Written by Mike Stacey ｜Writer｜Twitter/ X: @MikeStaceyIT, IG: @mikestaceyit Photo Credit: Deuce Knight X (Twitter) I was recently able to have a conversation with Notre Dame 2025 QB commit, Deuce Knight. Deuce is one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the country. 247 Sports Composite has him ranked as the 4th QB in the class, and the 54th ranked player in the country. Deuce plays for George County High School out of Lucedale Mississippi. This year as a Junior, he finished with 1420 Passing Yards, 15 TD's and 3 Interceptions. In the Rushing Department, Deuce finished with 340 yards and 8 TD's. When you look at his tape, you see an incredible athlete with a strong arm. Considering he still has a year of high school to continue to develop, this should make Irish fans VERY excited for what's to come. He already boasts a 4.53 40 yard dash, 41.9 inch vertical, and 4.39 time in the short shuttle according to 247 Sports. Pair that with another year of development before he enters Notre Dame's Strength and Conditioning program and is implemented into Mike Denbrock's offensive system, well, we may have another Jayden Daniels on the horizon. Simply put, Irish fans should be excited about this one! Now, let's get to the interview where we discussed his recruitment, role as a recruiter in this class, some of his personal favorites and much more! What were your main factors when choosing a school? "First off, I picked a school based on relationships. Then I wanted a place where I could see myself succeeding on the field, and have a good fit in the offense. Third, I wanted a place that felt like a great environment. Stadium atmosphere, things like that and a place where I could succeed off the field too You mention relationships, what were some of the big relationships that lead to you picking Notre Dame? "Me and coach Gino for sure, we talk a lot. Me and Chad speak a lot and he stays calling me. Same with coach Freeman and Coach Parker. Coach Freeman recruited me more than any head coach. That was big time." Anything about Notre Dame that separated them from the other schools? "First off the culture. They have a long history of great athletes and successful people. Second, kind of going back to the culture, the history of the football program and the school. Lastly, I can go to Notre Dame and play the best football as well as get the best education too. That was a big reason." What is your favorite spot on campus at ND? "My favorite THING on campus is Touchdown Jesus. I really like looking at it. Other than the football facility, that's it." What kind of offense do you see yourself running at Notre Dame? "When Coach Parker was the OC he told me what it was. He runs a pro style offense but was still going to tailor the offense to everything I do best like getting outside the pocket, making throws. A lot of RPO's where I can make decisions. A lot of play-action deep shots, stuff like that." What are your goals for this upcoming season? "I know everyone says this but I want to win a State Championship for sure. Nobody wants to leave high school without winning a State Championship. That's really my only goal. I'd like to win Mr. Football in my state but other than the state championship I don't really have any other goals." Alright how about some fun questions, what are your hobbies outside of football? "I'm like from the country so there's not too much you can do. I don't like to hunt and I don't fish, that's like the only thing people like to do in my little town. So I don't really do too much. I like to cook and I play the game, that's about it. I do play basketball too." Let's talk about your fellow commits in 2024. What is your relationship like with them? Who is on your wish list? "Jerome Bettis Jr, Owen Strebig, Those are my good friends that I talk to every day that aren't committed that I want to get for sure. Will Black committing tomorrow so we'll see what he does. Staff told me he's a big time player so hopefully he's Irish. Then you got Dallas Golden from Florida. Man, he lead his team to a State Championship and went crazy the whole playoff run, so he's a big time athlete, got to stay on him. I think we're recruiting him to play corner, so I want him too. Then Chris Burgess Jr. commits soon so I've been chasing him a lot and want to get him to be Irish too. Some of the guys that have already committed I have a great relationship with like CJ May, he's like my best friend, talk to him daily. I talk to James a lot and Justin Thurman too. Whenever we play a game or are up at Notre Dame we are always around each other, talking, stuff like that." Who is the funniest guy in your class? "Well okay! This is hard, but it's CJ May for sure! CJ is openly funny, he wants to make you laugh, but Justin Thurman is like a real serious guy, so if he just says something it's funny because he's so serious. So it's those two guys but CJ May is a clown for sure." Who is the most intimidating guy in the class? "Probably Dom (Dominik Hulak), he's probably like 6'3-6'4 and he's just serious all the time he really doesn't talk too much. Even in our commit group chat he doesn't talk too much and then they say he's a hockey player too, and you know how the hockey players are they run stuff." Who is the best athlete in the class? "I don't know. Justin Thurman, he's crazy athletic. The burst he has and the speed he has, crazy. For James to be 6'6 and he can move good too, I don't know. It's probably between me, Justin and James." Who was your favorite college team growing up? "Florida State. I went to FSU camps when I was like 6 and I just started liking them." Was Florida State ever a serious candidate for you? "No they weren't. That was crazy though. They never offered me." Me: "THEIR LOSS!" Who is your favorite NFL team? "Panthers. My dad is from North Carolina." Who is the NFL player you compare yourself to/aspire to be like? "I'm a big Cam Newton guy, he is my favorite player. I want to be like him. I got to see his highlights and just thought he is crazy good. Cam was different." Finally, what is your message to the Notre Dame fans? "The next 3 years, especially with the recruiting class we have coming in, just know that we're building something crazy. I feel like this 2025 class can be one of the best in Notre Dame history. I think in the next couple years we're going to win a National Championship, and the big games that the fans feel like we underperform, I can promise we are going to win those." There is a lot to be excited about for Irish fans when it comes to Deuce Knight! Show him your support and follow him on X @DeuceKnight and on IG @deuce.knight2 Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Gaudet ｜Senior Editor｜Twitter/X: @LiamGaudetIT Photo by The Irish Tribune Not too long ago, I published an article which implored the blue and gold faithful not to overlook Steve Angeli as a viable option to be the starting quarterback at Notre Dame next season. Marcus Freeman made it quite clear in the weeks leading up to the end of the season that he would be testing the waters within the transfer portal to try and find a potential suitor for the Irish with the purpose being to accumulate another scholarship quarterback. At this point, it should be abundantly clear to everyone that Marcus Freeman does not play games in the portal, as he managed to secure one of the top quarterback transfers in Duke's Riley Leonard. With the foregone conclusion by the majority of the fanbase being that Leonard will start next season, and having a plethora of younger talent in the room, where does that possibly leave Steve Angeli? As of this moment, Angeli is preparing to start his first (and possibly last) collegiate football game for Notre Dame. The way I see it, if Angeli lights up the Beavers, it could possibly serve as a foundation for either a quarterback competition next season, or a tremendous resume builder should Angeli decide to enter his name into the transfer portal. In any case, Angeli will need to step up in a big way in order to prove himself. Here are some key factors that will hopefully lift the signal caller to a Sun Bowl success. Get In Rhythm Early You can have all the talent in the world as a quarterback, but one of the most important intangibles to playing the position is confidence. With Gerad Parker out of the picture, quarterback coach Gino Guidugli will handle the play calling duties for the Irish offense in the Sun Bowl before the arrival of a brand new offense next season courtesy of Mike Denbrock. The good news is, nobody knows the strengths and weaknesses of Angeli's game more than Guidugli, who will do his best to make Angeli comfortable in the early stages of the game. Look for Guidugli to establish some easy 5-10 yard confidence building passes for Angeli to get him settled into the game. With the absence of Audric Estime, running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will likely be called upon early and often to soften up the defense and open up some windows for Angeli to get in rhythm. With a new quarterback, the Irish can't afford to start the game off slowly, as we've seen that spiral out of control in Death Valley and Louisville. A scripted plan with well thought out adjustments can be the catalyst to flipping this game in favor of the Irish from the jump. It's Time for the Receivers to Step Up If you've been paying attention to the play of the Notre Dame wide receivers as of late, you'd be upset by the sheer mediocrity and lack of production coming from that group. To make matters worse, a mass exodus of talent including four pass catchers for the Irish hit the transfer portal, as well as the departure of second-year wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey. In that group was leading receiver Chris Tyree, who has now found a new home in Virginia. In a group that was already extremely thin, the receiving options have been reduced to Jayden Thomas, Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison, K.K. Smith, Matt Salerno and Deion Colzie as viable options for the bowl game. The good news for Angeli here is that the majority of these options are upperclassmen with more experience, reducing the likelihood of confusion or miscommunication on the field. It's now time for some of these receivers to start earning their keep, as an incoming flux of new talent is arriving next season via the portal to strengthen the room. This is not only a matter of supporting a new quarterback, but could serve as an early opportunity to cement a good standing in the room for next season. With Mike Brown now in charge of the receivers, the development curve can only steepen from here, so look for some new life and a jump in the step of the Irish pass catchers in this matchup. They need to have the game of their lives and make more than a couple of plays to keep this offense from being one dimensional - and that's usually when the wheels start to fall off. A player to watch in this matchup could be Jordan Faison, as his speed and agility could prove to be a huge asset in the passing game, taking some of the pressure off of Angeli. No Hero Ball It's understandable that making plays and swinging momentum are a big part of winning games, but with an inexperienced quarterback, risk management is essential. This ties in with the play calling from Guidugli, but knowing when to take your shots and when to concede defeat on a particular play or moment could be the difference in a football game. I like to use the interception that Sam Hartman threw on the first drive of the Louisville game as an example of playing "hero ball", as opposed to living to fight another down. If the first or second read isn't there for Angeli, it's pivotal that he protects the football instead of opting for a high risk - high reward throw down the field or into traffic. Taking the sack or throwing the ball away are often viewed as a net-loss, but turning the ball over was a commonplace mistake that could have been avoided in two games in which the Irish lost this season. Protect the football at all costs and make the smart decision. I'm sure there are many more areas that could make or break the success of Steve Angeli's first Notre Dame start, but for me, if all of these three keys to the game are accomplished, (and the defense continues business as usual), a comfortable advantage to Notre Dame can be given in this matchup. I have the utmost confidence in a quarterback who has been marinating in this system for two full seasons, and I'm confident he has all the tools to lead Notre Dame to a decisive Sun Bowl victory. Now it's time to hear your thoughts? Will the sun rise or set for Angeli in El Paso? Let us know! And as always - Go Irish! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Connor Regan ｜Writer｜Twitter/X: @thatconnorregan The Notre Dame-NBC Deal - What It Means For The Future NBC-Universal and Notre Dame football recently reached a historic media rights renewal through the 2029 season, extending the relationship to nearly 40 years. In 1990, Notre Dame was the first college football team to leave the 64-member College Football Association television deal, shaking the foundations of the college football broadcasting system.  The Irish became the nation's only college football team to have their own exclusive media rights deal with a major network provider, and remain so to this day. While conferences like the BIG10 and the SEC command significant compensation for their media rights as package deals, Notre Dame manages to do so on its own, without the backing or constraints of a conference.  Although many of the specifics and financial details of the contract renewal have yet to be made public, there's significant belief that Notre Dame will roughly double the value of their current deal. Notre Dame fans should expect an expanded media experience, exclusive programming, and a more streamlined presentation, along with their hefty paycheck. To better understand where this new deal can take the Fighting Irish in the future, we must examine the history behind this unique relationship. History of The Deal - 1991-Present 1990 - 1st Deal Notre Dame and NBC signed the first exclusive collegiate football broadcasting agreement, making NBC the home of 6 home games a season. 5 years, covering the 1991 through 1995 seasons.  The contract was reportedly worth $35 million- $7 million/season. 1994 - 1st Extension 5 years, covering the 1996 through 2000 seasons.  The contract was reportedly worth $38 million - $7.6 million/season. 1997 - 2nd Extension 5 years, covering the 2001 through 2005 seasons.  The contract was reportedly worth $40 million- $8 million/ season. 2003 - 3rd Extension 5 years, covering the 2006 through 2010 seasons.  The contract was reportedly worth $45 million- $9 million/ season. 2008 - 4th Extension The Shamrock Series neutral site games are added to the deal. 5 years, covering the 2011 through 2015 seasons.  The contract was reportedly worth $60 million- $12 million/ season. 2013 - 5th Extension 5 years, covering the 2016 through 2025 seasons.  The contract was reportedly worth approximately $150 million - an average of $15 million/ season. This contract was apparently backloaded, and Notre Dame is said to be making approximately $22 million/year recently. 2023 - 6th Extension 4 years, covering the 2026 through 2029 seasons.  The contract is believed to be worth approximately $200 million, roughly $50 million/ season. Notre Dame's Recent Viewership Over the last few seasons, the Irish have found themselves consistently within the top 10 of national viewership averages, along with a top-7 most viewed game each of the last 3 seasons. In 2023, the Irish posted 4 games with viewership totals of over 5 million and produced the 2nd most-viewed game in NBC history with their heartbreaking loss against Ohio State. Despite dropping from 6th to 8th in national viewership from 2022 to 2023, the Irish increased their average viewership from 3.30 million to 3.46 million. Notre Dame's viewership and matchup quality continue to get better each year.  2021 Season 12 Game Average Viewership - 2.84 Million - 9th Nationally Peacock Exclusive - Notre Dame V. Toledo Highest Game Viewership 7th Most Watched - Notre Dame @ Florida State - 7.75 Million 23rd Most Watched - Notre Dame V. Wisconsin - 5.37 Million 2022 Season 12 Game Average Viewership - 3.30 Million - 6th Nationally Peacock Exclusive - Notre Dame V. UNLV Highest Game Viewership 2021 5th Most Watched - Notre Dame @ Ohio State - 10.53 Million 13th Most Watched - Notre Dame @ USC - 6.68 Million 2023 Season 12 Game Average Viewership - 3.46 Million - 8th Nationally Peacock Exclusive - Notre Dame V. Central Michigan Highest Game Viewership 2021 3rd Most Watched - Notre Dame V. Ohio State - 9.98 Million This became NBC's 2nd most-viewed game of all time, behind the 1993 "Game of The Century" against Florida State, which had 22 Million viewers. The Irish won 31-24. 20th Most Watched - Notre Dame V. USC - 6.43 Million 28th Most Watched - Notre Dame @ Duke - 5.32 Million 31st Most Watched - Notre Dame @ Louisville - 5.12 Million Amongst The Most Profitable College Football Programs As of 2022, Notre Dame ranks as the 5th most profitable program in all of college football, bringing in approximately $54 million/year after all expenses.  The Irish were only beaten out by  1. Texas ($98 Million) 2. Tennessee ($70 Million) 3. LSU ($58 Million) 4. Michigan ($56 Million) Notre Dame did rank ahead of powerhouses like  6. Georgia (50 Million) 7. Ohio State ($50 Million) 8. Oklahoma ($48 million) 9. Auburn ($47 million) 10. Alabama (46 Million) 11. Oregon ($40 Million)  12. Florida State ($39 Million) Notre Dame's 5th place rank is largely due to the revenue from their uniquely exclusive media rights deal with NBC. This data is based on Notre Dame's current deal, and once the new one takes effect in 2026, they may jump up as far as 3rd. The Deal With the SEC and BIG 10 making between $60-80 Million a year per team, Notre Dame looked to strike a deal within about $10-15 million of them, according to The Athletic's Pete Sampson. This would put Notre Dame's terms around $50 million/year. If this is what Notre Dame did indeed negotiate for itself, it would put them right in the middle of the current 4 conferences based on revenue, behind the BIG 10 and SEC but ahead of the BIG 12 and the ACC.  Even without knowing the financial specifics, Notre Dame seems pleased with the results, with Jack Swarbrick saying, "We are thrilled to continue our historic collaboration with our partners at NBC Sports." The sentiment was shared by NBC, as new NBC Sports president Rick Cordella commented, "There is no better tradition than Notre Dame football in South Bend, and we are thrilled to keep that tradition within the NBC Sports family as we extend our relationship as the exclusive home of Fighting Irish home games through the end of the decade." BIG10 SEC Notre Dame BIG12 ACC Fox, CBS, and NBC Leaving CBS for ESPN  NBC ESPN & Fox ESPN/ACC Network Signed in 2022 Signed in 2022 Signed 2023 Signed in 2022 Signed in 2016 2023 through 2029 2024 through 2033 2026-2029 2025 through 2030 season 2017 through 2036 7 years / $7 Billion 10 years / $3 Billion  4 years / (Potentially) $200 Million 6 years / $2.28 Billion 20 years / (Potentially) $11.2 Billion Approx., $80-100 Million/year/team Approx. $55-75 Million/team/year Approx. $50 Million/Year Approx. $30-35 Million/team/year Approx. $35-40 Million/team/year Approx. $13.3-16.6 Million/ Home Game  Approx. $9.1-12.5 Million/ Home Game Approx. $8.3 Million/Home Game Approx. $5-5.8 Million/Home Game Approx. $5.8-6.6 Million/Home Game Peacock Since 2021, Peacock has been the exclusive home of one Notre Dame home game per season, which will continue under the new agreement. Peacock is currently available in two plans: "Premium" for $5.99/month or "Premium Plus" with no ads for $11.99/month. Because of this, the Peacock-exclusive games have been a divisive topic amongst Notre Dame fans. In addition to the one Peacock exclusive game, Peacock will apparently also retain the rights to simultaneously stream the rest of the home games alongside the regular NBC broadcast. The 2023-24 season will be the 11th season of Notre Dame hockey coverage, and Peacock will continue to stream all 21 home games as a part of the deal. As for the home game broadcasts, Notre Dame will maintain their usual 2:30-3:30 pm afternoon timeslot on NBC, alongside their occasional prime-time evening matchups. Perhaps the most unique part of the new deal was the addition of a Peacock exclusive "Hard Knocks" style documentary series, chronicling the Irish team's season-long journey each year. Lastly, Peacock will become the home to the annual Blue-Gold Game and Notre Dame's Pro Day. NBC & The BIG 10 Over the last few years, Notre Dame made it clear to NBC that they wished for the Irish to maintain their exclusive partnership and featured standing on the network but wanted NBC to expand their college football footprint. In 2022, NBC announced they were part of a deal to acquire BIG 10 football broadcasting rights from 2023 through 2029. NBC will reportedly pay roughly $350 million/year for 15-16 games. Swarbrick recently commented on the deal in 2022, saying, "We need NBC to have more college football to more effectively promote our games and to talk about our games and to have NBC be seen in that light. So that was great for us that (NBC) got a big piece of this." In 2023, Peacock streamed 21 BIG 10 games; 13 were steamed on both NBC and Peacock, while 8 were Peacock exclusive streams.  With the opportunity to see the NBC-BIG 10 deal play out over the 2023 season, Swarbrick and Notre Dame waited to strike their deal, with the outgoing athletic director admitting , "That was an important part of our decision, the fact that NBC acquired more college football rights. We were on a bit of an island." With the addition of the BIG 10 games, NBC will have a prime-time college football product to broadcast even when the Irish are playing an away game, helping to make the network a more significant staple in the college football consciousness. Ultimately, this will only help Notre Dame achieve increased media exposure.  "Irish Knocks" Jack Swarbrick confirmed that beginning with the 2024 season, Notre Dame football and NBC's " Peacock " streaming service will produce an annual "season-long documentary, their own version of (HBO's hit series) 'Hard Knocks' over the coming years, and have their own tile/channel on Peacock"  per Fox Sports' Bryan Fischer . Swarbrick reported the show would debut in 2024, but it's currently unclear when it will specifically premiere. This will be Notre Dame's attempt to provide a similar level of real-life access but with more of a personal touch than last time. For Notre Dame, the continued partnership with NBC will ensure their project oversight, guiding the show to act as a promotion and advertisement for the University while making sure it reflects positively on its players and the University as a whole. Despite a somewhat sanitized product, we may get the chance to see how the lives of college players have changed in the face of things like NIL, the transfer portal, and the brand-new 12-team CFP format. ACC Money Notre Dame's agreement with the ACC is not the most popular decision among Irish fans, but there are several reasons Notre Dame's upper brass made the move. Firstly, the Irish are contracted to play 5-6 rotating ACC games each year. 70 games remain on the agreement, with matchups scheduled through the 2037 season. From this deal, Notre Dame will bring in approximately $17 million yearly between the 5-6 football games and all other Notre Dame ACC sports. Football alone is said to pay around $12 million/year. The ACC money, combined with the astronomical $50 million/year the new deal is said to pay , allows Notre Dame to remain comfortably independent amidst conference realignment. The almost $70 million/year would give Notre Dame the 2nd most lucrative TV rights in college football, behind only the BIG 10. New Athletic Director/New President On June 8th, 2023, Father John Jenkins announced Peter Bevacqua as Notre Dame's 13th Athletic Director and Jack Swarbrick's successor. Bevacqua, a 1993 alumnus and now former NBC Sports chairman, joined the University as the Special Assistant to the President for Athletics on July 1st, 2023. In this role, Bevacqua has had a chance to work with and learn directly from Swarbrick, as well as aid in the NBC contract renewal negotiations. Swarbrick and Bevacqua have a long history of working together, primarily due to Bevacqua's time as NBC Sports Chairman, and his appointment bolsters the future of the relationship between both sides. Although a changing of the guard for Notre Dame, it's abundantly clear this likely won't be the last contract renewal we will see. Look out for negotiations regarding the next renewal to start swirling in 2028. Independence   Above all else, Notre Dame was looking to ensure its ability to remain an independent entity in the face of several drastic conference realignments. To help ensure this independence moving forward, Jack Swarbrick pursued a successor committed to that identity. "I think my successor has the same view as I do. If he has a career comparable to mine, it'll be at least that long," Swarbrick said  via Brandon Marcello . As a Notre Dame Alumnus and former chair of NBC Sports, Bevacqua knows the value of Notre Dame's unique position within the college football landscape. "I'm a fan of independence, for sure," Bevacqua told Sports Illustrated. "It's another element of what makes Notre Dame different. I think those differentiators for Notre Dame are more important and more valuable today than they've ever been." Additionally, the recent and new wave of record-high TV deals for the SEC and BIG10 primed the market for Notre Dame to take advantage of. "We wanted to know what the market was, and it was very flattering, to be honest," said Jack Swarbrick. (Bryan Fischer - Dec 6th). Going Forward If Notre Dame football can continue their exclusive media rights deal, maintain their growing national viewership, continue to bring in around $12 million/year from the ACC, ensure Bevacqua builds off of Swarbrick's success, and maintain access to the new expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, they can survive realignment yet again, and flourish as the nation's premier independent program. Deals like this are why Notre Dame fans scoff when Power Conference teams suggest the Irish must join a conference to survive. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Connor Regan ｜Writer｜Twitter/X: @thatconnorregan Photo by LSU Athletics Current LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock is reportedly heading back to South Bend for the 3rd time in his career. This came as a shock to both sides, as LSU and Denbrock reached a verbal agreement to a contract extension with the Tigers that had yet to be finalized. Denbrock replaces recently departed offensive coordinator Gerad Parker, who left for Troy University’s head coach position just days ago. With this hire, head coach Marcus Freeman fills both the offensive coordinator and tight end coach vacancies. Thankfully, Denbrock has 14 years of direct tight-end coaching experience and 12 years of direct offensive coordinator experience. Denbrock’s arrival has enormous implications for the fighting Irish moving forward. Early Years Longtime friends and colleagues, Kelly and Denbrock had previously worked together at Grand Valley State in the late ’80s, where they first forged their relationship. The two worked together again from 1992-1998 when Kelly was head coach at Grand Valley State. Denbrock was brought on as the offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach, and quarterbacks coach. 1st Stop at Notre Dame - 2002-2004 in 2002, then head coach of Notre Dame Tyrone Willingham announced the hire of Mike Denbrock as an offensive tackle/tight ends coach. In his time there, Denbrock coached 7 future NFL players between the two positions: Offensive linemen: Ryan Harris, Jordan Black, Brennan Curtin, and Jim Molinaro. Tight Ends: Anthony Fasano, John Carlson, and Jerome Carlson. Head coach Tyrone Willingham was terminated in 2004, and Denbrock was not extended a contract renewal by then-new head coach Charlie Weis. 2nd Stop at Notre Dame - 2010-2016 2010 saw Denbrock’s first return to Notre Dame when then-head coach Brian Kelly brought him on as the tight ends coach yet again. Over the next two years, Denbrock was instrumental in developing two of Notre Dame’s best tight ends: Kyle Rudolph and Tyler Eifert. Rudolph went to the NFL in the 2nd round with the 43rd pick by the Minnesota Vikings, and Eifert was drafted in the 1st round pick with the 12th pick by the Cincinnati Bengals.  Both tight ends went on to have lengthy and successful NFL careers. Denbrock then became the wide receiver’s coach in 2012, overseeing the development of notable receiver Will Fuller between 2013 and 2015. Fuller was drafted by the Houston Texans in the 1st round with the 21st pick in the 2016 NFL draft. After 2 years as the wide receivers coach, Denbrock became the interim offensive coordinator for the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers and was then promoted to full-time offensive coordinator for the 2014 season while continuing as the tight ends coach. In 2015, Kelly promoted Denbrock yet again to Assistant Head Coach, a position he held through the end of the 206 season. Cincinnati - 2017-2021 Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell enticed Denbrock to Cincinnati for the 2017 season as the OC and QB coach. It was during this time at Cincinnati that Denbrock first worked alongside numerous members of Notre Dame’s current coaching staff. Marcus Freeman  - Denbrock was the OC while Freeman was the DC for 4 seasons between 2017-2020. Freeman then left for the Notre Dame DC job in 2021. Gino Guidugli  - Guidugli worked even more closely with Denbrock on the offensive side of the ball. Guidugli was first brought in as the RB coach in 2017. In 2018, Guidugli was promoted to QB coach, and in 2020 was promoted again to passing game coordinator. When Denbrock left the Bearcats for LSU, Guidugli assumed the Cincinnati OC position before his eventual departure for Notre Dame for the 2023 season. Mike Brown  - In 2019, Luke Fickell brought Mike Brown on as the WR coach. Brown and then OC Mike Denbrock worked closely on the offense for 3 years until Denbrock’s departure for LSU in 2021. Denbrock, Guidugli, and Brown were all a part of the 2021 Bearcats team that came to Notre Dame Stadium and stunned the Irish in a 24-12 upset in Marcus Freeman’s first season as Notre Dame’s DC. The Bearcats went undefeated in the 2021 regular season and made their first-ever CFP game, where they ultimately fell to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Uniquely, Denbrock helped the Bearcat’s offense steadily improve each year he was there, ultimately leaving the program at arguably its highest point. LSU - 2022-2023 Denbrock was again brought in by Brian Kelly as his OC/TE coach, this time at LSU. During his two seasons with Kelly and the Tigers in Baton Rouge, Denbrock transformed their offense and underwhelming transfer quarterback, Jayden Daniels, into a Heisman trophy winner and the nation’s top offense in 2023. The 2023 LSU Tigers led the FBS in points per game (46.4) and yards per game (547.8). Their passing offense ranked 3rd with 332.3 passing yards/game and 8th in rushing offense with 213.5 yards/game, making them the only team in the country to place in the top 10 in both. They also led the nation in explosive plays of 20+ yards with 201.  Because of these wild numbers, Denbrock was a finalist for the 2023 Broyles Award, the highest honor for the nation’s top assistant coach. Denbrock was approached by Texas A&M, whose new head coach is former Notre Dame DC Mike Elco. The Aggies offered Denbrock a contract that would make him the highest-paid assistant in the nation, but ultimately, Denbrock decided to stay put at LSU. This is where the drama really begins. On December 6th, Denbrock and Brian Kelly’s LSU verbally agreed to a contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid assistants in the nation and seemingly taking the country’s hottest OC off the market for the foreseeable future. On December 8th, the LSU Board of Supervisors met, but apparently, the contract details had not yet been formally drafted to be presented to the board. Thus, the extension confirmation was put on hold until the next Board of Supervisors meeting, which was not scheduled until February 23rd. Because of this, Denbrock was only bound to LSU by word. Enter Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame. The Future at Notre Dame As of Friday, December 22nd, Christmas has come early for Notre Dame fans. Although not yet confirmed, it is almost guaranteed that Mike Denbrock will be back at Notre Dame for the 2024 season. No official announcement has come from Notre Dame, but LSU has already named Cortez Hankton and Joe Sloan as co-OCs for their matchup against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Let’s take a look at what this means for the Irish. 59-year-old Denbrock brings decades of experience to a relatively young Notre Dame coaching staff and more than a decade of experience coming directly from Notre Dame experience. Marcus Freeman is only 37 years old, Gino Guidugli is 40, and Mike Brown is only 34. Denbrock’s experience combines well with Al Golden, who is 54 years old, on the defensive side of the ball. This much experience in coordinator positions and the surrounding coaching staff’s youth could be a recipe for success. Denbrock is known for adapting to his talent, which he did while at Notre Dame previously, at Cincinnati, and most recently at LSU. After Malik Zaire was injured in the 2015 Notre Dame season, Denbrock had to adapt and utilize DeShone Kizer in the starting role, ultimately leading the Irish to a 10-3 season. At Cincinnati, Denbrock had to work with what he had and was able to grow the offense and their capabilities each season, eventually taking them to the CFP. In the best example, Denbrock did just that with transfer QB Jayden Daniels. Daniels had a dismal time at Arizona State and, in just his second season with LSU, led the nation in offense alongside Denbrock’s coordination and went on to win the Heisman trophy. Quite obviously, Denbrock has an excellent track record with mobile quarterbacks and is second to none when it comes to effectively incorporating the QB run game into an offense, and this should extend to incoming Notre Dame transfer Riley Leonard. In his sophomore year with the Blue Devils, Leonard ran for nearly 700 yards and 13 touchdowns, showing that, when healthy, he is among the best in the country at posing a dual threat. While Jayden Daniels is just a different kind of athlete, Leonard would, at best, be able to land between his previous numbers and Daniels’ stats of 1,134 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs. On national signing day, Marcus Freeman said the Irish needed to fill both the OC position and the TE coach position, and in hiring Denbrock, they did just that. Notre Dame has historically had talent at the TE position, and with Denbrock coming in, this poses one of the best coaching situations at the position in years. Not only will the Irish be bragging about having the man who led the nation’s top offense, but they can also brag to QBs like Deuce Knight and 2026 prospects about having an OC that just helped his most recent QB win a Heisman, and a TE coach who has produced several all-pro NFL tight ends.  Yes, skeptics will point out that this marks the 3rd Notre Dame OC in 3 years, but unlike both times before, it seems Freeman finally got his guy. The fit is perfect; Denbrock knows Notre Dame, has a history and a proven track record over decades, and has proven he can succeed at multiple programs and all levels of the game. With Notre Dame adding Denbrock and finally adding a strength and conditioning coach in Loren Landow, who coached the Denver Broncos for 5 seasons, the coaching staff is arguably the strongest it’s been in decades. With a top 10 recruiting class, arguably the most experienced and hand-picked staff we’ve seen in years, a relatively easy 2024 schedule, and the 12-team expanded playoff being introduced, this could spell a level of success that Freeman’s squad has not yet seen. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

By Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Via The Irish Tribune Since the announcement of the Sun Bowl, multiple factors have changed Notre Dame's matchup against Oregon State. With multiple key players entering the transfer portal, along with many coaching changes on both sides, the Irish and the Beavers are looking to see what their future holds with younger players in this one. Recently, Notre Dame has lost 4 wide receivers to the transfer portal, in addition to losing their offensive coordinator, Gerad Parker. The Beavers are in a similar boat as their Head Coach Jonathan Smith took his talents to East Lansing, MI, and brought the future of the Oregon State football program, Aiden Chiles, with him. The Beavers' starting quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei has also entered the transfer portal, leaving Oregon State with their 3rd string QB. Besides an Irish victory, let's look at five separate factors to look for when watching this one. Steve Angeli With Notre Dame securing the commitment of highly touted prospect, Riley Leonard, Steve Angeli is ultimately displaying if he will be a serviceable backup in the 2024 season. While it may be likely that Angeli enters the transfer portal after this season, it should be good for him to get great game reps if he does decide to stay in South Bend for the 2024 campaign. With limited reps in garbage time scenarios this year, Angeli has made the most of his opportunities. The Sun Bowl will be the ultimate stage for Angeli to showcase his talent, even with a rather slim wide receiver room. Gino Guidugli's Playcalling In other recent news, with Gerad Parker being named the next head coach of Troy University, the play calling duties will be handed to quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli. Guidugli, who is rumored to be the favorite in house candidate to take over for Parker at the offensive coordinator position, has his chance to pitch to Marcus Freeman why he should be elevated for the position. There were rumors at the end of the season that Gino was calling the plays after the meltdown at Clemson, in which the Irish finally utilized the play action game. Guidugli was extremely involved in the playcalling for the game-winning two-minute drill against Duke halfway through the season, as well. With a depleted Notre Dame wide receiving core, Guidugli will certainly need to find a creative way to get the passing game going for the Irish. Offensive Tackle The Notre Dame offensive tackle position will be featuring two new starters due to LT Joe Alt and RT Blake Fisher both declaring for the NFL Draft. It is rumored that Charles Jagusah, the 6'7' 330 lb. freshman from Rock Island, IL, will be getting the nod at left tackle. Jagusah was ranked the 8th best offensive tackle in the 2023 recruiting class and was the highest rated Notre Dame signee in his class. On the right side, there has been an intense competition between Tosh Baker and Aamil Wagner. Baker is the bigger, older lineman who has had two career starts back in 2021 against Purdue and Wisconsin. Wagner, on the other hand, has the higher upside, but is a bit smaller and less experienced. It should be interesting to see who gets the nod at the right tackle position and how this newly formed offensive line comes together to protect Angeli in his first career start. Young Linebackers With Marist Liufau declaring for the NFL draft, the linebacker position has one more opening in the Sun Bowl. This spot will likely be filled by Sophomore Jaylen Sneed, who has been excellent when he has gotten playing time this year. While JD Bertrand is out of eligibility after this game, Jack Kiser recently announced that he will be returning for the 2024 season, which is a significant addition as Kiser will provide much needed leadership. This game also is a phenomenal opportunity for freshman Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry to get meaningful snaps in the rotation, as well. Mickey and Gray . With Cam Hart leaving for the NFL draft, the Irish will need to find someone to play opposite to All American Cornerback Benjamin Morrison. The two most likely candidates to fill this hole are sophomore Jaden Mickey and freshman Christian Gray. Both Mickey and Gray have slowly, but surely been integrated into the rotation at the end of this season, and both have recorded an interception. This game will serve as a great benchmark to see which talented, young cornerback the coaching staff likes more. Wrap-Up The Sun Bowl is an exciting event as a Notre Dame fan to see what talent the Irish have down the pipeline. This game will serve as a great test to see the depth of the Notre Dame football program. Out of these five factors, which one are you most excited for? Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer Photo - The Irish Tribune Let me start by saying that Marcus Freeman and the rest of the Notre Dame staff/support team deserve a TON of credit. The amount of work they put towards securing and keeping an elite recruiting class together is something that needs celebrating, especially in today's crazy world of college football. The recruiting and retainment operation of Notre Dame football is a well-oiled machine, and it shows on drama-free days like today. Twenty-three young men have signed their National Letter of Intent to put on the gold helmet and play for the Irish in the house that Rockne built. Twelve of those young men will play on the defensive side of the ball, ready to continue the tradition of great defense for the Irish. Marcus Freeman and staff were able to address a lot of crucial needs for the future success of this defense. They found big, explosive players along the defensive line. They found hard-hitting, tough linebackers with star potential. And they found long, athletic, and tough football players to handle the secondary. Let's meet the 12 newest members of the Notre Dame defense. Overall grade for the defense: B Defensive Line Sean Sevillano Jr. - Defensive Tackle (6'2", 300 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐ From Clearwater, FL, Sevillano Jr. is a disruptive force in the interior, combining power and agility. Sean has the ability to eat up blockers on the inside, allowing linebackers to make plays. Sean is also a play-maker, showing great athleticism for his size, good pad level, and active hands to get off blocks. Loghan Thomas - Defensive End (6'4", 210 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ From Lakewood, OH, Thomas is an agile and explosive edge rusher poised to wreak havoc in opposing backfields. Thomas has a very quick first step on the snap of the football, and has enough speed to bend the edge. Thomas will have to add some strength and additional pass-rush moves, but the ceiling is very high for this talented prospect. Bryce Young - Defensive End (6'5", 240 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another product of Charlotte, NC, Young is a powerful and versatile defensive end with a relentless motor. Son of former Notre Dame great Bryant Young, Bryce has all the tools to become a dominant player for the Irish. He has a great first step, and shows the ability to re-direct with quickness. Something tells me that both Young and Thomas will be stars for the Irish in the coming years. Cole Mullins - Defensive End (6'4", 240 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐ From Hoschton, GA, Mullins brings a great motor, explosiveness, and versatility to the defensive line room. Projected to be a Vyper for the Irish, Mullins shows great strength and balance. An underrated prospect that will need to add some strength and mass before contributing, but this is a player that I can see making an impact down the road. Linebackers Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa - Linebacker (6'3", 227 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A linebacker from Bellflower, CA, Viliamu-Asa brings a dynamic edge to the Notre Dame defense. His combination of size, speed, and football IQ makes him a versatile asset. KVA shows the ability to be an every down linebacker for the Irish, which is not the norm in today's college football. He shows the ability to be elite when blitzing, stopping the run, and defending the pass. With a very young LB corp at Notre Dame, I expect KVA to get playing time in his first year with the Irish. Bodie Kahoun - Linebacker (6'2", 210 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐ From Roanoke, VA, Kahoun brings a hard-hitting presence to the linebacker corps, excelling in run support. Bodie shows good athleticism and is very physical in his play. He will need to continue to add strength and improve on some of his techniques, but with time, he will be an asset for the Irish defense Teddy Rezac - Linebacker (6'3", 193 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐ Coming from Omaha, NE, Rezac is a versatile linebacker with the ability to cover ground and make plays in space. Teddy is a very impressive athlete and an underrated prospect. He shows great speed, ability to change direction, and balance when playing. Rezac will have to add some strength and improve some of his technique, but the ceiling could be very high for Rezac. Corners Karson Hobbs - Defensive Back (6'1", 180 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐ From Cincinnati, OH, Hobbs is a versatile defensive back with the ability to excel in coverage and support the run. Hobbs had a very impressive Senior season at Moeller. Hobbs has great length and long arms which allow him to make plays on the ball. Hobbs brings a very confident mentality to the corner room, which is always a positive when playing a tough position like corner. Leonard Moore - Defensive Back (6'2", 170 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐ Coming from Round Rock, TX, Moore is a rangy cornerback with the speed and instincts to make plays on the ball. Leonard shows good athleticism, ball skills, and technique. Moore will have to add some mass, but he shows he has the tools to be a play-maker for the Irish. Safety Kennedy Urlacher - Defensive Back (5'11, 190 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐ From Chandler, AZ, Urlacher brings a hard-hitting, physical style to the Safety room. Urlacher is the son of NFL and college hall of famer Brian Urlacher. Kennedy is a tough football player that likes to deliver big hits when coming up to defend against the run or pass. He will have to improve on his coverage skills, but he has a high ceiling after improving in that area. Brauntae Johnson - Defensive Back (6'3", 175 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hailing from Fort Wayne, IN, Johnson is a defensive back with very impressive athleticism. Standing at 6'3" and 175 pounds, he combines size and length with good ball skills as he was also a very talented wide receiver. As he continues to develop his technique in coverage, Johnson could be a difference maker on the back end of the defense. Taebron Bennie-Powell - Defensive Back (6'1", 182 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐ From West Chester, OH, Bennie-Powell is a defensive back with a keen eye for reading plays. Taebron is one of those players that seems to always be around the football. TBP shows good athleticism on the field, but will have to improve on his technique at the safety position. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer Photo - The Irish Tribune Let me start by saying that Marcus Freeman and the rest of the Notre Dame staff/support team deserve a TON of credit. The amount of work they put towards securing and keeping an elite recruiting class together is something that needs celebrating, especially in today's crazy world of college football. The recruiting and retainment operation of Notre Dame football is a well-oiled machine, and it shows on days like today. Twenty-three young men have signed their National Letter of Intent to put on the gold helmet and play for the Irish in the house that Rockne built. Eleven of those young men will play on the offensive side of the ball, ready to light up the scoreboard. Marcus Freeman and staff did a great job of landing future multi-year starters at each of the 5 different position groups on offense. Big-time quarterback? Check. Explosive wide-receivers? Check. Elite running back tandem? Double check. TE U keeps going strong? Check. More dominant offensive linemen? Check. Let's take a look at this impressive offensive class. Overall grade for the offense: A- Quarterback CJ Carr - Quarterback (6'3", 180 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ From Saline, MI, Carr is a highly-rated quarterback with the poise and arm talent to lead the Notre Dame offense. Carr has been one of the biggest leaders of this class ever since he committed. My favorite thing about CJ is his knowledge of the game; he understands how to read defenses and make good decisions with the football. He shows good mechanics, accuracy, and enough arm strength to make all the necessary throws. Carr is currently at Notre Dame and practicing with the team for the bowl game. He can not participate in the bowl game, but these extra practices will be huge in his development going forward. Wide Receiver Cam Williams - Wide Receiver (6'2", 194 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ From Glen Ellyn, IL, Williams is a skilled and polished wide receiver with precise route-running and hands. Williams is one of the best wide-receiver prospects that the Irish have landed in years. Cam is a true number one wide receiver who will undoubtedly make his way onto the field early and often. Micah Gilbert - Wide Receiver (6'3", 190 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A native of Charlotte, NC, Gilbert is a tall and athletic receiver known for his ball-tracking skills and contested-catch ability. Gilbert, teammate of fellow Irish signee Bryce Young, will likely get on the field early in his Notre Dame career. Logan Saldate - Wide Receiver (5'10", 171 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ From Salinas, CA, Saldate is a wide receiver with electrifying speed and agility. Saldate possesses the ability to turn short passes into long gains. He had a very impressive Senior season that he capped off with a championship. Saldate brings a speed that will be huge for the Irish offense going forward. Running Back Kedren Young - Running Back (5'11", 210 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Coming from Lufkin, TX, Young is a dynamic running back with good balance, speed, and tackle-breaking ability. Young shows great patience and vision while blocks are established, and an impressive burst after he makes a cut. Notre Dame is getting one of the best high school running backs in the country in Kedren Young. Aneyas Williams - Running Back (5'10", 195 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hailing from Hannibal, MO, Williams is a shifty and explosive running back capable of big plays in open space. Williams is the lightning to Young’s thunder. Williams has exceptional speed and does a great job as a receiving threat out of the backfield. Irish fans should be extremely excited about the tandem of Williams and Young in the running back room. TIght End Jack Larsen - Tight End (6'3", 225 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Coming from Charlotte, NC, Larsen is a versatile tight end that can create mismatches in the passing game. Larsen shows exceptional hands, great route-running, and the ability to make contested catches. Larsen will have to add some strength and size in the weight room, but shows the potential to continue the line of excellence for Tight End U. Offensive Line Peter Jones - Offensive Lineman (6'5", 290 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐ A powerhouse from Malvern, PA, Jones is a massive offensive lineman with the size and strength to dominate in the trenches. Projects as an interior offensive lineman who plays with good pad level and fires off the ball quickly. Jones is a great addition to this offensive line room. Anthonie Knapp - Offensive Lineman (6'4", 270 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐ Hailing from Roswell, GA, Knapp is an underrated prospect who shows a lot of potential for the next level. Knapp plays with aggression and tenacity, which is always a huge plus for an offensive lineman. Knapp's size would suggest that he will play somewhere on the interior of the offensive line, but he does have the athleticism to potentially end up at tackle at the next level. Styles Prescod - Offensive Lineman (6'6", 280 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐ Coming from Fishers, IN, Prescod has a great frame that, with some added strength, could translate into a very talented lineman for the Irish. Prescod has the size, length, and athleticism to play one of the two tackle positions for the Irish. Prescod will have to improve on his technique, but he flashes great skill in both run and pass blocking. Guerby Lambert - Offensive Lineman (6'7", 300 lbs) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ From West Roxbury, MA, Lambert is a towering presence coming into the offensive line room. At 6'7" and 300 pounds, his imposing frame and agility make him an ideal candidate to eventually step into the left tackle spot. Lambert, who is the best lineman prospect in my opinion, has all the tools to be a star up front for the Irish. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Cade Harper ｜ Writer ｜ Twitter/X: @CadeHarperIT Photo by Troy Athletics Notre Dame will now be on its third offensive coordinator since 2019, and second straight season with different playcallers, after former OC Gerad Parker announced he was taking the head coaching job at Troy University. Now that Head Coach Marcus Freeman has to go on an adventure yet again for a new play caller, who are the names that would be ideal for the program? Here is a preliminary list of names to keep an eye on. Ryan Grubb/JaMarcus Shephard - Washington OC & Washington WR Coach/Passing Coordinator One of the best options on the table in my personal opinion is either Ryan Grubb or JaMarcus Shephard from Washington. If you were following the Wide Receiver coach fiasco, before Mike Brown emerged, you would've seen that JaMarcus Shephard was a name to keep an eye out for. Now we believe that there is a possibility that either Shephard or Grubb could emerge as potential candidates for the vacant Offensive Coordinator position. Ryan Grubb has put together one of the best offenses in the country, arguably THE best. He had a Heisman Finalist at QB, and Shephard had three wide receivers at one point averaging 100+ yards a game. Straight video game numbers. Washington finds themselves currently competing for a National Championship in the CFP, and Grubb or Shephard are both definitely high value options. The Huskies ranked 12th in total offense, 1st in Passing Offense, 11th in Scoring, and led the country in plays that connected for 20+ yards! Safe to say that's a pretty legitimate resume for both, and next season, Notre Dame might just have the equivalent amount of talent that the 2023 Husky offense had. Alex Atkins - Florida State OC/OL Coach If there was one guy in the country who deserves a raise it would be Alex Atkins. What he did for Florida State was remarkable and had a heck of a season with Jordan Travis. He brought in Keon Coleman and put together a clinic in the ACC against familiar Notre Dame opponents. An interesting statistic: FSU gave up 48 sacks in 2019, exactly one year before Atkins arrived in Tallahassee. Now, FSU has only given up a whopping 44 sacks the last two seasons combined! With Notre Dame's talent at the offensive line position and Riley Leonard's mobility, that number could shrink even further. Although the offensive ranks may not be there, the Noles put up some very good numbers this past season. Those numbers being 3,373 total passing yards, averaging 259 passing yards per game, along with 2,039 rushing yards, averaging 156 rushing yards per game with 32 rushing touchdowns to boot. As far as total offense goes, the Seminoles averaged 416 yards a game, racking up over 5,400 total yards across all 13 games this season. Kevin Johns - Duke OC/QB Coach One of the more realistic names here would be Kevin Johns. Anytime you get a transfer QB like Riley Leonard, you want them as comfortable as possible. Why not make him even more comfortable by giving him his former coach? What Leonard and Johns have done together is truly something. Also being rumored is that new Head Coach at Duke, Manny Diaz, is set to hire Jonathan Brewer from SMU as the school's new OC. So where does that bring Johns? Possibly to Notre Dame, maybe the more logical safe option, who knows. Running Back's Coach for the Irish, Deland  McCullough, has a past relationship with Johns. Johns and McCollugh actually coached together in Bloomington in Indiana when Kevin Johns was the co-offensive coordinator, Quarterbacks Coach, and Wide Receivers Coach. Mike Denbrock - LSU OC Well, well, well. Some of you may know this guy by now I'm sure. Mr. Denbrock finds himself in a circulating rumor mill, yet again to reunite with Notre Dame. Denbrock has amazing history with the Irish, and also has a history with new WR Coach Mike Brown, QB Coach Gino Guidugli, and Head Coach Marcus Freeman - All who coached at Cincinnati. Very interesting stuff, as you almost hope that Notre Dame offers Denbrock the job. All the way back in 2002, Denbrock left Stanford with Ty Willingham for Notre Dame to become the OT/TE Coach. In 2010, he left Indiana State to become partners with Brian Kelly at Notre Dame as the TE Coach, and finally again in 2017, left Notre Dame for Cincinnati to become the OC/QB Coach in the Queen City. As far as this past season goes, Denbrock was found to be pretty successful, like Grubb and Shephard. Denbrock also had a Heisman Finalist at QB who ended up winning it, and a very talented WR core. The Tigers finished 1st in total offense, 4th in Passing Offense, 1st in Scoring Offense, 7th in Rushing Offense, and another impressive number here - Top 20 in red zone scoring. People may not want Denbrock back after all he's done coming back and forth, but hate him or not, he can recruit and develop like a machine and his numbers prove that. In Summary - In House Candidates? There are plenty of names being tossed around, these are the main ones that stood out to me that I personally would not mind leading the Irish. Other names such as Kirby Moore out of Missouri, Kliff Kingsbury from arch rival USC, and former Notre Dame-linked names like Utah OC Andy Ludwig could emerge. On staff, QB Coach Gino Guidugli or OL Coach Joe Rudolph could become more likely than some of the coaches listed above. Nothing is ever final until it's final, but these are coaches I certainly wouldn't be upset seeing in the pressbox for Notre Dame in the 2024 season. Time will tell. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Connor D'Aquila⏐Writer⏐Twitter/X: @ConnorDaquilaIT Photo by The Irish Tribune In a surprising turn of events, Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator Gerad Parker is expected to become the head coach at Troy University. Just three weeks ago, Coach Freeman said in a press conference that he hoped the entire coaching staff would return for the 2024 season, but it appears the turnover will be more than initially anticipated. ND fans have been understandably critical of Parker’s performance as OC, and many were disappointed to hear that Freeman would have him back next season, but it ended up being out of his hands. Parker has been climbing the ranks in CFB for some time now, and this is a logical next step. In his time at Notre Dame, Coach Parker had mixed results. He was loved as the tight ends coach, and he was instrumental in continuing the development of Michael Mayer. We also saw solid development from Mitchell Evans and Eli Raridon this year. As coordinator, however, there were far more struggles. He was thrust into the role after Notre Dame refused to pay the buyout for Utah OC Andy Ludwig, and some were immediately concerned. Parker held the same position at West Virginia before coming to South Bend and was demoted after poor performance. The beginning of this season had some wondering if Coach Parker could be the real deal, as we saw big-time offensive numbers. Once the tough opponents started rolling in, though, we saw a major change. The pass game, in general, could not get rolling, and they seemed to crumble in some of the biggest situations. Many started calling for his job, and there were reports of internal changes being made, but ultimately, Freeman wanted to give him one more year to figure it out.  The move to Troy is an interesting one. Obviously a weaker program and name than the many Power 5 jobs he has held so far, but it is an opportunity for a stepping stone to something bigger. The opening is there because previous head coach Jon Sumrall made the jump to Tulane after only two seasons with the team. He leaves Parker with a strong program after leading them to two straight Sun Belt Championships and bowl game appearances with only four losses across the two seasons. They will surely lose some players to the transfer portal, but this is a great opportunity to continue the established success. Players always seemed to like Parker, and he is known to have a great personality, so hopefully, we will see the team rally around him at Troy.  As for how this will affect Notre Dame, the fallout is unclear at this point. We have not seen any indications that it will have a major impact on recruits or transfers, but that could always change. It does provide Freeman the opportunity to make a big-time hire at the position, and we could leave the situation feeling it was a net positive. We have no insight at this time on who the major candidates are, but we would assume it will be a mix of internal and external options. Ultimately, we wish Coach Parker the best of luck moving forward. Click here to join

Written by Connor Regan ｜Writer｜Twitter/X: @thatconnorregan Photo by The Irish Tribune It's been just over 3 weeks since Marcus Freeman directly addressed the media, and quite a bit has happened in that time. Transfers, opt-outs, draft declarations, coaching hires; it's been a whirlwind. Thankfully, Freeman addressed several of our collective burning questions today and provided a few key updates. Let's take a look at what was covered. Mike Brown Coach Freeman welcomed new WR coach Mike Brown to the team, remarking on their relationship while at Cincinnati and crediting him for his ability to develop their WR room over the year. He also pointed to Brown's recruitment prowess and the energy he brings to a room, something the Irish will need to fix their currently recovering WR room. The Sun Bowl - Oregon State "The 13th opportunity" is the name Freeman gave the matchup with Oregon State in the Sun Bowl. "The 12 guaranteed opportunities" is one of the fundamental themes they reference "all year." With all the madness going on with the portal and all the announcements, Freeman admitted the last several practices were spent just "developing this team" and figuring out who exactly was coming back, who was healthy, and who was playing in the bowl game. Remarking on the team's bowl game preparations and practice, Freeman said, "Today, we truly turned our attention to Oregon State." Coach confirmed that as of this press conference, the final roster for the bowl game is fully intact. The Quarterbacks Sam Hartman Freeman was asked about the change of heart from 6th-year QB Sam Hartman and his decision to opt out of the Sun Bowl matchup, and he responded in the same way he has for weeks now, "I can disagree with your decision and still support you." The opt-outs and transfers are here to stay, but Freeman seems to have a very level-headed approach to this new reality that likely won't dissuade players from picking Notre Dame in this new market. Riley Leonard Freeman was asked what the thought process was behind pursuing a QB like Riley Leonard, and he compared it to Sam Hartman's last year. The focus is "a guy that was talented, a proven football player, but a guy that would fit into our locker room."  Say what you will regarding the performance of Sam Hartman and the 2023 offense, but Hartman was, without a doubt, a seamless addition to the locker room, as well as the broader campus and university culture. Thus, fans should trust that Freeman & Co. know what they're doing here with Leonard. Steve Angeli When asked about the first-time starting quarterback, Marcus Freeman made a point of saying the game will be less about evaluation and more about "putting him in a position to succeed as our quarterback." While snaps are planned for freshman Kenny Minchey, Freeman qualified that by saying, "There's not a plan to try and play 2 QBs, we're going to go with Steve, and we're going to make sure we give him the best opportunity to succeed."  His final comments on Angeli were supportive: "There's a lot of confidence in everybody in our football program that Steve Angeli can lead us to where we want to go." In 2023, Angeli went 19/25 with 272 yards, tossing 4 TDs and 1 INT over 5 appearances. Kenny Minchey Not to be left out, Coach Freeman said Kenny would "be able to get some meaningful reps too."  It looks like we could get our second-ever view of the 4-star freshman recruit. In 2023, Minchey's sole playing time came against Tennessee State in the 2nd week of the season, where he went 2/2 with 12 passing yards. CJ Carr 4-star recruit and early enrolee CJ Carr has arrived on campus and has already begun getting worked into Irish practices. Coach Freeman laughed when asked about his early arrival for the spring semester and said, "He's going to be a great player; it's just good to have him here." There's an obvious advantage to graduating early and slowly working into your first college practices, acclimating to the change in lifestyle, and getting the hang of class before the season is in full swing, but rest assured, Freeman says Carr is already "Slingin' the ball" and come the 2024 season, won't be "starting from ground zero." The Wide Receivers Other than transfer portal news, the most significant update to come out of the WR room comes in the form of injury updates. When asked about Deion Colzie, Jayden Thomas, and Freshman KK Smith, Freeman said, "All three are coming along really well," and it sounds as if we should see all three of them play in the Sun Bowl, rounding out the shallow pool of currently enrolled receivers. Freeman went on to say, "From my eyes, it's great to see where JT (Jayden Thomas) is now, being healthy, Dieon being healthy, KK, we haven't seen KK all year, and he's doing some really great things for our defense, and our WR room and I'm glad to see where they've gotten." The Offensive Line One of the highlights of the press conference came in reference to the completely new look offensive line and a particular standout performance. Freshman top-50 recruit Charles Jagusah has broken out and is now taking the majority of first-team reps at Left Tackle. As of now, Jagusah is expected to start against Oregon State. "He's got natural ability," Freeman said of Jagusah. "He's shown on the scout team, he's shown in the BYE weeks and the individual drills, he's going to be a future great offensive lineman for us." Freeman confirmed a "battle for who starts" at Right Tackle between redshirt junior Tosh Baker and redshirt freshman Aamil Wagner. The New-Look Offense When asked about the numerous transfers, NFL declarations, and injury updates, Freeman was asked to comment on the "Next man in" mentality the team promotes. Freeman said teams now must brace for end-of-season "wholesale changes" and that in the Sun Bowl, the Irish offense will be fielding "a new QB, two new tackles, two new running backs in the backfield" and 4 fewer receivers. Freeman said he's stressed to the coaching staff that they need to "be creative, you got some new guys in there that haven't had a whole lot of experience." In regards to the young crop of talent starting in the Sun Bowl, Freeman said it was "a great opportunity to continue to develop and get some real, meaningful action," but the key for the coaching staff, including the newly hired Mike Brown, was "to create a gameplan that helps our guys play fast." The New-Look Defense When asked about younger players on the defense filling in the gaps, Freeman confirmed that the 3rd linebacker position will see various newer faces. He pointed to Jaylen Sneed as the primary position filler for the bowl game, along with Drayk Bowen filling in time behind him. Additionally, Freeman said Jaiden Ausberry has been getting snaps recently, and he could realistically see "an increased role for everybody." Returning Defensive Leaders Freeman explained how happy the coaching staff was to hear DT Riley Mills, DT Howard Cross, and LB Jack Kiser will be returning for the 2024-25 season, saying the news was "huge." He pointed to their "production and experience" but stressed that the most valuable aspect of these returns is "they're great leaders." Freeman stated that all three are "great football players, and productive football players, and experienced football players." Notably, one way coaches are now attempting to lure players back to complete their college eligibility is by improving their professional prospects. Freeman said the return of guys like Mills, Cross, and Kiser shows "what coming back for another year can do for their draft stock." Kahanu Kia’s Return to The Team After reports of his impending return surfaced, Freeman was asked about Kahanu Kia's first time back to South Bend in two years. "I'm excited," Freeman said. "I loved my one year with Kahanu. . . to get him back in this program, the energy, the production, the physicality that he plays with, I'm excited to see." Kia had been on a Mormon mission trip for two years and will be returning to the University in January. He is currently set to play in the 2024-25 season. Looking Forward to 2024 Freeman had several interesting quotes in this presser concerning the future of the program and the direction Notre Dame football is heading in amongst the persistent and aggressive changes college football currently faces; below are a few more that really stood out. "I want to make sure we continue to build this roster that has a chance to make sure we're in those playoffs next year." "All post-season play is going to change now that you're talking about a 12-team playoff." "Notre Dame will continue to be at the front of making sure we take advantage of every new opportunity that college football presents." "I truly believe we are continuing to flourish with the changes in college football." Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Mike Stacey ｜Writer｜ Twitter: @MikeStaceyIT IG: @mikestaceyit Photo By: Justin Thurman I had the opportunity to talk with Notre Dame running back commit, Justin Thurman out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. Justin is a member of the 2025 class and is rated as the number 23 RB in the country and has a 4 star status according to 247 Sports. Listed at 6 ft and 180lbs, Thurman is a dynamic player that fits the mold of what the Irish covet at running back. He can run, catch, and return Kicks/Punts. Thurman runs a reported 4.40 40-yard dash and a 10.84 100 meter, so speed is something he certainly does not lack. He has quick hitter potential, someone who can make a move and take it to the house. It will be exciting to see how much he improves next season as he continues to work on his trade and add strength. This is a kid who may have a breakout season as a senior. With that being said, he had a great junior season this year, finishing with 812 yard rushing, 198 yards receiving and 17 total touchdowns. Aside from being a great talent on the field, Justin seems like a Notre Dame man already in my brief conversation I had with him, continuing the excellent standard that Marcus Freeman and this University has instilled into this program. Now let's get to the interview! What was the recruitment process like for you? Justin: "Ever since 8th grade I have been going to football camps and visited multiple schools, but really in this past spring my recruitment started to ramp up when I received multiple offers from multiple schools in many conferences. I received my offer from Notre Dame in late May and I went to their camp in mid-June. After my visit there I fell in love with the place-the environment, the people, the coaching staff, just the whole feel and vibe is just amazing there. They had a grill and chill for some of their recruits and I went back up there for that and that's when I decided to commit. It felt like the right place holistically in terms of the academics, athletics, the coaching staff, environment and people, it just felt like home to me and the best place to spend my next 3 to 4 years at." What were some of the main factors in deciding on a school and how did Notre Dame check those boxes? Justin: "Well the main thing was academics. Academics comes first for me and Notre Dame's reputation speaks for itself. The academics there are absolutely stellar. They actually have a Real Estate minor program that I am interested in, I'm interested in Real Estate, and they have an amazing business school. Also, the fit with the coaching staff. Coach Mccullogh, when I met him, I just felt like I had a great connection. I understand the way he coaches, how he interacts with not only his players but all the players and coaches, he's just a family guy and wants what's best for us. I feel like his coaching will not only put us in the best position for football but also for life. Also, coach Freeman, he's a great guy. A family guy at heart, a great coach and the mindset and mentality that he brings to the team is just great. Chad Bowden and Dre Brown have also done an amazing job of showcasing what Notre Dame is, what it represents in life and what it can do for you in football and outside of it, in terms of the opportunities you may have outside of football." Where do you see yourself fitting into the offense? Justin: "The plan is for me to be a versatile back. My skill set is being able to pass block, catch out of the backfield, being able to run hard, special teams- I'm a punt and kick returner, heck I've even been on PAT. Just being able to utilize my versatility. Use my speed and explosiveness which I think will contribute greatly to the offense. Also, I forgot to mention, I did play a little cornerback last year too, so I know a little bit of defense too. I know how to utilize my skill set to the most in any way. Being able to have great vision to see the holes, use my footwork if it the hole isn't open, run hard, high and tight, just run like a mad man. I heard a lot of people say I run angry so..." What are some of your goals for this upcoming season? Justin: "The main thing is a state championship. We unfortunately fell short this year. I also want to showcase what I can do as a running back and improve my numbers. This year I had 1145 All Purpose Yards, 812 rushing yards, and 198 receiving yards so those are good numbers, but I definitely want to improve off of that. You can always find ways to improve yourself and get better, and those are just a few goals that I have." What are some of your hobbies outside of football? Justin: "One of my hobbies is Track. I run the 100M, 200M, and 4 by 1. I run a 10.84 100M. That is my fastest time, but I believe I can run faster and that is one of my goals. I want to get down to 10.6 this year. I am also a 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo, I have been doing that for as long as I can remember. That has been a great hobby in terms of the training, discipline, the skillsets and life lesson I can utilize from Taekwondo not only in life, but also in football. I also like to research Real Estate when I don't have too much homework or just bored to be honest." Any other unique things about you or likes that you want to share with the fans? Justin: "I like to travel around the country. Before I moved to Florida we used to live in St. Louis. We used to come down here all the time because 90% of my family lives in Orlando and Tampa area. I have also been to New York City, South Bend (haha), Chicago, Arizona, Texas, and I plan to go back to Detroit where I am originally from. I moved away from there when I was very young so I want to revisit my roots." Who is the funniest guy in your 2024 class? Justin: "Ohhh that's a good question! Me personally, I think I'm the funniest, but if I am going to pick someone else, probably Deuce Knight. Especially when we are playing Fortnite. He is a funny, down to earth guy. He's a great friend to have and I'm excited for the next 3-4 years to be playing with him. He's a great player and person. I am glad to have him in the class and as a friend." Speaking of video games, who's the best gamer in the class? Justin: "Uhhh I would say CJ May. We played a couple 1 v 1 in Fortnite against me, Deuce and him, and he beat me a couple times. I haven't been able to beat him yet, but it's all good. He is pretty good." Who is the most intimidating guy in the class? Justin: "I really never thought about that. Probably Davion Dixon. He's a great friend too, but he can be intimidating, in a good way. He's a great player as well. He may be intimidating when you first meet him but once you get to know him, he's a down to earth guy, he's chill." Lastly, any message you want to leave for the fans? Justin: "In the Notre Dame 2025 and 2024 class I feel like we are building one of the best teams in the country. Look out for us. We are going to be showing out, putting on for Notre Dame in South Bend and also showing the rest of the country what we can do. Hopefully we bring Notre Dame back to the National Championship." I hope you enjoyed the article and please give Justin a follow on IG and X (Twitter) to show him some support! Go Irish! X (Twitter): @JAT_2025 IG: @just1nt_

Written by Liam Gaudet ｜Senior Editor｜Twitter/X: @LiamGaudetIT Photo by The Irish Tribune Death, taxes, and recruiting speculation are the only things that are certain in the offseason for Notre Dame fans across the country. As we draw closer to national signing day, and with no Irish football this weekend, a lot of attention has been shifted toward recruiting - whether that be in the transfer portal or high school. To all my die-hard fans out there, I know just how painful it can be when Notre Dame loses a recruiting battle for the services of a highly coveted prospect to another school. I can also relish in the jubilation and excitement of the fanbase when that top-30 prospect grabs a hat with an ND monogram off of the table. Following recruiting can be intoxicating at times, almost as if the entire future of the program hinges on the decision of a 16-17 year old kid. Although that's not often the case, I feel like it's still important to reflect on their impact. Now that we're officially approaching recruiting season, I'd like to take the chance to evaluate the 5-star caliber players who have come through the university over the last half decade or so, and evaluate their performance at Notre Dame, or their development thus far. I'd like to make it clear that I will be using the 247 Sports rankings and Rivals rankings for this analysis, as I believe their rankings are the most well rounded and researched (Just my opinion). Only athletes that finished the cycle as 5-stars will be considered for this piece. So, let's dig into the blue chips. Kyle Hamilton - Safety (2019) No. 15 National, No. 1 Position (247 Sports) We are certainly starting off the list hot with one of the greatest to ever play the position for the Fighting Irish. Kyle Hamilton was one of the top targets on Notre Dame's board in the class of 2019, and it didn't take fans long to figure out why. In his freshman season, Kyle Hamilton's first big play for the Irish came in just his second game, where he tallied a pick-six against New Mexico, announcing his arrival to the program with style and confidence. He would finish off an incredible freshman season tallying 4 interceptions, with 41 total tackles, 1 for loss, and six passes defended. This dominance didn't taper off over the rest of his career, as Hamilton would put up similar or better numbers in most of these categories throughout the remainder of his career, a total of 31 games played over three seasons. It's no secret that Hamilton was a home run, and didn't require a high degree of development in order to see playing time. His dominance earned him a nod as a consensus All-American in 2021, and he was selected in the middle of the first round by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2022 NFL Draft. Today, Hamilton has enjoyed high praise in the NFL as one of its premier defenders, and he looks to only be getting better. It's safe to say he's more than lived up to his 5-star status. Michael Mayer - Tight End (2020) No. 23 National, No. 2 Position (247 Sports) How can one even begin to quantify the impact a player like Michael Mayer had? Let's put it this way: In a program that has been known for over half a century to be the premier destination for elite tight ends, Mayer has been the best of them all. Period. From the moment that Mayer stepped on campus, he was playing like a veteran. In his freshman season alone, Mayer tallied nearly as many receiving yards (450) as Notre Dame's leading receiver Chris Tyree did this season (484). Whether that's a testament to Mayer's skill, or an indictment on the current state of the offense is for you to decide, but this was only the beginning. Mayer proceeded to tally 840 and 809 yards receiving in the 2021 and 2022 seasons respectively. This earned him national recognition as a 2022 consensus All-American, and he managed to leave Notre Dame with school records including total receptions (180), career receiving yards by a tight end (2,099), and touchdowns by a tight end (18). Without a doubt, Michael Mayer's value as a 5-star athlete was warranted. It's a shame he's being underutilized by a mediocre Raiders team in the pros. Jordan Johnson - Wide Receiver (2020) No. 28 National, No. 5 Position (Rivals) Just when you started to think that being a 5-star automatically made you a program legend, Jordan Johnson appears. Going back and watching Johnson's highschool tape, I'm still in awe. Johnson was an extremely rangey athlete with a catch radius that stretched well beyond average, and was seen by most fans as a possible day one starter with his pedigree. For whatever reason, Johnson simply did not get the playing time that was expected. Fans initially speculated that Johnson was perhaps in Brian Kelly's "dog house", which led him to transfer from Notre Dame after his freshman season without a single career reception for the Fighting Irish. Similarly, in his time at UCF, the results were the same. He appeared in just four games for the Knights in 2022 and entered the transfer portal for a second time. He landed at Iowa Western, a community college in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he has finally seen some action. As a redshirt sophomore, Johnson totalled 20 receptions for 305 yards and four touchdowns, helping Iowa Western win an NJCAA national championship. It's been a tumultuous career for Johnshon thus far, but I am certainly rooting for him to make a comeback to NCAA division 1 football, even though the chance may be slim. Blake Fisher - Offensive Tackle (2021) No. 26 National, No. 6 Position (Rivals) The only downside to having a guy like Blake Fisher on the roster is that he was overshadowed by how good Joe Alt has been over the course of his career. And that's some pretty high praise for Alt considering that Blake Fisher has been pretty decent over his career with the Irish. I had the chance to stand next to Blake when we covered Notre Dame's Shamrock Series game in Las Vegas last season, and he is every bit of 6'6" and 310 lbs. In 24 career games at Notre Dame, Blake got off to a rocky start by getting injured during his first game in his freshman season, which kept him sidelined for the rest of the year. After moving to right tackle, Fisher struggled, but began to settle in by the end of his second season (and first full season on the field) with Notre Dame. Although he was solid this season for an offensive line that was plug and play at times, Fisher recently announced he would be declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. All in all, Fisher put together a serviceable body of work at Notre Dame, but likely could have benefited greatly by staying another season to put together a Magnum Opus. Do I think he was 5-star worthy? If he stayed another year, possibly. I definitely wouldn't say he underachieved though. Best of luck to him at the next level! Jaylen Sneed - Linebacker (2022) No. 42 National, No. 5 Position (247 Sports) Okay, I'll admit that I'm cheating a bit here, but technically the 247 Sports composite rankings have Sneed as a 5-star caliber player and I think most fans would have agreed. Sneed, like most highly rated players, was an incredibly versatile athlete. A combination of speed and violence, his high school tape was reminiscent of someone like Jaylon Smith - Woah, that's high praise, I know. We haven't seen too much of Sneed yet, but when he has seen action, the skill is there. This season, Sneed saw a lot more playing time in rotation and tallied 21 total tackles with 1.5 for loss with one sack and one forced fumble - coming in the final game against Stanford. You have to think that Sneed will get the nod for more time next season, even with the return of Jack Kiser. His versatility should open more doors for him to get on the field. His hard-hitting play style is something that's been sorely missed in recent seasons, and I'm excited to see that come to fruition on the field. Is he a legit 5-star talent? Time will tell. He certainly has all the tools, and it'll be exciting to see him put them all together. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun