Written by Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Via The Irish Tribune SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Even as the calendar barely turns to April, Marcus Freeman's attention to depth when constructing the Fighting Irish's roster is already coming to fruition. With the second ankle surgery limiting Riley Leonard's involvement with the team and Benjamin Morrison undergoing surgery on his shoulder, Notre Dame is currently without their two most talented players on either side of the ball. "There's still some depth in the backend of the defense that we can continue to finalize," said Freeman in an interview with Greg McElroy. With Morrison's injury sidelining him for at least six weeks, Freeman and defensive coordinator Al Golden will look to see how deep the position room truly is. The battle between Christian Gray and Jaden Mickey will continue all fall camp, and the sudden transferring of experienced cornerback Clarence Lewis has spread the secondary even thinner. Freeman's use of the transfer portal in the offseason highlights his weariness about the backend, as well. The additions of Arizona State transfer Jordan Clark, and Northwestern transfer, Rod Heard II are instrumental pieces in filling in holes left by the departures of Cam Hart and Thomas Harper. Clark, who shined in four seasons with the Sun Devils totaling 139 tackles and three interceptions, brings an experienced playmaker with natural football instincts. Heard, who cannot participate with the Irish because he is still finishing up classes at Northwestern, had 85 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception with the Wildcats last season. His ability to play well against BIG 10 competition made him a priority target for cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens. On offensive side of the ball, Leonard's second surgery puts the Fighting Irish in an uncomfortable situation. Freeman brought in Leonard to command an explosive Irish offense led by the newly minted offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock. Spring camp is the perfect opportunity for a new face to get acquainted with his team. While Leonard may not get the opportunity to practice with his new teammates, his presence is still felt as he was scootering in between stretching lines at practice, chatting it up with his wide receivers and building a rapport with his offensive line. In the midst of Leonard's on-field absence, quarterbacks Steve Angeli, Kenny Minchey, and CJ Carr will get significantly more reps. Given Leonard's recent injury prone nature, a more experienced crew of backup quarterbacks can serve as a great weapon to have. In 2015 when Malik Zaire went out for the Irish, DeShone Kizer was able to fill in seamlessly for Zaire and lead the Irish to a double-digit win season, so the importance of depth can't be understated. While injuries are never cherished, they are simply a part of the game, and by putting such an emphasis on positional unit depth, Freeman has the Irish in a spot to succeed given any situation possible. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Owen O'Connor ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @Ocon54 Photo by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame has built a very talented roster this offseason, leaving no doubt they are ready to make a national title run. One of the points of emphasis Head Coach Marcus Freeman made a priority this offseason was having young talent behind starters ready to step up when their name is called at every position. Coach Freeman has done a tremendous job of building up talent that will be ready to step up this season and beyond. The 2024 season promises to be one of stability and readiness, particularly in their quarterback ranks. With a roster boasting young and talented signal-callers, the Fighting Irish are well-prepared to navigate any hurdles that may arise during the upcoming campaign in the Quarterback Room. During this offseason recruitment, Notre Dame was lucky enough to land former Duke starting Quarterback Riley Leonard. He totaled 26 passing Touchdowns and 4,450 yards throughout his 27-game career. During that time, he had a QBR of 131.7 and an Offensive PFF grade of 71.7. The former Blue Devil star is projected to be the starter for the upcoming season but had ankle surgery this offseason that has raised minimal concerns to start the spring. After seeing many starting Quarterbacks go down with injuries at both collegiate and professional levels this past season, every team must have a plan B. Leonard looks to be on track to start for the Fighting Irish week one, however, should Leonard miss any time this season (at any point), it's good to know where your options lie. Steve Angeli - Junior A 4-star from Oradell, NJ, Angeli was a highly touted quarterback when recruited in the class of 2022. The junior has long awaited his chance to show off his talent and had minimal opportunities to play behind starter Sam Hartman in 2023. Angeli finally got his chance in the Sun Bowl last year vs Oregon State with many talented starters sitting out for the NFL Draft. The young Quarterback managed to be 15 for 19 on his passes with 232 yards and 3 Touchdowns. This finished his season total to an impressive 504 yards and 7 touchdowns while completing 77 percent of his passes. Even more impressive, Angeli managed this feat while missing multiple key receiving threats the Irish depended on throughout the course of the season, including leading receiver Chris Tyree. Many fans are excited for the future of the junior quarterback, but will most likely have to wait another year. Angeli is assumed to be a strong candidate to win the backup role, as he was excellent in relief of Sam Hartman last season, and even more so in his first career start with a limited supporting cast. Fans and evaluators alike tend to believe that Angeli has the lowest ceiling in the quarterback room with respect to raw talent, however, his experience and poise have certainly given him the highest floor. If Leonard does miss time this season for whatever reason, Angeli has all the tools and experience to lead this offense to success. The proof of concept for Angeli a lot of fans have been asking for has now been delivered, and he is certainly an option that both Mike Denbrock and Marcus Freeman should have the utmost confidence in. We will find out more about Angeli and what his role in the offense will look like during the Blue & Gold game in April. Kenny Minchey - Sophomore Kenny Minchey is a very talented player that Fighting Irish fans are certainly familiar with. As a recruit, Minchey was a 4-star talent and the second-ranked quarterback in the state of Tennessee. In his junior year of High School, he threw for 3,280 yards with a 32-9 TD-INT ratio on a 61.3 completion percentage. His senior season was unfortunately cut short due to injury. During his high school career, Minchey showed a quick release and a strong arm, allowing him to make every throw on the field. As a passer, he demonstrates natural sense and excels while moving outside of the pocket. he has proven to be an instinctive passer with a knack for understanding how to extend plays within the pocket. Thanks to his slight quickness and ability to retain his eyes downfield as plays progress, he has shown the talent to lead this Fighting Irish team in the future. Minchey is a bit of a dark horse in the quarterback room at the moment. While we may not have seen much in terms of game action, his mechanics and intangibles jump off the screen. With the addition of Mike Denbrock's scheme, a player with Minchey's physical tools and upside might be a more familiar option for a coach who's most recent quarterback was a Heisman winner. Minchey will have ample opportunity with a clean slate to impress Coach Denbrock, and could end up sneaking his way up the depth chart. He appeared in three games during his true freshman season of 2024, finishing the year with a 100% completion rate, completing two passes for 12 yards. In his limited action where he was not expected to play, the young quarterback stayed calm and collected while making his first collegiate passes. Minchey has the privilege and disadvantage of a very talented quarterback room, letting him learn from his veteran teammates but also having to wait for his moment. With a new coach and the possibility of injuries, his moment might come sooner than expected. CJ Carr - Freshman CJ Carr is one of the very young, but very talented players on this Notre Dame roster. Carr was a very highly rated quarterback recruit in the class of 2024, ranking sixth overall among quarterbacks in his class and first in the state of Michigan. As a senior, he led Saline High School to a 9-2 record and the second round of the Michigan Division 1 playoffs for the second straight year. He completed 199 of 292 pass attempts for 2,754 yards with 24 touchdowns to go against 9 interceptions. Carr also added 9 rushing touchdowns in his impressive senior campaign. CJ Carr has shown solid arm strength and can get the ball to almost anywhere on the field. He has also shown very good pocket presence and mobility, but will most likely be at home in the pocket for the Irish in the future. The highly-ranked recruit is also the Grandson of former University of Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr. The three-time first-team all-state quarterback will most likely have to wait his turn, but the Fighting Irish will not shy away from talent that can help on-field production. Although Carr will wait his turn this season, his talent won't keep him on the bench for too much longer. He won't be the guy to replace Riley Leonard in the event of an injury, but there's always a chance he could be next man up. His physical tools will shorten his developmental window, which is why it's so important to recruit talents of his caliber. With transfer Quarterback Riley Leonard expected to be the starter, many of these names will be ones to watch next season. Leonard is a very talented and experienced player who brings high hopes for The Fighting Irish this season, but his injury history might be something to keep an eye on. All of Notre Dame's young talent will be able to learn and develop behind Leonard. For now, the program is in good hands with the depth and talent in the quarterback room heading into the upcoming 2024 season. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Peter Jay Mulroy ⏐ Writer ⏐ Instagram: @sportstodaywithpeterjay Photo by Notre Dame Athletics In a titanic clash between two of the most established lacrosse programs in America, No. 1 Notre Dame opened conference play against No. 3 Syracuse on a crisp Saturday afternoon in South Bend. The Irish, coming off their best performance of the season two weeks ago in a 19-9 thumping of then No. 18 Michigan, were looking to maintain control of the long-standing rivalry with the Orange.   While ND's all-time mark against their foes from upstate New York is an even 10-10, the blue and gold entered the ACC showdown at Arlotta Stadium winners in nine of the previous 11 outings in the series, including the last six.   It was the Orange, however, who would open the scoring less than two minutes in. A beautiful behind-the-back tally by attackman Finn Thompson put Syracuse -- winners of their last five contests overall -- up 1-0 on the road. But despite the initial surge of energy, Syracuse would watch as the home Irish would answer back quickly. And aggressively.   Reilly Gray answered the Thompson goal 50 seconds later to tie the score at one. But it was Gray’s second goal that got the entire stadium roaring. With just over eight minutes remaining in the opening frame, the graduate midfielder bullied his way between two defenders en route to burying a contested shot past SU keeper Will Mark. The score, Gray’s fifth of the season, gave Notre Dame a 2-1 advantage.   After Syracuse evened the score at three all with 2:12 to go in the opening 15 minutes, the Irish simply imposed their will the remainder of the period.   Star midfielder Eric Dobson -- who picked up a hat trick in last season’s 22-6 win over the Orange -- registered his seventh of the season to put Notre Dame up 4-3 with 1:45 remaining. The goal was another display of crisp ball movement, particularly on the wing for Notre Dame, as Dobson took a clean feed from Chris Kavanagh to put one between the pipes.   Consecutive goals by Pat Kavanagh, including one with three seconds remaining in the quarter, capped a dominant final two-plus minutes for the top-ranked Irish, as they closed the first quarter with a 6-3 lead.   The Irish would continue their recent offensive surge by collecting four more in the second frame, as goals by Devon McLane, Chris Kavanagh, Will Lynch, and Will Angrick, who remains a key piece to Notre Dame’s stellar midfield unit, put the Irish in the driver’s seat with a 10-5 advantage heading into the locker room.   Despite losing both the groundball and shot battle in the first half, Syracuse, in similar fashion to how it began the game, came out strong to begin the third quarter.   Just over 90 seconds into the frame, Sam English brought the Orange to within four with a quick tally of his own. But consecutive goals by ND's Jake Taylor, who poured home seven in the win over Michigan last time out, pushed the lead for the Irish back to six at 12-6.   Notre Dame, aiming for its seventh straight win in the series, thought their 13-7 lead through three quarters of action would be enough to earn another “W” in this battle of titans. The 15-time national champion Orange, however, had other plans.   When Finn Thompson capped off his hat trick with his 14th goal of the season, Syracuse was still in a sizable hole at 13-8. But after Joey Spallina and Luke Rhoa registered tallies of their own just 38 seconds apart, the visitors were quickly back to within three. It looked like that deficit would shrink even more as Syracuse went on the attack at the 9:30 mark of the fourth.      Jake Stevens, who had a strong game for the Orange, had nothing but daylight in front of him, and a goal by the fifth-year midfielder would have brought Syracuse to within two at 13-11. But Irish net-minder Liam Entenmann -- who along with SU keeper Will Mark is often considered the top goalie in America -- dove across his body and back into the circle to deny Stevens the scoring opportunity. The save, which brought the crowd to its feet, was easily one of the plays of the season on any level of lacrosse.   Using that momentum, the Irish were able to dodge missiles from the Orange across the final 90 seconds of play en route to picking up their sixth win in seven tries this season. With the victory, Notre Dame improved to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in ACC play.   On the day, Liam Entenmann stopped 8 of the 20 shots he faced, while Will Lynch, in a game where possession was of utmost importance, won 19 of the 26 face-offs he took.   ----   WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE IRISH? In a rematch of last season’s national championship, Notre Dame heads to Durham, North Carolina, on Saturday, April 7 for a date with No. 5 Duke. The Irish upended the Blue Devils, 13-9, in the game, en route to winning the programs first title. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Jhett Garrett ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @JhettGarrett Photo by Notre Dame Athletics The Notre Dame women’s basketball team saw their season come to a close this past Friday in the Sweet Sixteen, at the hands of the Oregon State Beavers, 70-65. The Irish finished with a 28-7 record on the year and will head into the offseason with a lot of hope. The Irish could never find an answer for the duo of Raegan Beers and Timea Gardner, who combined for 39 points, and 24 rebounds. Defensively, Notre Dame forced the Beavers to turn the ball over 26 times. There was just no paint presence for the Irish, which ultimately lost them this game. Hannah Hidalgo didn’t have quite the afternoon that she expected, finishing with just 10 points on 4-17 shooting. The freshman just looked off her game, missing mid-range jump shots as well as looking out of place at times on the floor. With this uncharacteristic performance, it is important to address Hidalgo’s exit from the game at the beginning of the second quarter. Throughout the season, Hidalgo has sported a nose ring which she was required to remove. She played phenomenal and intense defense that provided a spark of energy for the Irish down 10 points. She collected two steals in total but was disruptive throughout the game on and off the ball. Along with her defensive effort, Hidalgo brought in four rebounds and tallied three assists. Sonia Citron stepped up in this one, finishing the game with 22 points, five rebounds, and three steals. If you had to pick out any player for the Irish that pivoted them in this one, it was Citron. Her big stops on the defensive side of the ball coupled with her ability to make the big shot for Notre Dame kept them in the game. Despite the result in the end, Sonia Citron’s performance in this one should not be overlooked. No one had a tougher task in this ballgame than Maddy Westbeld. Despite this, the junior still finished with 19 points on 7-15 shooting, while also collecting four steals. Westbeld is a face that Head Coach Niele Ivey is going to be looking to bring back next season. In her final game with the Fighting Irish, Anna DeWolfe continued to shine in tournament play. Heading into this game, DeWolfe was averaging 10.5 points per game, which was a big part of Notre Dame finding themselves in the Sweet Sixteen. She shot the ball just nine times, knocking down five of those and finishing with 12 points. While she found herself in a lesser role than she has been used to the past four years, DeWolfe still performed when called upon, and provided veteran leadership for players that are going to be the future of the program, such as Hannah Hidalgo. The question becomes what now? Where do the Fighting Irish go from here? Notre Dame will have the opportunity to bring back their big contributors outside of Anna DeWolfe. Two of these players include Kylee Watson and Olivia Miles, both of which did not play today. Kylee Watson’s size would have been huge for the Irish against a team like Oregon State that plays predominately in the paint. However, an injury in the ACC Tournament ended her season, leaving her watching from the sidelines. The player that Irish fans should be excited about getting back next season is Olivia Miles, who had her season ended last year, however, was not clear to play this year. Miles was a star for the Irish a season ago, averaging 14.3 points per game, along with 7.3 rebounds, and 6.9 assists, while shooting 46% from the field, and picking up 2.1 steals in the 2022-23 season. Plug those numbers into a team that just won the ACC Tournament along with 28 games? The Irish are set to once again be a force next season and it is going to be tough to beat a fully healthy Notre Dame team. And if the Irish looked like they lacked size today, there is no need to worry in that department. The Irish will also be gaining the No. 1 post player in the class of 2024 (No. 5 overall) in 6’5 Kate Koval who is from Long Island Lutheran High School by way of Ukraine. While this is the only incoming freshman for the Irish, it is going to make a huge and immediate impact. There is potential for Niele Ivey to coach a healthy team for the first time in her Notre Dame tenure. Not only is this her third straight Sweet Sixteen appearance, but Ivey has had an improved win total in every season she has coached in South Bend. If she can take unhealthy teams to the Sweet Sixteen in three consecutive seasons, imagine what she is going to be able to do with the healthy teams. Hopefully, we get to see that run next season with a fully loaded roster. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by: Jhett Garrett | Writer | Twitter/X: @JhettGarrett Photo - University of Notre Dame Athletics The Notre Dame women’s basketball team won both games during the open weekend of the NCAA Tournament, taking them into the Sweet Sixteen for a matchup with the Oregon State Beavers. The Beavers came into the tournament as the number 12 team in the country, and a three-seed for the remainder of March. Following wins against Eastern Washington and Nebraska, they are set up for a date with the number nine ranked Fighting Irish. The Irish currently ride a ten-game win streak and are led by freshman phenom Hannah Hidalgo. The New Jersey guard is averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 assists, three rebounds, and five steals through the first two games of the tournament, all while shooting 44% from the field. She has yet to score in single figures all season. With Oregon State lacking a true guard that will be able to handle the way Hidalgo plays defense, the Irish can create turnovers and run the floor in transition. If the pressure that Hidalgo brings on both sides of the ball isn’t enough, it will be Sonia Citron who puts the nail in the coffin. In the Round of 64, Citron scored 29 points, brought in six rebounds, and four assists. She did this on a 13-20 shooting clip. Two days later, she scored 17 points, with 10 rebounds, and six assists. Averaging 23 points per game, Citron has been pivotal for the Irish on the path to another National Championship. For Notre Dame to extend their season to the Elite Eight, it is going to have to be inside the paint, rather than outside. Oregon State is led by 6’4 sophomore Raegan Beers and 6’3 sophomore Timea Gardner. Together, they average 28.9 points per game and 16.9 rebounds. However, if the Irish can get the production out of Maddy Westbeld that she had in the Ole Miss game, they will cruise. The 6’3 junior scored 20 points and pulled in five rebounds while poking two steals and blocking two shots. Westbeld, a Kettering, Ohio native, is averaging 14.2 points per game, 8.9 rebounds, and shooting 45.8% from the field. The huge part of having Westbeld against Oregon State is going to be her ability to spread the floor and shoot the three-ball. She’s shooting 37.3% from beyond the arc this season and went 2-3 against the Rebels in the Round of 32. It is going to be a tough matchup for Notre Dame, but Maddy Westbeld gives them the best chance to win. Should the Irish get through the Beavers, they will have a matchup with either the in-state foe Indiana Hoosiers or familiar opponent South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Connor D'Aquila ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @ConnorDaquilaIT Photo by The Irish Tribune Energy, energy, energy was the theme of today’s practice, and that tone was set right from the beginning, as Notre Dame started with an offense versus defense scrimmage. They were not in full pads, but there was a solid amount of contact and a lot of energy. Coaches were keeping players excited and involved, and the ever-present level of accountability was certainly there. Just four minutes into the scrimmage, Coach Freeman gathered the team in the middle of the field and gave an impassioned speech. The primary message was to push themselves as hard as they could and to bring everything they had. A more traditional practice was underway after that, but the progress from previous days was obvious. This team was playing more physically and beginning to get further into their schemes. Also important to note while going through observations was that Steve Angeli was absent due to illness, meaning Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr got all the reps at quarterback.  From the outset of warmups, Riley Leonard’s leadership role on the team was obvious. As he weaved through the stretching lines on a scooter, he made sure to fist bump all players and looked to be giving specific attention to his offensive line and wide receivers. As they moved into the scrimmage, we got to see Kenny Minchey get the first reps at quarterback. Jeremiyah Love had a great run and the line got a solid push. Through the air, it was hard not to notice how pretty of a ball Minchey threw, which translated into a quick reception for Cooper Flanagan. Micah Gilbert was also getting a lot of reps and had a target on a post downfield, but Clarence Lewis read it well and got the break-up. Going the other direction, CJ Carr was able to get some action right away completing a quick pass to Cam Williams. Later, CJ would look for Cam again on a deeper go route down the sideline, but Christian Gray came up with an impressive stop and showed a lot of physicality. One other interesting play was a quick screen to transfer Jayden Harrison, who has impressed many so far, and my guess is that Mike Denbrock will look to make his speed a factor with similar plays in season despite being coveted for his return abilities. Generally, the team was playing with a lot of heart, and considering they only had shoulder pads, the physicality was impressive.  As they separated into more positional drills, it was clear that the emphasis remained on game preparation and scheme installation. Linebackers worked on proper positioning drills with Marcus Freeman, linemen were getting one-on-one work in, while most of the rest worked on live punt returns. Back returning punts were Jaden Greathouse, KK Smith, Jadarian Price, Jaden Mickey, and Jayden Harrison. It was not full contact, so the takeaways were limited, but we should expect some explosiveness out of that group. For the rest of the time media was allowed access, the positional groups were largely separated and the emphasis was on details. The defensive groups rotated through four stations with different coaches at each one. There was one-on-one tackling, sled work, pass rush training, and positioning work with Al Golden. On the offensive side, the quarterbacks and running backs were together practicing handoffs and pitches. Receivers continued work on routes, and once again, the explosion of Jayden Harrison and Micah Gilbert stood out.  Eventually, we saw the defensive backs get into some scheme work with Golden and Freeman running the show, as they practiced communication on motion and positioning for linebackers and safeties. For the backers, KVA, Drayk Bowen, Jaylen Sneed, Jaiden Ausberry, and Jack Kiser got the majority of the time. Meanwhile, the running backs transitioned into some pass-blocking work and really showed off the strength and physicality of that group. They were competing hard, but there was definitely some work to do, as the rushers won a majority of the reps. Gi’Bran Payne, however, had a particularly impressive rep against Aneyas Williams, where he completely handled the rush and kept him from getting within six feet of the trash can. The media portion of practice concluded with the wide receivers and quarterbacks running through reps on a variety of simultaneous routes, and once again, the quality of ball the young QBs threw was noticeable. For the fourth practice, this was a fairly impressive showing from the team. They showed a lot of heart and it was great to see the game-like training increase. There was the occasional blunder, especially from some of the younger players, but that should be expected at this point in the Spring. With a lot of new faces, it will be exciting to see these practices develop over the next few weeks. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- In front a representative from every NFL franchise, the 2024 Fighting Irish Pro Day spotlighted 17 players, yet Thomas Harper’s athleticism, Audric Estime’s 40-yard dash redemption story, and Cam Hart’s continued ascent up draft boards stole the show. Thomas Harper, a graduate safety who transferred from Oklahoma State before the 2023 season, had the best measurements from this year's Pro Day. Harper logged a 42" vertical, which would've been the highest leap at the 2024 NFL Draft combine. He followed that performance with a 10'6" broad jump and clocked in at a 4.48 second 40. Harper had his best collegiate season with the Fighting Irish last year, recording a career high 39 total tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. He was used primarily as a nickel and performed the best in man coverage. Another defensive back who continued to shine in the draft process was Cam Hart. Hart, who's physical measurables are among the most elite as compared to other cornerbacks in this year's draft, has shot up draft boards this offseason. Before the combine, Hart was projected as a Day 3 pick, but with an impressive showing in Indianapolis, and a great Senior Bowl week in Mobile, he has seen his stock rise to a Day 2 selection. On the offensive side of the ball, the spotlighted participants included Audric Estime, Sam Hartman, Joe Alt, and Blake Fisher. Estime, who ran a sluggish 4.71 second 40 time at the Combine, looked to prove that performance wrong, and showcase to NFL scouts that he has enough speed to be a feature back in the league. His 4.58 second 40 time today reassured Estime, and NFL organizations, of his true, natural quickness, that was displayed all throughout his 1,341-yard, 18 touchdown 2023 campaign. "The 40 is done with... Time to play football, and that's what I do best," said Estime. Estime also received hand-offs from Sam Hartman, who threw today as well. Hartman threw to a plethora of wide receivers that included Jayden Thomas, Jaden Greathouse, Jayden Harrison, Joe Wilkins, and Avery Davis. Hartman was extremely accurate during his throwing session, and proved he can be a very capable option for NFL organizations. He didn't have any eye-opening throws, yet Hartman's strengths rely on his ability to read a defense and his accuracy, not raw arm strength. "I think it's a credit to the guys up front. I think you got two of the best tackles in the draft," said Hartman after was asked about his transition to a Pro-Style offense. The two tackles he credited are Joe Alt and Blake Fisher, who attended the Pro Day as well, but only participated in on-field drills. Alt, a likely Top 10 lock, had little to prove, as he only allowed one sack in his 2023 season. The same could also be said with Fisher, who was a Day 1 starter with the Fighting Irish back in 2021 and has improved each year. All pro day results from participating athletes can be seen below. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Connor D'Aquila ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @ConnorDaquilaIT Photo by The Irish Tribune The Notre Dame football team was up and at it early this morning, getting in their second practice of the Spring. The players trickled in to get ready for an 8:15 am start and the media was able to watch warm-ups as well as the first five periods. While we were not able to get a great look at the schemes, it did allow for a great view of individual coaches.  Loren Landow and Fred Hale got warmups started, and Landow’s emphasis on pliability and non-traditional exercise was evident with some unique stretches. Freeman then called the players over and gave an impassioned speech before beginning practice. The emphasis was on intensity and valuing the journey to find success, which seemed to get the team excited for the day. The players then broke off into different drills. From special teams, the kicks left a bit to be desired. Mitch Jeter flashed the leg at times, but all around, there were more misses than one would hope, although they certainly improved as the period went on. At this point, however, this is not a major cause for concern and Jeter’s track record speaks for itself, but it will be something to keep an eye on. As wide receivers got warmed up, Mike Brown continuously emphasized the importance of being “all-pro, not pro bowl” and the talent in that group was on full display. Kris Mitchell stood out for his explosiveness and shiftiness, while Micah Gilbert looked very composed and technical given his age. Still, it was evident throughout that Deion Colzie and Jayden Thomas are the leaders of this group. While Beaux Collins still cannot participate in the drills, he was on the sideline encouraging and talking with players. Jordan Faison was present at practice, but he did not appear to participate in many of the drills. The running backs did some individual work during this time too, and the explosiveness of Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love flashed. Paired with Gi’Bran Payne, this should be a very fun room in 2024.  As practice progressed, we got a chance to see some more defensive drills. The intensity from Al Golden and the staff as a whole stood out. They want their players to not only work hard but also stress technique extensively. Golden was particularly vocal, getting after players as they worked through a tackling drill with a donut, and whether it was a walk-on or Kynstonn Viliamu-Asa, no one was immune. This carried over into a one-on-one drill between receivers and linebackers where the receivers were tasked with beating the backers to the outside. Jack Kiser looked expectedly fast and technically sound in this drill, as is expected, but it was certainly a mixed bag for a group of LBs that has a lot of uncertainty heading into the season. The receivers flashed their explosiveness, though. Also in this time, Coach Freeman was working with the safeties, holding a pad, and embracing contact, which was fun to see from the head coach. His priority on staying involved with the players was obvious. On the other side of the field, we got to see some good one-on-ones between cornerbacks, as they worked on both lateral movement and route coverage. Benjamin Morrison and Christian Gray both looked sharp in this drill and had some great battles. Jaden Mickey also flashed the intensity we have all come to expect from him, a trait that we can only hope continues as he sees ever-increasing playing time.  To wrap up the periods open to media, we got a quick glimpse at the offense in full form. Every quarterback got a turn under center running fairly basic sets. It was a lot of run plays that got the line working on gap schemes as well as a few passing plays to get the receivers involved. Notable from these plays was a lot of motion in the backfield and three to four receivers consistently lined up outside. Reserve offensive players played a weak defense, so it did not provide insight into that side of the ball. For the entirety of practice, the way the ball came out of all four quarterbacks’ hands was very impressive.  Overall, this was a great practice that provided a good first look at what we should expect out of this ND football team in 2024. There is a lot to be excited about and a lot more to monitor as preseason work progresses. Click Here to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

By Connor Regan ｜ Writer ｜ Twitter/X: @ConnorReganIT Photo - University of Notre Dame As one of the oldest and most storied programs in all of college football, Notre Dame has connections of some sort with nearly every school in the FBS. With that said, the University of Cincinnati isn't typically first to mind when looking for Notre Dame's deep historical ties. The Irish & Bearcats have only faced off head-to-head twice: ND took the first game in 1900 with a lopsided 58-0 win, and most recently, Cincy took down the Irish at home in 2021, 24-13. Despite the lack of on-field history, the two programs have significantly impacted one another in recent years. Over the last two decades, these two programs have shared a ridiculous amount of staff, from assistants and coordinators all the way up to head coaches. As of 2024, the Irish have more personnel on staff with direct ties to the Bearcats than ever before. Although there are a few outliers, most of these shared coaching connections came in two distinct waves, tied to two very prominent college football coaching trees. The Old Guard Due to the sheer number of coaching ties between the Irish and the Bearcats, a handful of names don't completely fit into the two primary coaching trees. Foge Fazio - Cincy(1973-1976) / Notre Dame(1986-1987) After playing college ball for Pitt, Fazio cut his teeth coaching as a graduate assistant, eventually making his way to Cincinnati in 1973. He spent four seasons with the Bearcats before getting his first big promotion to defensive coordinator at Pitt. Fazio was considered one of the top defensive coordinators in the nation during the late 70's and early 80's. His defensive prowess was instrumental in Pitt's rise to national prominence, heading the defense from 1977-81. After taking the helm as head coach in 1982, Pitt and Fazio eventually parted ways after a lackluster 5-5 season in 1985. In his first season at Notre Dame, Lou Holtz hired Fazio as defensive coordinator, a massive win for an Irish staff still reeling from Faust's departure. Following a disappointing 1987 season for the Irish, Holtz let Fazio go. He ultimately went on to work in the NFL for the next 15 years with the Atlanta Falcons, NY Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins, and Cleveland Browns before his retirement after the 2002 season. Rick Minter - Notre Dame(1992-93, 2005-06) / Cincy(1994-2003) Minter's ND-Cincy path is pretty unique. Unlike Fazio, Minter was a relatively small name in the coaching realm when hired by Holtz in 1992. He'd been the defensive coordinator at Ball State from 1985-1991 and immediately led the Irish to 2 top-20 defenses. Notre Dame went 10-1-1 in 1992 and 11-1 in 1993. This quick success helped him land a head coaching position with the Bearcats in 1994, where he'd stay for ten seasons. In those ten years, Minter would post six winning seasons, with four of those securing the Bearcats bowl appearances. Ultimately, Minter was let go after a 5-7 2003 season. After a 1-year stint at South Carolina as Lou Holtz's defensive coordinator, Minter would return to the Irish upon Charlie Weis' hiring. Minter would spend another two seasons with the Irish, leaving after the 2006 season, when the team posted a 10-3 record. AJ Christoff - Notre Dame(1984-1985) / Cincy(2001-2002) Christoff joined the Irish staff during the 1984 season as Gerry Faust's defensive coordinator. The Irish posted a disappointing 7-5 record in 1984 and a 5-6 record in 1985, ultimately leading to the entire staff's turnover upon Faust's resignation. It wasn't until 2001 that Christoff would make his way to Cincinnati, where he became the defensive coordinator to previous Notre Dame defensive coordinator Rick Minter, now head coach of the Bearcats. Christoff would spend two seasons with Minter and the Bearcats before departing following the 2002 season. Jon Tenuta - Notre Dame(2008-2009) / Cincy(2017-2020) Tenuta joined Notre Dame in 2008 as the linebackers coach/assistant head coach, having been hired by Weis. Heading into the 2009 season, Weis added to Tenuta's coaching titles by promoting him to defensive coordinator. Weis & Tenuta posted two back-to-back 6-6 seasons, and both parted ways with Notre Dame upon Weis's firing. After making stops at NC State and Virginia, Tenuta ended up at Cincinnati in 2017 as the safety's coach. After three years with the safety's, Tenuta became the Bearcat's defensive assistant in 2020. During his time at Cincinnati, Tenuta worked alongside head coach Luke Fickell, OC Mike Denbrock, DC Marcus Freeman, and several other current Irish staffers. Tenuta left Cincinnati after the 2020 season for a DA position with Virginia Tech. The Kelly Tree The first of two major coaching trees at the center of this relationship, Kelly's tree is so expansive that some of it still exists in one way or another at the school, even after his departure. Brian Kelly - Cincy(2006-2009) / Notre Dame(2010-2021) Kelly's career as a head coach started at Grand Valley State in 1991, where he led the Lakers to two Division II National Championships and five conference titles in thirteen seasons. After three seasons at Central Michigan, Kelly was hired as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2006 following Marc Dantonio's departure for Michigan State. In 2007, Kelly led the Bearcats to a 10-win season (only their second ever), a bowl win, and a final AP rank of 17th in the nation, a level of success the Bearcats had not seen since their 10-win season in 1949. 2008 spelled even more success for Kelly and the Bearcats, winning the Big East Conference title, Big East Coach of the Year, and securing an Orange Bowl appearance. Cincinnati would fall to Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, but Kelly and the Bearcats had again made significant progress over the previous year. 2009 would see Kelly and the Bearcats reach new heights yet again, going from completely unranked in the AP poll to an undefeated 12-0 season. The Bearcats secured a Sugar Bowl matchup with the Florida Gators and entered the game ranked third in the AP. Before the Sugar Bowl, Kelly was considered the hottest up-and-coming coach in college football, and this was confirmed when news broke that the University of Notre Dame had lured him away to become their new head coach. Kelly spent twelve seasons at Notre Dame, making one National Championship game, two CFP appearances, and eleven winning seasons. Ultimately, Kelly would leave Notre Dame for LSU in a shocking move. Kelly's initial move to Notre Dame from Cincinnati would open the floodgates and deepen the connections between the two schools more than ever. As of 2024, Brian Kelly's coaching tree needs no introduction. During his time at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame, Kelly has produced countless names still bouncing around football, such as Vanderbilt's Clark Lea, Butch Jones, Miami's (OH) Chuck Martin, Matt Lefleur of the Green Bay Packers, and Robert Saleh of the New York Jets. In addition to these names, Kelly's coaching tree has quite the umbrella. Mike Denbrock - Notre Dame(2002-2004, 2010-2016, 2024-Present) / Cincy(2017-2021) Mike Denbrock may be the biggest mover on this list. His close relationship with 2 Notre Dame head coaches dictated many of his moves between programs over the years. He had two stints at Grand Valley State (1986-1987 & 1992-1998), where he first met Brian Kelly and eventually became both his offensive and defensive coordinators during his time with the Lakers. After a stop in Buffalo, Denbrock landed at Stanford as the TE/OT coach alongside future Notre Dame head coach Tyrone Willingham. Denbrock followed Willingham from Stanford to Notre Dame in 2002, where he held the same position. Upon Willingham's termination at the end of the disappointing 2004 season, Denbrock again followed Willingham to Washington, where the two worked together until 2008. After a one-year pit stop at Indiana State, Denbrock would reunite with Kelly and make his 2nd trip to South Bend in 2010. Over the next seven seasons, Denbrock worked his way up the ranks of the Irish staff, starting as the TE's coach for Kyle Rudolph and Tyler Eifert, moving to the WR's coach in 2012, and then adding the OC title in 2014. In 2015, Denbrock moved from OC to assistant head coach while maintaining his WR coach duties. Following the 2017 season, Denbrock was lured to Cincinnati by Luke Fickell to head up his offense and coach QB/TE. It's here that Denbrock first encountered his third future Irish head coach, Marcus Freeman (Bearcats DC at the time), as well as several members of the current Irish staff (Mike Mickens, Mike Brown, Gino Guidugli, Max Bullough & Al Washington). After five seasons with the Bearcats, a CFP appearance, and three 11+ win seasons, Denbrock would follow Brian Kelly to his new post at LSU. In just two seasons, he'd lead the Tigers to the nation's top offense and guide his transfer QB Jayden Daniels to a Heisman Trophy. In possibly the most shocking move on this list, Mike Denbrock chose to return to Notre Dame for the 3rd time late in 2023. News broke just before Christmas that Denbrock had turned down an offer from Texas A&M that would have made him the highest-paid coordinator in college football, so it came as a shock when reports leaked that Notre Dame had offered him the open OC position and he'd accepted. When asked about his surprising third return to South Bend, Denbrock opined, "…I was in a really good place, had a really good job, enjoyed what I was doing, enjoyed living in Louisiana. But it's Notre Dame." Mike Elston - Cincy(2006-2009) / Notre Dame(2010-2021) Elston is one of the more straightforward Kelly acolytes, with a much more linear career progression than someone like Mike Denbrock. Elston first met Kelly at Central Michigan in 2004 as the D-line coach, eventually earning the "Co-defensive coordinator" title and ultimately becoming the special teams and linebackers coach in 2006. When Kelly moved to Cincinnati, Elston followed, earning the new titles of "tight ends coach" & "recruiting coordinator." Again, Elston followed Kelly to Notre Dame in 2010 where he'd spend 12 years on the defensive side of the ball, special teams, and as a recruiting coordinator. Kelly promoted Elston to assistant head coach in 2018, a title he would hold until he and coach Kelly parted ways with the Irish after the 2021 season. He'd spend two years with his alma mater, Michigan, before most recently making the jump to the NFL in 2024 with the LA Chargers. Bob Diaco - Cincy(2009) / Notre Dame(2010-13) Diaco met Kelly at Central Michigan in 2005 when he was hired as DC & LB's coach, but the two would only work together for a single season before Diaco moved on to UVA for three years. The two reunited at Cincinnati in 2009 when Diaco was again hired as DC & LB's coach. Diaco joined Mike Elston and others in Kelly's move to Notre Dame in 2010, keeping his DC/LB titles. Before the 2012 season, Diaco was promoted to assistant head coach, and the Irish would go on to a national championship appearance and an undefeated regular season. The 2012 defense was 2nd in scoring defense (12.77), 7th in total yardage allowed (305.46), and 11th against the run (105.69). After the 2013 season, Diaco accepted a head coaching position at UCONN and would ultimately link back up with Kelly at LSU in 2023 as the Tigers' special teams and LB coach. Harry Hiestand - Cincy(1989-1993) / Notre Dame (2012-2017, 2022) Hiestand beat everybody in Kelly's coaching tree to Cincinnati, arriving there in 1989 as the OC/OL coach. He'd spend four years there before dedicating his time to being a full-time OL coach at Missouri and Illinois before making the jump to the NFL. Hiestand joined the Chicago Bears in 2005, where he'd stay for five years before returning to the college game. After two seasons coaching OL at Tennessee, Hiestand drew the attention of Kelly and the Irish and was quickly brought in to helm Notre Dame's OL development. And BOY, did he. Hiestand directly coached future NFL linemen Alex Bars, Braxston Cave, Mike Golic Jr., Nick Martin, Zack Martin, Mike McGlinchey, Sam Mustipher, Quenton Nelson, Ronnie Stanley, and Chris Watt. After six productive seasons with the Irish, Hiestand was lured back to the NFL by the Bears in 2019, where he'd spend another two years. In 2022, Hiestand joined Marcus Freeman's staff in a hugely important move for the young coach and his new staff. Following the 2022 season, Hiestand announced his retirement from coaching, having spent 40 years coaching, 7 in the NFL and 7 with the Irish. Jeff Quinn - Cincy(2006-2009) / Notre Dame(2015-2021) Quinn spent 19/26 years of his coaching career as an assistant to Brian Kelly at each of his stops before LSU. The two met in 1989 at Grand Valley State, where Quinn was the OC and OL coach, and Kelly was a DB's coach. Kelly became head coach of the Lakers in 1991, and Quinn remained his OC until both coaches left for Central Michigan in 2004. Quinn remained OC/OL coach for all three years Kelly spent at Central Michigan, and the two moved once again to Cincinnati in 2006. Quinn and Kelly split for the first time when Kelly moved to Notre Dame in 2010, with Quinn taking a head coaching position at Buffalo instead. Quinn stayed at Buffalo until 2015, when he decided to join Kelly and the Irish as an offensive analyst. After three years as an analyst, Quinn succeeded Harry Hiestand as the Irish OL coach in 2018, a position he held until the end of the 2021 season. He parted ways with the Irish upon Kelly's exit. Charley Molnar - Cincy(2007) / Notre Dame(2010-2011) Molnar first linked up with Brian Kelly at Central Michigan in 2006, where Molnar was a pass game coordinator and the QB/WR coach. Like Elston and Quinn, Molnar followed Kelly from Central Michigan to Cincinnati, where he'd continue as a pass game coordinator/WR's coach. After quite a bit of success, Kelly again took Molnar with him to Notre Dame, where he received his biggest promotion yet, OC and QB coach responsibilities. Most notably, Molnar coached future Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees and helped the Irish to their 2nd straight bowl appearance in 2011. Following the 2011 season, Molnar left for the head coach position at UMASS. Part 2 Coming Soon In part 2, we'll look at the 2nd influential coaching tree in the Notre Dame-Cincinnati relationship and where this unique coaching connection stands today Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Connor D'Aquila ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @ConnorDaquilaIT Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Every year, Notre Dame kicks off their major recruiting efforts for the following year’s cycle on March 17th, a fitting date for the Fighting Irish. Just last year, 2025 commits Deuce Knight, Cree Thomas, and Jerome Bettis Jr., among others, received their offers on the “Pot of Gold Day.” The media team always comes through with some impressive graphics and videos to wow recruits and keep the timeline interesting as ND fans scroll through X. Just one day after the monumental day in Notre Dame recruiting, Marcus Freeman and his staff have received their first 2026 commitment. This one comes from Dylan Faison, the brother of current Irish receiver Jordan, to both the football and lacrosse programs. Ranked by one platform as the number one lacrosse recruit in his class, the film also shows an impressive athlete on the football field. Likely slotting in at receiver, like his brother, this is an exciting get for both teams. Let's take a look at the offers: Quarterback This was the quietest position group of the day, as a slew of offers had already gone out for the class. We did see a number of players recognize the event, however, including Noah Grubbs, Brady Hart, and Troy Huhn. Hart, out of Cocoa High School in Florida, has been gaining traction with the Irish as of late, and he is certainly a name to keep an eye on. Other players in the class to watch are Brady Smigiel and Ryder Lyons, both of whom are elite prospects with significant interest in Notre Dame.  Wide Receiver Obviously, Notre Dame got off to a hot start at receiver with the commitment of 2025 prospect Jerome Bettis Jr. in the morning and Faison’s pledge the next day. The offers did not end there, however, and the staff went after some very high-level players. Headlining the list is Devin Carter, a five-star out of Georgia and the number three 2026 receiver. They followed this up with the number two, five, and 13 wide receivers in the class in Jabari Brady, Calvin Russell, and Jett Washington, respectively. They also offered Aaron Gregory, a five-star and the number one athlete in the class who could end up as a DB or WR. Rounding out this list is a long list of players who we will surely learn more about in the coming months. These players include Brayden Robinson, Kaydon Finley, Jaylen Pile, Brody Keefe, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Jalen Lott, Jordan Clay, Zion Legree, Jonah Smith, and Trent Mosley. Running Back Deland McCullough was active on this St. Patrick’s Day, handing out a variety of offers to some intriguing prospects. From a rankings perspective, Savion Hiter, the number one ranked back in 2026 was the most exciting offer of the day. An explosive athlete out of Virginia, this would be a huge pickup for ND. They paired this with an offer to the number two and three backs in the class, Jonaz Walton and DeZephen Walker. Messiah Mickens is another highly regarded prospect the Irish are making a run at, coming in at 27th overall, but he is currently committed to Penn State. Other prospects that got the call from Freeman and his staff were Javian Osborne, Davian Groce, Ja’Michael Jones, Amari Latimer, Javian Mallory, and Raycine Guillory, a current Texas commit. The emphasis on the South was obvious for Coach McCullough, as most of the prospects came from Texas and the surrounding states. While it was not part of the main recruiting spree, number four running back in the class Deshonne Redeaux received an offer on the 18th.  Tight End Obviously an important and successful position for the ND offense, the staff handed out quite a few offers at tight end. Headlining the list is Kendre Harrison, a freak athlete and build, who is ranked the number seven overall player by the 247Sports Composite. Unanimously the number one tight end, this would be a huge get. Coming in right behind Harris in the positional rankings is Brock Harris out of Utah, who also received an offer and is another towering body given his age. Other notable offers include JC Anderson, Heze Kent, and Kaiden Prothro. Any of these players would bring remarkable talent to South Bend, and there is certainly room to take two from the class. Pairing the 250-pound body of Kent with the 200-pound Prothro would be a lethal combination for opposing defenses.  Offensive Line Coach Rudolph was aggressive this year, immediately extending an offer to the number one tackle in the class, Jackson Cantwell. A six-foot-seven, 300-pound monster, he is one of the most exciting prospects in the entire class. Pair this with the number three ranked tackle, Ekene Ogboko, there is some elite talent in this class. They also offered Lamar Brown out of University Lab in Baton Rouge, who is ranked the number two tackle, but some see him ending up on the defensive side of the ball. On the inside, Tyler Merill is another highly-regarded player who received an offer on Sunday. Also receiving offers were local Michigan prospects Ben Nichols and Gregory Patrick. Rounding out the offensive line offers, we have Darius Gray, George Haseotes, and Kevin Brown.  Cornerback Mike Mickens has proven himself to be an impressive talent evaluator, but there are a handful of players here who are big names in the class and will take a lot of work to secure. Number two at the position is Brandon Lockhart, who is currently committed to USC, but he has received a few offers as of late, and it appears ND will make a push. Dorian Barney, a high four-star out of Georgia is also ranked number three at the position in the class. Jordan Thomas is listed as an athlete but ranks number nine and would likely be a CB at Notre Dame. Finally, Chaston Smith is a player out of Tennessee who is currently unranked but holds offers from Alabama, LSU, and a variety of other SEC powerhouses. The rest of the offers at CB were to Jontavius Wyman, RJ Sermons, Jaelen Waters, Ksani Jiles, and Hakim Satterwhite. Safety In Mike Mickens's first cycle with control over the safeties, we are seeing some ambitious offers go out. Headlining the group is Blaine Bradford, a five-star and the number one safety in the class. Out of Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, he will be a tough pull from LSU, but Notre Dame seems to have put itself at least in a position to make a move. Other notable rankings were Zech Fort and Jireh Edwards, the number five and six players at the position, respectively. We also saw Mickens go after some length in Jordan Deck and Simeon Caldwell, both of whom are listed at six-foot-three. The rest of the group is rounded out by Jermaine Santana-Diaz, Brandon Arrington (technically an athlete, but likely will end up at safety), Nick Reddish, Xavier Lherisse, DJ Williams, and Joey O’Brien. Defensive Line A lot of offers were given out on the D-line, so we will start with the outside and move inside. Getting a quality edge rusher was obviously a priority for Coach Washington, so there were plenty of offers at the position. Headlining the group is Hezekiah Harris, a five-star who is the number one edge in the country out of Alabama. Also highly regarded is Samu Moala, who is currently a linebacker but should grow into the vyper role at Notre Dame. Currently rated the number five edge in the class, he would be another great get. Another interesting offer was Luke Wafle, the brother of former Irish commit Owen Wafle. A bit smaller than Owen, he projects on the edge and 247Sports considers him a four-star. Also on the edge are Carter Meadows, Cincere Johnson, Jarius Rodgers, Xavier Griffin, McHale Blade, Braeden Jones, and Rodney Dunham. JJ Finch and Trenton Henderson look to be more traditional defensive ends, likely slotting in at the big end position with Notre Dame. Elijah Golden is another prospect out of IMG who many ND fans are excited about as an athletic big end sitting at six-foot-four, 237 pounds. On the inside, there is some very high-level talent, beginning with the number four lineman, and five-star, James Carrington. This is followed by the number eight and ten defensive linemen, Tomuhini Topui and Tiki Hola, respectively. Other major interior offers from the day include Gabriel Hill, Jamarcus Whyce, Cameron Brickle, and Jermaine Kinsler. Linebacker In Max Bullough’s first cycle as the named linebackers coach of Notre Dame, we saw him make some splash offers. This is headlined by the number one, two, and three linebackers in the class in Anthony Jones, Tyler Atkinson, and Thomas Davis Jr. Atkinson and Jones are also both five-stars and ranked in the top ten overall. At six-foot-two, 240 pounds out of Alabama, Jones is an absolute monster who has produced at the highest levels in a short high school football career. Any of these players would be huge gets for the Irish, however. Kosi Okpala is a prospect currently listed at linebacker, but we would likely see him at vyper in the blue and gold. Another interesting offer is Kedric Golston II, the son of 11-year NFL veteran Kedric Golston. Notre Dame has shown an interest in these NFL bloodlines, and this is yet another example. The rest of the many linebacker prospects are Tank King, Talanoa Ili, Noriel Dominguez, Tristan Phillips, Anthony Davis, Kenneth Goodwin, Charles Belser, Colsen Gatten, Maurice Barnes, Jakore Smith, Jakobe Clapper, and Markel Dabney. It is always an exciting time when Notre Dame kicks off the next recruiting cycle and that happened this weekend. They offered a number of very intriguing prospects, some of whom we will likely see in the class. While this article is not a comprehensive list, it does cover most of the nearly 100 offers made by the Notre Dame staff. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Mike Stacey ⏐ Writer ⏐ X: @MikeStaceyIT IG: @mikestaceyit Photo via Jerome Bettis Jr. (Instagram) Class of 2025 recruit and 3 Star Wide Receiver out of Woodward Academy in Atlanta Georgia, Jerome Bettis Jr., committed to the Irish on St. Patrick's Day, a very fitting commitment date. Does the name sound familiar? Well it should. Jerome is the son of the same Jerome Bettis who is an NFL Hall of Famer and Notre Dame legend. However, unlike the Bus, Jerome Bettis Jr. will be contributing primarily through the air as a wide receiver. In a commitment video released on social media yesterday, Bettis laid his decision out in emphatic fashion, stating: "Growing up as a Bettis, I've heard all about the ways Notre Dame can change your life academically and athletically." - Jerome Bettis Jr. Bettis Jr. also detailed his desire to continue his father's legacy, while also blazing his own trail, stating that he wore number 36 in little league, and initially played running back. He would switch positions in seventh grade, however, and begin to lay the groundwork for his own budding legacy. "I've always been inspired by my dad's career in college and the NFL. But it's time to start my own journey, and I'm excited for the next chapter." - Jerome Bettis Jr. The commitment video also features a cameo from Jerome Bettis himself, who provides some insight into the wisdom bestowed upon his son. He put it so simply, yet so eloquently when stating: "Now, all I ask is that you make your decision based on what school would change your life. Not for a season, but for a lifetime." - Jerome "The Bus" Bettis You can watch the full video below: Bettis Jr. had 30 receptions for 369 Yards and 4 touchdowns this season as a junior for Woodward Academy. After watching his film, there are two things that stood out to me. One was his ability to catch the ball effortlessly with his hands and not using his body. Second, was his size. Jerome is 6'3 190lbs. That is the kind of size that comes with great upside and potential. Right now, he may be only ranked as a 3-star recruit, but look for him to climb the rankings as he enters his senior year. If he can continue to build on his speed and athleticism, the ceiling will be very high. Right now, I look at him as a solid possession receiver who can be an asset at the goal line. However, if he can continue to develop, there is a real chance of him being a very dangerous boundary receiver. Time will tell. Jerome is the third Wide Receiver in the current 2025 class. Bettis Jr. joins another teammate with a famous father, Elijah Burress, son of Super Bowl winning Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress, and Shaun Terry. All three recruits are current 3-star prospects that the Irish see a lot of potential in, and I would not be surprised to see their ratings increase as their senior seasons play out. Along with his fellow wideouts, Jerome joins a class headlined by Elite Quarterback Deuce Knight and an overall top class ranking in the country according to 247 Sports. The Irish are not done yet either, and that includes the ride receiver position. Currently, the Irish, Bettis, and his fellow commits are all calling on Bishop Gorman stand out Derek Meadows to be the next WR to turn Irish. By all accounts, Notre Dame is trending very well with his recruitment. Coach Marcus Freeman and this staff continue to ride the momentum and build a culture that has to get every Irish fan excited. The pieces to be National Title contenders may finally be coming. As long as Freeman and company can put it all together on gameday, this program may be on the brink of bringing back the ever elusive title that has scorned them for far too long. It may feel as though it will never come again to many Irish fans, and understandably so, but I believe this is more than a pipe dream for delusional fans. What the Irish are building is for real. Enjoy the ride. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Owen O'Connor ⏐  Writer ⏐  Twitter/X: @Ocon54 Photo by The Irish Tribune The University of Notre Dame says goodbye to some of it's brightest stars, as they get ready to start new careers in the NFL. These athletes have made a lasting impression on the Fighting Irish tradition and are now ready to display their skills on the professional stage after a very strong 2023 campaign. The departure of these Fighting Irish standouts represents the end of an era, while also ushering in a new chapter in their sports careers. Some of these standouts have been with the program since the beginning of their collegiate careers and have won the hearts of many fans. Joe Alt, Audric Estime, and others will bring with them tremendous experience and memories from their time at Notre Dame as they prepare for the 2024 NFL Draft. Head Coach Marcus Freeman has done a tremendous job recruiting fresh talent to replace these key positions. The transfer portal has been a huge advantage for the Fighting Irish program, allowing them to recruit talent currently ready to compete. Freeman has also represented his former players well, making an appearance at the NFL combine in support of the Notre Dame draft prospects during their performances. Before we officially dive into the upcoming collegiate season, let's take a look at where some of our former stars are destined to go in the draft this April: Audric Estime - RB The star Running Back has been a staple of the Notre Dame offense for the last two seasons and brings an impressive collegiate resume to his draft profile. At the head of the rushing attack as a starter, Estime totaled over 2200 yards and 29 Touchdowns on the ground. An offense more focused on the rushing attack did not allow Estime to get many opportunities as a receiver, but he has proven he can do the job with 17 catches last season. Estime managed to score a 94.2 overall PFF grade in the 2023 season, ranking first among all 2024 Draft RB prospects. Estime struggled to improve his draft stock in the NFL combine with a 4.71 40 yard dash, but will look to improve that time during the Notre Dame Pro Day. It is an interesting time to be a professional NFL RB, especially as a draft prospect. The Running Back position is ever changing in terms of position value, scheme fits, and more. Estime is projected to be selected in between the late first round and middle third round. Some standout teams that interviewed Estime at the NFL Combine are the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and Cleveland Browns. The Raiders and Cowboys are both looking to boost their offensive run game after losing their star Runnning Backs in Free Agency. Their remaining cap space is projecting them to rely on the NFL draft for a standout player like Estime who can elevate their offense. The Cleveland Browns have the remaining uncertainty of Nick Chubb. While the team and fans still cherish him while he is under contract, his future productivity remains in question after his significant knee injury. Estime is a great scheme fit who can learn from the veteran Chubb and share time with a very similar styled player as he heals. Sam Hartman - QB The high promised Quarterback arrived at Notre Dame after a very proven and exciting career at Wake Forest. Hartman broke both the career passing touchdown and yards record at Wake Forest before joining the bigger stage of college football. This new challenge allowed Hartman to show scouts how he performs under pressure and against professional level talent. Though Notre Dame did not achieve it's long term season goals of winning a national championship, Hartman still managed to have a winning record in a promising short career. He posted an impressive stat line of 2,689 yards and 24 passing TD's with only 8 INT's in the 2023 season. Hartman also posted a 78.6 overall PFF grade, with his best game being against his former school. He had a very solid combine performance in Indianapolis with a 70 overall grade, ranking 10th among draft prospect QB's. Hartman has a lot of competition when it comes to being selected as a top pick in the draft this April. National Champion JJ McCarthy and Heisman winners Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams are projected to be some of the top prospects ahead of Hartman. He is currently projected to be a Day 3 pick, which ranges between rounds 4 and 7 of the NFL draft. Hartman will look to join a team where he can learn from a solidified veteran and find an opportunity down the road. Some teams Hartman would find a similar scheme fit is the Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills. Marist Liufau - LB The 4 year Notre Dame Linebacker was a key piece of the defense during his time in South Bend. During the 12 games he played this season, Freeman utilized his ability to be in a position to make the tackle every play. The starting defender totaled 44 tackles, 6 of them being for a loss with 3 sacks. One of Liufau's most notable games was against Navy in Dublin, Ireland. Liufau started the season hot with seven tackles and a forced fumble in the win, being named the defensive player of the game for the Irish. He also posted an impressive 74.3 PFF grade during the 2023 campaign. While Liufau isn't the highest rated LB prospect in this draft, he is still projected to be a valuable 4-5 round selection. Notre Dame has a history of late-round Linebackers living above their potential at the professional level. Former MLB Drue Tranquil was selected in the 4th round and is now on a multi-year contract with the Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs. Liufau will be a valuable addition in the later rounds by LB needy teams such as the Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, or Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens would be a tremendous fit for the Notre Dame star, who could fill the need of the former starter Patrick Queen and join his former teammate, Kyle Hamilton. Joe Alt - OL Joe Alt is one of, if not the best Offensive Lineman prospects in this upcoming NFL draft class. The top prospect only allowed one sack in the previous two collegiate seasons against elite talent. Alt also posted a 92.8 pass-blocking grade in 2023 which ranked second among all collegiate offensive linemen. After an impressive career, Alt has continued to impress throughout the draft process in interviews and combine drills. The Fighting Irish star managed to have 27 bench reps and an impressive 40-yard dash time of 5.05 seconds. His total combined score was 87 according to NFL Next Gen Stats, ranking first among all of the prospects in his position group. Alt looks to be a great fit for almost any team at the next level but seems to be a lock for a top-10 selection. A few of the notable fits seem to be the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, and Atlanta Falcons. All of these teams have a very common goal that Alt can help achieve, protect the franchise Quarterback. The Tennessee Titans are coming off a strong start to their new regime with a second-year QB and many free-agent signings, Alt can be another fresh face of this rebuild. Teams like the Falcons and Jets have older Quarterbacks coming off serious season-ending injuries, making the goal of protecting them a top priority. Any of these teams would be happy to welcome a young promising player with a proven record of protecting the man under center. Alt has passed all tests to prove he can start for a professional team in week 1 with a promising future ahead of him. Their journey from collegiate stars to professional athletes represents the culmination of years of dedication, sacrifice, and hard work. While they may be leaving South Bend behind, the Fighting Irish faithful can take pride in knowing that they have left an indelible mark on the storied legacy of Notre Dame football. As they transition to the next level, all eyes will be on these talented individuals as they strive to make their mark in the NFL and continue to inspire future generations of Fighting Irish players. Click Here to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun