Written by Peter Jay Mulroy ⏐ Writer ⏐ Instagram: @sportstodaywithpeterjay Photo by University of Notre Dame Athletics Looking to cap the regular season with a 10-win campaign and roll into the 2024 ACC Tournament on the highest of notes, top-ranked Notre Dame (9-1 overall, 3-0 league), paid a visit to No. 5 Virginia on Saturday in what was the 21st meeting all-time between the lacrosse powers.   The two met three times last season, with UVA -- victors in seven of eight overall against ND entering Saturday’s tilt -- winning the first two before dropping the third to the Irish in overtime of the 2023 National Semifinals. And, as expected, the two rivals put on a show throughout the contest.   Devon McLane’s 19th goal of the season opened the scoring less than 90 seconds into the game, but the Cavaliers, who were looking to stop a two-game skid after dropping consecutive tilts to Duke and Syracuse, respectively, fired back in the blink of an eye. McCabe Millon’s 33rd tally on the year knotted the score at 1-1, and helped set the tone for what would be an electrifying opening frame.   Notre Dame and UVA would alternate goals for the next four scores, with Chris Kavanagh banging home his 26th of the season five minutes into the frame, while his brother Pat notched his 18th of the campaign 10 minutes later. The Cavaliers responded each time, however, and the first quarter of action ended in a three-all tie.   The seesaw scoring theme would continue in the early portion of the second frame as well, with the home Cavs taking the lead on the always-dangerous Payton Cormier sending one past Irish netminder Liam Entenmann for a 4-3 advantage. The goal for Cormier, who is the nation’s leading scoring in goals per game at 3.69, was his 49th of what has been a dominant season for the graduate student from Ontario.   Not to be outdone, Jake Taylor -- perhaps Notre Dame’s top offensive threat this year on a team that has no shortage of firepower -- tied the game back up at 4-4 with his 30th marker of the year. Despite the remarkable effort by Taylor to even the score, UVA would collect the next two scores, including No. 50 for Cormier, as they raced into the locker room with a 6-4 lead over an Irish squad that entered the day as the second-best scoring offense in the country (16.3 goals per game).   Virginia, specifically Cormier, picked up where they left off to start the second half. Off an assist by Joey Terenzi, Cormier’s 51st score of the year gave UVA what was, at least temporarily, a cushiony 7-4 advantage.   But as they’ve done all season, the Irish played through adversity as one cohesive unit to mount a third-quarter comeback.   Two-straight scores by Pat Kavanagh (19th of season) and Max Busenkell (7th) pulled the blue and gold to within one at 7-6 with 4:46 remaining in the frame. Keeping the run in motion, Jeff Ricciardelli grabbed his ninth score of the season 55 ticks of the clock later to tie the game at seven apiece.   Then, it was the freshman’s turn. With 2:59 remaining in the third, Scarsdale, New York native Andrew Greenspan capped a run of four-straight Irish goals, putting the top-ranked team in America back out in front, 8-7.   Notre Dame lacrosse history was achieved during that sequence as well, with the score by Kavanagh placing him alone at the top of the Irish’s all-time points list, with an astounding 274 for his career.   Not to be outdone, Cormier would rip home his fourth of the game and 52nd on the year to once again even the game at 8-8 heading into the final quarter of action.   Virginia stole the lead back two-plus minutes into the fourth quarter on a Connor Shellenberger tally, but beautiful vision and teamwork between Eric Dobson and Devon McLane tied the affair back up after McLane put his 20th of the season in the back of the net with 10:40 to go in regulation time.   A series that dates back to 1993, both Notre Dame and Virginia are no strangers to playing tight down-to-the-wire thrillers. For the Irish, however, earning a win at UVA’s Klöckner  Stadium to end the regular season, a building where they entered 4-10 all-time and had lost four straight contests in, would go a long way into prepping them for another long postseason run.   And when they needed it most, the Irish got another huge lift from its stellar midfield unit.   Freshman star Jordan Faison put home his 17th tally of the season with 9:12 left in the frame, giving the Irish a 10-9 lead. The score would remain that way for the next five-plus minutes, as both teams had chances to score but to no avail.   With 3:41 to go, however, the Irish broke through once again, and in beautiful form. Busenkell’s feed to a cutting McLane was a work of art. And not only did it help McLane cap the hat trick, it also provided Notre Dame with the ever-important 11-9 lead.   The consecutive goals by Faison and McLane proved to be the difference in the contest, as No. 1 Notre Dame earned a highly impressive 11-9 triumph over a No. 5 Virginia that was bit by the turnover bug throughout. The 27 giveaways by the Cavaliers were the most given up this season, and they couldn’t recover from multiple late blunders -- including a crucial turnover in the Irish zone with 35 seconds left -- in the loss.   What’s Next for the Irish?   Notre Dame heads to Charlotte, North Carolina, next week for the 2024 ACC Men’s Lacrosse Championship. The top seed in the tournament, the Irish will square off with Virginia once again, as UVA enters the field as the four seed. No. 2 Syracuse and No. 3 Duke will do battle in the second semifinal. Notre Dame and UVA will play Friday, May 3 at 5:00 p.m. ET, with Duke and Syracuse meeting at 8:00 p.m. ET that same night. 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Written by Owen O'Connor ⏐  Writer ⏐  Twitter/X: @Ocon54 Photo By The Irish Tribune True football fans know that these last few years have been full of off-season madness at all levels of the game. The NFL offseason is best known for franchise players receiving long-term extensions, or in some cases, making a splash and signing elsewhere. In the last few offseasons, we've seen some of the biggest stars at the professional level make a career change that would've been unheard of before the last decade. Some of the names that immediately come to mind are Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, and even the great Aaron Rodgers. Not too long ago, fans couldn't possibly perceive the possibility of these franchise athletes suiting up for another squad, but the game has drastically changed. Players now more than ever have the ability to speak on their current situation and make a change for the betterment of their future, and many fans are here for it. This has given many lower-caliber teams the ability to go all in on a franchise playmaker who can turn everything around. This also posed the question, if the NFL's biggest stars can find a fresh start when the time is right, why can't college stars do it too? And thus, with the new era of NIL, the modern day transfer portal free agency was born. The transfer portal has drastically changed the college football offseason and how players leverage their talent for a bigger piece of the pie. Before the modern era of the transfer portal, players would commit to a school and possibly find an opportunity to transfer to another school once - only after sitting out a year. This move was not always a preferable one for most, and the transfer portal wasn't as large of a concern for most coaching staffs. Nowadays, the transfer portal has not only allowed players to transfer more than once, but find the best opportunity each year at a different collegiate program if they wish without having to sit out. The collegiate programs that these players have transferred to have reaped the rewards of the transfer portal as well. While fans may or may not be in support of the craziness at the professional and college level, we dive in to find out which one has transitioned for the better. The NFL Argument When it comes to debating the entertainment in the NFL, it is hard to argue against. The National Football League has done a tremendous job of making sure they keep their fans entertained throughout the year. Whether your team is competing for a Super Bowl or the number one overall pick, Free Agency and the NFL draft are a highlight of the offseason for fans and organizations. As we talked about earlier, in recent years there have been more and more star players requesting trades from their long-standing organization, or stunning the league and opting to sign elsewhere in the offseason. This gives fans hope for their team to make a move for a franchise player either in the draft or with their cap space in Free Agency. Now due to a busy offseason, we've seen teams like the Houston Texans go from the second worst team last season to a collection of star-caliber athletes with lofty Super Bowl ambitions. Another team that should've benefited from the madness of an offseason is the New York Jets, who were predicted to be one of the best teams in the league after the acquisition of future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. Roger Goodell and The National Football League have also done a fantastic job of keeping the fans involved amidst the player acquisition process. In recent years, the NFL has opened up its annual combine in Indianapolis to the public. This allows fans to go see their possible future franchise player and keep them entertained when no games are being played. Not only have they opened the combine gates, but they have also redefined the NFL Draft experience. The draft has adopted a tradition of visiting different NFL-hosted cities, ultimately taking over downtown for the weekend. The event consists of games, merchandise, food, and more fun-filled football experiences. Unfortunately, this is something the NCAA will struggle to compete against for a long time. The NFL has always been, and will always be the king of football. The NCAA College Football Argument Many opinions are flying around about the transfer portal, but there is no question where the student-athletes' hearts lie. Along with NIL deals, high-caliber collegiate players now see their extra years of eligibility as a financial and career-building opportunity. When an opportunity to start at a program does not arise, players can now find a starting job at a different elite program. Two names that quickly come to mind are former Ohio State Quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Quinn Ewers. Burrow was not eligible for NIL opportunities at the time, but he and Ewers both managed to jumpstart their careers at different programs after their start did not go as planned in Columbus. While some find this to be a negative feature of the portal, it has benefited the top college football stars of today. Almost all of the 2024 NFL Draft's top QB prospects are players who took advantage of the transfer portal. Heisman winners Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are both former transfers and are currently projected to be selected first and second in Thursday's NFL Draft. Penix, Bo Nix, and our very own Sam Hartman. Elite NCAA programs are also ones that are very happy about this feature, especially the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Notre Dame football program and Head Coach Marcus Freeman have done a great job of recruiting talented players out of high school. Unfortunately, these players need time to develop, and that is not always something a team of Notre Dame's caliber can afford. The Fighting Irish have taken advantage of the portal by recruiting veteran starting Quarterback Sam Hartman as their 2023 starting QB, and former Duke QB Riley Leonard as their projected starter for 2024. Having a skilled and veteran playmaker under center will not only keep the Fighting Irish competitive but also compete for a national title. It's hard to argue against anything but "fun" for Notre Dame in the last few offseasons. For the fans, outside of recruiting, the portal element has reignited offseason engagement. Fans of all programs find themselves glued to their screens when the portal opens to see if one of their star players has decided to move on, or if that final missing piece for their team has been acquired from the transfer portal. It's the closest thing we'll get as fans to the madness that has proven to be NFL Free Agency, and it's done a pretty good job of replicating the excitement and engagement it has brough fans over the past few offseasons. While most football fans love their collegiate team and NFL team, there is always a debate of which one you favor more. We're curious to know, does the offseason impact your interest in the NFL or the NCAA? Let us know in the comments! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by: Jhett Garrett | Writer | Twitter/X: @JhettGarrett Photo by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame is looking to add to its national lead of players drafted into the NFL, which currently sits at 526. With a lot of talent on the 2023 roster, there is a chance for the Irish to double the amount of players drafted this year than a season ago. And it will start very early. Joe Alt 6’8, 322 lbs., OT – 1, OVR – 5 (PFF) There is no question who is going to be the first Notre Dame player off the board in this year’s NFL Draft, and it is going to be rather quick. The four-star prospect from Minnesota dominated since stepping foot on campus, catapulting him up draft big boards. An offensive lineman with a ton of upside is something that every team could always use, however with the opening picks of the draft expected to be quarterbacks, Alt could fall a bit. If the Los Angeles Chargers stay at five, it is very much a possibility that they take Alt. However, with the losses of Kennan Allen and Mike Williams, it can be assumed that this pick will be used on a wide receiver or traded away. The Tennessee Titans sit at pick seven, which is where Alt has been mocked the most. With Will Levis entering his second year in the league, the Titans bulked up the receiving core during free agency. This has left many experts to believe that they will draft an offensive lineman with their first-round pick, it will just be a matter of who. Olu Fashanu is another offensive lineman who was initially mocked higher than Alt, however in recent months that has not been the case. Should the Titans pass on Alt, I find it almost impossible for him to slide past the Chicago Bears and New York Jets at picks nine and 10. However, with Joe Alt sitting at seven, it is the surefire home run pick for the Titans. This allows you to plug Alt in at left tackle where he will play for the next ten years. Alt is the perfect cornerstone for an offensive line, and with his size, skill, and availability, he will be regarded as one of the top picks of this draft. Projection - Tennessee Titans (Round 1, Pick 7) Grade – A+   Blake Fisher 6’6, 312 lbs., OT - 13, OVR – 73 (PFF) Blake Fisher was the number one player in the state of Indiana when he committed to Notre Dame back in 2019. He made an impact quickly, immediately getting playing time at both right and left tackle. Fast forward to his junior season, Fisher played all of the snaps at the right tackle position and played well enough to be the 73rd overall player according to PFF. The earliest I can see Fisher going is San Francisco at the back end of the second round at pick 63. With this being their second pick of the draft, the offensive line could certainly be the pick here. However, this still could be a little high on the board for Fisher to go. Any team from picks 67-80 could take Fisher with their third-round pick, however with the way that the board is working and teams having a chance to bolster the line earlier on in this draft, the Cincinnati Bengals at pick 80 would be a solid landing spot. Fisher has shown that he can play the left tackle position, which is where I would expect he would move if selected by Cincinnati. I also wouldn’t expect him to start right away and sit behind Orlando Brown Jr., however he would still see valuable snaps. Projection – Cincinnati Bengals (Round 3, Pick 80) Grade – B   Audric Estime 5’11, 227 lbs., RB - 12, OVR – 123 (PFF) When it comes to players in this draft that most sources have heavily underrated, Audric Estime is the player I think of the most. With how explosive the four-star New Jersey product was in his final season in South Bend, a lot of Notre Dame fans expected Estime to be ranked higher among running backs. Regardless of rankings, Estime is more than likely going to be selected in the fourth round where he will have to work his way onto the roster. However, a few destinations could see Estime getting playing time early. Similar to Blake Fisher, the Bengals would be a fun landing spot after the departure of Joe Mixon this past offseason. Zack Moss is RB1 in Cincinnati now, and at pick 115, Estime could be a value pick after going offensive line the round before. While 115 could be a bit high for Estime, Buffalo at 133 would be extremely attractive for him. He would have a great chance to immediately be RB2 the moment he is drafted behind James Cook and would be the balance that the Bills are looking for in the running back room. The Bills would also have had three other picks before this selection, including 128, meaning it would be a valuable spot to take a depth player such as Audric Estime. Should he fall past the Bills, he will likely fall to the fifth round, where the Los Angeles Chargers select at pick 140. This could also be a good landing spot for Estime, where he would be behind J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards who are both on “prove-it” contracts. This could be a similar situation to Kyren Williams when he entered the draft and ultimately played himself into being the lead back. Projection – Buffalo Bills  (Round 4, Pick 133) Grade – B     Marist Liufau 6’2, 239 lbs., LB – 7, OVR – 138 (PFF) Heading into the 2024 season, not many people were familiar with the talent that Marist Liufau had. He performed at a high level in 2023, giving Notre Dame fans excitement when he announced his return. Now, he is looking to take his talent to the next level and make an impact in the NFL. This is once again a spot where I’m looking at the Tennessee Titans, and how they can get involved on Marist Liufau. They need help at the linebacker position, and if they pass on Payton Wilson in round two, it feels like round five would be a great place for a guy like Liufau. Luckily, the Titans pick at 146, and that is a great spot for the seventh-ranked linebacker to fall off the board. Depending on how the board falls, Liufau, along with many other linebackers, could be taken higher than anticipated. However, the Titans at pick 146 feels like a great spot for Liufau at inside or outside linebacker. Projection – Tennessee Titans (Round 5, Pick 146) Grade – B-   Cam Hart 6’2, 207 lbs., CB – 21, OVR – 156 (PFF) This year’s draft is expected to have a lot of the cornerback talent taken off the board early on. Five of the top 26 prospects in the 2024 draft are cornerbacks according to PFF, which means talent can fall or rise. When it is projected the five players at one position will be drafted in the first round, I believe these prospects will rise rather than fall. Cam Hart, a three-star prospect out of Maryland is looking to do the same. The Detroit Lions are projected to address the cornerback position in round one, however with the poor performance from that area last season, it wouldn’t surprise me if they double up and take Hart in the fifth round at pick 164. However, after trading for Carlton Davis, and signing Amik Robertson, if they do decide to draft a corner with their first pick, they might choose to go in another direction in round five. Just behind the Lions in round five are the New Orleans Saints who have picks 168 and 170. These will be the second and third fifth-round picks that the Saints own in this draft. With their strong need at the cornerback spot, Cam Hart is one of the top candidates to be a selection. It would allow Hart to sit and learn from one of the top corners in the game Marshon Lattimore, and it would be phenomenal for his development. Projection – New Orleans Saints (Round 5, Pick 175) Grade – C   Javontae Jean-Baptiste 6’4, 260 lbs., EDGE – 18, OVR – 164 (PFF) After transferring from Ohio State, Javontae Jean-Baptiste became a fan favorite from the moment he stepped on the field in South Bend. He committed to Notre Dame in hopes of developing into a defender who can perform at the next level. He did just that. He tallied five sacks throughout the season, while also picking up 49 total tackles. Now, JJB is looking to take his development at Notre Dame to the next level. The Seattle Seahawks are going to have to address their issues on the defensive line, and the draft is going to be a solid place to do so. Currently, the Seahawks own the 16th overall pick and could go EDGE there. However, after selecting Boye Mafe from Minnesota in last year’s draft, as well as resigning Leonard Williams, they could go for another position of need in round one. With two sixth-round picks, Seattle could certainly bolster up at the defensive front in this area, setting up for Jean-Baptiste to go out west. Another team that is set up to take Javontae Jean-Baptiste would be the hometown Indianapolis Colts. As someone who is extremely high on JJB, this would be great value for a young Colts team. While he wouldn’t get that starting role, he could slide in nicely right behind Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam. It is also possible for Jean-Baptiste to slide to the linebacker position, however that will be a discussion for the team that drafts him to make. This is a pick that has nothing but upside for the Colts and getting it at pick 191 is something that can be looked back on in good conscious for years to come. Projection – Indianapolis Colts (Round 6, Pick 191) Grade – B Other players such as JD Bertrand and Sam Hartman have a chance to hear their name called by the end of the night on Saturday. However, with the way that the board is set up, it feels as if they will have to find their way onto a team as an undrafted free agent. This is more than likely a better option for both Bertrand and Hartman, as it gives them an opportunity to join a team that they feel is best for them. The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in Detroit this Thursday-Saturday, and start at 8 PM ET Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Connor Regan ⏐ Senior Staff Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @thatconnorregan Photo by The Irish Tribune Over 133 seasons of football, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have had 30 coaches in all, each making their own unique mark on the program. The Irish hold an impressive 920-330-42 all-time record and a (.728) win percentage, providing fans with multiple eras of success throughout the years. This piece aims to examine these memorable coaching eras and rank the Top-10 Notre Dame Head Coaches of all time.  The following criteria will be used to assess the list: Tenure (Length of time at Notre Dame), Record, Win Percentage, Heisman trophy winners, and National Titles. In an attempt to remove as much bias as possible, we'll break these rankings down step by step and explain the reasoning behind each decision. We'll begin by making statistical cuts from the list of 30 coaches, removing the excess to hone in on the genuine Top-10 contenders. 1st Cut - Tenure The following coaches with 2 seasons or less of tenure have been removed from contention: 1st head coach James L. Morrison - 1894 - 1 year - 3-1-1 - .(700) Win % - No National Title 2nd head coach H.G. Haden - 1900-1901 - 1 year - 3-1-0 - (.750) Win % - No National Title 4th head coach James McWeeney - 1899 - 1 year - 6-3-1 - (.650) Win % - No National Title 5th head coach Pat O'Dea - 1900-1901 - 2 years - 14-4-2 - (.750) Win % - No National Title 6th coach James F. Faragher - 1902-1903 - 2 years - 14-2-2 - (.843) Win % - No National Title 7th head coach - Red Salmon - 1904 - 1 year - 5-3-0 - (.625) Win % - No National Title 8th head coach - Henry J. McGlew - 1 year - 5-4-0 - (.556) Win % - No National Title 9th coach Thomas A. Barry - 1906-1907 - 2 years - 12-1-1 - (.893) Win % - No National Title 10th coach Victor M. Place - 1911-1912 - 1 year - 8-1-0 - (.889) Win % - No National Title 11th coach Frank Longman - 1909-1910 - 2 years - 11-1-2 - (.857) Win % - No National Title 12th coach John L. Marks - 1911-1912 - 2 years - 13-0-2 - (.933) Win % - No National Title 18th coach Edward’s McKeever - 1944 - 1 year - 8-2-0 - (.800) Win % - No National Title 19th head coach Hugh Devore - 1945, 1963 - 2 years - 9-9-1 - (.500) Win % - No National Title With that cut, we've removed 13/30 coaches from contention, leaving us with the following list of 17, sorted by win percentage. For transparency, our statistics do not account for the wins vacated by either Brian Kelly or the University of Notre Dame. Position 9-17 have no National Titles or Heisman trophy winners and only have 3-5 years with Notre Dame. With nearly half the total list of coaches gone, from here, the most obvious cut would be one based on win percentage. Rank Coach Order Name Span Tenure Record Win Pct. National Titles Heisman Winners (Started in 1935) 1 14 Knute Rockne 1918–30 13 105–12–5 .881 1924, 1929, 1930 (Award Not Yet Created) 2 13 Jesse Harper 1913–17 5 34–5–1 .863 (Award Not Yet Created) 3 17 Frank Leahy 1941–43, 46–53 11 87–11–9 .855 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949 1943 - Angelo Bartelli, 1947 - Johnny Lujack, 1949 - Leon Hart, 1953 - Johnny Lattner 4 22 Ara Parseghian 1964–74 11 95–17–4 .836 1966, 1973 1964 - John Huarte 5 16 Elmer Layden 1934–40 7 47–13–3 .770 6 25 Lou Holtz 1986–96 11 100–30–2 .765 1988 1987 - Tim Brown 7 23 Dan Devine 1975–80 6 53–16–1 .764 1977 8 29 Brian Kelly 2010–2021 12 113***–40 .739 9 30 Marcus Freeman 2021–present 3 19-8 .704 10 3 Frank E. Hering 1896–98 3 12–6–1 .658 (Award Not Yet Created) 11 20 Terry Brennan 1954–58 5 32–18–0 .640 1956 - Paul Hornung 12 15 Hunk Anderson 1931–33 3 16–9–2 .630 (Award Not Yet Created) 13 26 Bob Davie 1997–2001 5 35–25 .583 14 27 Tyrone Willingham 2002–2004 3 21–15 .583 15 28 Charlie Weis 2005–2009 5 35–27 .565 16 24 Gerry Faust 1981–85 5 30–26–1 .535 17 21 Joe Kuharich 1959–62 4 17–23–0 .425 2nd Cut - Win % The following coaches with less than (.600) winning percentage have been removed from contention: 21st Head Coach - Joe Kuharich - 4 Seasons (1959-1962) - 17-23-0 - (.425) Win % - No National Title - No Heisman Winner 24th Head Coach - Gerry Faust - 5 Seasons (1981-1985) - 30-26-1 - (.535) Win % - No National Title - No Heisman Winner 26th Head Coach - Bob Davie - 5 Seasons (1997-2001) - 35-25 - (.583) Win %- No National Title - No Heisman Winner 27th Head Coach - Tyrone Willingham - 3 Seasons (2002-2004) - 21-15 - (.583) Win % - No National Title - No Heisman Winner 28th Head Coach - Charlie Weis - 5 Seasons (2005-2009) - 35-27 - (.565) Win % - No National Title - No Heisman Winner After removing five more coaches, we're left with a more defined list of 12 coaches. 3/12 of these coaches have only three years with the Irish, with one of those 3 being current Head Coach Marcus Freeman.  In the current top 5, we see 2 names that stand out. Both Jesse Harper and Elmer Layden lack a national title and, logically, should be moved out of the top 5 contention and replaced with the only two other Irish head coaches to win titles, Lou Holtz and Dan Devine. Rank Coach Order Name Span Tenure Record Win Pct. National Titles Heisman Winners (Started in 1935) 1 14th Knute Rockne 1918–30 13 105–12–5 .881 1924, 1929, 1930 (Award Not Yet Created) 2 13th Jesse Harper 1913–17 5 34–5–1 .863 (Award Not Yet Created) 3 17th Frank Leahy 1941–43, 46–53 11 87–11–9 .855 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949 1943 - Angelo Bartelli, 1947 - Johnny Lujack, 1949 - Leon Hart, 1953 - Johnny Lattner 4 22nd Ara Parseghian 1964–74 11 95–17–4 .836 1966, 1973 1964 - John Huarte 5 16th Elmer Layden 1934–40 7 47–13–3 .770 6 25th Lou Holtz 1986–96 11 100–30–2 .765 1988 1987 - Tim Brown 7 23rd Dan Devine 1975–80 6 53–16–1 .764 1977 8 29th Brian Kelly 2010–2021 12 113***–40 .739 9 30th Marcus Freeman 2021–present 3 19-8 .704 10 3rd Frank E. Hering 1896–98 3 12–6–1 .658 (Award Not Yet Created) 11 20th Terry Brennan 1954–58 5 32–18–0 .640 1956 - Paul Hornung 12 15th Hunk Anderson 1931–33 3 16–9–2 .630 (Award Not Yet Created) This reconfiguration makes more sense, with Harper getting the edge over Layden due to his significantly higher win %, and Holtz getting 4th place over Devine both due to his .001% better win %, his 11-year tenure, and 100 wins with the Irish. Rank Coach Order Name Span Tenure Record Win Pct. National Titles Heisman Winners (Started in 1935) 1 14th Knute Rockne 1918–30 13 105–12–5 .881 1924, 1929, 1930 (Award Not Yet Created) 2 17th Frank Leahy 1941–43, 46–53 11 87–11–9 .855 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949 1943 - Angelo Bartelli, 1947 - Johnny Lujack, 1949 - Leon Hart, 1953 - Johnny Lattner 3 22nd Ara Parseghian 1964–74 11 95–17–4 .836 1966, 1973 1964 - John Huarte 4 25th Lou Holtz 1986–96 11 100–30–2 .765 1988 1987 - Tim Brown 5 23rd Dan Devine 1975–80 6 53–16–1 .764 1977 6 13th Jesse Harper 1913–17 5 34–5–1 .863 (Award Not Yet Created) 7 16th Elmer Layden 1934–40 7 47–13–3 .770 8 29th Brian Kelly 2010–2021 12 113***–40 .739 9 30th Marcus Freeman 2021–present 3 19-8 .704 10 3rd Frank E. Hering 1896–98 3 12–6–1 .658 (Award Not Yet Created) 11 20th Terry Brennan 1954–58 5 32–18–0 .640 1956 - Paul Hornung 12 15th Hunk Anderson 1931–33 3 16–9–2 .630 (Award Not Yet Created) 3rd Cut - Tenure & Win % The following coaches with 3 years of tenure or less and less than a (.660) winning percentage have been removed from contention: 3rd Head Coach - Frank E. Hering - 3 Seasons (1896-1898) - 12-6-1 - (.658) Win % - No National Title - No Heisman Winner (Award Not Yet Created) 15th Head Coach - Hunk Anderson - 3 Seasons (1931-1933) - 16-9-2 - (.630) Win % - No National Title - No Heisman Winner (Award Not Yet Created) From here, it seems fair to remove both Frank Hering and Hunk Anderson, as they have two of the three lowest win percentages remaining on the list, and both only had three seasons in South Bend. Although Marcus Freeman technically only has 3 years under his belt, we're nearing the start of his 4th season, and as of right now, things are looking as if he'll be with the Irish for the foreseeable future.  We now have a 10-man list, currently sorted by win percentage. Luckily for us, there's an obvious split to make between coaches who have won at least 1 National title and those who have not.  We'll go ahead and get the easy part out of the way by ranking the No. 6 - No. 10 spots. Rank Coach Order Name Span Tenure Record Win Pct. National Titles Heisman Winners (Started in 1935) 1 14th Knute Rockne 1918–30 13 105–12–5 .881 1924, 1929, 1930 (Award Not Yet Created) 2 17th Frank Leahy 1941–43, 46–53 11 87–11–9 .855 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949 1943 - Angelo Bartelli, 1947 - Johnny Lujack, 1949 - Leon Hart, 1953 - Johnny Lattner 3 22nd Ara Parseghian 1964–74 11 95–17–4 .836 1966, 1973 1964 - John Huarte 4 25th Lou Holtz 1986–96 11 100–30–2 .765 1988 1987 - Tim Brown 5 23rd Dan Devine 1975–80 6 53–16–1 .764 1977 6 13th Jesse Harper 1913–17 5 34–5–1 .863 (Award Not Yet Created) 7 16th Elmer Layden 1934–40 7 47–13–3 .770 8 29th Brian Kelly 2010–2021 12 113***–40 .739 9 30th Marcus Freeman 2021–present 3 19-8 .704 10 20th Terry Brennan 1954–58 5 32–18–0 .640 1956 - Paul Hornung 10 - Terry Brennan Like several other members of this list, Terry Brennan holds the distinction of having both played and coached at Notre Dame. He was a halfback under all-time great head coach Frank Leahy from 1945-1948, where we'd help the Irish win back-to-back National Titles in 1946 & 1947. Brennan eventually took over as Notre Dame's Head Coach in 1954 after Leahy's departure and finished 9-1 and 8-2 in his first two seasons. Unfortunately, the 1956 season was notable for good and bad reasons.  Due to several critical injuries and a young team comprised of mostly underclassmen, the Irish posted an abysmal 2-8 record. While the 1956 season was the first losing season in South Bend since 1933 and the worst in school history up to that point, Brennan had the opportunity to coach running back phenom Paul Hornung during his Heisman trophy-winning campaign. Brennan and the Irish redeemed themselves in 1957, notching an improved 7-3 record with notable wins over Army and Oklahoma. The 7-0 Notre Dame shutout win over Oklahoma snapped the Sooners' record 47-game win streak. Brennan and his squad followed up the 1957 season with a disappointing 6-4 record in 1958, ultimately leading to Brennan's controversial dismissal. Brennan ended his tenure with the Irish after 5 seasons, holding a solid 32-18-0 record with a .640 win percentage and a Heisman trophy winner on his resume. Rank Coach Order Name Span Tenure Record Win Pct. National Titles Heisman Winners (Started in 1935) 10 20th Terry Brennan 1954–58 5 32–18–0 .640 0 1956 - Paul Hornung 9 - Marcus Freeman Probably the most controversial pick in this Top-10 list, Marcus Freeman stands in a very unique position as the only entry on this list currently coaching for Notre Dame and only the second active coach alongside Brian Kelly. Freeman has the shortest tenure in South Bend of anyone on this list, but because he is still with the team, he has the advantage of continuing to move up (or down) in these rankings going forward.  As for why Freeman ranks above our No. 10 pick, Terry Brennan, the logic is simple: Freeman already has a better win percentage than Brennan and would only have to win around 7 games in each of the next 2 seasons to avoid a worse win percentage. Additionally, there's a serious argument to be made that if Freeman brings a National Title to South Bend, he'd move up to at least 6th or 7th on this list, possibly giving Bob Davie a run for his money on 5th. His high win percentage is a plus regardless of his short tenure, and as long as he maintains a similar winning pace, he'd be on track to at least mimic Brian Kelly's general success by year 10 should he stay that long. Winning a title or coaching a Heisman winner are two of the quickest ways for Freeman to differentiate himself in this No. 6 - No. 10 pack. Rank Coach Order Name Span Tenure Record Win Pct. National Titles Heisman Winners (Started in 1935) 9 30th Marcus Freeman 2021–present 3 19-8 .704 0 0 8 - Jesse Harper While Jesse Harper didn't play football at Notre Dame, he attended the University of Chicago, where he played for their football team, a formidable force in the early days of college football. In 1906, Harper would become the Head Coach at Alma College in Michigan, where he stayed for 2 seasons and posted a record of 8-3-4. Harper eventually became Head Coach of Wabash College Little Giants in Indiana, compiling a record of 15-9-2 over 4 seasons. 1913 was Harper's first and arguably most successful season coaching the Irish, leading his new squad to a flawless 7-0 record - becoming the first Notre Dame Head Coach to do so in their first season, and one of the most historically significant wins in program history - Notre Dame's 35-13 thrashing of Army. Harper would lead the Irish to a 6-2 record in 1914, a 7-1 record in 1915, an 8-1 record in 1916, and a 6-1-1 record in his last season with the Irish. Harper's final record with the Irish was 34-5-1, an astonishing .863 win percentage. Although he lacked a national championship, no coach before him had won one either, and his win percentage is the 2nd highest all-time at Notre Dame (for any coach with 3+ years tenure), beating out all-time greats like Leahy, Holtz, Devine, and Kelly. Notably, Harper is the only coach on this list, besides current Head Coach Marcus Freeman, to have only single-digit losses on their record. Additionally, Harper is the only coach on this list who also coached baseball and basketball. He coached Notre Dame basketball from 1913-1918, Notre Dame Baseball from 1914-1918, alongside football from 1913-1917. His all-time coaching records across all schools and sports are 57–17–7 in football, 67–29 in basketball, and 88–53–1 in baseball.  Harper retired from coaching following the 1917 season and returned to ranching in Kansas until tragedy struck in 1931. Knute Rockne's tragic and sudden passing in a plane crash happened close to Harper's Kansas ranch, and upon news of Rockne's death, Harper personally accompanied the deceased from the crash site back to South Bend. The University immediately named Harper the replacement Athletic Director, a position he would hold until Elmer Layden was hired as Head Coach and Athletic Director in 1934. During his time as athletic director at Notre Dame, Harper was instrumental in developing the "Barnstorming" scheduling strategy that saw the Irish crisscross the United States to play top opponents in every corner of the country. Harper is heavily credited with helping establish Notre Dame's national football brand, which has continued to this day. Harper was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971. Rank Coach Order Name Span Tenure Record Win Pct. National Titles Heisman Winners (Started in 1935) 8 13th Jesse Harper 1913–17 5 34–5–1 .863 0 0 7 - Elmer Layden Layden played fullback for Knute Rockne from 1922-1924 and cemented his legacy as one of the "Four Horsemen" comprising the backfield that led the Irish to a groundbreaking upset victory over Army in 1924. The other 3 "Horsemen" were QB Harry Stuhldreher, right-back Don Miller, and left-back Jim Crowley. Sportswriter Grantland Rice coined the "Four Horsemen" moniker, helping cement the group as one of the greatest backfields in college football history. Layden was named player of the game in the 1924 championship game against Stanford in the Rose Bowl, Notre Dame's first appearance on the West Coast. The Irish trounced unbeaten Stanford 27-10, with Layden scoring on 2 pick-six interception returns and a rushing touchdown, accounting for 18 of Notre Dame's 27 points.  After playing both football and basketball for Notre Dame, Layden went on to play professional football in the AFL for the Hartford Blues, Brooklyn Horsemen, and Rock Island Independents. Layden coached at Columbia University in Iowa from 1925-1926, posting an 8-5-2 record before moving on to the Duquesne Dukes, where he'd stay for 7 seasons and compile a 48-16-6 record. He became Head Coach and Athletic Director at Notre Dame in 1934, only 3 years after his former head coach, Knute Rockne, tragically passed away, and immediately made his mark on the program as a coach. The 1934 season was both Layden's first and worst at Notre Dame, posting a 6-3 record. The team improved in 1935 with a 7-1-1 record and a classic come-from-behind win against Ohio State, winning 18-13 on a last-second touchdown pass, the second Irish score in the final 5 minutes of play. Layden's Irish squads would post back-to-back 6-2-1 records in 1936 and 1937, and things would again change for the better in 1938. Layden's squad posted an undefeated season until their final game against USC, ultimately bringing their season to an 8-1 conclusion and narrowly missing out on the consensus National Title. Famously, Layden managed to mend the notorious dispute between Notre Dame and Michigan, convincing Fielding Yost to agree to a 2 game home & home series in 1942 & 1943. This groundbreaking agreement would mark the first time the Fighting Irish and Wolverines faced one another since the infamous 1909 meeting, where Notre Dame posted their first win in the series. Out of spite, Yost and Michigan canceled the series until Layden resolved the dispute. Layden's final two years were solid 7-2 showings, but the 1940 season would be his last with the Irish. By the end of his coaching career with Notre Dame, Layden was 47-13-3 without ever positing a losing season, but alas, also without a National Title. He holds a commanding .770 win percentage with the Irish and a 103-34-11 combined record as a Head Coach, which earned him a place in the College Football Hall of Fame with the 1951 class.  After his 7th season with the Irish, Layden left coaching in 1940 to become the commissioner of the NFL, signing a 5-year contract for a whopping $20,000. Layden carved his place in NFL history as the commissioner who guided the league through the strife of WWII, where many teams struggled with starters fighting in the war. Notably, Layden oversaw the merging of teams like the Steelers and Eagles due to a lack of players and the pause of the Cleveland Rams operations for the 1943 season. Due to the patriotic state of the country, Layden made the National Anthem a required and official staple of NFL stadium experiences as a way to pay tribute to players and fans who served in the armed forces. Layden retired as commissioner following the 1946 season. Rank Coach Order Name Span Tenure Record Win Pct. National Titles Heisman Winners (Started in 1935) 7 16th Elmer Layden 1934–40 7 47–13–3 .770 0 0 6 - Brian Kelly Let's get it out of the way - Brian Kelly's abrupt and unceremonious departure from South Bend for LSU has left a bad taste in many Irish fans' mouths, and rightfully so, but that cannot undo the decade-plus of impact he had on the program's history and trajectory. It's not always the case that we see a small-time coach hit the big stage and leave a blue-chip program like Notre Dame in a better place than when he found it, but Brian Kelly took it to a new level and saved it from years of consistent struggles. Before his exit, Kelly became Notre Dame's all-time winningest coach and the second-longest tenured head coach in school history.  Because of his time coaching at Cincinnati, Kelly is known for opening the extensive coaching pipeline between the Bearcats and the Irish. He ultimately brought his successor and Notre Dame's 30th Head Coach to South Bend, this list's No. 9 entry, Marcus Freeman. Kelly posted 113 wins and only 40 losses in his 12 years with the Irish (Not accounting for retroactively vacated wins), with only one losing season in 2016 (4-8). He led Notre Dame to a National Championship appearance against Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide in only his third season and two CFP appearances in 2018 and 2020. Kelly was also named the Home Depot Coach of the Year 3 times and National Coach of the Year twice in 2012 and 2018. Despite no longer being with Notre Dame, Kelly is the winningest active coach in the FBS. Although Kelly might not have gotten the Irish entirely over the hump when it comes to graduating from the 1B tier and joining the 1A tier of college football competitiveness (I.E., Alabama, Georgia), he did return the Irish to a level of relevance that it hadn't seen in quite some time. Adding in the role he played bringing our Freeman to South Bend in the first place, it's plain to see how much influence Kelly had in putting Notre Dame on a trajectory to eventually get over the hump he first collided with in 2012 and learn to hold their own against the best college football has to offer. Despite being the winningest coach in Notre Dame history, Kelly's 12 years in South Bend without a National Title keeps him out of our Top-5 list. His combination of tenure and lack of a title works against him in this scenario, and while he holds a significant place in Notre Dame history, he comes up just short of our 1A Notre Dame Head Coaches tier. Rank Coach Order Name Span Tenure Record Win Pct. National Titles Heisman Winners (Started in 1935) 6 29th Brian Kelly 2010–2021 12 113***–40 .739 0 0 Final 6-10 Rankings Rank Coach Order Name Span Tenure Record Win Pct. National Titles Heisman Winners (Started in 1935) 6 29th Brian Kelly 2010–2021 12 113***–40 .739 0 0 7 16th Elmer Layden 1934–40 7 47–13–3 .770 0 0 8 13th Jesse Harper 1913–17 5 34–5–1 .863 0 0 9 30th Marcus Freeman 2021–present 3 19-8 .704 0 0 10 20th Terry Brennan 1954–58 5 32–18–0 .640 0 1956 - Paul Hornung In "Part 2" or this ranking list, we'll finalize our top 1-5 Notre Dame Head Coaches and break down the reasoning behind our choices. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Photo by Langston Johnson - The Irish Tribune SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- On a sunny spring day in South Bend, the Blue team edged out the Gold team 28-21, in a game that highlighted Notre Dame's depth. Freshmen CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, and Micah Gilbert were players who especially stood out. Carr had great command of the Irish offense, as he was making quick reads and making throws both in and out of the pocket. Carr finished 15/23 with 165 yards, and a touchdown. Standing next to Carr on the Blue team was running back Aneyas Williams. Williams displayed great vision and balance, as he has the ability to shed multiple tackles and bounce runs outside the box. Williams showed a great burst and physicality in short-yardage situations that could entice running backs coach Deland McCullough to get him some playing time during his freshman year. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa does not look like a true freshman. Viliamu-Asa is built like a fifth-year senior, who displayed the ability to run sideline-to-sideline and make big hits. Outside of Viliamu-Asa, the linebacker room appeared to be a real strength of this team. Kahanu Kia may have been the unofficial leading tackler in this game, as he was simply everywhere on the field. Jaiden Ausberry's open-field speed is remarkable, as the coaches want to integrate him into some nickel defensive packages. Jaylen Sneed is another linebacker who is finally ready to make the next step, as his mix of speed and strength will make him an impact player for the Irish this year. Drayk Bowen and Preston Zinter also made good tackles in space. On the defensive line, RJ Oben and Jason Onye were causing the most havoc. Oben kept getting the better of Charles Jagusah, as he had a strip-sack to end the first half. Oben also jarred another ball loose on a Justin Fisher run. Onye made his impact felt through two bull-rushes that ended in two sacks of Steve Angeli. Freshman Bryce Young also stripped a ball loose from sure-handed Gi'Bran Payne. Besides Payne's fumble, his speed and strength have improved drastically. Primarily used as the third-down back last year, Payne showed the ability to get more touches outside of that role. Jeremiyah Love also had a good showing in limited reps. Love's speed is still the biggest tool in the running back room arsenal for the Fighting Irish. He also showed his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, as well. In terms of wide receivers, Deion Colzie and Micah Gilbert stole the show. Colzie, the big-bodied wide receiver who has struggled to stay healthy during his Irish career, was making contested catches all day. He also had a high IQ play as he broke up a Christian Gray interception. Gilbert, after an early drop in the first quarter, had two touchdowns in this one. One was a rope by CJ Carr, and the other was a great over-the-shoulder touchdown catch as he created great separation and Kenny Minchey threw an absolute dime. Kris Mitchell had the game-winning touchdown, as he burned Isaiah Dunn with a double move. Mitchell, who was quiet before his late fourth-quarter touchdown, is projected to be the downfield threat for the Irish this year. Minchey, who finished 12/19 with 123 yards, with a touchdown, and an interception plus a fumble, showed great resilience throughout this spring game. Minchey displayed his athleticism through a couple scrambles, and RPOs. At the beginning of the game, the game seemed to be extremely fast for Minchey as he was rushing his progressions, and trying to be Superman, making off-platform throws. As the game progressed, he was slowing the game down, going through his reads, and as a result, was making big plays for his Gold team. The projected backup quarterback next year, Steve Angeli, looked good in this one, too. Angeli got the start for the Blue team and was in a good rhythm with his wide receivers. While not as athletic as other quarterbacks in the room, Angeli is great staying poised in the face of pressure and taking what the defense is giving him. Angeli is more than a dependable backup quarterback, yet it should be interesting to see if he sticks around in that role while the younger quarterbacks, Carr and Minchey, have shone extremely bright futures. As a whole, the Blue-Gold game was a great sight for Notre Dame fans as the future appears to be extremely promising for the Fighting Irish. The next step in the college football calendar is to see how many players enter the transfer portal. Click Here to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Peter Jay Mulroy⏐Writer⏐Instagram: @sportstodaywithpeterjay Photo by Notre Dame Athletics In front of a packed house and campus Saturday in South Bend, the No. 1-ranked Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team completed its home portion of the 2024 schedule with a battle against familiar foe North Carolina. Fans in attendance were able to enjoy a quadruple dip of action if they chose, with the football team playing in the annual Blue-Gold Game, in addition to baseball and softball also taking place that afternoon.   North Carolina arrived at Arlotta Stadium dealing with a plethora of injuries up and down its roster, but the 6-6 Tar Heels -- who entered losers of four straight contests overall and looking for its first win this season in ACC play -- played with an unrelenting level of energy in the opening half of action.   The Irish and Tar Heels -- who have played 23 times in their histories, with Notre Dame winning 12 of those -- would trade goals in the early part of the game, as the visitors hung tough on the road. Devon McLane opened the scoring with his 16th goal of the season off an assist from Chris Kavanagh, as the Irish jumped out in front. Forty seconds later, however, UNC’s Harry Wellford banged home his first goal of the season to knot the affair at one apiece. With the score tied at two with 90 seconds left in the opening frame, Dom Pietramala put the Tar Heels in front as he blasted his 28th score of the season past Irish netminder Liam Entenmann. To the surprise of many at Arlotta, the Tar Heels -- who were still alive for the No. 4 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament entering Saturday’s game -- would take a 3-2 lead into the second quarter.   Looking to jumpstart an Irish offense that has averaged over 16 goals per game this season, Jordan Faison would get going in the second quarter. His goal at the 12:31 mark of the frame knotted things at three, and Will Angrick’s goal four-plus minutes later gave Notre Dame the lead back at 4-3.   The defense was clearly the story for both sides in the opening 30 minutes of play, which was an impressive feat when you consider that UNC was without some of its premier players on both ends of the field. Fighting through its injuries, North Carolina found itself down just one score, as they entered the locker room trailing 5-4. It was a gorgeous behind-the-back score by Pat Kavanagh that put the blue and gold up heading into the locker room with 2:39 to go in the half.   Despite Carolina’s impressive first two quarters of action, the consensus No. 1 team in America came out firing as they have all season when faced with all levels of adversity.   With six consecutive goals in the quarter -- including two more from McLane, which helped him collect the hat trick, and Chris Kavanagh’s 22nd of the season -- the Irish, who were coming off a thrilling victory over No. 8-ranked Cornell last week in New York, gave themselves complete control of the contest, as they led 11-4 at the end of three.   Consecutive goals from the Tar Heels at the top of the fourth quarter would bring them to within five with 10-plus minutes remaining, but three additional strikes by Eric Dobson (10th of the season), Jeff Ricciardelli -- who scored his sixth of the campaign off an assist from Tyler Buchner -- and the completion of another hat trick for Chris Kavanagh, helped the Irish register their seventh straight victory overall.   In the win, Irish keeper Liam Entenmann stopped 12 of the 18 shots he faced, as the veteran continues to protect the blue and golf on the back end.   What’s Next for the Irish?   Notre Dame heads south once again, this time for a date in Charlottesville with No. 4 Virginia on Saturday, April 27. The Cavaliers knocked off the Irish twice last season, with their wins serving as the only two losses for the eventual national champion Irish. Click Here to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Owen O'Connor ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @Ocon54 Photo by The Irish Tribune The wait is finally over for Fighting Irish fans. The University of Notre Dame will host the 93rd Blue-Gold spring game this upcoming Saturday. An inner-squad spring game is the first taste of a new football season after months of practice for the program and its players. Last year, fans had the pleasure of watching new transfer Quarterback Sam Hartman throw the ball beautifully on the way to an exciting season. The Blue-Gold game is not only the first chance for a more live-action sequence but also a first impression on the fans and NCAA football for the 2024 season. Due to the looming time gap between the spring game and the start of football season, this inner-squad matchup can leave a longing impression on the fans' idea of the 2024 year. Potential stars and depth players alike will look to turn some heads. The spring game is not only a chance to see the stars of today, but the playmakers of tomorrow. Head Coach Marcus Freeman and the coaching staff have done a tremendous job of planting the seeds for Notre Dame's future. Underclassmen who will have the chance to make an impact next season will get the opportunity to face starting-level competition. It is an exciting time to be a Notre Dame fan as the team is prospering at all levels. Now, let's take a look at some of the players who have the chance to make the biggest impact this Saturday: CJ Carr - QB - True Freshman Notre Dame Quarterback CJ Carr comes from a legacy in the world of football. The highly touted player is the grandson of former University of Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr. CJ was a top 50 recruit in the class of 2024 according to 247 Sports and the 1st ranked QB in the high-powered state of Michigan. As a senior, he guided Saline to a 9-2 record in the second round of the Michigan Division 1 playoffs for the second consecutive year. He also completed 199 of 292 pass attempts (68.1%), for 2,754 yards, 33 total touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Carr enters an intriguing Quarterback competition that seems to be leaning toward Riley Leonard as the starter if his ankle recovery goes as planned. The backup Quarterback spot on the other hand is one conversation we've had in my previous writings. Carr has shown that at the least, he has earned a chance to compete with the best of them, even if he isn't quite ready to move up the depth chart for the time being. During his time with the program so far, Carr has done nothing but impressed with his limited opportunities in practice and scrimmages. Coach Freeman has emphasized his growth and potential as a future star on multiple occasions. Carr's progress up the depth chart is contingent on a few factors. His physical strength could benefit from a solid summer of strength and conditioning training in South Bend, as well as a season of learning the system. The young Quarterback is anticipated to be one of the players with the most eyes on him this weekend depending on his number of snaps - and he should get plenty playing for both squads. Jeremiyah Love - RB - Sophomore The running back room will be open for business this season. Love is ready to help fill the shoes of Audric Estime this season as Notre Dame searches for their answer at Running back. The highly touted sophomore has already shown his potential in some big moments last season, especially in El Paso. As he demonstrated in his senior season, the Class 6 football State Champion can accelerate at an incredible rate. He had 14 touchdowns and an amazing 10.4 yards per rush when playing for Christian Brothers College in his final year. For his track team, he also won the state championship in the 100-meter dash. The St. Louis product made an early impression for the Fighting Irish this last season, gaining 86 yards and a touchdown on only nine touches in the first two games. The sophomore is expected to mainly be splitting carries with Jadarian Price this season, as both have stepped up in the opportunities they've been given. With Price unavailable for the game on Saturday, the spotlight will shine squarely on Love, who looks to carry the Blue team to victory. Last year, we saw Mike Denbrock operate a pass-heavy offense at LSU with Heisman winner Jayden Daniels at the helm. The star Quarterback was the leading rusher on the ground, but we saw Denbrock use the talent and abilities of all his weapons last season, including the running backs. This will most likely be the approach he takes this year with Love, who has the receiving tools to make an impact through the air. Jaden Greathouse - WR - Sophomore Jaden Greathouse brings the physical tools of a star Wide Receiver. At 6-1 and 205lbs, the promising sophomore has shown the ability to be the first option in a pass-heavy offense with his size, speed, and playmaking ability. Many fans will remember Greathouse for his tremendous breakout performance during the season opener in Dublin, Ireland vs Navy. The Freshman at the time scored a touchdown in the second quarter on a 34-yard reception, his first collegiate reception of his career. He also added a 20-yard reception for a second touchdown in the third quarter. He concluded with two touchdowns and a team-high 68 yards on three catches. One of five Irish wide receivers to have caught two passes in the season opener, and the first freshman to ever accomplish this achievement. With other presumed slot receivers Jordan Faison and Jayden Harrison out for the game, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Greathouse step up and be a tremendous safety blanket on the inside - if that's where he ends up playing. As we discussed earlier, offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock has a proven track record of finding the diamonds in a program. The Fighting Irish have the honor of retaining an offensive coach who has developed potential first-round WRs in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas. The Blue-Gold spring game will be the first chance for certain Wide Receivers to mark their territory as one of the primary options in this offense, and Greathouse will look to take full advantage. Notre Dame Football's 2024 Blue-Gold Game will stream live exclusively on Peacock this Saturday, April 20th, at 1:00 PM ET from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Via The Irish Tribune Nothing beats a Saturday in Notre Dame Stadium, as the yearly tradition of the Fighting Irish's Blue-Gold game gives light to the future of the program, while feeding fans with enough football to last them through the spring. However, even as it may be beyond exciting to see players, especially underclassmen, get an opportunity to showcase their development to the Notre Dame fanbase; the structure of the Blue-Gold game offers little opportunity to get the true feel of the team. This year especially, it will be difficult to understand the nature of the team because of the amount of marquee names not participating. Notable players that will not be playing include Riley Leonard, Benjamin Morrison, Jadarian Price, Jayden Thomas, Cam Williams, and Jayden Harrison. Even as the Notre Dame offense transitions into the Mike Denbrock era, I would anticipate a low-scoring performance, especially since the Irish will not show too many schemes, and, at the end of the day, Notre Dame boasts one of the top defenses in America. In last week's "Jersey scrimmage" in Notre Dame Stadium, Al Golden's defense stole the show. The defense racked up three total interceptions, including two pick-sixes by Xavier Watts and Jaden Mickey. The defensive line also bullied the offensive line in the trenches, as guys were coming off the edge unmarked, and the defensive pass rush was too much for the offensive to fend off. As it pertains to the passing game tomorrow, the Irish will be without four scholarship wide receivers, including their projected top option, Thomas, and the high-upside freshman, Williams. Transfer Kris Mitchell and freshman Micah Gilbert are the two wide receivers to watch out for amid the injuries. Mitchell will most likely be matched up against Christian Gray, who is fighting for a starting cornerback position against Jaden Mickey who, coincidentally, will likely be guarding Gilbert. These two one-on-one battles will be the sole matchups to look out for as the Notre Dame quarterbacks will be having their own mini competition. Last year, the main narrative going into the spring game was the impact that Sam Hartman will have on the Notre Dame team. Evidently, Hartman made the spring game worthwhile as he silenced all of Marcus Freeman's claims of an "open quarterback battle" as he completely outshined opposing quarterback, Tyler Buchner. A couple weeks later, Buchner entered his name in the transfer portal, and Hartman cemented himself as the starter for the 2023 Irish. In this year's game, the battle between Angeli, Minchey, and Carr to be Leonard's backup will be intriguing. Carr will be playing for both teams, while Angeli will get the start for the Blue team and Minchey will start for the Gold team. While these may be relevant storylines in the spring, many of these questions won't be answered until summer camp. However, the ongoing competition between position groups sparks nothing but growth for every player. The slogan from the first spring practice was "iron sharpens iron," and it should be interesting to see how far the Fighting Irish have progressed throughout their spring. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer In this episode, we analyze Notre Dame's jersey scrimmage. We were in attendance for the 80+ play scrimmage, and we bring you all the details. From quarterback play, to defensive dominance, and who surprised in the scrimmage, both positively and negatively, we've got you covered. We also preview this weekend's highly anticipated Blue-Gold game. What should fans expect from the team? What are some match-ups to watch for? Finally, we discuss the number 1 ranked Notre Dame LAX team as they prep for the end of the regular season and the start of the ACC Tournament. Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Go Irish! Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen on iHeartRadio First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

Written by Jhett Garrett ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @JhettGarrett Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Over the last ten years, Notre Dame has had 47 players selected in the NFL Draft. Seven of those players performed well enough during their time in South Bend to be picked in the first round. In this article, I will be recapping the amateur, and professional careers for all eight of these players. Zack Martin (2014) OT, Pick 16, Dallas Cowboys When talking about the greatest first-round picks from the University of Notre Dame, offensive lineman Zack Martin is towards the top of that list. He was a four-star prospect coming out of Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, and picked the Irish over Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. After redshirting his freshman season, Martin found himself starting on the offensive line in 2010, where he was the only player on the Notre Dame offense to start every game. He found himself starting every game once more during his sophomore year before being named a captain for the 2012 season. It was a special year for the unit that went 12-0 before losing in the National Championship Game against Alabama in 2013. Following this, Martin announced he would return for his senior season, where he became the 18th player in Notre Dame history to be named captain for the second time. Before being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in 2014, Martin would set the Notre Dame record for most starts by an offensive lineman with 52. In his final game with the Irish, the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers, Martin won the MVP, becoming the first offensive lineman to win said award in a bowl game since 1959. Martin would move to the guard position when he was drafted by the Cowboys. During his rookie season, Martin was named to a Pro Bowl, while also being the lone rookie on the All-Pro teams that season, becoming the first rookie offensive lineman to make an All-Pro team since 1947. During the rest of his rookie contract, Martin would make the Pro Bowl every season, and the All-Pro teams every season (three First-team, two Second-team). In June of 2018, Martin signed a six-year, $84 million contract extension with $40 million guaranteed with the Dallas Cowboys, which made him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. After signing the extension, Martin would miss his first career game due to a knee injury in week 15 of the 2019 season. Despite this, he became one of five offensive linemen to make the Pro Bowl in their first six seasons. In his ten-year career, Zack Martin has committed just seven holding penalties, and eight false starts, and has played 9.923 snaps. To say that Martin is a first-ballot Hall of Famer would be an understatement.   Ronnie Stanley (2016) OT, Pick 6, Baltimore Ravens When having the “O-Line U” debate, Ronnie Stanley is a guy who certainly helps the argument for Notre Dame. A four-star prospect out of Bishop Gorman High School, Stanley was ranked the number one player in the state of Nevada. During his freshman season, Stanley was regarded more as a backup lineman for the Irish, only appearing in two games in the 2012 season. However, Stanley would be a huge part of the Notre Dame offensive line during his sophomore season in 2013. He started at right tackle in all 13 games, seeing him be a part of a team that gave up just eight sacks all season long, the second lowest in the FBS. Following the departure of Zack Martin in 2014, Stanley would make his move to right tackle where he would spend the rest of his college career. His junior season saw his best, giving up just one sack, and winning the award for Polynesian Football Player of the Year. It was because of this that Stanley found himself considering entering the draft, however, he would return to the Irish for the 2016 season before being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens with the sixth overall pick. Stanley was the highest drafted offensive lineman in 2016 and would be named the starting left tackle before the season. It was during that season that Stanley would make his first 12 career NFL starts before going down with a foot injury that caused him to miss four games. Despite this, Stanley was still the third-highest-ranked rookie offensive lineman after giving up three sacks all year. He would once again give up three total sacks in the 2017 season despite starting three more games. It was his second season in the NFL, and after being ranked the 17th-best offensive lineman in the NFL during his rookie season, he would have high expectations throughout his career. He would finish his sophomore season ranked 13th. At the end of the 2019 season, PFF gave Stanley the title of “the best pass-blocking-highest-paid tackle in the NFL.” It must have had some truth to it, because in October of 2020, Stanley would sign a five-year contract extension with Baltimore, that would see him being paid $112.8 million in max value, which made him the highest paid offensive lineman in the league.   Will Fuller (2016) WR, Pick 21, Houston Texans Ronnie Stanley would not be the only member of the Fighting Irish to be drafted in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, as Will Fuller found himself a new home in Houston. He was a four-star prospect out of Roman Catholic High School located in Philadelphia, which caused him to originally commit to Penn State in June of 2012. However, just two months later, Fuller would switch his commitment to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Fuller had a hard time finding playing time during his freshman season, finishing with just six total receptions. It was in these six catches that Fuller would reel in his first career touchdown reception on a pass from Tommy Rees against Air Force. It would be his sophomore year that Will Fuller would become a household name on Saturdays in South Bend. The back half of the 2014 season for Notre Dame is something many Irish fans will want to forget; however, Will Fuller was something worth remembering. He finished the year with 1,094 yards, 15 touchdowns, on 76 receptions. He had four games with 100 or more receiving yards and caught a touchdown pass in all but two of his 13 games played. In 2015, Fuller picked up right where he left off. Finishing with 1,258 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 62 receptions, Fuller felt it was time to enter the NFL Draft. The Houston Texans selected Fuller with the 21st overall pick, making him the second wide receiver taken after the Cleveland Browns selected Corey Coleman at pick 15. He would make an immediate impact in his first career game against the Chicago Bears, where he would finish with 107 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. That next week, he would once again surpass the century mark, finishing with 104 yards on three receptions. Fuller would complete that season with 635 yards, and two touchdowns on 47 receptions. His second season would unfortunately see him facing a collarbone injury suffered in August during training camp. Initially, it was expected that he would miss 2-3 months, and made his season debut on October 1st against the Tennessee Titans, where he caught four passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. He would see the field in 10 games during the 2017 season, with a final stat line reading 28 receptions for 423 yards and seven touchdowns. 2018 was the year that changed everything for Will Fuller. He sat out game one of the season due to a hamstring injury but would find himself back on the field that next week. During his season debut, Fuller finished with 8 receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Titans. He would play the six games following this, seeing career-high numbers and exceptional development from the third-year player. However, things turned for the worse in week 8, where Will Fuller would go down with an ACL tear that would ultimately end his season. He totaled 32 receptions for 502 yards and four touchdowns in his seven games played. He would bounce back during the 2019 season, reaching new career highs on multiple different occasions. Fuller saw himself tally 670 yards, three touchdowns that all came in one game against the Atlanta Falcons, and 49 receptions. Although he missed five games due to injury that season, it felt as if Fuller had proven himself once again in Houston. However, things would flip once more during the 2020 season. With the departure of the Texans' number one receiver Deandre Hopkins, it was time to see how Will Fuller would look as a true WR1. He started the first 11 games of the season and was on pace for his first 1,000-yard receiving season since his time at Notre Dame. In week 11, Fuller would catch 6 passes, resulting in 171 yards and two touchdowns in a win against the Detroit Lions. Although it was not known at the time, this would be the final time Will Fuller would wear a Texans uniform as a player. Fuller would be suspended for six games due to his involvement in performance-enhancing drugs that are prohibited by the NFL. This caused him to miss the final five games of the season, as well as the first game of the next. It was during this suspension that Fuller would sign a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins worth $10.6 million. He would be listed as inactive in week two before making his first appearance in week three where Fuller would finish with just three receptions and 20 yards. That next week, Fuller broke his thumb and was placed on the injured reserve list where he spent the rest of the 2021 season. Will Fuller has not signed an NFL contract since.   Quenton Nelson (2018) OT, Pick 6, Indianapolis Colts The Notre Dame offensive line in 2018 was a force to be reckoned with largely in part to Quenton Nelson. From Red Bank Catholic High School in New Jersey, Nelson was a two-sport athlete in high school playing both basketball and football, while also brushing up on his taekwondo skills. Nelson was a four-star prospect and ranked as the number six offensive tackle in the 2014 class. He signed his letter of intent with Notre Dame in February of 2014 and was on campus in August of that year. Nelson would redshirt his freshman season with Ronnie Stanley holding down the tackle position but would switch to left guard in 2015 which allowed him to find a role on the line. In 2016, Nelson was named to the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated All-American second team. There were plenty of familiar names on that offensive line in 2016 that are playing in the NFL currently, and Quenton Nelson fit right in with the bunch. That following season, Nelson once again found himself on an All-American team, except this time it was the First team; Unanimously. And while Notre Dame fans will always remember the magic of the Notre Dame offensive line in 2017, Nelson would forgo his final year of eligibility, and enter the NFL Draft. Going into the draft there was plenty of speculation and mock drafts that had Nelson staying home in the Hoosier state and playing for the Indianapolis Colts. Surely enough, with the sixth pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Quenton Nelson. It didn’t take long for Nelson to make history in the NFL, winning Offensive Rookie of the Month in October, becoming the first guard to ever do so. He would make his first Pro Bowl in his rookie season and have made six straight since entering the league before missing it this past season by one vote. He was the first player in Colts history to make the Pro Bowl in his first five seasons. This play was recognized by league voters. After the 2018 season, Quenton Nelson received two votes for Offensive Rookie of the Year, which was ultimately won by Saquon Barkley. Nelson also played his way into being on the All-Pro first team for the first three seasons of his career, making him the second player to ever do so in their first three seasons (Barry Sanders). He would be named second-team All-Pro in 2021 and hasn’t made either team since. In September of 2022, Nelson would sign a four-year, $80 million contract extension with the Colts, making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. Mike McGlinchey (2018) OT, Pick 9, San Francisco 49ers Quenton Nelson was not the only top-ten pick that was residing on the Notre Dame offensive line in 2017. Nelson’s teammate on the left side of the line, Mike McGlinchey, went just three picks after his teammate to the San Francisco 49ers. Out of high school, McGlinchey was a four-star prospect out of Wiliam Penn Charter High School in Philadelphia. He was ranked as the number six overall player in the state of Pennsylvania, and the number 10 offensive tackle in the 2013 class. He announced his commitment to the Irish in March of 2012. Like Nelson, McGlinchey would redshirt his freshman season in 2013 before appearing in all 13 games that next year. It was 2015 when McGlinchey would make his mark on the Notre Dame offensive line, starting all 13 games at right tackle. However, before the 2016 season, the Irish decided to move McGlinchey to the left side of the line with Quenton Nelson, and the rest is history. He would play two seasons at that position after returning to South Bend for his fifth year of eligibility before entering the draft in 2018. McGlinchey went ninth overall to the San Francisco 49ers, where he would move back to right tackle after the departure of former Niner Trent Brown. During his rookie season, he would start all 16 games. Following this, he was named to the PWFA, and ESPN All-Rookie teams, an acknowledgment of the impressive season that McGlinchey had. In 2019, McGlinchey would appear in 12 games and start all of them, however he would miss four games due to a knee injury. It was during this year that the 49ers found themselves in the Super Bowl. McGlinchey found himself starting in all three postseason games, however would fall to the Kansas City Chiefs 31-20. McGlinchey would start all 16 games for San Francisco in 2020, as well as the first nine games of the 2021 season. However, he would tear his quadricep in week nine, sidelining him for the rest of the season. He would bounce back in the 2022 season, starting all 17 games, as well as three postseason games before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. That would be McGlinchey’s final game as a 49er, as he became a free agent after the season. He was one of the top offensive linemen in the 2023 free agent class and would sign with the Denver Broncos on a five-year, $87.5 million contract. During the first year of his contract, he would once again start in all 17 games for the Broncos, meaning he has started in every NFL game that he has appeared in. While the awards aren’t rolling in for McGlinchey like they were for Nelson, he has still had an amazing career so far.   Jerry Tillery (2019) DL, Pick 28, Los Angeles Chargers Despite Jerry Tillery playing defensive line for Notre Dame in college, he was originally recruited as an offensive lineman. , Tillery was the number six offensive tackle in the entire 2015 class. He was a four-star prospect out of Evangel Christian Academy in Louisiana but was ultimately switched to the defensive side of the ball before his freshman season. He was instantly plugged into the Irish defense, playing in 12 games that season, including three starts. Tillery didn’t jump off the stat sheet, but he made a noticeable impact on the game, finishing with 12 tackles and a sack, as well as two tackles for loss. It allowed Notre Dame fans to learn a name that would become very familiar over the next three years. In his sophomore season Tillery’s role expanded, starting 11 of 12 games for the Irish. His number of tackles more than tripled, seeing him finish with 37 tackles, 19 were solo. Despite not picking up a sack on the year, he would still leave his mark with 3.5 TFLs. It wasn’t until Tillery’s junior season that he elevated himself to being one of the star players on the Notre Dame defense. 2017 was arguably Tillery’s best season in college where he would start all 13 games for the first time since arriving in South Bend. He also picked up multiple sacks for the first time in his career, finishing with 4.5. Along with his sacks going up, his number of tackles and TFLs would also go up with them. His TFLs nearly tripled as he would pick up nine of them, while also collecting 56 tackles. Although he had a great season and had a chance to be taken in the NFL draft, Tillery decided to stay at Notre Dame for one more season. The 2018 Notre Dame team is one of the fans’ all-time favorites. The Irish would go undefeated and make their first appearance in the College Football Playoff since it was created in 2014. Jerry Tillery was a massive part of those accolades, picking up the most sacks of career with seven. Although other stats would regress, those who watched Tillery play in 2018 would know that he was more of a game-wrecker in his senior season. He would still finish with 8.5 TFLs while also collecting 28 tackles. Going into the draft that year, Tillery was being mocked as a fringe first-round pick with the potential to sneak in. The Los Angeles Chargers, who were picking at 28 that year, allowed that to happen. He would play in 15 games during his rookie season while starting in three of those. He didn’t make a ton of noise; however, he did pick up the first two sacks of his career, along with three TFLs and 17 tackles. In year two, Tillery became more of a problem on the defensive line, hitting the quarterback 14 times, collecting three sacks, 30 total tackles, and three TFLs. He would take yet another leap in year three, which has been the best of his career thus far. He would pick up 4.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hits once again, and six TFLs. He also reached his career high in tackles with 51. Despite showing hope in the 2021 season, it was announced in May of 2022 that the Chargers would decline his fifth-year option, making him a free agent at the end of the 2022 season. He would only make it to November before being waived. While Tillery never took that next step that the Chargers expected when drafting him, he was still serviceable in his time there. After being waived by Los Angeles, he would join the division rival Las Vegas Raiders where he would play out the rest of 2022. The Raiders gave him a “prove it” two-year, $6.8 million contract at the end of that season, and would appear in all 17 games in 2023. However, the numbers weren’t jumping off the page, which caused the Raiders to not bring him back at the end of the season. This past offseason, Jerry Tillery signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings, and is looking to finally take that leap in 2024.   Kyle Hamilton (2022) S, Pick 14, Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton was by far the highest-recruited player on this list, as he was a five-star and the number-one safety in the 2019 class. He attended Marist School in Atlanta, and committed to the Irish in April of 2018, ten days after visiting the school in Ann Arbor. He was certainly worth the hype. In fact, on his first defensive snap ever taken in Notre Dame Stadium, Kyle Hamilton picked off his first pass in the Navy and Gold and took it back 34 yards for a touchdown. It was the first of four interceptions that Hamilton would have during his freshman season, as well as the lone touchdown of his Notre Dame career. He would still deflect six passes, and collect 41 tackles, including one for a loss. He was awarded Freshman of the Year by The Athletic and Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year by Echoes. Because of this impressive freshman campaign, Hamilton was placed on multiple preseason All-American teams. During Notre Dame’s lone season in the ACC, Hamilton started 11 games, picking up 63 tackles (51 solo), 4.5 for a loss, and one interception that came off Trevor Lawrence in the ACC Championship game against Clemson. He would be named to multiple All-American teams, as well as All-ACC First Team by both AP and Phil Steele. Not only was his skill and leadership recognized nationally, but also internally, as Hamilton was named a team captain before the 2021 season. He was also on just about every “award watch” that you can find on the defensive side of the ball. After picking up three more interceptions, and 34 tackles including two for a loss, Hamilton would be named to multiple All-American first teams, as well as one second team (AP). Hamilton announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft where he was being mocked highly by most publications. He would ultimately be drafted 14th overall by the Baltimore Ravens, a spot that most people considered a “steal.” Through two seasons in the NFL, that would be correct. He would appear in 16 games during his rookie season in 2022 while starting in four of those. Hamilton was still finding his feet at times, however he appeared to be a veteran very quickly. He deflected five passes, picked up two sacks, 62 tackles, and forced one fumble. It was clear that Hamilton was tapping into his ability to stretch the field and make plays anywhere. This past season, Hamilton started all 15 games that he appeared in where he would see improvements in every stat category outside of forced fumbles where he would once again record just one. He collected his first career interception against the Cleveland Browns during week four, the game following Hamilton’s three-sack first half against the Colts. He would collect three more interceptions throughout the season, finishing with four, including one for a touchdown. Hamilton also tallied 81 total tackles, 10 TFLs, and 13 pass deflections. He would be named First-team All-Pro and selected for his first career Pro Bowl. Hamilton is now preparing for his third season in the NFL with the Ravens. Why Does This Matter? For the last ten years, these seven players have made a total of $370,033,057, and that number is going to skyrocket over the next few seasons. Notre Dame has the most draft picks of all time with 525, and that number will also go up in the next few years. Year in and year out, the Fighting Irish are developing NFL players, and getting them to the league. Notre Dame has always been an attractive place to go, and Head Coach Marcus Freeman is bringing light to that once more. The amount of first-round draft picks that come out of South Bend is only going to excel moving forward. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Cade Harper | Writer | Twitter/X: @ CadeHarper.IT Photo by Notre Dame Athletics The Irish leave Chapel Hill 0-3 on the weekend, and winless in the ACC yet again in another road series. With the postseason approaching and just 4 series against ACC opponents left, the Irish need to make a push if they want to play in the NCAA Tournament to get a chance at returning to the College World Series. As of now, the Irish are not projected to make the tournament, but we've seen crazier things happen in the sports world. Notre Dame entered Chapel Hill 2-13 in ACC Play and left 2-16 in ACC Play, making this their third consecutive time of being swept since playing Miami. The Irish were outscored 30-5 across all three games this past weekend as their defensive struggles seem to continue in the conference. UNC now moves onto a very impressive 23-0 at home on the season and advancing in the rankings to number eleven. On the bright side of things, the Irish offense is putting up very impressive milestones that maybe hidden by the fact of the loss. Estevan Moreno recorded two doubles in Sunday's finale which tied for his career high of doubles in a single game and brought his season total up to 14. He has now broken the top 10 in the ACC for doubles. Another INF, Connor Hincks made some milestones as well but with his glove. Hincks managed to turn two double plays yesterday to bring his season total up to 28. This makes him the sole leader of fielded double plays in the ACC. Although the weekend didn't turn out quite how we wanted it to, there is still time for a postseason push. After the long road trip, Notre Dame is set for a very long home stand of 9 straight games in South Bend before heading to East Lansing to take on Michigan State. The Irish will then return to South Bend for back to back series hosting Pittsburgh and Toledo. The Irish will then be back on the road to close out the season against Butler, whom the Irish had at home earlier this year and won, and Louisville. The Irish will be back at home playing Valparaiso on Tuesday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by another home matchup against Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Notre Dame will then host Boston College (19-16, 7-11 ACC) for a three game weekend series at home starting on Thursday following the PFW game. The games will be broadcasted on ACC Network per usual. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Mike Stacey X: @MikeStaceyIT IG: @mikestaceyit Photo by The Irish Tribune When: April 20th- 1 P.M. EDT Where: Notre Dame Stadium How to Watch : The game will be aired exclusively on Peacock This upcoming Saturday Notre Dame will be playing their 93rd Blue-Gold scrimmage. Unless you are new to Notre Dame Football, I am sure you are all aware that this is an inter-squad scrimmage where teams will be selected beforehand representing the "Blue Team" and the "Gold Team." Each year fans seem to be less interested in which team wins, and more interested in how certain players or units perform. I am no different, and this year as every other year I have specific interests and concerns going into this game that I will be keeping an eye on Saturday. Let's take a look at some of the most intriguing storylines going into this game, and which player at each group I expect to have a breakout Spring Game performance. Quarterback: One of my biggest intrigues coming into this season is who will take over the number 2 spot on the depth chart. Maybe the back-up QB isn't the sexiest topic in recent years, but with Riley Leonard's ankle issues and the amount of talent on the Depth Chart, not only do I find this interesting but I think it could be very important. I would not be surprised to see one of these players seeing significant time at some point this season. If so, they will need to be ready if Notre Dame is going to reach their Playoff expectations. Carr was the QB who stood out in their recent live scrimmage, Angeli is the assumed number 2 and Minchey has a ton of upside. So who will rise up the ranks to grab that back-up spot? We might get a good idea come Saturday. Breakout Player: CJ Carr Running Back: Simply put, this group is loaded. Yes, Estime has left huge shoes to fill. Yes, there is some concern about new faces on the Offensive Line. However, these backs are going to help alleviate some of that concern as they are flat out explosive. The biggest problem they may have is figuring out how to split reps between this group. Also, look for these guys to have something to say in the passing game as well. Love, Price, Payne, Young, Williams? Yeah, I can't wait.... Breakout Player: Williams (sleeper) Wide Receiver: This is the position that has made Irish fans cringe over the past couple seasons, but with a new coach in Mike Brown and an influx of speed and talent, this year expects to yield better results. The big question for me is who will stand out and be the number 1 option for the Irish this season? In the live scrimmage Greathouse and Williams stood out. Williams is a 5 star recruit embarking on his freshman year with all the tools to be a star. Greathouse had a great Freshman season that was impacted later on due to a nagging injury. I think as long as he can stay healthy he has the inside track on being WR1 for the Irish this season, but there are certainly plenty of other options including highly touted transfer Kris Mitchell, and walk on turn late season star Jordan Faison. For the first time in a few years, I am very excited about this groups potential production this season. I think it is going to be significant. Breakout Player: Jaden Greathouse Tight End: Death, taxes, and Notre Dame having studs at Tight End. This year should be no different with Mitchell Evans, Eli Raridon, Cooper Flanagan and Kevin Bauman. The biggest question mark about this group is whether or not it can stay healthy. Mitchell Evans will miss this game and the entirety of the Spring as he went down with a torn ACL injury at the end of last season and is still on the mend. This was his second injury in two years. Eli Raridon, his backup, suffered an ACL injury in 2022. Kevin Bauman also suffered a torn ACL last year, his second in consecutive seasons. Simply put, that is A LOT of concerning knee injuries at one position. If the Irish can stay healthy, LOOK OUT. The talent on this unit is undeniable. However, a couple injuries and this group that should be a strength can quickly turn to a weakness. Breakout Player: Cooper Flanagan Offensive Line: This unit has a lot to prove and the direction of this season could very well hinge on their development. Replacing Joe Alt and Blake Fisher at the Tackle positions will certainly not be an easy task and the guys on the inside, although coming back with experience, certainly need to improve upon last years performance and find more consistency. The good news is the talent is there and so far they are healthy throughout camp. The bad news is there are plenty of unknowns. This will be a fun one to watch come Saturday. Breakout Players : Tackle- Charles Jagusah Guard- Billy Schrauth Who do you think will break out in the Spring Game for the Irish offense? Let us know in the comments! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun