Written by Liam Gaudet, Senior Editor - Twitter: @LiamGaudetIT If I were to ask you what separates Notre Dame from the upper echelon of college football, what would you say? There are arguments to be made for a variety of assets in which the Irish could use to up their status and return to glory, but for me, it's quite simple. Notre Dame's offense has not been polarizing or dangerous when compared to the likes of Ohio State or Georgia, and has become somewhat predictable in recent years. Now, how much of that responsibility rests on coaching and development is up for debate, but one thing we know for sure is - Playmakers like Cam Williams make closing that gap much, much easier. Let's take a look at what Irish fans can expect to see when the highest rated recruit in the class suits up for the blue and gold after his senior season. Photo by 247 Sports Cam Williams is currently listed as a 5-star recruit, ranked 28th in the country and seventh at his position per the 247 Sports composite rankings. Williams attends Glenbard South Highschool in Illinois, which made it quite easy for Chansi Stuckey and co. to notice his talents early on and establish a great relationship. Williams holds offers from all over the country, but eventually committed to Notre Dame despite heavy interest from schools in the Midwest such as Michigan and Wisconsin. Coming in at 6-2' and 190 pounds, Williams fills out well for his size, and has been terrorizing defenses in the Midwest circuit for quite some time. So what makes Williams such as standout? Let's run the tape back and see. The first thing that jumps off the tape about Williams is his willingness to engage physically while blocking. In many instances, you will see Williams bound off of the line of scrimmage toward corners to cover his assignment on running plays, often pushing past his assignment to reach the second level. Coming into Notre Dame which carries a legacy of offensive physicality, Williams's skillset in perimeter blocking will be a welcomed asset. Additionally, he is rarely pushed off the line while being pressed, and uses his size to his advantage. Williams's tape almost looks effortless, which is a credit to his athleticism as he is rarely in a situation where a defender is in stride with him. Part of this stems from his incredible release off of the line, as he is able to reach top speed in the blink of an eye. Normally, some high school prospects at the receiver position cripple their release with slower footwork or false steps, but it's fairly obvious that Williams takes tremendous pride in his footwork which translates brilliantly into production on the field. In addition to his quick release, Williams has shown incredible body control and is extremely polished for his age. Recently showcasing his catch radius and tracking at the Irish Invasion camp, any ball placed in his vicinity is caught more often than not. Williams shows elite poise and focus, fighting back towards the ball to make contested catches in traffic, and is deceptive on short to mid-range routes after the catch. He has been utilized in his high school career as a deep threat with the use of his release, but is also effective out of the flats and on short screens. If I were to compare Cam Williams to a former Notre Dame receiver for the sake of clarity, I would probably lean toward someone like Michael Floyd. A very physical receiver whose focus and catch radius allowed for 50-50 balls to be turned in favor of the offense. Paired with an elite quarterback like C.J. Carr in the same recruiting class, and complimented by a duo of commits in Isiah Canion and Micah Gilbert, there's absolutely cause for excitement if you're a Notre Dame fan. We wish Cam the best of luck in his upcoming high school campaign, and are extremely excited for the future of this receiving room. Note: This is an article that is testing out ads - If you had a negative ad experience, please contact us so we can make it right: Email: irishtribunecontact@gmail.com - Text: (269)-588-0514 - DM @theirishtribune (IG/Twitter)

By: Mike Stacey ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter: @MikeStaceyIT Photo Credit: Notre Dame Athletics I had the opportunity to have a phone call with Notre Dame's new safety/corner hybrid, Oklahoma State transfer Thomas Harper. Thomas or Tom, he goes by both, seems to be a perfect fit both on and off the field for the Irish. On the field, Thomas comes with four years of experience playing for Oklahoma State. Yes, the same team that beat ND in the Fiesta Bowl two years ago. The good news is OKST had a top 10 defense that year and he was a part of that. He can play safety, nickel, corner, just about anywhere you want in the secondary. He is the younger brother of Dallas Cowboy's linebacker Devin Harper who also played for the Cowboys in college with Thomas, so athleticism clearly runs in the family. Off the field, Thomas seems to be another great fit. He possesses the characteristics and vision you like to see at Notre Dame. After speaking to him you can tell he just gets it. While talking to him it was refreshing to hear some of the similar sentiments I have heard from other players who have newly arrived to ND. He spoke about the team welcoming him, the brotherhood they have, the genuine care and guidance the coaches give to their players, all while sounding extremely grateful. This seems to be a common theme amongst this team, which has to make Irish fans feel good about the direction of this program. Read the interview below! What were your expectations of Notre Dame vs the reality of being at Notre Dame? "I wasn't really expecting everyone to be so accepting. Usually when you transfer to a new school, not everyone accepts you. But getting up here I feel like the players were super welcoming and really made me feel like, because obviously we're all competing at the end of the day for each others job, but I think the players here do a good job of differentiating between friendship, brotherhood and competing. I think everyone pushes each other to be great and no one really has too much animosity or envy towards anyone." Last time you talked to the Tribune, you mentioned some of your goals were building relationships, learning the playbook and getting your body right. How have those goals been going and do you have any new goals? "Yeah of course. I think for the most part I feel good about those goals and accomplished most of them. Some of them are forever ongoing, you can get better and better at them, but I feel like I learned the playbook and I have a good grasp of that. As far as relationships go I feel like I know all my teammates and the relationships are great. I feel like those goals have been accomplished. My new goals are just getting on the field whether it be safety or nickel, hopefully both. I just want to get better as a player. Get better at the things coach O'Leary and the coaches think I need to work on, and just turn those into positives." Where do you see yourself fitting into the defense? Corner? Safety? "Yeah it's still both but mainly the Nickel spot for sure." Can you talk about Coach O'Leary, Coach Golden and Coach Freeman? " Yeah for sure. I'll start with Coach O'Leary just because I'm with him the most. I mean honestly he's just a great guy. He called me like 4 or 5 times while I was on break. He's just a great guy, you can tell he really cares about the players aside from football. As far as coaching wise, I think he's great. I've learned so much more just from being here one semester. Playbook wise, but not even just playbook, football intelligence. I'm understanding schemes, what offensive coordinators are trying to do, how they plan to attack and the ways they want to attack the Nickel. Learning formations and getting more comfortable with understanding route combinations. As far as that goes, I think Coach O'Leary has done a tremendous job in helping me expand my game and learn more. I've been in college 4 years and I know the basics, but he's helping me see the game more in terms of how he sees it, how a defensive or offensive coordinator sees it. It really opened my eyes." "Coach Golden, he's like all business, but he's a great guy as well. I think what I'm learning from him is, I mean, he has NFL experience and he's been where I want to be, just listening to him and everything he says, I mean just picking his brain. Same thing as Coach O'Leary, he's helping me understand the game in broad terms and not just from my position. Understanding how the game works, I think they've both done a great job with that." "Coach Freeman is great. Everything that you see, I mean he's the real deal. I think he's the ultimate player's coach. He most definitely has the player's best interest at heart. He always talks about the bumpy road to getting better, and standing in the middle. That's probably the biggest thing that he said that stuck with me. Being able to stay in the middle, don't get too high if you're having a good game, make sure you don't get too confident. You may have a bad game or make a bad play, but you need to stay in the middle and not get too up or too down. I think that's what stuck with me the most of anything he has said. As far as the program, he has done so much. We have networking events all the time. He really understands the game after football. He tries to get us to understand that. I think he's doing a good job of that as well." How does Coach Balis and the Strength and Conditioning Program compare to Oklahoma State? " It's honestly so much different than Oklahoma State. I don't know if you work out (reminded me I need to get back to that...) there's so many different ways and coach Balis method is more geared to being able to move, be mobile, to be strong in the right places, be strong where it matters to help your speed and athletic ability. I think he does a great job of that. It's a totally different workout but I think it will benefit me to have the experience of both (ND and OKST) Oklahoma State was more old school lifting. It was benching heavy, squat heavy, you're going to get really big. I think that's good, especially coming out of high school you need that. But I think coach Balis' program is really, really good. I think he's one of the best in the nation. Since coming here I feel like my vertical jump has increased, my speed has increased, pretty much everything. The workouts are hard, we're always moving, sweating a lot, I love it. I love Coach Balis and the whole strength staff." Who are the leaders on Defense? "I think there's a couple. I think all of our linebackers, Marist, JD, Kizer, I think all three of those guys. I think they're all leaders. I think everyone on the defense looks up to them as far as if something goes wrong, if we need to meet or know when a meeting is, we kind of look to those guys. Then Cam Hart and Dj Brown. People look to them to get the juice going. If they have any questions about the defense, they're probably going to ask one of those guys." Who is the funniest guy on the team? "Definitely for me, I'm going to have to say Jaden Mickey. He's a character. He's a great, great guy, but definitely a character." Who is the baddest, most intimidating guy on the field? "Botelho. Botelho definitely takes that award. If anyone says anything different, I'm questioning their opinion. His mindset is all business. When it's time to put pads on, all business!" Who is the best trash talker on the team? :laughing: "Uh I think this one goes to Jay Mickey as well!" Who is your favorite NFL team? "Growing up I really didn't have a favorite NFL team. To be honest with you, I really didn't watch a lot of football growing up. I was more of a basketball player and didn't start playing football until later, but now that my brother is in the league, probably the Cowboys. (The only time I will approve being a Cowboys fan....)" What NFL player would you compare yourself to/inspire to be like? "That's a good question, so many players. :pause: I think Budda Baker, just his tenacity and the energy he plays with. Tyrann Mathieu as well, speaking of safeties. I think those are probably the two safeties I watch the most and model my game after the most. As far as Nickel goes, I really like Kenny Moore from the Colts. I think he's a big time play maker. I like Denzel Ward as well, he plays outside obviously but I like the technique he uses." I saw in your last interview with us you mentioned some of your hobbies were reading and movies. Any good books or movie recommendations for the Irish fans? " I have two must read books, The Alchemist and then As a Man Thinketh by James Allen. As A Man Thinketh is a good one. It's about finding purpose, and how your thoughts lead to your actions." "Must watch movie, I will go with the Avatar series. The new one is really good, I like it better than the first one. It's really good, you should watch it!"

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer Notre Dame recruiting has been on a roll over the past couple of weeks, and with a lot of the nation's top high school players making their way to Notre Dame this month for official visits, the Irish will try to keep that momentum going. This week alone, Notre Dame has landed commitments from running back Kedren Young and defensive tackle Sean Sevillano. With limited spots remaining in the '24 class, here are some of the key defensive targets left on the board for the Irish. Justin Scott ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Defensive Tackle 6-4 310 Chicago, Illinois Justin Scott is undoubtedly one of the most important recruits left on the board for Notre Dame. The talented defensive tackle has narrowed his list down to Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia, and Miami; however, this seems to be a Notre Dame, Miami, and Georgia battle. Scott recently visited both Miami and Georgia, and commented on where some schools stand in his recruitment. Scott had this to say to Chad Simmons after his visit, "I like the dawgs a lot. They're up there tied with Miami and Notre Dame in that number 1 spot following the visit." This, to me, seems like an all around positive for the Irish in this recruitment. Scott is fresh off visits to both Miami and Georgia, and were only able to pull even with Notre Dame. Scott is set to officially visit during the season, but don't be surprised if he makes it back to campus some time this summer. The fact that Notre Dame will get him on campus during the season, and are currently tied for first in his recruitment bodes well for the Irish eventually gaining his commitment. Prediction - Notre Dame Elijah Rushing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Edge 6-6 235 Tucson, Arizona Notre Dame has some specific areas that had to be addressed in this class, and getting players that can get after the QB is up there as one of the most critical. Elijah Rushing is at the top of their board to address this need. Rushing is rated as a 5 star edge rusher, and for good reason. Rushing has a long frame that will allow him to add good weight, along with impressive explosiveness off the edge. He undoubtedly has the frame and ability to potentially be a high draft pick one day. Rushing has locked in official visits to Arizona, Oregon, Tennessee, and Notre Dame. Rushing will be taking his visit to Notre Dame on June 9th, which will be a great opportunity for the Irish to make a big impression on the number 1 edge prospect in the country. This will be a tough battle for the Irish to win, as he is a top priority for many schools. His official visit will tell us a lot about where Notre Dame stands in this recruitment. Prediction - Arizona Mylachi Williams ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Edge 6-3 215 Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania Mylachi Williams is another top edge target for Notre Dame. Williams is a prospect with very high upside and has received offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Penn State, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, USC, and many others. This recruitment now seems to be a two team battle between Notre Dame and the home state Nittany Lions. Mylachi visited Notre Dame for the Blue-Gold game and he raved about his visit to campus. However, things recently seem to be trending toward Williams landing with Penn State. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out, but Notre Dame seems to be losing some steam in this one, possibly from both sides. Prediction - Penn State Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Linebacker 6-3 230 Bellflower, California Kyngstonn is the top linebacker target left on the board for Al Golden and Notre Dame. KVA showcases some impressive skills on the football field. He shows the ability to defend against the run, blitz off the edge, and drop back in coverage. He is a target that can stay on the field for all three downs. Kyngstonn has received offers from all of the elite college football programs, but has narrowed his recruitment down to USC, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. KVA is scheduled to take an official visit to Notre Dame on June 16, so the Irish will have their chance to set themselves apart from the other two programs. Prediction - Notre Dame / Ohio State Kaleb Beasley ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cornerback 6-0 180 Nashville, Tennessee Kaleb Beasley impressed last year at Irish Invasion, and has been a top target for the staff ever since. Beasley verbally committed to Tennessee this past October while the Volunteers had a lot of buzz about their program. However, the Notre Dame staff continues to heavily pursue Kaleb. While Beasley is committed to Tennessee, I believe that Beasley is very interested in Notre Dame. Beasley made it to Notre Dame this past April, and has scheduled an official visit for September 22 when the Irish take on the Buckeyes, which is already setting up to be a huge recruiting weekend for Notre Dame. This one will come down to the wire, but I think that Beasley is a true Notre Dame kid, and the Irish can get him to flip in the end. Beasley would be a huge get for an already ascending cornerback room under coach Mickens. Prediction - Notre Dame Brauntae Johnson⭐⭐⭐⭐ Safety 6-3 170 Fort Wayne, Indiana Less than a month ago, Brauntae Johnson was not even on the board for the Irish anymore, but after some things were squared away, Brauntae is back on the board. The talented prospect out of Fort Wayne has been high on Notre Dame's board for a while now. Johnson has made the biggest impact as a WR in high school, but the Irish think his long frame and athleticism will translate very well to the safety position at the next level. Brauntae is fresh off his official visit to Notre Dame and he has another official visit scheduled for Purdue, who is recruiting him as a wide receiver. This one looks like it will come down to the Irish and the Boilermakers. Will Johnson want to play wide receiver or safety in college? Either way, this recruitment is looking like it will be wrapped up in the near future. Prediction - Notre Dame Overall, this month is going to be crucial for the Irish to finish off their 2024 class in strong fashion. If they are able to land a few of these critical targets, the future of Notre Dame football will be in great shape. Photo Credits - Cover photo - @b.kahoun9 Justin Scott - Photo Credit - @juustinscott. Elijah Rushing - @elijah_rushing_. Mylachi Williams - Photo Credit - @100.kh1. Kyngstonn Villiamu-Asa - Photo Credit - Maxpreps. Kaleb Beasley- @kalebbeasley. Brauntae Johnson - 247 Sports

By Liam Farrell｜Writer｜Twitter @LiamFarrell_IT Via Dayton Daily News (David Jablonski) The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have all the tools for a championship run in the 2023 season. With a highly touted transfer quarterback, an experienced offensive line, and an extremely athletic defense, Notre Dame is poised for more success in the second year of the Marcus Freeman Era. The goal at Notre Dame is always to win a national championship, plain and simple. The talent on-campus in South Bend is the best in recent memory; however, these are the five key essentials that the Irish must do in order to achieve their first College Football Playoff Championship. Sam Hartman Must Protect the Ball Via USA Today Amongst all things for the Fighting Irish this year, no single player has brought as much buzz into the program than Sam Hartman. The ACC touchdown record holder shocked waves across the college football landscape when he pledged his commitment to Marcus Freeman and co. The only knock-on Hartman through his 5 years at Wake Forest was his interceptions and decision making. Over the last two full seasons, Hartman has totaled 26 interceptions. This must be an area to which he improves upon for this 2023 season. Notre Dame hasn't had a quarterback as naturally gifted as Hartman in a long time. However, the facet of Hartman's game that I am most excited for is his poise. This isn't an 18 year-old freshman straight out of high school who is afraid of the big game. Yes, the lights aren't as bright in Winston-Salem as they are in South Bend, but Hartman has had the experience of playing in big games. We saw in the Ohio State game last year that the offense was severely limited because we were too afraid to have our inexperienced quarterback make a big mistake. There is absolutely no fear in Hartman doing so, and rather he is a coach on the field that all the other players could look to in a time of need. If Hartman can make the correct reads, stay poised, and limit his turnovers, the Irish will be in a golden position. The Emergence of a Big-Bodied Wide Receiver Via Mark J. Rebilas- USA TODAY Sports This is no offense to the slot wide receivers or speed threats, but the Irish need a wide out who can turn 50/50 balls into 80/20 balls. Quarterback Sam Hartman had his most success last year throwing these one-on-one balls to AT Perry, who was selected in the 6th round of this year's NFL draft. Hartman loves throwing these jump balls and the Irish have had success in this facet of their game every year the team has be winning. In 2017, the Irish relied on E quanimeous St. Brown, who is listed at 6'5", to open the offense. In 2018, whenever Ian Book needed a big play, he looked to 6'4" Miles Boykin. Same thing goes for 6'4" Chase Claypool in 2019, and Benny Skow and Javon McKinley in 2020. The Notre Dame receiving core has the answers for this question in two possible ways. One of which is Jayden Thomas, who shined in the spring game as Hartman's number one option. The other is Tobias Merriweather who is waiting to spring onto the scene in the 2023 season. Notre Dame's offense will need to stretch the ball vertically next season if they want to compete with the best of what college football has to offer. Big seasons on the end from Thomas or Merriweather could put the Irish in a great position to do so. Utilizing Chris Tyree's Speed Via Matt Cashore- USA TODAY Sports The speed element has always been something Notre Dame has lacked as a program, and when the Irish had it, these facets were underutilized. Braden Lenzy and Kevin Stepherson are the two names that pop up in my head. The Irish simply didn't integrate them into the offensive scheme enough. This year, the Irish have already converted Chris Tyree into the slot, which is a genius decision by new offensive coordinator Gerad Parker. The takeaway from Marcus Freeman and Tommy Rees last year after the Ohio State game was that they didn't incorporate Tyree into the game enough. However, when they tried to incorporate Tyree last year out of the backfield, most defenses assumed that it would be a run to the outside. By moving Tyree to the slot, his entire game diversifies and so does this Notre Dame offense. He has shown the ability to catch the ball with a receiving touchdown in their Fiesta Bowl game against Oklahoma State two years ago, along with catching many screen passes in their CFP game against Alabama. Tyree's hands aren't the problem, and with the ability to incorporate him in many new ways this year, Tyree's speed could help the Notre Dame offense exponentially. Pressuring Opposing Quarterbacks Via 247Sports If we look at the most winningest Notre Dame teams of recent memory, every single one had a stud on the defensive line that caused pressure. In 2018, the three headed dragon of Jerry Tillery, Khalid Kareem, and Julian Okwara caused havoc for quarterbacks, by totaling 20.5 sacks between those three players. In 2020, Ade Ogundeji, Isaiah Foskey, and Daelin Hayes put considerable pressure on the QB's as well. This pressure is essential for the Irish in the 2023 season, and it starts with Jordan Botelho. Botelho is primed for a breakout season, in which he is finally getting his shot to start at the VYPER position for the Fighting Irish. On the other side of the line is Ohio State transfer Javontae Jean Baptiste and Nana Osafo-Mensah who are sure to cause pressure as well. Pair the outside with the playmakers in Rylie Mills, Howard Cross and Jayson Onye up the middle, and the Irish have great defensive line depth across the board. Ball-Hawking Secondary Play Via Matt Cashore- USA TODAY Sports This Notre Dame cornerback group is the best in recent memory. Benjamin Morrison is destined to be the best Notre Dame corner in the 21st century, and if you pair him up with the likes of Cam Hart and Jaden Mickey, this Notre Dame cornerback room is one of the best in the country. With the addition of Thomas Harper into the mix, along with Xavier Watts finally getting an entire year settling into the safety position, Notre Dame must be able to take the ball away from opposing quarterbacks. With another year under Al Golden who is fully back into being accustomed in college football play, this Notre Dame defense could see a massive jump from 2022 to 2023. If the Irish defense can create takeaways and give Sam Hartman and co. more opportunities to score the ball, Notre Dame is in a great position for a year to remember. Takeaway This 2023 Notre Dame team has the highest expectations the program has had in a long time, but rightfully so. If the Irish can click on these five cylinders, they will be a hard team to stop. With a rigorous schedule, Notre Dame will be ready and battle tested as the year rolls on. It will be an exciting ride and will be fun to follow as we work our way into summer camp.

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer Credit - Twitter @antonioc_viii Former Rhode Island cornerback/safety Antonio Carter has committed to Notre Dame, choosing the Irish over offers from LSU, Florida, Ole Miss, Wisconsin, and several other Power 5 programs. Carter, who projects to play safety for Notre Dame, is the second transfer pickup from the portal this offseason for the Irish secondary, joining former Oklahoma State nickel Thomas Harper. Carter’s two seasons of eligibility are important for Notre Dame, as he brings experience to the safety position that the team was lacking. Carter put up impressive stats during his time at Rhode Island with 111 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 17 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. This level of experience and skill is huge for the Irish secondary's depth chart from a numbers and experience standpoint. Carter has shown his versatility in the secondary in his time with Rhode Island. He played with physicality and made a significant contribution to the team's performance against perimeter screens. Additionally, he was utilized as a blitzer off the edge and matched up in coverage. Carter’s coverage skills are particularly impressive. He made 11 breakups and a pick while playing cornerback, but also forced and recovered three fumbles. His production on the field as a cornerback and disruptive playmaking should translate well to safety, which is what Notre Dame needs. Carter’s physicality and experience in coverage will be vital, as he is a talented tackler who can go up against quality Power 5 competition. Carter’s signing will also have a significant impact on Harper. Without Carter, Notre Dame would have likely forced Harper to cross-train as a deep safety in addition to his more traditional nickel position. With Carter on board, Notre Dame will be able to leave Harper in the slot, where he is most effective. The addition of Harper in the nickel position and Carter in the safety position will provide the Irish secondary with much-needed experience, make them better in man coverage, and improve their productivity. With Carter in the fold, the Irish secondary will be able to rely less on freshmen Ben Minich and Adon Shuler. If they are ready, they may be able to force their way into the rotation, but with Carter in the mix, there is no need for them to play, unless injury demands it. By adding a player with Carter's experience and skills, Notre Dame's safety position has transformed from being a major concern to a key part of a much-improved defense.

By: Michael Blough | Writer | Twitter: @ MichaelBlough12 Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated He's home! Chansi Stuckey has done it again, bringing in Class of 2024 Wide Receiver Micah Gilbert. Micah picked Notre Dame over the likes of South Carolina, Michigan, Pitt, UNC, and Virginia Tech! Gilbert is a 6-foot-2 wide receiver from Charlotte, North Carolina where he plays his high school ball at Charlotte Christian. His junior year he put up 39 receptions for 486 yards and 6 touchdowns, but missed the end of the year with a wrist injury (according to 247sports.com). Another cool note about Micah is that he is actually the cousin of Darrelle Revis, who was an NFL Hall of Famer. Many thought this would push him to playing at Pitt, where Darrelle played. After watching the film on Micah, here are some thoughts: At 6'2" (some sites even list him at 6'3"), he has a frame that resembles a lot of talented receivers. Even before his senior year he is coming in above 200 pounds which is a good sight to see. I'd look for him to want to throw on a bit more weight before making his move to South Bend in 2024. His film shows great ability to make plays on the ball. Several times he is able to run his defender off and make athletic moves back to the ball, mostly on drop-outs or back shoulder fades. Another thing that impressed me was his ability to reach outside his frame and make true hands catches. This is pivotal for a receiver with his frame as he will be asked to come across the middle and make difficult catches in the heart of his defense. He is also great along the sideline with his breaks out of routes and his awareness and body positioning. Class Wrap-Up Micah is the second 4 star receiver to join the 2024 Irish recruiting class (Isaiah Canion), and they join recent 5 star Cam Williams. They of course are joined by C.J. Carr who seems to be playing a pivotal role in strengthening this class in positions of need. This is of course a testament to Chansi Stuckey's recruiting ability, and I don't see it stopping anytime soon. Stuckey has proved himself as someone that can get the players he likes, even dipping into California and Texas (which was not a frequent occurrence on previous staffs).

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer Photo Credit - Instagram @thebryceyoung Bryce Young is a four star defensive end out of Charlotte Christian High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 6-6 250 pound defensive end has had his recruitment blow up over the past several months. Young holds offers from Miami, Tennessee, Duke, USC, Penn State, and many others, but has committed to the University of Notre Dame. You may have heard of his father, Bryant Young, who played for Lou Holtz and the Irish in the early 90’s. Young was a 1st team All-American at Notre Dame, 7th overall draft pick to the 49’ers, Super Bowl champion, and NFL Hall of Famer. Quite the impressive resume. It is safe to say that Bryce Young was made a priority for the coaching staff to follow in his father’s footsteps and choose the Irish. If you turn on his film, there is a lot to like about Young’s game and his potential. Young finished his Junior year with a total of 92 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. The first thing that sticks out about Young is his length and athleticism. He has very long arms to go along with his quick feet. He shows good quickness off the edge, quick lateral movements and shows good ability to defend against the run. Young needs to continue developing his pass rush techniques, but that will come with time. The ceiling for Young is extremely high. With a year or two working with Coach Balis in the weight room, Young has the ability to be a dominant college player. Credit - Rivals.com It's worth noting that Young's teammate at Charlotte Christian is Micah Gilbert, a 4 star wide receiver who will be announcing his college decision on May 2nd. Both Young and Gilbert made the trip to Notre Dame for the Blue-Gold game, so there is a good chance that Gilbert may be picking the Irish as well. Overall, this is a big pick up for Al Washington and the Notre Dame defense. For Notre Dame to compete for National Championships, they have to dominate up front on both sides of the ball. Landing a player like Young is a huge step in the right direction for where the Irish want to go.

By Liam Farrell｜Writer｜Twitter @LiamFarrell_IT Via Notre Dame Athletics As Notre Dame wraps up their annual Blue Gold game, it is always a good feeling for fans to get a sneak peak as for what's to come for the upcoming season. It is a great outlet for many young players to put themselves on the map, and for veterans to reinstate their starting status. I'm here to break down 5 players who really stood out in the spring game. Number 1: Sam Hartman, QB It may be hard not to overreact after watching Hartman sling it during this spring game, and rightfully so. Hartman ripped it in the first half by the tune of 2 passing touchdowns, along with one rushing TD that had his gold team up 21-0 at half. The reads that Hartman was making were superb. While leading his team to three scoring drives, Hartman only had three incompletions all half. Sam did a great job taking what the defense was giving him in soft zone sets, while also with finding the deep man downfield. In a group of spring practices that had others labeling Buchner having an edge over Hartman, the Blue Gold game established Hartman as the true leader of this Notre Dame football team. Number 2: Jaden Greathouse, WR Via 247Sports The first thing that stands out about Greathouse is his physical appearance as a freshman. As a big-bodied wide receiver, Greathouse looks the part early on in his college football career. With Hartman as his quarterback, Greathouse shined in this offense. The large majority of Greathouse's catches were sitting in between a linebacker and a corner in zone coverage. Greathouse also had a great catch on a quick hitting slant, which put his phenomenal hands on display. Greathouse's play highlights the potential upside that this incoming crop of freshman wide receivers possesses. Number 3: Jaylen Sneed, LB Via Sports Illustrated Speed. Speed. Speed. In my opinion, Sneed was the most impressive player in the linebacker room for the Irish. One play that especially stood out was on a stretch play, in which Sneed tracked down and beat the speedy Chris Tyree to the sideline. The entire game it appeared as though Sneed was always in the right position at the right time. It could just be the number change or another year under his belt, but Sneed looks more confident out there and is making quicker decisions on the field. There is a lot to be excited for when looking at the uber-talented linebacker out of Hilton Head, South Carolina. Number 4: Jayden Thomas, WR Via Mark J. Rebilas- USA TODAY Sports Wide Receiver 1? Thomas sure did look the part. While having a touchdown catch to his name, Thomas also displayed that he can get vertical when he caught a 48-yard bomb early in the first quarter. The connection that Thomas has with Hartman is something that looks really promising. Thomas resembles the type of wide receiver that Hartman tends to enjoy throwing to, a physical, strong handed wideout. In recent Notre Dame memory, Thomas reminds me of a sophomore year Chase Claypool. Thomas' route running ability is special and he should be a true weapon for offensive coordinator Gerad Parker to utilize. Number 5: Jaden Mickey, CB Via Notre Dame Athletics King Mick. Mickey shined in today's spring game with the highlight being an interception on a 50/50 ball against the taller Deion Colzie. The best part about Mickey's game is his confidence on the field. His play is flashy, yet technical and when Mickey is on his game, it electrifies the entire defense. Mickey was even out there on special teams as the punt returner. If Mickey can keep up this play, Notre Dame will have an embarrassment of riches with Mickey, Ben Morrison, Cam Hart, and Clarence Lewis. Wrap Up With another Blue Gold game in the books, there is a lot to be excited about as a Notre Dame football fan. Sam Hartman dazzled. Young guns appeared to have gained size, speed and confidence. Lastly, and most thankfully, no apparent injuries. As spring ball comes to an end, Irish fans will now have to wait 4 never-ending months until we see our Irish line up on Irish soil. Go Irish!

By: Mike Stacey ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter: @MikeStaceyIT Photo Credit: ON3 The much anticipated Spring game finally kicked off this past Saturday, April 22nd at Notre Dame Stadium. Although this game is an intramural scrimmage, it brings with it excitement and a first look at what the squad is going to look like for the upcoming season. Sure, you can't make a final prediction or assessment based off of one game, 5 months before the season kicks off, but it can still give you an idea of where things stand at the moment. Notre Dame has a lot of question marks going into this season with a new staff and key players from last year departing. How will the interior offensive line look? How will the defensive line hold up? How will the safety play be this year? Will the young receivers step up and play to their potential? What will the scheme/plays look like on an offense with new coaches and a new coordinator? But of all the questions surrounding this team, one of the most interesting for me is in the quarterback room. When Sam Hartman transferred to ND, it felt like a pretty clear indication that he would be the starter this year and Tyler Buchner would be the back-up. My biggest hope was that Buchner would not transfer after this move was made. However, not only did Buchner not abandon ship and gracefully accept Hartman into the QB room, he has also reportedly been very good this spring. Add to that Coach Freeman's statement that a starter has not been named and may not be any time soon, and we had some real intrigue going into this scrimmage. Or so I thought..... Although the interest may have been high, the QB dual itself was a bit of a let down. Sam Hartman went 13 for 16 for 189 yards, 2 passing TD's and one rushing touchdown on a VERY impressive day. Hartman showed us a little bit of everything; his ability to throw the deep ball, his pin point accuracy, and his poise as he went through his progressions before finding the open man. Watching him play felt like watching a guy who had been playing on this team for years much less someone who just joined them this spring. You could not possibly ask for more from him on his first day in an Irish uniform. He looked like the seasoned veteran he is, and the man that Notre Dame fans were hoping to receive when his transfer was announced. Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated On the other side of the ball for the blue team was a different story. Buchner finished the game 8-18 for 44 yards and an interception at the end of his only drive where the offense was moving the ball. Buchner did not look like the guy we have been reading about so far this Spring. He was inaccurate, sailing some balls and throwing others short or behind receivers. He was also uncomfortable in the pocket and never got into any kind of rhythm. Buchner's performance was similar to some of the struggles we saw from him last year. However, In his defense, his offensive line did not do him ANY favors compared to the great protection that Sam Hartman had. This certainly was a factor and something that should be taken into consideration while evaluating Buchner's day. Also, with the red jersey on, Buchner was limited as a runner. As soon as someone got near him he was ruled down. This is something that greatly affected his best strength on the field, which is not only his ability to run but to break tackles. One positive I did take away from Buchner on the day was his post game interview. He didn't make excuses, he didn't seem defeated, he took it on the chin and had a positive attitude. This is vital for someone who is fighting for a starting job this year. This is the kind of attitude that can help him bounce back and continue to push Sam Hartman for QB1. Or, once again, so I thought.... Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated At the end of the day, this was clearly Sam Hartman's moment. I mean the guy was a complete stud on the field. He operated the offense in a manner that we as ND fans have not seen from a quarterback in a long time. If this was an indication of what is to come then ND may have an explosive offense this upcoming season. Quarterback play of that caliber, coupled with our experienced/talented offensive line, our incredible running back stable, our young, but athletic WR core, and our constant Tight End excellence? Wow......And then add to that a very solid/capable back up in Buchner!....Or....So I thought.... Today, a move that I feared but currently did not expect, happened. Tyler Buchner announced on social media that he was entering the transfer portal. At the time I started writing this article, I was planning on ending it with "don't count Buchner out just yet." Well, yeah, I guess that was premature. Although Buchner did mention in his post that him and Freeman were still open to him returning, I would certainly find that surprising. I am sure there will be a school out there willing to make someone with his athleticism and potential, a starter. (Perhaps Stanford?) At the very least, this will end any doubt (if there even was much out there) that Sam Hartman will be QB1 come this fall. And although I would love to see Buchner decide to return and give us a great back-up option, if he does choose another school, at least it ends any QB controversy/speculation moving forward. Notre Dame will have their starter, officially, and barring any surprising change of heart from Tyler Buchner his name will be Sam Hartman. GO IRISH!

By: Ruben Kelly Ysasi | Writer | Social Media Tyler Buchner intends to enter  the Transfer Portal, per Pete Thamel. Buchner, after a lackluster performance in the Notre Dame spring game, made the decision to leave the program. He stated, however, that Notre Dame is open to allowing him to return to the team provided the options aren’t to Buchner’s liking. Photo by Princeton Daily Clarion Buchner’s career at Notre Dame was highlighted through position battles and injury. As a true freshman, he fought Drew Pyne and Jack Coan for the starting job. While Coan won the job of starting quarterback, Buchner still got playing time as a Run-Option QB. After Marcus Freeman was named Head Coach of the Irish, he battled Drew Pyne for the starting job his sophomore year. His first start as a college quarterback, also his first start since his junior season of High School due to COVID, was in one of the most hostile environments in College Football. Ohio State was the preseason No. 2, and had one of the most lethal offenses in football. Despite that, Notre Dame shocked the world by competing throughout the game with them. In a game where defense was the focus, offensive struggles ended up highlighting the game. Notre Dame only put together 2 drives where they were able to score some points, but only one resulted in a touchdown. A scoreless second half allowed Ohio State to prevail in the end, but it seemed as if Notre Dame had a lot to be excited about. The next game is where it took a turn for the worst. Marshall was by all means considered a tune up game, with Notre Dame ahead of them in almost every category. Notre Dame was held to a single touchdown in the first half, 3 points less than what they put up against a playoff favorite. It wasn’t until the 4th quarter where the offense finally out it together, but it ended with a Buchner pick 6 that would haunt the program for the rest of the season. In one play, the career of Tyler Buchner and the fate of the 2022 Notre Dame football team was changed. A path to the playoffs was still an option until they lost their starting quarterback and their hopes for the season in a single play. Drew Pyne came in to replace him, but was unable to score their needed points before time expired. The rest of the season, minus Clemson and Boston College, were filled with “what ifs” as the fanbase looked back on that play.   Despite a Grade 2 shoulder sprain, Buchner worked through his rehab the rest of the season to prepare for a Bowl Game that seemed out of reach for a time. Had it not been for the performance against Clemson, the Irish would’ve been stuck playing a mid-tier Power 5 team that was nothing less than a fall from grace. It wasn’t until November that Buchner was finally cleared for full practice, and it was just in time. Notre Dame was scheduled to play South Carolina in the Gator Bowl on December 30th. After hearing the news of Buchner being cleared and Notre Dame would consider seeking a transfer portal quarterback in the spring, Drew Pyne made the decision to enter the portal. The path was clear for Buchner to start in the Gator Bowl, but it did not convince captains Isaiah Foskey and Michael Mayer to stay for the game. The first quarter opened up with South Carolina coming out with a bang. The first drive resulted in a South Carolina touchdown and Notre Dame ending with a 3 and out. Buy the defense made sure to keep ND in the game by recovering a much needed fumble. Buchner converted a 3rd and long by scoring a red zone rushing TD to even the score. South Carolina then scored off of a fake punt and as Notre Dame looked to match that, the Gamecocks converted a Buchner Pick 6 to expand the lead to 14 points. The gamecock defense then held the Irish to a field goal, erasing a Buchner rushing play. South Carolina then matched it with their own field goal, keeping a score of 24-10. Logan Diggs ended the next drive with a short pass play that ended up going for a 75 yard touchdown. Benjamin Morrison shut down any gamecock hopes of extending the lead with an interception at the end of the first half. Buchner then ran for yet another rushing touchdown to tie the game in the 3rd quarter. South Carolina was not to be outdone by having a “Catch of the Year” worthy touchdown pass the following drive. Notre Dame ended the 3rd quarter with a Brayden Lenzy touchdown pass. With the game tied and South Carolina forcing yet another 3 and out, Brian Mason called a risky fake Punt that would put the lead within reach. Logan Diggs scored yet another touchdown, finally giving the Irish their first lead of the game. The defense, not to be outdone, forced South Carolina to punt the very next drive. Just as the Irish were about to put the game under locks, Buchner threw a 100 yard Pick 6 at he goal line. The offense was able to drive down the field a final time and score the game winning touchdown, with the defense being able to force South Carolina into submission. The highlight of the game was Buchner’s comeback story and what was considered a “Gator Bowl Classic.” Both the University and fans looked towards next season for hopes on making the College Football playoff with Buchner at the helm.   Interestingly enough, Buchner’s problems were not over. It was reported during Bowl season that Sam Hartman would consider transferring to a new school to increase his draft stock. That school ended up being Notre Dame. On January 5th, the rumors were confirmed. Hartman officially committed to the Irish for his final season as a collegiate player. The following months were both Buchner and Hartman working in the weight room to perfect their skills before practices started. As the team returned to pads and helmets, it was noted by several members of the media that Buchner was outperforming Hartman. The concerns were written off as Hartman being new to the team and still learning the playbook, but the rumors still persisted. Once the Blue and Gold rosters were announced, it appeared as if the Blue team had been set up to dominate the Gold team, boasting players like Buchner, Fisher, Colzie, Merriwether, Tyree, and a highly experienced defense. On game day, however, the opposite happened. The Gold offense came out with 3 drives that all resulted in touchdowns, with Hartman rushing for one and passing for two. Despite the talent difference, the Gold team did outweigh the Blue with their offensive line. Good protection with Alt, Correll, Spindler, and Schrauth. Good protection combined with sophomore RB Gi’Bran Payne, true freshman Jaden Greathouse, and junior Jayden Thomas allowed the Golf offense to dominate the game. Hartman went 13/16 with 189 yards before being pulled in the late 3rd quarter. Buchner went 8/18 for 44 yards and 1 interception. After the game, it was clear to everyone, including Buchner, that Hartman would be named the starter. Nevertheless, Freeman insisted the QB battle would continue until the fall. Finally on April 25th, Buchner announced his intentions to enter the portal. The reasoning was clear to every Irish fan: Hartman is Heisman potential. Some options for Buchner include Alabama(to rejoin Tommy Rees), TCU, and Stanford. Wherever Buchner ends up going, even if it is to return to Notre Dame, that team will be gaining a star of a Quarterback.

By: Murray O'Connell | Writer | Twitter: @MurrayOConnell | Profile: @MurrayOConnell Photo Courtesy of ON3 If you were to offer me a million dollars and a pill that would give me guns like Marcus Freeman, I still would not be able to tell you who won last year’s Blue Gold game, or who the winning QB was, or even who scored the first touchdown that day. In fact, the odds are greater that Jason Garrett might actually say something interesting, for once, while broadcasting a game, than a lot of us staying awake for the entire duration of Saturday’s inter-squad scrimmage. So how can such a meaningless game be so meaningful to so many? For most, this will be the first time since the end of an exciting Gator Bowl game to see Notre Dame play in an actual “competitive” contest. Even though using the word competitive here might be stretching things a bit. Still though, the last on the field memory for Irish fans was a good one. The once upon a time starting quarterback returning from injury to lead his team to victory against a formidable opponent. Was Tyler Buchner perfect that day? No, but he showed Irish fans what he is capable of doing, and what he did, winning a bowl game, isn’t something Notre Dame fans have seen too much of these past few years. Obviously there will be plenty of eyes watching the Hartman vs Buchner battle for QB1, and it seems as though, based upon word coming from spring practice, Buchner may be making the decision a little harder for new offensive coordinator Gerad Parker than many originally thought. I’m sure most Irish fans would agree though, having to pick between the two, with some exceptional talent waiting in the wings, is a good problem to have. Speaking of, that will be another reason to tune in, to see how Coach Parker looks in his first opportunity at the controls. Coach Parker, the coach Irish fans didn’t know they wanted until Coach Freeman told us we did, will get his chance to show that he was promoted for a reason, and not because he was the last man standing. Will Parker use the game to show off some now more seasoned receivers, a stable of beasts at the running back position, or will he at least have something more creative on a short yardage play than the Mitchapalooza sneak, which ended up being about as sneaky as a giant pile of Jenga pieces crashing down? There’s also the new portal players many will be interested in seeing suit up for the first time. Maybe not as many players as Notre Dame fans would like, but for a University trying to stay ahead of the curve, it’s a good start. Can Javontae Jean-Baptiste bring that Buckeye dominance to the Irish defensive line? Will safety Thomas Harper be the second coming of Kyle Hamilton? Irish fans will soon find out. South Bend will also play host to both former and future Irish stars. Last year’s Blue and Gold game brought out the likes of Ian Book and Chase Claypool. Initial reports are there will be a large contingent of former players, which will be good for recruits like CJ Carr and Cam Williams who are rumored to be in attendance for this year’s game, making the Notre Dame sidelines the place to be on Saturday. But yet, why will so many of us be asleep by halftime? First of all, as important as developing depth will be to the success of the Irish this season, will a battle for backup offensive lineman be enough to hold an Irish fan’s attention? Last year’s Blue and Gold game’s box score reveals names like Andrew Yanoshak, Joshua Burnham, and Conor Ratigan. All three, I’m quite positive, possess more athletic ability in their big toes than I do in my entire body, but these were names we didn’t hear much from once the season started. Although this will be the first look at Coach Parker’s offense, there is little hope that we will see anything but basic vanilla play calling that will more closely resemble the offensive play sheet from Nintendo’s 1989 hit game Tecmo Bowl than anything we’ll see come August in Dublin, Ireland. I’m sure my glass of Jameson, my recliner, and a big pile of nachos will also greatly aid my napping experience Saturday afternoon, but I find myself, like many Irish fans, so greatly looking forward to a game that I know I won't stay awake all the way through. Still though, any day you get to see those golden helmets run out of that tunnel, any day you get to hear the band play the fight song, and any day you have something better on tv to watch than an afternoon baseball game in Cleveland, is a good day, whether that comes with a nap or not. By the way, last year the Gold won 13-10, Steve Angeli out dueled Drew Pyne at quarterback, and Andrew Yanoshak, a sophomore tight end, scored the game’s first touchdown. None of which seemed to matter once the season kicked off. Note: This is an article that is testing out ads - If you had a negative ad experience, please contact us so we can make it right: Email: irishtribunecontact@gmail.com - Text: (269)-588-0514 - DM @theirishtribune (IG/Twitter)

By: Patrick W. Byrne⏐Writer⏐Twitter: @ PatrickByrneIT (Courtesy of Marist Liufau on social media) It’s safe to say that Notre Dame has a solid group of returning linebackers. The amount of playing time amongst the starters is significant and should provide a solid foundation for the defense to have a successful season. Prior to doing any research for this article, my preconceived notion was the linebacker unit was good; but not great. I still think this is the case, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have an opportunity to take a step up from what they’ve done thus far. In other words, there’s a solid core with room for growth, this is certainly better than facing an inexperienced unit with only upside to consider (hello cornerbacks). For point of comparison, I wanted to see how our returning group of linebackers stacked up against the two best linebacker seasons in recent memory; 2012 and 2015. Before we dive in, some ground rules: Included were starters from each season and other players who contributed (i.e. I didn’t include anyone with 1-2 tackles total) Only included stats from the seasons being compared, both individually and in total: 2012, 2015 and 2022 Platinum Level: 2012 You can’t be surprised. The most magical season of Notre Dame football (prior to the proper lashing received by Alabama) comes in first when discussing stellar linebacker play. With 337 total tackles, helped in no small part by Te’o and his ridiculous 113 total with 7 (yes, 7) INTs, the unit was the heartbeat of the team. This Bob Diaco led group helped to win close games against Michigan, Stanford and USC, with a strong assist from their brothers on the defensive line. Along with Te’o, Dan Fox and Carlo Calabrese provided solid support and Prince Shembo could be a game wrecker when he was at his best. Even Ishaq Williams had a decent showing, though far below his 5 star ranking as per usual (along with Max Redfield, the two most underachieving and disappointing recruits in the past 20 years for me). (Courtesy: UHND.com) Manti Te’o Senior: 13 games/55 solo/58 assisted/113 total 7 INTs his senior year Dan Fox (1 year) Senior: 30 solo/33 assisted/63 total Prince Shembo Junior: 12 games/22 solo/29 assisted/51 total Carlo Calabrese Senior: 19 solo/30 assisted/49 total Danny Spond Junior: 11 games/17 solo/22 assisted/39 total Ishaq Williams Sophomore: 11 solo/11 assisted/22 total 337 total tackles in 2012 7 Total INTs The Gold Standard: 2015 Crazy to use this title given the considerable venom spewed by most Notre Dame supporters regarding the Brian Van Gorder led defensive years, but the numbers for this group don’t lie. It also doesn’t hurt that you had what amounted to a football rocket scientist leading the defensive play calling on the field (Joe Schmidt) while allowing the best defensive player in my lifetime to thrive (Jaylon Smith). You had a budding star in James Onwualu and solid contributions provided by both Greer Martini and Nyles Morgan. Even Jarrett Grace threw in 26 tackles to help with the total. Joe Schmidt, a former walk-on by the way, had 78 tackles as he understood the defense better than anyone and was consistently in the right place at the right time (JD Bertrand anyone?) Overall, this was a very productive unit with one of the best players in college football leading the way in Jaylon Smith. (Courtesy: UHND.com) Jaylon Smith Junior: 13 games/69 solo/46 assisted/115 total 1 INT as a freshman Joe Schmidt Senior (5th): 13 games/42 solo/36 assisted/78 total 1 INT (5th year) James Onwualu Junior: 11 games/21 solo/17 assisted/38 total Greer Martini Sophomore: 7 games/19 solo/16 assisted/35 total Jarrett Grace: Senior: 10 games/15 solo/11 assisted/26 total Nyles Morgan Sophomore: 10 games/9 solo/8 assisted/17 total 309 total tackles in 2015 2 Total INTs The Known & Unknown Commodity - 2023 I know, I know, a confusing title but I think it makes sense. We both know what we have in guys like JD Bertrand and Jack Kiser (productive stalwarts who maximize their potential) while still not knowing whether Marist Liufau will play well against anyone other than UNC. Will Jaylon Sneed be the 5 star recruit we all want/need, or will he be another Ishaq Williams? Will Prince Kollie have a breakout year, supplanting Liufau and living up to his 4 star potential? My take going into the season is yes, yes and maybe respiectively. It’s difficult for every player to live up to the hype. My guess is Liufau remains a marginal player, while Sneed and Kollie provide the lift needed in order for the team to meet the Gold or even Platinum standard mentioned above. Either will be hard to meet considering none of these players, aside from Sneed, has the “star potential” of a Te’o or Smith, but that’s not to say it won’t happen. If he’s able to put on weight and pick up the instincts, he should have the ability based on the feedback provided by every recruiting service when he was coming out of high school. Incoming freshman Drayk Bowen is also an obvious choice for most intriguing player within the linebacker corps and perhaps the entire defense. Can he live up to other Notre Dame Butkus Award winners Te'o, Smith and Kollie to not only see the field but contribute as a freshman? How about Preston Zinter and Nolan Ziegler? Will they provide a spark? Only time will tell, but I’m betting on Bowen. A two sport athlete who at one point was fiddling with 5 star status, he’s a highly motivated kid who appears eager and hungry to make an impact. (Courtesy: One Foot Down) JD Bertrand Senior Year: 12 games/45 solo/37 assisted/82 total Backups: Drayk Bowen & Preston Zinter Freshman: No Stats to Report Marist Liufau Senior Year: 13 games/22 solo/29 assisted/51 total 1 INT in his career Backup: Prince Kollie, Junior Junior: 13 games/13 solo/6 assists/19 total Jack Kiser Senior Year: 13 games/28 solo/30 assisted/58 total 2 INTs in his career Backup: Jaylen Sneed Sophomore: played in 4 games/1 solo/6 assisted/7 total 191 total tackles in 2022 3 Total INTs Although the 2023 linebacker corps may never reach the Platinum and/or Gold levels of 2012 and 2015, this can still be a very productive unit for the Irish this fall. A core group of starters with leadership and starting experience should provide a solid foundation for the younger players to not only get in the game, but find their sea legs as the season goes on. Avoiding injuries will be key, as the guys behind the starters are green. If they can do that, one can make an argument that the linebackers are the backbone of the defense and a top tier strength of the team heading into the season. Note: This is an article that is testing out ads - If you had a negative ad experience, please contact us so we can make it right: Email: irishtribunecontact@gmail.com - Text: (269)-588-0514 - DM @theirishtribune (IG/Twitter)