was selected to the Pro Bowl and named an AP All-Pro First-Teamer. He finished his campaign with 81 tackles, 13 pass deflections, four interceptions including a pick-six, and a forced fumble. The sky's the limit for the young and athletic safety. Obviously it would be difficult to project his career but I would bet this will not be his last appearance on the NFL Top 100. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The 2024 football season is less than 30 days away. With Notre Dame in prime position for a playoff run -- if all goes according to plan -- here's a look at three crucial games on the Irish schedule, including something of a "revenge game" in late September. Photo via The Irish Tribune Fall camp is South Bend is approaching, meaning the start of a new season is upon us. The 2024 campaign across the country will provide a different look for the college football landscape. Conference realignment, a new playoff format, and different rule changes have led to unprecedented anticipation for this year's season. And, when it comes to Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish will also experience changes with an unusual schedule this time around. With only three true road games and three neutral-site games in NFL stadiums, many contents will be intriguing to follow throughout the year. Nonetheless, three games on the schedule stand alone, each for their own unique reasons. at Texas A&M Date: August 31 Location: College Station, TX Kickoff Time: 7:30 PM EST Broadcast Network: ABC Texas A&M is the obvious choice in the leadoff position. The road and season opener against the Aggies has the biggest single storyline: Riley Leonard against his former coach at Duke, who is also the former Notre Dame defensive coordinator, Mike Elko. The season opener also serves as the first look at a completely revamped Notre Dame offensive unit. How will Mike Denbrock overhaul last year's lackluster Fighting Irish offense? Will Riley Leonard be fully healthy going into this game? How will an inexperienced Notre Dame offensive line handle the wild night-game environment at College Station? The current line for this game -- one that has fluctuated throughout the offseason -- has Notre Dame sitting as a one-point underdog. But, this is as much of a toss-up game for Vegas prognosticators as any. The Labor Day opener will certainly be one of the biggest games of the season for Notre Dame. And college football as a whole. vs. Louisville Date: September 28 Location: South Bend, IN Kickoff Time: 3:30 PM EST Broadcast Network: Exclusively on Peacock After Texas A&M, the biggest game on the schedule, for many, will be a September home tilt against Louisville. Last season's loss to the Cardinals was the backbreaking blow that deflated Notre Dame's potential hopes at making the playoff. It was a second-half debacle that left people calling for the removal of Gerad Parker as offensive coordinator in the first place. Turnover woes, untimely penalties, and clutch big plays by a high-powered Cardinals offense was just too much for the Irish to handle. This year, in their second year under head coach Jeff Brohm, the Cardinals are looking to build on their 10-win campaign from a year ago. A retooling of their offensive via the transfer portal will give them that opportunity. Coach Brohm and the Cardinals will most likely come to South Bend undefeated after starting the year against Austin Peay, Jacksonville State, and Georgia Tech. In the ultimate revenge game, where both teams could easily come in undefeated, the Fighting Irish will certainly have a bad taste left in their mouth when they see the Louisville Cardinals come out of the tunnel in front of a raucous Notre Dame Stadium crowd. vs. Florida State Date: November 9 Location: South Bend, IN Kickoff Time: 7:30 PM EST Broadcast Network: NBC/Peacock As the calendar flips to November, many rosters will be banged up from the wear and tear of the regular season; yet, the sole Notre Dame home night game against the Florida State Seminoles might be the biggest game the Irish have all year. Notre Dame has steadily handled Florida State since a crushing defeat in 2014, a game that flipped back in FSU's favor due an offensive pass interference call against the visiting Irish in Tallahassee. The last time the Seminoles came to South Bend was during Notre Dame's undefeated 2018 season. The Irish delivered a complete performance on Senior Night that evening, handing the 'Noles a 43-13 defeat. However, this year will be quite different. Head coach Mike Norvell has the Seminoles coming off an impressive undefeated regular season and an ACC title last year. The former Memphis head coach also brought in quarterback transfer DJ Uiagalelei , who is 0-2 in Notre Dame Stadium, to captain FSU throughout the 2024 campaign. A game that will be played on what will surely be a cold November night in South Bend against a Florida State team that most likely despises like the cold? Yea, give me a snowy forecast and sign me up! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Head coach Marcus Freeman and the rest of the staff have been able to secure commitments from a lot of the nation's best high school football players, but they have recently hit a major speed bump. After missing out on top-tier receiving targets in Tanook Hines, Derek Meadows, and Dylan Robinson, Notre Dame is now scrambling to recover on the trail. Photo by The Irish Tribune Hines, Meadows, and Robinson have been in Notre Dame's crosshairs for quite a while. These recruits are highly regarded players that Notre Dame saw as game changers in their wide receiver room. Notre Dame maintained a lead on Meadows for a stretch before LSU swooped in and landed his commitment. Notre Dame was also in contention for Hines, a speedster from Texas, before he chose rival school. The Irish also led for Robinson before cooling off in the weeks leading up to his commitment. Now, the question is, What happens next? With just five months until national signing day, Notre Dame is in a tough spot. Many of the top wide receivers in the class have already found their next home, but there is always the hope that someone decommits and Notre Dame makes a move. There are some wide receivers in the class that haven't made their commitment yet, but Notre Dame isn't considered to be in a position to land them. This is mainly due to the time and energy they put in to secure those initial priority targets. Notre Dame may be able to quickly pivot to some of these other options, but time is not on their side. Jaime Ffrench and Phillip Bell are both highly touted wide receivers yet to make their commitment, but neither are considering Notre Dame. The Irish are most likely out of the running for a big commitment at wide receiver with comparable talent to someone like Meadows. This means that they either have to pivot to lower ranked players to pair with Elijah Burress and Jerome Bettis Jr, work on a potential flip, or pursue players in the portal when in opens back up. Even if Notre Dame is not able to land any more wide receivers in the 2025 class, the transfer portal does offer another avenue to add to the wide receiver room. This is a riskier path, though. It means Notre Dame will have to rely on quality players to enter the portal who are interested, and give Notre Dame a chance to convince them to come on board. On the flip side, it does allow the coaching staff to pursue more proven players. For example, this upcoming roster features multiple wide receivers that have transferred from other schools. Kris Mitchell, Beaux Collins, and Jayden Harrison are all players looking to make an impact on the offense this year, making this year's wide receiver room one of the most experienced and proven in a while. As of now, it is not known what caliber of player will be available when the portal opens, but Notre Dame will surely look into adding wide receiver talent when the time comes. Remember, Notre Dame was entirely depleted at the position prior to the Sun Bowl. One offseason later, the room is shaping up to be one of the more optimistic on the team. Talent acquisition has never been easier with the revamped transfer portal, and the Irish have proven that they are able to attract talent through this avenue. With the avalanche of bad news on the recruiting trail, it does not mean it's time to hit the panic button. The good news is this year's freshmen wide receivers are very talented. Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, and Logan Saldate will hopefully turn into the productive and dynamic players they project to be. This, along with sophomore wide receivers, Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison, shows that Notre Dame can have a very bright future at the position. OC Mike Denbrock's arrival will hopefully bring in a more explosive and entertaining offense to South Bend. That could be an incentive to wide receivers once they see it for themselves this fall. The recent developments do shed light on newly acquired WR coach Mike Brown's struggles on the trail. His arrival came after Chansi Stuckey's firing and the subsequent mass exodus at the position. Brown will have to prove that the situation with Hines, Meadows, and Robinson will not become a pattern for years to come. Not only was it embarrassing for many people around the program, it begins to raise questions about the recruiting prowess of the offensive staff as a whole. It takes a unique skillset to be able to recruit against the best teams in the country, and it is winning those recruiting battles that makes good teams great. Freeman and DC Al Golden have proven that they can win those battles on the defensive side of the ball, and time will tell if Denbrock and Brown can do that consistently on the offensive side. Notre Dame's 2025 class is still one of the best in the country, even without these wide receiver commitments. Freeman's recruiting skills has already put Notre Dame in a position they haven't been in years, but it is important to continue that trajectory. Without Hines, Robinson, or Meadows, the coaching staff will have to get creative in high school recruitment, and hope the transfer portal offers quality players who want to be at Notre Dame. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Irish are back on the playing field. Fall practice opened today, as Notre Dame enters their third season with Coach Freeman at the helm. With this being day one, it is okay to take this information with a grain of salt - so much can change between now and week one.  Photo by Irish Tribune Some positive injury news was seen on both sides of the ball. Starting quarterback Riley Leonard was a full-go after undergoing two foot surgeries this offseason. He was not forced to scramble too much today as it can be assumed the training staff wants to be cautious. Also, star tight end Mitchell Evans was seen practicing less than a year removed from a torn ACL. On defense, star defensive back Benjamin Morrison was a participant after missing most of spring practice due to a shoulder procedure. He is expected to be 100% by week one. During a light scrimmage, both quarterbacks Leonard and Steve Angeli showed good ability to protect and move the ball downfield. After Angeli nearly threw an interception to Adon Shuler, he connected on a 40-yard sideline dime to Micah Gilbert on the next play. On Leonard’s second drive, he had some missed throws, but showed a good connection with both Jayden Thomas and Beaux Collins, completing a pass with each twice. The most notable miscues during the scrimmage occurred towards the end. On Leonard’s last possession, tight end Eli Raridon committed a false start, ultimately ending the drive. On the last play of practice for open media, Angeli connected with Gilbert on a 15-yard curl versus defensive back Chance Tucker. Coach Freeman did not take kindly to Tucker’s lack of hustle and was visibly upset at the situation. During team drills, multiple players stood out. Firstly, linebacker Jordan Botelho forced a fumble and was a real bright spot for the defense. On special teams, Australian punter James Rendell took all the punts and proved he could be an unsung hero this season. It appears Special Teams Coordinator Marty Biagi and Marcus Freeman are still figuring out a plan for the return game, as Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison, Jaden Mickey, KK Smith, Aneyas Williams, and Jadarian Price all took return reps. As expected, it was a day of ups and downs. With one month until kickoff, there is time and space to improve. Specifically, I would expect Leonard’s play to gradually improve as he gets more comfortable with his new offense each practice. Both lines played solid as position competitions are starting to heat up in the trenches.  The Irish Tribune will be sure to keep you up-to-date on the latest Irish news from fall camp. Expect coverage from the Irish Tribune following each open media practice. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

With just one month separating Notre Dame from Texas A&M, the Irish want to add a few finishing touches before visiting Kyle Field. Seeing the success of the Notre Dame 2024 offseason, the excitement surrounding South Bend and beyond is almost palpable. From a star-studded transfer class, the addition of Mike Denbrock, and a schedule that could see the Irish having the upper hand in every game, it is hard to envision a 12-team Playoff without Notre Dame. However, despite that, a great offseason only gets you to kick off. That day continues to grow closer now more than ever with the beginning of Fall camp. Photo by The Irish Tribune The number one thing that fans are going to have their eyes on is Duke transfer Riley Leonard under center. Following a disappointing season at the quarterback position, Irish fans are skeptical of the projected starter's ability to stay healthy. Coming off of a phenomenal sophomore season that saw Leonard throw for nearly 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, while also rushing for 699 yards and 13 touchdowns, the Fairhope, Alabama native was destined to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, disaster struck when the Irish visited Duke this past season, resulting in Leonard injuring his ankle which required two separate procedures. Now at Notre Dame, Leonard enters a quarterback room with a lot of options. Junior Steve Angeli made the most of nearly every opportunity he was given in his sophomore season. Angeli started the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against Oregon State, putting up a stat line of 15-19, 232 yards, and three touchdowns. He then showed out in the Blue-Gold game in the absence of Leonard. Sophomore Kenny Minchey is also an option, as many Irish fans are just as excited to see the development he has undergone over the course of the offseason. Minchey, originally committed to Pittsburgh before flipping to the Irish, is entering his second season in South Bend. The Blue-Gold Game back in April was the most action we’ve seen from Minchey since joining the Irish, and there is no questioning his potential. His pocket presence, his speed, his accuracy, and the way the ball comes out of his hand, Kenny Minchey is going to be a household name in due time. However, a silly interception on 3rd and long as well as a fumble show his inexperience. Another name that fans should be watching is Jeremiyah Love, the sophomore running back from St. Louis. With Audric Estime being selected by the Denver Broncos in the NFL Draft, someone is going to have to step up. While he did have a slow game in the Sun Bowl, he looked phenomenal against Ohio State and in the Blue-Gold Game. His speed coupled with his strength shows the making of the next great Irish running back. He should be RB1, and he has all the tools to become yet another phenomenal workhorse for the Irish. Watch out for sophomore center Ashton Craig, who is replacing Zeke Correll on the offensive line. The Lawrenceburg native was a four-star prospect, ranked 7th in Indiana. Freshman Micah Gilbert proved he should see playing time this season, catching two touchdown passes in the Blue-Gold game and having easily the best spring out of the freshman WR's. However, it’s going to be a tall task given the receiving help Notre Dame got in the transfer portal. Senior Kris Mitchell was an absolute steal out of the transfer portal. Last season at FIU, Mitchell caught 64 passes for 1,118 yards and seven touchdowns. He is always a deep threat with his precise footwork and route running combined with his elite speed, which he showed off in the Blue-Gold game, and will continue to do so throughout the Fall. Clemson transfer Beaux Collins is also entering his final season, as he is expected to elevate the receiving room. Last season, Collins caught 38 passes for 510 yards and three touchdowns, including three receptions for 37 yards against Notre Dame this past season. Marshall transfer Jayden Harrison provides great depth for the Irish and will play a big role in special teams. Everything is falling into place for the Notre Dame faithful. It’s the blessed third year for Head Coach Marcus Freeman, the receiving room is complete, Mike Denbrock is home, and the defense is manned by Al Golden. The quarterback room is going to perform, so enjoy this season Irish fans - it has the chance to be the beginning of a new era in South Bend, that returns the Irish to the top of college football. An era that redefines the Notre Dame legacy. Be excited, and enjoy every second of this season, because it is going to be a memorable one. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame Football has unveiled its 2024 Shamrock Series uniforms: Featuring a blue/gray color scheme, medieval numbers, and more. Photos by: Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame Football has revealed its 2024 Shamrock Series jerseys to the public this morning. The Shamrock Series has existed for over a decade now and is a part of Notre Dame's regular season schedule most years. This year, it will be played against Army at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Shamrock Series consists of Notre Dame playing various teams at a neutral site location, from baseball to NFL stadiums, wearing a uniform only to be used once for that game. Notre Dame fans have long celebrated the Shamrock Series for its unique and different uniform styles, elite location selections, and typically playing against teams that are not usually on Notre Dame's schedule. Notre Dame continues to remain undefeated in the Shamrock Series. So, what's new with the uniforms? I figured I'd leave it to Notre Dame themselves to describe these once-in-a-game uniforms. The following descriptions were used from Notre Dame's uniform promotion on social media. "Blue-Gray Sky" "Inspired by "The Four Horsemen" article in 1924 by Grantland Rice, the uniform color is a direct reference to his opening line: "Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again." "Gold Details" Beveled gold accents carry through the uniform. The unique dimensional edges and shiny gold material provide depth to every corner of the uniform." "Gothic in Gotham" "A brand new number font, inspired by the gothic type on newspaper mastheads, takes center stage. The shiny gold numbers each feature a subtle bevel, giving a modern take on a classic style." My thoughts: It took me a few minutes for them to grow on me, but I think they're great. Seeing them first in the video made me a little skeptical, but the images I saw below told a much better story. The shiny gold used for the numbers, the 3D Notre Dame monogram on the sleeves, and the color overall make this a great uniform. Not sure if I'm a fan of the white undershirts, but that's beside the point. While I'm doubtful of it: I hope these are added to EA's College Football 25 video game. Here is a closer look at the uniforms: Photos by: Notre Dame Athletics Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame senior Chris Guiliano won his first gold medal after competing in the men's 4x100 freestyle relay. Guiliano was accompanied by Caeleb Dressel, Jack Alexy, and Hunter Armstrong, as they comfortably beat Australia and Italy, who came in second and third respectively. Guiliano becomes just the 33rd Notre Dame athlete to win a medal in the Summer Olympics. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics The US men's relay team were favorites going into the final race, but only by a slim margin. Australia's team was deemed a close second that could very well have beaten the US, as these two countries have always had a rivalry in the swimming pool. The race was neck and neck when Guiliano was tagged in, and by the time he swam the length of the pool twice, he had given the US a lead. The lead Guiliano gained was never let up, and even grew toward the end of the race. This gold medal was the first one of the olympics for the US swimmers, a huge momentum boost for all the swimmers, especially considering the magnitude of this particular event. During his time at Notre Dame, Guiliano has had an incredibly accomplished career. He recently won the 2024 ACC Swimmer of the Year, and he's a six-time 2024 All-American, four-time ACC champion, and holds many of Notre Dame's school records. Along with this, he's won some awards, and has been named team captain . Guiliano's time in Paris is just getting started, however. He will also compete in the 50, 100, and 200 meter freestyle, along with another relay in the 4x200 freestyle. He isn't the only Notre Dame athlete competing in this year's olympics, though. Korbin Albert is on this year's women's soccer team. Her time at Notre Dame was cut short when she signed a contract to play professional soccer in 2023. Molly Bruggerman graduated from Notre Dame in 2014, and she will now be competing in this year's rowing event. Nick Itkin, Lee Kiefer, Gerek Meinhardt, and Magda Skarbonkiewicz are all former Notre Dame fencers competing in Paris. Yared Nuguse is the solo Notre Dame track and field athlete in Paris, as he will compete in the 1,500 meter race. Last but not least, Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young will both represent Notre Dame on the US women's basketball team. The Irish Tribune wishes the best of luck to all Notre Dame athletes representing the United States in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Celtic FC blew past Chelsea FC 4-1 in the second-ever soccer game held at Notre Dame Stadium in front of tens of thousands of fans on a beautiful South Bend day. The Irish Tribune got to watch this great match, see how the game played out below. Photo by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame Stadium played host to a friendly between Chelsea FC and Celtic FC on Saturday, July 27th. This game was only the second time in the stadium's history to host two European teams. The first time was in 2019 when Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund traveled to South Bend. Chelsea, from the English Premier League, and Celtic FC, from the Scottish Premiership, are both getting ready for their season to begin. This game operated as a friendly, so both teams could get into playing shape before league play. As it was just a friendly, Chelsea was missing some of their top players, but Celtic FC elected to play most of their starters. Celtic FC is closer to their season debut, so they were much more eager to get their starters ready. Chelsea is still weeks away from the start of their season, leaving more time for their team to get ready. Either way, a matchup between two major European clubs was a huge event for Notre Dame and soccer fans in America and Europe. The game got off to an exciting start, as both teams saw some early chances to score. Chelsea had most of the early chances, but they could not find a way to score due to strong Celtic defending and some bad luck. As the chaotic start continued, Celtic FC struck first when center midfielder, Matt O'Riley snuck one past the goalie in the 19th minute. Only 14 minutes later, Celtic FC would double the lead when forward, Kyogo Furuhashi slipped behind Chelsea's defenders to get on the end up a cross for an easy tap-in. This was the start of a lot of mistakes from Chelsea's defenders, who seemed to lack energy and concentration all afternoon. The game wouldn't see any more scoring for over 30 minutes until Celtic FC's, Luis Palma took advantage of another Chelsea error, leaving Palma with an easy opportunity in front of the goal. Just three minutes later, Celtic FC took back possession and found Michael Johnston on the end of a fantastic through ball, leaving him one-on-one with the goalie. Johnston's goal made it 4-0 in the 79th, the cherry on top of what was already a dominant performance from Celtic FC. Chelsea eventually scored off a penalty kick with only a minute left in the game, making the friendly a 4-1 final. Although the game was not particularly competitive, there were a lot of exciting plays for the fans at Notre Dame Stadium, which appeared to be at around 50-60% capacity. Games like this not only boost the popularity and image of Notre Dame, but also help grow the game of soccer in the United States. Click Here To Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

After a less than ideal 2025 receiver recruiting class, the page begins to turn to the ‘26 class. Notre Dame has offered 20 wideouts in the class, including commit Dylan Faison. While there is plenty of time for changes to occur, the Irish seem to be in a good spot for a pair of California receivers, Daniel Odom and Trent Mosley.  Photo via Daniel Odom, Instagram Daniel Odom is a 4-star and top-35 receiver per 247, ESPN, and Rivals. The 6’2 175-pound threat is entering his junior year at national powerhouse, St. John Bosco.  In 2022, Odom appeared in 6 varsity games as a freshman. He made at least one reception in each game, finishing with 6 receptions for 73 yards.  This past season, as a sophomore, Odom saw his numbers go up as he took a more prominent role in the Bosco offense. In 13 games played, he totaled 36 receptions for 548 yards and 7 touchdowns. He finished the season with six games totaling at least 2 receptions, 45 yards, and a touchdown. Odom currently holds 18 offers, but there appears to be strong traction with four schools, including the Irish. The other three schools in the mix are Michigan State, Florida State, and Miami. His current connection with MSU is from a camp he attended at the school in summer 2022. Besides that connection, his only unofficial visit has been to FSU this past March. We will see if or when Marcus Freeman and Mike Brown can bring Odom on a visit to ND, but it should be sooner rather than later. Obviously NIL might play a factor, but if Odom were to visit during a potential home win versus FSU, that could be the decider. Photo via GregTownsendPhotos, Instagram The other California receiver that the Irish appear to be high on is Trent Mosley out of Santa Margarita Catholic. Similar to Odom, Mosley is a 4-star and top-30 receiver per 247, ESPN, and Rivals. This past school year, Mosley, 5’10" and 170 pounds, was a 2-sport varsity athlete on football and lacrosse.  As a freshman in 2022, Mosley appeared in 10 varsity games, finishing the year with 28 receptions for 409 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was also featured as a kick and punt returner totaling 327 yards on 19 attempts. His best performance came in the team’s final game during state playoffs, when he recorded 5 receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown despite losing the game to JSerra Catholic.   As a sophomore this past season, Mosley was utilized in both the pass and run offense. He finished the year with 1,926 all-purpose yards, including over 1,200 receiving and over 250 rushing yards. Mosley was also no stranger to the endzone, racking up 26 total touchdowns, 15 rushing and 11 receiving. To go even further on about how athletic he is, Mosley even recorded an interception in his very limited time playing as a defensive back. During a midseason meeting with Bishop Amat, Mosley exploded for SIX total touchdowns, three rushing and three receiving. He accounted for 177 total yards in the 51-45 win. The crazy part is you can argue this was not even his best game. Some of his numbers from the sophomore campaign are so absurd I’m just going to list them: Seven multi-touchdown games Four games with 4-plus touchdowns Five games with 2-plus rushing touchdowns Four games with 2-plus receiving touchdowns Three games with 225-plus all-purpose yards Five games with 100-plus receiving yards  Two games with 220-plus receiving yards Only two games with less than five receptions 19 kick and punt returns for 352 yards Let’s highlight, in my opinion, his most productive performance. In a midseason revenge game vs JSerra, Mosley showed up with 425 all-purpose yards. As a receiver, he recorded 10 receptions for 230 yards and two touchdowns. As a rusher he recorded 87 yards and two touchdowns on just seven attempts. He also added four kickoff returns for an additional 97 yards. Mosley currently holds 17 offers, but five schools seem to have separated themselves including the Irish. The other contenders are USC, Texas A&M, Michigan State, and Michigan. Obviously, Irish fans have a sour taste in their mouth at the mention of USC and Michigan after the recent recruiting struggles, however, this is an opportunity to win one back on these programs. Mosley’s only connections with these schools are USC being local and he attended a Texas A&M camp during summer 2022. The Irish were one of Mosley’s first offers, so that could play a positive influence in his decision.  Again, it is important to stress how much things can change as recruitment drags along. As with every new recruiting cycle, there comes an opportunity to better your roster. Landing these two stud California-native weapons would immediately boost the outlook for the Irish future at receiver. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

With Notre Dame possessing an experienced roster, there are very few question marks heading into the season. Nonetheless, there are some position battles that the Irish will need to figure out before heading to Kyle Field for Week 1 against the Aggies. Photo by The Irish Tribune As Notre Dame is nearing the beginning of fall camp, the Irish's overall roster is pretty much set in stone. When a team possesses such experience and talent as Notre Dame's 2024 roster, there are very few questions about playing time. Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts will man down the secondary. Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III will be anchors in the middle of the defensive line. Riley Leonard will be receiving snaps from Ashton Craig. Yet, in the midst of all this certainty lies some gray area that won't be answered until the Irish take the field against Texas A&M on Labor Day weekend. Field Cornerback Player A: Jaden Mickey Year: Junior Hometown: Eastvale, CA Height: 6'0" Weight: 178 Player B: Christian Gray Year: Sophomore Hometown: St. Louis, MO Height: 6'0" Weight: 187 The biggest position battle heading into fall camp is at the field cornerback position. Benjamin Morrison, the unanimous All-American, will be playing opposite, and locking down the boundary corner position. The fight between Mickey and Gray is as even as any. Both are extremely athletic corners that have gotten playing time during their underclassman years. Mickey is the older of the two, but has struggled in open-field tackling in the past. Both players have an interception under their belts, as they both recorded a pick during last year's game against Pittsburgh. If I was to guess who gets the starting nod as of right now it would be Christian Gray because he is more physical than Mickey, and is also the faster of the two; however, this will certainly be a matchup to monitor throughout camp, as Mickey is not one to shy away from competition. Right Tackle Player A: Tosh Baker Year: Graduate Student Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ Height: 6'8" Weight: 320 Player B: Aamil Wagner Year: Redshirt Sophomore Hometown: Yellow Springs, OH Height: 6'6" Weight: 290 At right tackle, the position battle is a bit more skewed. Tosh Baker, the graduate student, has had experience starting for the Fighting Irish. He was also the starting Right Tackle in last year's Sun Bowl victory over Oregon State. The player battling Baker is Aamil Wagner, who provides an interesting skillset. Wagner is the smaller of the two tackles, but is faster and has extremely strong hands. Baker, the bigger of the two and the more experienced, is currently leading the position battle, yet Wagner is truly making a play for the starting bid. With a Week One game in a raucous environment, communication on the line will be imperative. Notre Dame's line is young, too. With Charles Jagusah as the projected starting Left Tackle, the Fighting Irish will be debuting a line that has only played one full game together. With experience needed in a short amount of time, I'd lean towards Baker getting the starting nod at College Station. Vyper Player A: Jordan Botelho Year: Graduate Student Hometown: Honolulu, HIJor Height: 6'3" Weight: 258 Player B: Junior Tuihalamaka Year: Junior Hometown: Granada Hills, CA Height: 6'2" Weight: 246 Player C: Boubacar Traore Year: Redshirt Sophomore Hometown: Boston, MA Height: 6'4" Weight: 240 While rotations occur quite often at the Vyper position, there is still a case to be made at who deserves the most reps at the position. Jordan Botelho is the experienced man of the group, totaling 10.5 sacks throughout his Notre Dame career. Then, there is Junior Tuihalamaka, who has played since he stepped foot on campus during the 2022 season. Lastly, there is Boubacar Traore, who is by far the most explosive out of the three, but is still trying to pack on weight before he can get more meaningful snaps. As Notre Dame is trying to surpass the level of "good" teams in college football, and turning into that of an elite caliber team, the Irish need a more ferocious pass rush. The last two Notre Dame teams to go undefeated in the regular season had two elite pass rushers on both ends. Now, this year, the Irish have the luxury of having one of the best secondaries in the nation. With Duke transfer RJ Oben absorbing most of the attention on the other edge of the line, the Irish need to find someone just as explosive to pair with Oben to bring pressure to the quarterback. I predict Botelho will get the start for the first drive against the Aggies, but expect Tuihalamaka and Traore to get far more reps than they have in years past. By the end of the season, I predict Traore will have the most sacks out of the three of these rushers. His physical upside and developmental curve point toward him having the most successful season of the bunch. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun