By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer Photo - The Irish Tribune Championships are built in the off-season, and it all starts with recruiting. The Notre Dame coaching staff is set to host some of the nation’s top high school prospects this weekend, and it is a loaded list of visitors. This weekend promises to be a big opportunity to remind current commits why they chose Notre Dame, and also attract uncommitted prospects to join the current number one ranked recruiting class in the country. Led by star quarterback commit Deuce Knight, the Irish will have 12 of their commits in attendance. The exceptions, Wisconsin tight end James Flanigan and Hawaii linebacker Josiah Kia, may be absent, but the camaraderie among the committed players is expected to continue to grow even stronger. Their mission? Add to an already loaded 2025 recruiting class. The committed recruits, hailing from various parts of the country, are not only excellent players, but also persuasive recruiters. From quarterback Deuce Knight in Mississippi to cornerback Cree Thomas in Arizona, this diverse group is on a mission to attract key additions to the Notre Dame family. Along with the committed players, Junior Day will also welcome many uncommitted 2025 targets that are at the top of the board for the Irish coaching staff. Despite travel issues preventing cornerback Devin Williams and wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon from attending, the list of key targets is impressive. Jerome Bettis Jr., the son of NFL legend Jerome Bettis, has long been in Notre Dame's sights. The Irish staff has made him a priority, and it seems only a matter of time before he joins the class. Meanwhile, wide receiver Elijah Burress, son of former NFL great Plaxico Burress, has quickly arranged his first visit after receiving an offer last week. On the offensive line, the Irish are hosting standout prospects Jack Lange, Owen Strebig, and Matty Augustine. These prospects could be crucial additions to the 2025 class, and I believe that the Irish lead for all three of these prospects. Edge rusher Damien Shanklin will be making a return visit this weekend, and the staff would love to get him in the fold. Shanklin is explosive as a pass rusher and is a top priority for the coaching staff.  Linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, the younger brother of former Irish All-American Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, will be on campus this weekend. This is a big visit, as this recruitment seemed to be trending away from Notre Dame. The Irish will look to make a big impression on the talented linebacker.  Cornerbacks Dallas Golden and Mark Zackery will both be in town this weekend as Mike Mickens looks to continue his dominance on the recruiting trail. Both of these players are extremely talented and I would not be surprised to see at least one of the two commit this weekend. Wide receiver Shaun Terry and offensive lineman Cameron Herron are both visiting, and although they do not currently hold an offer from Notre Dame, one could come in the future. Commit Watch Notre Dame will be looking to add to their top ranked recruiting class this weekend, and I believe there are some players that will be ready to pull the trigger. Jerome Bettis Jr. is on commit watch, for obvious reasons, but as the class is filling up, it would not surprise me to see him commit this weekend. Mark Zackery IV, the talented corner out of Indianapolis, is a prospect that could pledge to the Irish this weekend. All three of the offensive lineman are on commit watch for me, especially Owen Strebig and Jack Lange. Both are extremely talented prospects that project as tackles at the next level. Don’t be surprised if one, if not both, give a commitment over the weekend. The final player on commit watch for me is Damien Shanklin. The staff is in hot pursuit of elite pass rushers and they believe that Shanklin is a perfect fit.  Full list of visitors for this weekend (Committed players in bold) Deuce Knight QB Daniel Anderson RB Justin Thurman RB Will Black OL CJ May DL Christopher Burgess DL Davion Dixon DL Joseph Reiff DL Dominik Hulak Edge Ivan Taylor S Ethan Long S Cree Thomas CB Nathaniel Owusu-Boatang LB Damien Shanklin Edge Dallas Golden CB Mark Zackary IV CB Jerome Bettis Jr WR Elijah Burress WR Shaun Terry WR Brady Smigiel QB (2026) Cameron Herron OL Jack Lange OL Matty Augustine OL Owen Strebig OL Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Via The Irish Tribune The biggest offseason turmoil within the Notre Dame football program was shockingly in the wide receiver's room. Back in early December when Chansi Stuckey had been let go and four of Notre Dame's wide receivers quickly entered the transfer portal, many fans were nervous to see how Marcus Freeman would react. He did so by securing three extremely versatile wide receivers in the portal and filled the holes left by Stuckey as the position coach with his former colleague, Mike Brown, who has had success with his time at Cincinnati. While the wide receiving room sure was slim during the Sun Bowl victory over Oregon State, Irish fans saw a glimpse into the future with the firepower that is soon to come. Let's break down who's in and who's out in the Notre Dame pass catching department. Who's In Mike Brown: Marcus Freeman and Mike Brown's relationship all ties back to the same program that most Notre Dame coaches come out of, it seems - the University of Cincinnati. Brown developed three current NFL wide receivers during his time at Cincinnati, in the Colts' Alec Pierce, the Raiders' Tre Tucker, and the Bears' Tyler Scott. Brown was the wide receivers' coach when the Bearcats came into Notre Dame Stadium in 2021 and then defeated the Irish 24-13. This pickup is a bit of a comfort move for Freeman, hiring someone he knows and trusts; but with Brown's track record, the wide receiver room appears to be in good hands. Kris Mitchell: Mitchell was at the top of Marcus Freeman's bucket list as soon as the transfer portal opened. Mitchell, the standout from FIU, tallied 1,118 yards and 7 TDs last year in his junior season. Brining in a 1000-yard receiver is almost certainly always a good thing, especially with Mitchell displaying his talent against decent competition. Last year against Arkansas, Mitchell had 6 catches for 157 yards and an 80-yard TD against the SEC foe. The last time the Irish had a 1,000-yard receiver was in 2019 with Chase Claypool, so it has been some time since the Irish have had this elite level of a pass catcher. Beaux Collins: The second move that Freeman and co. made to patch up the wide receiving room was with Collins, the Clemson transfer. Collins, who was an extremely high ranked recruit coming out of St. John Bosco, has regressed a bit during his time at Clemson. Collins got playing time as a true freshman for Dabo Swinney and caught 3 TD's his freshman year being reunited with his high school quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei. Over his three-year career at Clemson, Collins caught 91 passes, for 1,290 yards and 11 TDs. Collins is a bit of a bigger wide receiver and will most likely be behind Jayden Thomas. Jayden Harrison: The last piece of the puzzle came into place last week as the Irish got the commitment from the Speedster from Marshall. To be frank, Harrison will probably see limited snaps at the wide receiving position. Harrison had a career best 410 yards last year for the Thundering Herd and added a touchdown to his credit. The facet that Marcus Freeman brought Harrison in for was his ability in the Kick Return game. Harrison was named a Jet Award finalist and a First Team All American by CBS with his kick return duties. This speed is always nice to have, but with the predicted duo of Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse working in the slot, Harrison will focus on the kick return duties. Who's Out Chansi Stuckey: The departure of Chansi Stuckey was a bittersweet one for most Irish fans. On one hand, Stuckey was an elite level recruiter since the day he stepped foot on campus in South Bend. The loaded class of Jaden Greathouse, Rico Flores, and Braylon James, accompanied by Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, and Logan Saldate the year after would have the Fighting Irish receiving core looking bright for years to come. On the other hand, there had been no jumps in improvement for the Notre Dame wide receivers since Stuckey took over. In 2022, many blamed the Irish's poor QB play on the lack of production from wide outs; however, with Sam Hartman at the reigns in 2023, there was still no change. Much of this fell onto Stuckey, as it was time for the Irish to go in a new direction. Chris Tyree: Notre Dame's best wide receiver last year, Tyree has found a new home at wide receiver after making the full time move over from running back. Tyree has committed to play in his home state of Virginia for the Cavaliers. While Tyree was good at many moments during the year, his drop against Louisville in the second half will be the play that wipes away the memory of many Notre Dame supporters. Tyree will showcase his skills against the Fighting Irish next season as Virginia comes to Notre Dame Stadium in mid-November. Rico Flores J: Out of all the departures, this one stung the most as Flores looked to be an emerging star in South Bend. Flores had 392 yards last year and his sole touchdown was against Ohio State late in the 4th quarter. While lacking jaw dropping speed or athleticism, Flores always found a way to get open due to his elite route running ability. In December, Flores committed to play closer to home for Chip Kelly and the UCLA Bruins. It should be interesting to see the progression Flores makes in his sophomore year against Big 10 competition. Tobias Merriweather: Coming out of high school, Merriweather was one of Notre Dame's highest ranked receivers to come into the program in the last 10 years. The 6'4" receiver from Washington had the size, speed, and hands that were a recipe for success; however, he could never translate these gifts onto the field. Merriweather struggled to get opened and created limited separation at all during 50/50 balls. A fresh new start may be exactly what Merriweather needs in order to turn his college career around, as he will be playing in the ACC for Cal next season. Braylon James: While James may be the last name mentioned here, he was the first player to enter the portal after Coach Stuckey had been let go. James was the highest ranked recruit out of Flores and Greathouse, but had the least amount of production. James struggled during practices and could never find his footing in South Bend. He is yet another wide receiver who is returning close to home for school as he is going back to Texas to attend TCU next year. Wrap-Up There are the ins-and-outs of the Notre Dame wide receiving room as the team has now begun their winter workouts. It should be interesting to see if Freeman and Brown bring in any other receivers, but I highly doubt it. Do you think the receiving room is better this year or last year? Let me know in the comments below! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Gaudet ⏐ Senior Editor ⏐ Twitter/X: @LiamGaudetIT Photo by The Irish Tribune With the majority of high-profile transfers said and done for the Irish, we now have a fleshed out glimpse of the personnel that Notre Dame will bring to the field in the spring of 2024. With many big names returning on the defensive side of the football, we already have a pretty good idea of what the Notre Dame defense is going to look like - and there doesn't seem to be a lot of worry in regards to how Al Golden's unit is going to look. On the other side of the football, however, we are going to see a lot of new faces emerge. Young stars like Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will see the lion's share of the carries, and Riley Leonard should bring a welcomed dual threat ability to the quarterback position. A new-look offensive line showed competence during a dominant Sun Bowl victory, showcasing the depth and talent within the unit. The biggest question mark, it seems, will be the performance of a revamped and reloaded wide receiving core which looks to turn the page on what was another disappointing season. A Quick Recap For those who got lost in the chaos that has become the college football off-season, Notre Dame parted ways with wide receiver's coach Chansi Stuckey at the end of November following the conclusion of the regular season. Around the same time, a mass exodus of talent struck the room, as the departures of Rico Flores Jr, Chris Tyree and Braylon James ensued. This left Notre Dame with very few scholarship options at receiver for their upcoming bowl game. Marcus Freeman understood the importance of stability, as he was quickly able to turn things around by hiring Mike Brown to be Stuckey's successor. As quickly as things started spiraling for the Irish, the ship was steadied and minds were put at ease, as Mike Brown attacked the transfer portal with determination. Just as quickly as the exodus occurred, Notre Dame secured commitments from some impressive names in the portal. Clemson's Beaux Collins, FIU's Kris Mitchell, and finally Marshall's Jayden Harrison all pledged to the Irish over the last month, adding some much needed depth to a troubled position group. What to Expect With new life on offense, we can now speculate a little about what we're going to see from these pass catchers after wiping the slate clean. Let's start with arguably the biggest addition the Irish have made since hiring Al Golden - Mike Denbrock. Denbrock is no stranger to Notre Dame and high powered offenses, as this will be his third stint with the Irish dating all the way back to 2002. In his most recent stretch with the Irish that took place from 2010-2016, Denbrock played a big role coaching tight ends, receivers and the offense as a whole. One might argue that the last time the Irish had a truly polarizing offense through the air was back during Denbrock's tenure with DeShone Kizer and Will Fuller. Denbrock helped develop top end wide receiver talent at Notre Dame, and got the most out of the talent in the room. All this without mentioning his most recent success at LSU, where he orchestrated the number one offense in the country behind Heisman winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and stellar play from star receiver Malik Nabers. Denbrock was also the puppet master behind the Cincinnati Bearcats offense that walked into South Bend a few years ago and beat Notre Dame on the way to a college football playoff appearance. At this point, Mike Denbrock has enjoyed incredible success at all of his recent stops. Paired with his intricate understanding of how Notre Dame operates, you couldn't name a better candidate for the job. His presence should bring profound knowledge to the passing game that the Irish haven't seen since his departure, giving receivers in the room ample opportunity to make an impact. As far as Mike Brown is concerned, this offseason will be crucial in terms of talent development. Stuckey left much to be desired in terms of on-field product, so building speed and explosiveness for the purpose of creating separation in order for Denbrock's plans to come to fruition should be priority number one. If Brown can recruit to a similar degree (and seeing his success in the portal, there shouldn't be any worries), the Irish route runners will see far more success in the coming years under a new regime. Finally, let's address the men on the field. I believe the heights this team is capable of reaching once again hinges on their performance. For the sake of being concise, I'll discuss the receivers I believe will see the bulk of the load thrown their way this upcoming season. Starting with the group of transfers, Harrison, Collins and Mitchell all bring varying skill sets to the table, and all have incredible upside. Collins will slot in well as a big-body boundary type of receiver similar to someone like Jayden Thomas. He will likely see a rotational role, but with Thomas having a bit of an injury history, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him become a more permanent fixture should the Irish suffer from injuries during the season. Mitchell and Harrison bring more of a slot threat, with speed and agility being at the forefront of their game. It is worth noting that Mitchell was a great red zone threat during his time at FIU playing on the outside, but bigger and more physical receiving options might push Mitchell toward the slot. They will likely have to compete with rising star Jordan Faison for snaps, who absolutely burst onto the scene in the second half of the season. Harrison will likely see more success returning punts and kicks for the Irish, as his resume throughout his career as a return man is incredibly impressive. Still, both are very important depth pieces that will likely see moderate success within rotation. As mentioned, Jayden Thomas will return as a reliable option on the outside, hopefully getting more one-on-one looks to showcase his jump ball abilities with his great catch radius. When healthy, Jaden Greathouse saw terrific success in the slot, but is so versatile as an athlete he could virtually slide in anywhere and see success. I expect him to headline this group next season regardless of where he lines up. Finally, freshman phenom Cam Williams is a name I see a lot of people murmuring about - and for good reason. Williams is one of the highest ranked receivers to sign with the Irish in recent memory, and he is electric with the ball in his hands. Expect to see him featured on a lot of designed plays with the ball in his hands with room to move. Williams' combination of vision and agility will be enough to get him on the field early and often. I'd love to see Denbrock feature him similar to the way USC featured Zachariah Branch this season, and let his athleticism dictate the outcome of the play. To wrap things up, the Irish look to be more athletic than they've been in a long time at the receiver position. A combination of talent, coaching pedigree and experience should make this group one of the most exciting to watch on the team in 2024. Notre Dame fans should be extremely pleased and excited with the offseason moves Marcus Freeman has made, and he has addressed one of the most glaring issues plaguing this offense in a big way. Buckle up, because the ceiling for this group just got raised. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Via Notre Dame Football As the college football season has officially come to a close, the NFL playoffs are the last form of football entertainment for the 2023-2024 season. There were plenty of Notre Dame players making enormous impacts on NFL rosters, as the Irish had the second most Pro Bowl players from any college across America. As the playoff picture has come to image, it's time to breakdown and create a viewing guide for Irish fans to see their former superstars compete for a Super Bowl ring. Let's see which Irish players will be playing this postseason. Kyle Hamilton: Baltimore Ravens The first player worth spotlighting is none other than the All-Pro Safety, Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton, who was the 14th overall pick in the 2022 draft, has had a breakout sophomore season, landing him as a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro selection. Hamilton racked up 4 interceptions, along with a forced fumble, and 13 pass deflections. The facet of Hamilton's game that is most valuable to the number 1 seeded Baltimore Ravens is his blitzing ability. Hamilton's unique blend of size and speed have made the 6'4" safety from Atlanta, Georgia, so elite in this ferocious Ravens' defense. With the Ravens securing the top seed in the AFC, Hamilton will spend the Wild Card weekend nursing a knee injury suffered on Christmas Day in their victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Kyren Williams: Los Angeles Rams Another former Irish player that jumped on the scene in his second year is running back Kyren Williams. Williams, a 5th round selection in the 2022 draft, has been the missing piece that Sean McVay and the Rams have been missing at the running back position since Todd Gurley. Williams is a superstar who can frankly do it all. At his time at Notre Dame, Williams was excellent after first contact, and seemed to never go down after the first hit. With his prior use at wide receiver in high school, there were rumors that Williams might've been converted to a slot wide receiver because he had such good hands. However, the biggest strength in Kyren's toolkit is his ability in the pass protection game. In the 2020 regular season victory over Clemson, Williams' pass protection stole the show in Notre Dame's upset win. This season, Williams is third behind only Christian McCaffrey and Derek Henry in rushing yards. On the other hand, Williams only played in 12 games compared to McCaffrey's 16 and Henry's 17 game season, which leads to naming Williams the most efficient running back in the league this year. Williams was also top 10 in the league in rushing touchdowns with 12 total. The Rams will be lining it up against the Detroit Lions this Sunday at 8:00 EST. Zack Martin: Dallas Cowboys In the 2023 season, Zack Martin has maintained his status of being the top interior offensive lineman in the NFL. The 33-year-old guard from Indianapolis, Indiana, has been selected for another All-Pro team, and another Pro Bowl game. This rounds Martin's total up to 8 Pro Bowl selections, which is a truly insane run. This 2023 season, Martin only committed one penalty. One penalty, and it was a false start. In his 10-year career, Martin has only committed 7 holding penalties. Martin's interior force is a key reason why the Cowboys always have one of the highest regarded offensive lines in the league. Martin and the Cowboys will be facing off against the 7th seeded Green Bay Packers this Sunday at 4:30 EST. Brandon Aubrey: Dallas Cowboys While never suiting up for the Fighting Irish on the football field, Brandon Aubrey has been one of the best storylines across the NFL this season. A Notre Dame soccer star, Aubrey has solidified himself as one of the premier kickers in the NFL. Aubrey has gone 36/38 from the field this year, a percentage that earned himself an All-Pro nomination. Aubrey's story from being a converted soccer player-to the USFL-to being a software engineer- to a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys has been the feel-good story of the year. Aubrey will be having high pressure kicks inside AT&T Stadium this Sunday at 4:30 EST. Other Names to Watch: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: Cleveland Browns . A Pro Bowl and All Pro snub, JOK has shown the same physicality he did during his time at Notre Dame. JOK leads the Browns in tackles with 101 total tackles, along with 2 interceptions and 6 pass deflections. JOK will be spearheading this Browns' defense Saturday afternoon against the Houston Texans. Liam Eichenberg: Miami Dolphins . Eichenberg has had a much improved third year with the Dolphins. He was only flagged for holding once this season and had two pre-snap penalties this year as well. Eichenberg will be pitted against a reeling Chiefs defense in the Wild Card round. Drue Tranquill: Kansas City Chiefs . After his departure from the Chargers, Tranquill had a bit of a letdown year in his new environment in Kansas City. The 5th year man out of Fort Wayne, Indiana, will have a tough task in stopping the high-powered Miami Dolphins offense this Saturday night. Ben Skowronek: Los Angeles Rams . The transfer from Northwestern has found great success with his stint in Los Angeles. Skowronek has been a special teams' superstar for McVay and the Rams, along with getting meaningful snaps in at wide receiver. With the emergence of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp getting back to full health, Skowronek has been seen less in the Rams offensive effort. However, Skowronek is the Rams' best gunner in the punting unit. The Rams face off against the Lions this Sunday. Robert Hainsey: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Somewhat of a forgotten name around the Notre Dame community, Robert Hainsey has had continued success in Tampa Bay even after Tom Brady's retirement. In his three years in the league, Hainsey has coincidentally started at three different positions. This season, he is Tampa Bay's starting center. Hainsey will have his hands full with the formidable Eagles' pass rush on Monday night. Brock Wright: Detroit Lions. Wright, the backup tight end with the Lions, has shown to be a dynamic weapon in the pass catching game. After the Lions traded superstar TJ Hockenson to the Vikings last name, Wright displayed his ability to be the premier tight end in an NFL offense. However, the Lions drafted Sam LaPorta in the 2023 NFL Draft, and LaPorta took over the reins as the number 1 tight end. Nonetheless, Wright will definitely see playing time Sunday night against the Rams. Chase Claypool: Miami Dolphins. The reserve wide receiver will be facing off against Tranquill and the Chiefs on Saturday. Claypool is expected very limited playing time, as he has rarely been used since his trade from the Chicago Bears. Romeo and Julian Okwara: Detroit Lions. The Okwara brothers were some of the best Notre Dame pass rushers of the 2010s. These days they serve in a backup role to superstar Aiden Hutchinson. The Okwara brothers have totaled 2 sacks a piece this 2023 season and will be trying to pressure Matthew Stafford as much as possible this Sunday night. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Gaudet ⏐ Senior Editor ⏐ Twitter/X: @LiamGaudetIT Photo by Marshall University Athletics Just a little over four weeks ago, the Notre Dame receiving core was absolutely reeling after losing four highly recruited pass catchers in Rico Flores Jr, Braylon James, Holden Staes and Chris Tyree. Things were getting out of hand quickly after the departure of two-year wide receiver's coach Chansi Stuckey, and something needed to be done quickly to quell the nerves of an anxious fanbase. Marcus Freeman delivered in emphatic fashion, diving head first into the transfer portal and landing two big-time pass catchers in Clemson's Beaux Collins and Florida International's Kris Mitchell. This afternoon, Marcus Freeman decided to kill two birds with one stone, grabbing a dynamic playmaker who has the potential to make plays at both receiver and on special teams. I'll keep this short and sweet - Jayden Harrison is FAST. Coming out of high school, Harrison was a three star prospect with offers from the likes of Tennessee, North Carolina and Louisville, however, the 5'9 speedster elected to further his academic and athletic career at Vanderbilt. He played one season for the Commodores in the SEC in 2020 before electing to transfer to Marshall for the 2021 season. Primarily a return specialist, Harrison has amassed over 1500 return yards in his four years of collegiate football, averaging 25.4 yards per kickoff return. His ability to kick into second gear has also allowed him to return three kicks for a touchdowns throughout his career, which was an asset that the Irish couldn't afford to overlook. Despite his success on special teams, Harrison could prove to be a solid receiving option for Notre Dame. The Nashville product has racked up nearly 800 receiving yards and four touchdowns in as many seasons. Harrison also put on quite a show in Marshall's bowl game against UTSA - despite the loss, Harrison finished with six receptions for 132 yards, both of which were career highs. Coming off of his best statistical season in 2023 as a receiver, Harrison could add some much needed depth to a room that is looking to turn the tide under new receiver's coach Mike Brown, and of course, new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock. Harrison is a welcomed addition to a Notre Dame roster that looks poised to be one of the most athletic in recent memory. The rest of Notre Dame's transfer class is filled out below: Jayden Harrison - WR/KR - Marshall Mitch Jeter - K - South Carolina Beaux Collins - WR - Clemson Jordan Clark - S - Arizona State RJ Oben - EDGE - Duke Riley Leonard - QB - Duke Kris Mitchell - WR - Florida International Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Connor D'Aquila⏐Writer⏐Twitter/X: @ConnorDaquilaIT Photo by The Irish Tribune The All-American Bowl started off in an exciting fashion for Notre Dame faithful, as four-star edge Christopher Burgess announced his commitment to the Irish. Immediately following, three ND commits in the class of 2024 competed against the best of the best in high school football. We expected to see four Notre Dame pledges in action, but star receiver Cam Williams went down with a minor leg injury in practice and was unable to play in the game. We did get to see Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Kedren Young, and Bryce Young flash their potential. Guerby Lambert was also invited to the game, but was unable to participate throughout the week due to a minor injury from his high school season. Below, we will recap reports from practices and observations from the game of the Notre Dame pledges. Cam Williams All reports out of practice were promising for star Wide Receiver Cam Williams, who appears to be one of the most exciting players in the 2024 class. The injury was unfortunate, as it would have been interesting to see him compared to guys like Jeremiah Smith and facing off with star DBs like KJ Bolden and Jamari Howard. Limited clips from practice displayed impressive catches as well as the quickness and speed he already showed in high school. Soon enough, however, we will be able to see Cam in the blue and gold, as he is scheduled to be an early enrollee. Bryce Young Everything out of practice was very positive on the defensive end and son of NFL hall-of-famer Bryant Young. Young had a breakout season with Charlotte Christian this year and was one of the biggest risers in recruiting rankings from Notre Dame’s class. On display in the game and in practice was Bryce’s combination of size, athleticism, and explosiveness, which we can only expect to continue improving as he makes his way to South Bend and gets time with the strength and conditioning team. In practice, he was bullying some highly-touted offensive linemen and earned the start for the game. In the game, he was not as impactful as was seen in practice, but there were flashes that should give fans plenty of confidence he will continue to develop and become a star in South Bend. He may not be a year-one starter, but he should be a big-time player eventually. Kedren Young Young had a monster senior season in Lufkin, Texas, and his combination of size and speed should excite the Irish as he makes his way to South Bend. Again, reports out of practice were positive, but carries were scarce in the actual game. In practice, he flashed some receiving ability beyond what was seen on high school film, and I thought his quickness looked great. He put himself in good position to perform on Saturday, but between having to split the workload and a run-light offense, his production was limited. He would gain single-digit yards on only three carries and had some blocking plays, but it was a very limited sample size. Still, the future certainly looks bright at the running back position and Young should be a mainstay in the room.  Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa KVA was arguably the most impressive Notre Dame commit we saw throughout the week and on Saturday. He was consistently ranked among the top players at practice and demonstrated his ability to be a day one player at Notre Dame in the game. From the opening drive, Kyngstonn was all over the field and making big-time stops for the West defense. He had multiple tackles for loss and was clearly a leader on the team. His instincts and knowledge of the game are ever-evident, and the potential he has is undeniable. He will be in South Bend next week, and that is sure to be the start of an exciting career. It was great to see so many future ND players featured in this prestigious game, and their performances were all promising. KVA stood out, but the rest flashed the potential to be stars, which is a testament to the impressive job Marcus Freeman has done recruiting in this cycle. CJ Carr also received an invite to the game, but he opted to join the team for bowl practices instead. The future is certainly bright for the Irish.  Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Gaudet ｜Senior Editor｜Twitter/X: @LiamGaudetIT Photo via Chris Burgess Jr. (Instagram) Notre Dame has continued their strong start to the 2025 recruiting cycle, landing one of their top targets on the board in 4-star edge rusher Christopher Burgess Jr from Chicago by way of Simeon Career Academy. Burgess recently announced a top 4 which included some big names - Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan and the Irish. Burgess is considered a consensus 4-star, ranked as the 147th overall prospect, and 18th at his position via the 247 Sports composite rankings. Burgess announced his commitment live on NBC at 1PM, and Notre Dame's #1 recruiting class shows no sign of slowing down. At 6'4 and weighing in at 240lbs, Burgess is the prototype edge rusher with a dynamic combination of strength and short area quickness. Through 6 games in the 23'-24' season, Burgess totaled 12 total tackles with two sacks, and four tackles for loss with a fumble recovery (MaxPreps). Burgess will look to build on a strong showing in his senior season before joining the Irish after signing day next December. It's safe to say that Marcus Freeman's tenacious approach on the recruiting trail, and getting in on these blue chip prospects early is paying major dividends. The rest of Notre Dame's 2025 recruiting class is filled out below, as per the 247 Sports composite rankings: Deuce Knight - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ QB Ivan Taylor - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ S Christopher Burgess Jr . - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ EDGE James Flanigan - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ TE CJ May - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ EDGE Justin Thurman - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ RB Will Black - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ OT Cree Thomas -⭐⭐⭐⭐ CB Joseph Reiff - ⭐⭐⭐ DL Davion Dixon - ⭐⭐⭐ DL Daniel Anderson - ⭐⭐⭐ RB Dominik Hulak - ⭐⭐⭐ ATH Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Via The Irish Tribune Over the past two off-seasons, Marcus Freeman has displayed his ability to recruit within the transfer portal. In 2023, the additions of Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Sam Hartman, Thomas Harper, and Spencer Shrader were all valuable acquisitions, as these four players all started for the Fighting Irish this past season. Even with the 14 players transferring out of the program, Notre Dame seems destined for a historic 2024 campaign through the additions they made in the portal thus far. The Irish got an elite level quarterback in Riley Leonard, who also brought over his former Duke teammate, EDGE RJ Oben with him to South Bend. The Irish brought in two elite level wide receivers, Kris Mitchell and Beaux Collins from FIU and Clemson, respectively. Nonetheless, the Irish still have more noise to make within the transfer portal at certain key positions. Let's break down two key needs the Irish must address before the start of 2024 spring camp. Wide Receiver Depth The departures of Chris Tyree, Tobias Merriweather, Rico Flores, and Braylon James hurt the potential and depth of the Notre Dame wide receiving room. The additions of the aforementioned Collins and Mitchell provide Notre Dame with the needed star power the wide receiver room has been lacking in South Bend for the last 5 years. However, the Irish must add one more receiver to the mix in the case of much needed depth. As it stands, the projected wide receiving room is putting a lot of pressure on incoming freshman Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, and Logan Saldate to receive playing time. The emergence of Jordan Faison has been a big boost for a wide receiving room needing a spark. As it stands in 2024, the Irish receiving room should look a little like this: Transfers: Kris Mitchell Beaux Collins Junior/ Redshirt Sophomore: Jayden Thomas Deion Colzie Sophomores: Jordan Faison Jaden Greathouse KK Smith Freshman: Cam Williams Micah Gilbert Logan Saldate I believe an eye-opening target the Irish could land to be the finishing touches to a revamped wide receiving room is CJ Daniels from Liberty. Daniels just recently entered the portal after putting up a 1000+ yard season for the Flames who made the Fiesta Bowl. Daniels is a lengthy 6'2" receiver who moves extremely well in space, and has tremendous big play ability. The wide receiver from Lilburn, Georgia, already has a relationship with Riley Leonard, as the two follow each other on Instagram. Secondary Reassurance The return of Nagurski Trophy winner Xavier Watts was enormous as it pertains to the trajectory of this Notre Dame team in 2024. The return of Watts is a sense of relief for Safety coach Chris O'Leary, as the position is full of extremely talented, yet extremely inexperienced players. This is the cause for concern, as the current safety slated to line up next to Watts next year is Adon Shuler, who played well during the Sun Bowl, but is extremely inexperienced. An addition of one more transfer portal safety to the position room would have many breathing a sigh of relief. One candidate that recently entered the portal that the Irish might be involved with is Alaka'i Gilman. Gilman is a name most Irish fans are familiar with, as his brother Alohi, was another transfer that made an impact for Notre Dame during his time here. Alaka'i, who entered the portal at the beginning of the new year, played sparingly during his senior year at Stanford, but would be a phenomenal rotational piece, along with a great clubhouse guy to tutor and mentor these younger safeties along with Watts. The Irish are also reportedly showing interest in Northwestern transfer Ron Heard II, who is slated to visit campus sometime in January. Heard, who is more of a nickel safety, would be alongside other transfer Jordan Clark, who pledged his commitment to the Irish at the very beginning of the transfer portal opening. This tandem would cement the Irish as having one of the best secondaries in the nation. Wrap-Up Do these moves intrigue you Fighting Irish fans, or do you think Head Coach Marcus Freeman should stick with the current talent he has on the roster? These moves would be extremely beneficial if Freeman could continue his success on the transfer portal recruiting trail. Let me know other names you would like to see in the Blue & Gold next season below! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Connor Regan ｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @thatconnorregan Photo by The Irish Tribune As we conclude the 2023 season, the collective Notre Dame fanbase turns its eyes yet again toward the promise of the future. Although far away, the 2024 season is beginning to take shape, and the Irish find themselves in a familiar position, on the verge of finally taking the football program from a 1-B institution to a 1-A powerhouse.  2023 - A Review Before the start of the 2023 season, Notre Dame was brimming with anticipation, primarily due to the impending arrival of 6th-year QB Sam Hartman. Upon the departure of Tommy Rees for Alabama, Notre Dame promoted then-TE coach Gerad Parker to Offensive Coordinator. Although an unknown at the time, this promotion provided some reason for caution due to Parker's lack of OC experience, with only 1 year of prior OC experience. Adding to these concerns was a schedule that ranked 19th in preseason strength of schedule, including a 4-game stretch that of Ohio State, at Duke, at Louisville, and USC, capping things off with a week-10 matchup at Clemson.  Most preseason prognosticators pegged the Irish to finish with a floor of 9-3, with some believing a 10-2 finish was possible. All these predictions aside, Notre Dame's CFP hopes were dashed relatively early. Despite a heartbreaking week 4 loss to then #6 Ohio State 14-17, Notre Dame's CFP hopes were still alive, as long as they won out alongside Ohio State. These hopes remained intact through a close win over Duke until Louisville ultimately upset the Irish in week 6, 33-20. Louisville entered the matchup undefeated, yet the Irish were favored by 6.5 and were expected to make relatively easy work of the Cardinals. This loss became Marcus Freeman's 3rd loss to an opponent they were favored to beat in his first two seasons, with losses to Marshall and Stanford in 2022.  With 2 losses already, Notre Dame's CFP hopes were gone, and winning out became the only attainable goal for 2023. Then came Clemson. The Irish fell to Dabo Swinney's Tigers 23-31, marking their 3rd loss of the season, their 2nd loss to a team they were favored to beat, and their first to an unranked opponent. Losing to Clemson became the worst of the 3 regular season losses and spelled legitimate disappointment for the 2023 squad. Although the Irish won out, they finished 16th in the country and secured a matchup against Oregon State in the "Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl." The Sun Bowl The Irish flat-out dominated Oregon State in the "Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl" on Friday. This was only the 3rd matchup between the two schools, and Notre Dame's 40-8 route marked their first win in the series. Due to NFL draft declarations and numerous transfers, Marcus Freeman's biggest obstacle heading into the matchup was preparing an inexperienced starting squad, primarily on the offensive side of the ball. Impressively, the new faces showed out. The Irish dominated the 1st half, forcing 3 straight punts from the Beavers and a 1st drive of 11 plays 96 yards. That first drive was highlighted by a 55-yard catch by Jordan Faison and ultimately finished off by an 8-yard TD catch by the fully healthy Jayden Thomas. After another 11-play drive and a 4th down conversion, the Irish missed a 50-yard FG, possibly due to a laces-facing football for Spencer Shrader. The Irish then stopped a fake punt and capitalized with a 7 play drive for a touchdown. The end of the first half came on a Hail Mary toss from Oregon State that was intercepted by Benjamin Morrison. The one-sided affair continued in the second half, with the Irish quickly kicking a field goal and forcing another Oregon State punt. Angeli led the offense on an 8-play 60-yard drive, culminating in a 13-yard TD pass to freshman walk-on phenom Jordan Faison. After forcing an Oregon State turnover on downs, the Irish were stopped on a very close rushing play at Oregon State's 1-yard line. Although disappointing, the Irish defense quickly capitalized on the turnover and forced a safety, putting the Irish up 26-0. After receiving the safety punt, Jadarian Price broke off a 54-yard rush that nearly scored, and Angeli eventually tossed a 13-yard TD pass to Jeremiyah Love, extending the lead to 33-0. Oregon State scored their first and only touchdown on a 33-yard pass and then converted a 2-point conversion to bring the score to 33-8. Kenny Minchey took over the offense on Notre Dame's final drive and led a 6-play 40-yard drive, capped off by senior running back Chase Ketterer's 6-yard score. Steve Angeli impressed in his first official start, tossing 3 TDs for 232 yards through the air and 27 yards on the ground. Although Riley Leonard is expected to get the starting spot in 2024, Angeli inspired quite a bit of confidence through his Sun Bowl performance and likely cemented his role as the standout backup QB should he decide to stick around. Leonard's history of injury presents a distinct possibility that we may see a backup at some point in 2024, and finally seeing an Angeli start provides a sense of comfort. Angeli kept the Irish in control of the game, holding the ball more than twice as long as the Beavers, notching 40:11 to Oregon State's 19:49.  Gino Guidugli headed the offense at the OC position for the first time with the Irish, and he leaned heavily on the run game, with 19 pass attempts to 48 rushes, including Angeli's 8 scrambles. With Audric Estime heading to the NFL, Freeman and his staff were looking for who would step up in his absence, and it seems they have an answer: Jadarian Price. Price led the backfield with 13 rushes for 106 yards and 1 TD, with 1 breakout run for 54 yards. Jeremiyah Love had a bit of an off night, recording 15 rushes for only 39 yards, but managed to grab a 13-yard receiving TD. Gi'Bran Payne rounded out the backfield with 6 rushes for 24 yards. The receiving room has seen a lot of change since the end of the regular season, with 4 receivers leaving the team via the transfer portal, a coach being fired, and a new coach being brought on. Despite these hurdles, their production against Oregon State was encouraging, for the most part. The two brightest spots were Jordan Faison, with 5 catches for 115 yards and a TD, and Jayden Thomas, with 4 catches for 59 yards and a TD. Unfortunately, we did not see Deion Colzie, and Jaden Greathouse had a quiet day, only posting 2 catches for 13 yards. With Mitchell Evans still injured and Holden Staes having left in the portal, Eli Raridon led the TE room in playing time, posting 2 catches for 12 yards.  The offensive line held the most questions heading into this game. Starting center Zeke Correll announced his transfer, and both Joe Alt and Blake Fisher opted out for their NFL preparation, leaving 3 open positions on the line. Standout freshman Charles Jagusah held down the left tackle alongside sophomore Ashton Craig at center, junior Pat Coogan at left guard, sophomore Billy Schrauth at right guard, and sophomore Aamil Wagner at right tackle. Despite the group having little experience together, they only gave up 2 sacks against the Beavers, and their overall performance soothed most of the offensive concerns. Additionally, the Irish only posted 3 penalties, 2 "delay of game" penalties on offense and 1 "12 men on the field" penalty on defense. Al Golden and Irish defense capped off a successful season with a stifling performance against the Beavers. The big guys up front pressured Oregon State the entire game, recording 4 sacks and 1 interception, forcing them to go 1/9 on 3rd down and 1/3 on 4th down. The Beavers couldn't get anything going either on the ground or through the air, with their leading rusher going for 15 yards on 6 rushes and their top receiver posting 56 yards on 3 catches. 2024 - Looking Ahead The 2024 season will bring new hopes and a bevy of unknown variables that college football is still adjusting to. The 12-team playoff, conference realignment, record NIL deals, a busier-than-ever transfer portal, and new TV deals; talk about a season with all-new variables. Marcus Freeman's 2nd straight bowl win gives him his best record at Notre Dame, ending the season 10-3. This upcoming off-season will provide a better idea of how Notre Dame's final roster will shake out, but let us first examine what the 2024 schedule has planned for the Irish.  The Schedule Below is the schedule the Irish will play in 2024 with some interesting footnotes for consideration. Week 1 - Aug. 31st - @ Texas A&M 7-6 in 2023 The Aggies lost to Oklahoma State in "The Texas Bowl" 23-31. Jimbo Fisher is out - Mike Elko is in. Prediction - Potentially Close Win This is an SEC matchup, which means it will likely be a tough one. Despite this, the Irish only hold a losing record against 1 SEC team, that being Georgia, and they currently hold a 3-2 edge over the Aggies all-time. This marks the 1st meeting between the two since 2004, and the Irish will have a fresh crop of 3 new WRs, an experienced senior QB in Riley Leonard, and the mastermind of the leading offense in the nation in 2023, Mike Denbrock, arriving in South Bend. Mike Elko should be an upgrade over Jimbo Fisher in the long term, but like anywhere else, a 1st-year coach will need some time to make the team his own, and this being his first game coaching the Aggies will pose a considerable challenge. Additionally, this will be Elko's first matchup against the Irish since he left after holding the defensive coordinator position in 2017. Regardless, the Irish should win this game, although it could be a close one. Week 2 - Sept. 7th - V. Northern Illinois 7-6 in 2023 MAC Not to be flippant, but this is a MAC team, and unless we see a frankly unacceptable loss again, similar to the infamous Marshall game, this should be an easy win. Adding to NIU's uphill climb in this matchup, this will be their first matchup against the Irish, their first time in South Bend, and a huge matchup early on in 2024 as they come off a 7-6 2023 campaign.  Prediction - Easy win The Irish, especially if they handled Texas A&M the week before, should easily dominate the Huskies. Week 3 - Sept. 14th - @ Purdue 4-8 in 2023 Rivalry Notre Dame and Purdue hold a historic rivalry that, unfortunately, has lapsed in the face of Notre Dame's ACC deal. This will be the first matchup between the two programs since 2021 and Notre Dame's first trip to Lafayette since 2013. The Irish lead the all-time series 57-26-2. Purdue will bring back 2nd-year head coach Ryan Walters, who posted a first-season record of 4-8. Prediction - Easy Win Yes, rivalry games are always more competitive, and anything can happen. Yes, the BIG-10 is a tough conference, but the Irish should handle the Boilermakers with little trouble. Week 4 - Sept. 21st - V. Miami Ohio 11-3 in 2023 This will be Notre Dame's second MAC opponent through 4 games in the 2024 season and the 3rd ever matchup between the two schools. The last game between the two came in 2017 when the Redhawks traveled to South Bend and lost 52-17. This seems to be the first real trap game for the Irish, as the Red Hawks went 11-3 in 2023 and won the MAC title. Notre Dame should obviously win this game, but after two straight cupcake games, there's a possibility that Freeman's squad could overlook Miami Ohio before they face Louisville the following week. The Redhawks return their QB, RB, and should be bringing back their top 3 receivers. Prediction - Potentially Close Win - But Shouldn't Be Notre Dame should take care of this one, although it could be closer than most fans would like. This game should give Irish fans a pretty good idea of what their team really is heading into their week 5 matchup against Louisville. Week 5 - Sept. 28th - Louisville 10-3 in 2023 This is only the 5th matchup between the Cardinals and the Irish. They lost a very disappointing game at Louisville in 2023. The win was huge for the Cardinals, leading them to the ACC title game against FSU, where they ultimately fell 16-6 to an undermanned Seminoles squad. Prediction - 60/40 - Could Lose, Should Win This could realistically be the most challenging matchup the Irish have seen yet in 2024 and will be their 5th straight game without a BYE. Thankfully, the game is at home, and after that ugly loss in 2023, Freeman and his squad should be looking for any and every advantage so as not to become victims of the Cardinals yet again. Thankfully, Freeman and returning OC Mike Denbrock have a retooled offense that should, at a minimum, keep them scoring enough to be competitive with anyone. Thankfully, what should be just as good of a defense should spell too much for the Cardinals to overcome. The Irish could potentially drop this game, but they likely take care of business at home and head into their first BYE week undefeated. Week 6 - Oct. 5th - BYE This is the first of 3 current openings on Notre Dame's 2024 schedule. These 3 openings are due to the University of Miami's scheduling issue that took them off Notre Dame's 2024 schedule. The Irish will likely keep this as a week off to prevent them from playing 9 straight games but will have to fill 1 of the remaining 2 open weeks on their schedule. Week 7 - Oct. 12th - V. Stanford 3-9 in 2023 This will be Stanford's first matchup against the Irish as an ACC team, making them the 1st of 5 ACC matchups for the Irish in 2024. The Cardinal had a rough 2023 campaign, going 3-9 with first-year head coach Troy Taylor. Taylor will return and look to better his record in his second year. Prediction - Easy Win The idea of losing to Stanford seems silly at a glance, but Irish fans still remember the shocking upset at home against the Cardinal in 2022, Freeman's first season full season as head coach. For that reason, I don't see Freeman dropping this game. He learned from his mistake in 2022 and beat Stanford solidly on the road in 2023, 56-23. Notre Dame, if disciplined, should handily beat Stanford at home. Week 8 - Oct. 19th - @ Georgia Tech 7-6 in 2023 Prediction - Easy Win The stage for this game is a big one, taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, home of the Atlanta Falcons, the Chik-Fil-A Peach Bowl, and one of the finest stadiums in the NFL. Again, at the risk of being flippant, Georgia Tech has been a relatively weak program for years. 3-9 in both 2020 and 2021, 5-7 in 2022, and 7-6 in 2023. While they have indeed improved every year for 4 years now, I don't see that improvement coming at the expense of the 2024 fighting Irish. Notre Dame should easily handle the Yellow Jackets and win another one for Rudy. Week 9 - Oct. 26th - V. Navy @ MetLife Stadium 5-7 in 2023 This will be Brian Newberry's 2nd season as head coach at Navy and only his 2nd season ever as a head coach. Prediction - Easy Win After facing Navy in Ireland in 2023, the Fighting Irish will face the Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and the New York Jets. This will be the second NFL stadium the Irish will play in during the 2024 campaign. Much like the Georgia Tech matchup, the main hurdle is the elevated stage, not necessarily the opponent. The Irish should take care of the Midshipmen again and extend their win streak to 7 in a row. Week 10 - Nov. 2nd - TBD This is the second open week of three on the Notre Dame schedule and was the date originally set up with Miami. Instead, the Hurricanes will return to South Bend in 2026. Odds are Notre Dame fills this open week out of the three available. Unfortunately, it will likely be a matchup with Army at Yankee Stadium to continue the Shamrock Series. While a fine college football rivalry steeped in tradition, adding a name like Army to a relatively easy 2024 schedule would only hurt Notre Dame's already tenuous strength of schedule. Week 11 - Nov. 9th - V. Florida State 13-0 in 2023 Mike Norvell will be entering his 5th season as head coach at FSU. 2021 was his first full season as head coach, and the team went 5-7 but improved dramatically in 2022, posting a 10-3 record with a win over Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl. 2023 was by far his most successful season with the Seminoles, going 13-0 and controversially being left out of the CFP. Like many other major college football programs, FSU is learning to adapt to early NFL declarations and transfers.  Talent Vacuum They won a relatively uninspired ACC title against Louisville using their 3rd string QB and expect to have more than 20 players opt out for their Cotton Bowl matchup against Georgia. Obviously, FSU will have to replace this mass exodus of talent, which will pose quite an obstacle for 2024 and against the Irish in this matchup. Additionally, FSU is in the middle of quite a bit of program drama as they attempt to exit the ACC and further shake up the conference realignment landscape. Prediction - 60/40 - Could Lose, Should Win With significant talent leaving this off-season, including star QB Jordan Travis, FSU will need to play much better football than we saw in the ACC title game against Louisville. Notre Dame will be looking to continue what could very possibly be an undefeated slate thus far in 2024 and could tie the all-time series at 6-6 with a win. This will likely be one of the tougher matchups the Irish will face in 2024, but with FSU hoping to follow up their best season in years, Notre Dame should take care of business, barring an unfortunate collapse. Expect a close game, either in score or matchup. Week 12 - Nov. 16th - V. Virginia 3-9 in 2023 Prediction - Easy Win Notre Dame has never lost to UVA, holding an all-time 4-0 edge in the series. The Irish will likely be a significant favorite in this game, and even late in the season, before a possible BYE week, it's doubtful the Irish will slip up against the Cavaliers. If there is an upset in Notre Dame's 2024 schedule, it will likely come before this matchup. Look for the Irish to handily defeat Virginia and possibly increase their record to either 10-0 or 11-0 at best. Week 13 - Nov. 23rd - BYE This week is the 3rd of 3 openings on the Notre Dame schedule and will likely remain a BYE, but if the Irish can't set up a game on November 2nd, this is likely the 2nd option. Although, one would imagine Notre Dame would be okay with a week off before facing their fiercest rival in week 14, USC. Week 14 - Nov. 30th - @ USC 7-5 in 2023 Lincoln Riley and USC will bring tons of athleticism to the field despite losing key pieces Prediction - 50/50 - Should win Being both an away game and a rivalry game makes this arguably Notre Dame's most significant hurdle of 2024. As Notre Dame fans know all too well, anything can happen against USC. Ideally, Notre Dame should have the prior week off if all goes well in finding their 12th game of the season, giving them a slight edge over the Trojans. Lincoln Riley's squad will not have Heisman winner Caleb Williams to rely on but will, as always, retain a glut of talent, particularly on offense. What inspires the most confidence is the result of the 2023 matchup. The Irish stomped the Trojans, even with Caleb Williams, 48-20. While 2024 is a different year for both teams, the Irish should take this game, even if it's a close one. Outlook Where will the Irish be come December 1st 2024? We can split the schedule into 4 parts: 1. Easy Wins NIU - MAC Purdue - BIG 10 Miami Ohio - MAC Stanford - ACC Georgia Tech - ACC Navy - ACC Virginia - ACC Texas A&M - SEC USC - BIG 10 3. Could Lose, Should Win Louisville - ACC FSU - ACC 4. Unknown Unknown 12th Matchup The floor for 2024 should be 10-2. That's a 1 game improvement over the 2023 record, with an objectively easier schedule. Notre Dame should handily win the 7 "Easy Wins" above and should, at worst, split both the "Tough Games" and "Could Lose, Should Win" categories. The Irish could likely pull off 3/4 wins in their more challenging matchups, giving them an 11-1 record. The best thing Notre Dame can do for themselves would be to schedule the best team possible for their 12th game. Unfortunately, getting a solid team that would boost the overall strength of the schedule is slim. Notre Dame played their first FCS team in 2023, Tennessee State, opening the possibility of playing another in the future. This means there's a relatively high likelihood Notre Dame will be forced to schedule another in 2024 due to scheduling logistics. Outside of an FCS opponent, the most likely move to fill the final opening would be a matchup against Army at Yankee Stadium as a part of the Shamrock Series. 2024 would mark the 100th anniversary of the classic 1924 game, which makes the matchup even more likely to happen. Complicating things, Army is currently overbooked for 2024, with 14 games scheduled, but both teams have November 23rd open as of now. If Notre Dame does schedule Army, this would be their 3rd neutral site game in 2024 and would assuredly hit the Irish's overall strength of schedule. Obviously, the best-case scenario is winning out. Unlike 2023, the 2024 schedule is far too weak to compensate for a loss, even if it's to one of Notre Dame's best opponents. To have the best possible chance to make the CFP, the Irish must both win out and have USC, Texas A&M, FSU, and Louisville all end up in the top 10-15. The expanded 12-team CFP comes at the perfect time for Notre Dame. The 2024 schedule is already weak but winnable, with only 11 games scheduled, but if the Irish do win out, it would be a shock if they don't at least make a 10-12 seed. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

By Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Via Notre Dame Athletics (Photo) & The Irish Tribune (Edit) The 2023 season has been filled with great triumphs and bitter defeats. As the calendar is soon turning to 2024, it is time to recognize one athlete who is the embodiment of a Notre Dame man. This year, there was no person who better exemplifies the core values that the University possess than Junior running back, Audric Estime. On the field, Estime became the single season rushing touchdown leader in school history and was top five in rushing yards in a single season, as well. Notre Dame's offense was heavily reliant on his 1,341 rushing yards and multiple times this season, he single handily put the Irish on his back. Let's relive Estime's glorious 2023 campaign through five big accomplishments. (5) Multi-Touchdown Games In the 12-game season, Estime racked up 5 total multi-touchdown games. These included NC State (2), Duke (2), USC (2), Pitt (3), and Stanford (4). His endurance at the end of games was something to marvel at as he shed the first tackle attempt almost every time. His multi-touchdown games were also in pivotal scenarios while the offense may have been stalling. His 80-yard TD after an hour and a half rain delay against NC State ignited the Irish scoring in a tough road atmosphere; and the game-winning TD against Duke will be something Notre Dame fans will never forget. Five multiple touchdown performances are a true stat that leaves most NFL GM's clamoring for the 227 lb. back. (4) Rushing Touchdowns against Stanford The week of the Stanford game, there was quite the uproar as the Doak Walker Award released their Semifinalists list, highlighting the Top 10 running backs in the country. Audric Estime's name was not listed. The blatant and utter disrespect was even felt by the Notre Dame media team, who released a 15 minute highlight film of Estime's 2023 campaign. With a clear platform to stick it to the Doak Walker voting committee, Estime had his best game of the year. He rushed for a career high 4 touchdowns, along with racking up another career high 238 rushing yards. In his last game in an Irish uniform, Estime delivered a masterclass performance. (3) 20+ Carry Games Audric Estime was as dependable as could be throughout this entire season. In three games, the Nyack, New York, native got 20+ carries. Two out of the three were the last two games of the season, as well. Estime's commitment to strength and conditioning in the offseason surely paid off. This is yet another strength in Estime's repertoire that looks intriguing to NFL scouts. His ability to stay healthy and make an impact on the field in all 12 games this season is an accomplishment that not a lot of other running backs can hold to their name. (2) 50+ Yard Runs When it comes to NFL scouts analyzing Estime's game, most live behind the big back stereotype. While this may ultimately be true, Estime still has the ability to bounce runs outside and hit a homerun. This was showcased on two instances this year as Estime added two 50+ yard runs to his skillset. There were numerous 30+ yard runs as well, but this stat is better suited to disprove that Estime is only a between the tackles runner. (1) Best Back in College Football The Doak Walker Award got it wrong. I'm not sure who is on the committee who represents the distribution of this award, but a change must be made. Audric's slash line of 1,341 yards, 18 TDs, and an average of 6.4 yards per carry is second to none in college football. The man got robbed of this award, and I'm sure he will keep this chip on his shoulder as he is elevating his game from college to the NFL level. Estime will continue the new pipeline of elite level running backs to come out of Notre Dame, following in the footsteps of Kyren Williams. There is no doubt in my mind that Estime should be the first running back taken in the draft, but if he slips at all, one lucky NFL organization is getting the best player in the country for the 2024 draft class. *(0)* Fumbles Lost I wanted to include a cherry on top to commemorate the 2023 season for Estime by adding this stat that hasn't been getting mentioned. The man never had a turnover. In the Navy game all the way at the beginning of the year, Estime fumbled the ball out of bounds on the second drive of the game and was benched for the rest of the half. Freeman used this to tell his team that no one player is above the rules, even the superstar. Estime clearly learned his lesson and didn't have any other fumbles for the rest of the year. Ball security certainly is job security, and Estime, even on 210 carriers, never turned the ball over once. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Phil Kowalis｜Writer｜Twitter/X: @PhilKowalisIT Photo By The Irish Tribune Notre Dame did exactly what a good team should do when facing an undermanned opponent when the Irish faced the Oregon State Beavers on Friday in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. The Irish marched 96 yards in 11 plays on a six-minute opening possession drive that was capped by an eight-yard pass from Steve "Peanut Butter" Angeli to Jayden Thomas for the opening points of the contest. While the Irish would only hold a 14-0 lead at halftime there was little doubt as to who the better team was on this afternoon. The Notre Dame defense completely dominated the undermanned Beavers offense, holding Oregon State to only 10 first downs and 197 yards on the day. The Notre Dame front seven completely shut down Oregon State's running game, as the Beaver's only managed to gain two yards on 16 rushing attempts, good for an average of 0.1 yards per attempt. Beaver's quarterback Ben Gulbranson did not fare much better against the Irish secondary. Gulbranson completed 16 of 27 pass attempts for 180 yards and threw a touchdown pass late in garbage time. The Notre Dame offense would score points on four of the five second half possessions as the Irish would go on to cruise to a blowout victory that improved the Irish to 10-3 on the season. Let's take a look at how the Irish graded out in the convincing win over the Beavers. Offense: Offensive Line/Tight ends: Grade B The rebuilt Notre Dame offensive line performed well against an Oregon State defensive line that was expected to give the Irish line a formidable test. Irish tackles Tosh Baker and Charles Jagusah played well in both the run game and in pass protection and allowed the Irish offense to roll up 468 yards of total offense on the day. Baker, Jagusah as well as Guards Pat Coogan and Billy Schrauth and center Ashton Craig dominated the line of scrimmage in the second half as the Irish pulled away for the victory. The Notre Dame offensive line paved the way for the Irish to roll up 236 yards on the ground on 48 attempts for a 4.9 yard per carry average. Eli Raridon caught two passes for 12 yards, but the Notre Dame tight ends main contribution came in the running game opening holes in the Beavers' defense. Quarterback: Grade A Steve Angeli played like a seasoned veteran in his first start at the helm of the Irish offense. Angeli passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns completing 15 of his 19 pass attempts. Angeli also rushed for 27 yards on 8 carries. Angeli was making the start for Notre Dame after Sam Hartman opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft. Running Backs: Grade B Jadarian Price led the Irish on the ground with 106 yards rushing on 13 carries and scored on a one-yard run to give the Irish a 14-0 lead late in the second quarter. Jeremiyah Love struggled to find room to run, finishing the game with only 39 yards on 15 carries, but Love did catch a 13-yard touchdown pass from Angeli in the fourth quarter. Chase Ketterer scored Notre Dame's final touchdown of the day on a six-yard run. Wide Receivers: Grade B What a difference a healthy Jayden Thomas makes for the Irish offense. Thomas. who had only two catches over the last 5 games of the season while battling a nagging hamstring injury, made an immediate impact on the Irish offense in the Sun Bowl. Thomas scored Notre Dame's first touchdown of the game and ended the game with 4 catches for 59 yards. Jordan Faison continued to show that he may be the Irish's best receiver, as he led the Irish with five catches for 115 yards and a touchdown on the way to being named the Sun Bowl MVP. Defense: Defensive Line: Grade A Jordan Botelho had five total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack to lead the Notre Dame defensive line in another dominating performance against Oregon State. Botelho's effort garnered him the Sun Bowl lineman of the game honor. Howard Cross and Javontae Jean-Baptiste each added two tackles and a sack for the Notre Dame defensive front. Linebackers: Grade B Jack Kiser and Drayk Bowen each had three tackles to lead the Notre Dame Linebacking corps. JD Bertrand had one tackle in the final game of his Notre Dame career. Secondary: Grade A The Notre Dame secondary turned in their usual outstanding effort against the Beavers, holding Oregon State quarterback Ben Gulbranson under 200 yards passing and intercepting Gulbranson once. Xavier Watts led the secondary in tackles with five. Special Teams: Grade C Spencer Shrader went one for two on field goal attempts, missing from 50 yards in the first quarter and the converting a 44-yard attempt in the third quarter that increased the Irish lead to 17-0. Bryce McFerson had a quiet day punting just one time on the day for 59 yards. Jadarian Price picked up 24 yards on the Irish's lone kick return of the game. Summary: Notre Dame finished the 2023 season in style with a dominate wire-to-wire win over the Oregon State Beavers. The Irish return a majority of the bowl game starters for the 2024 season and the addition of quarterback Riley Leonard, wide receiver Cam Williams and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock will have fan's expectations sky high heading into next season. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

By Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Via Notre Dame Football EL PASO, TX. - The Fighting Irish wasted no time making their presence known in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. An offense led by Sophomore QB Steve Angeli produced 14 first-half points, with major contributions from Freshman Jeremiyah Love and Jordan Faison, along with Jayden Thomas. The revamped offensive line held their own in this one, as well, with highly-touted Freshman Charles Jagusah stealing the show. On the defensive side of the ball, Al Golden had a clear gameplan coming into this game, which was to pressure Oregon State on every opportunity possible. The defensive was outstanding in this one, and rookie newcomers Jaylen Sneed and Christian Gray filled in seamlessly. This Sun Bowl win was a great way to end the year and get second-year Head Coach Marcus Freeman his first double digit win season. Let's breakdown the 40-8 victory from all sides of the ball. Offense Steve Angeli. Angeli had a very impressive showing in his first collegian start, throwing for 232 yards with 3 TDs. Angeli's mobility and athleticism were the two components that stood out to me in this one. He appeared to be way more comfortable when he was navigating outside the pocket, rather than sitting in the pocket. Angeli had great success when rolling out to his right and was in command of the offense. Hopefully Angeli stays for the 2024 season because he displayed that he is a significantly capable backup quarterback. Run Game Success . After Audric Estime opted out of this bowl game for the 2024 NFL Draft, the Notre Dame running back room lost their superstar. However, this didn't stop interim Offensive Coordinator Gino Guidugli from leaning on the run game in this one. The two-man-tandem of Jeremiyah Love and JD Price were keeping the Beavers on their toes in this one. Steve Angeli even had success in the RPO game running the ball. The Irish were getting whatever they wanted when they put the ball on the ground, which was an encouraging site. Offensive Line Dominance . After the transfer of starting Center Zeke Correll and the two NFL draft opt outs in All-American Joe Alt and Blake Fisher, the Irish were left with an inexperienced offensive line. Nonetheless, the departures of these three players seemed to not matter in the end, as the Irish maintained physical dominance over the Oregon State front 7. Freshman Charles Jagusah was the biggest standout in this one, but all players on the line played a fantastic game. Since the Correll injury, Ashton Craig has established himself as a bona-fide stud at the Center position, as well. Mike Brown Impact . While Faison and Thomas sure made him look good, Mike Brown is inheriting the most talented wide receiver room he has ever coached. Jordan Faison ended with 115 yards and a touchdown. Faison has established himself as a high quality college football player, not only because of his speed, but his spectacular hands and route running abilities. A fully healthy Jayden Thomas also made his presence felt, recording 59 yards and a touchdown, as well. Defense Keeping the Beavers Off-Schedule. The Notre Dame defense did a fantastic job keeping the Beavers behind the sticks on all offensive drives. This allowed for Golden to dial up his blitzes on third downs, which left the Beaver offense struggling. The inexperienced Oregon State offensive line was apparent in this one as Javontae Jean-Baptiste was getting his way on almost every rep. This pressure was getting to Oregon State QB Ben Gulbranson all day, and the Irish defense never let him get comfortable. Al Golden Finishes his 2023 Masterclass . Al Golden has been fantastic all year round. I have sung his praises year-in and year-out, and rightfully so. He held Oregon State to 196 total yards, along with forcing the Beavers to go 1 for 9 on third down. It is imperative that the Irish keep Golden for the 2024 season as he has established himself as a top-tier defensive coordinator in all of college football. Young Guns Fill in Perfectly. The Sun Bowl was the perfect opportunity for Marcus Freeman and his staff to see what they have in their young talent. This was the perfect showcase to see where Freeman might need to recruit in the transfer portal, if need be, and honestly, there were no real holes from the younger players in this one. The cornerback trio of Benjamin Morrison, Jaden Mickey, and Christian Gray is one that will be near the best in all of college football next year. Jaylen Sneed is another face that will make a significant impact at the linebacker position next year. The Irish's future is absurdly bright, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Special Teams and Miscellaneous Spencer Shrader. This 2023 rollercoaster season in the kicking game ended on-brand for Shrader who missed his 50-yard field goal attempt but made a 44-yarder. It has sure been a "hold-your-breathe" year during FGs, but in the end, I was slightly happy by the work the USF transfer put in this year. Fake Punt Stop. Oregon State decided to push the envelope late in the 2nd quarter trying a fake punt on 4th and 6 on their own 49. The play was snuffed out by Josh Burnham and Jaden Mickey who provided the Irish with excellent field position. This propelled the Irish to score their second touchdown of the first half. Lack of Penalties. In a game where Notre Dame had plenty of players playing their first college game, discipline could have been an issue. This was simply not the case, as the Irish only had 3 penalties which resulted in only 14 yards. This speaks volumes to the work done by the position coaches getting the young players ready for this big spot. 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