By: Mike Stacey | Writer | Twitter: @ MikeStaceyIT Credit: Yahoo Sports News broke yesterday that Notre Dame Head Basketball Coach Mike Brey would be stepping down at the end of the season. This came a couple days after a brutal loss to Florida State. A team that was winless on the road this season coming into Purcell Pavillion. It was another gut wrenching loss in a season that has been full of them. Notre Dame is coming off a year that saw them make it back to the Big Dance for the first time after a four year drought. This season, with this group of seniors and some talented incoming freshmen, the expectation was supposed to be similar results, if not better. Instead, it has been one head scratching performance after another. This isn't the first time that a Mike Brey lead team has struggled, but it is the first time that a team with this many seniors, with this type of experience, have seemingly no answers or fight. Each game we are left waiting for the Mike Brey magic to kick in and things to turn around like it has happened so many times before. Instead? Blown leads in the second half and awful losses to inferior teams that has lead to an abysmal 9-10 record and 1-7 in the ACC. After their most recent loss to Florida State, I had a feeling that it may have been the last straw. I remember the game ending and for the first time in the Brey Era, I felt like there was no hope. This team was done, lifeless, and showed no hope of recovering. I immediately began to think about the very real possibility that this was Brey's last year. I did not think Notre Dame would ever fire him during the season, but I was confident that a change after the season was imminent. After thinking this over for a few minutes I became very intrigued with how his press conference would go. What would he say? How would he say it? Would he be the same old upbeat Brey and try to put a positive spin on this game, this season? Or would he seem as defeated as I felt as a fan. I got my answer in short order. I have seen Mike Brey upset before, (we all remember his post game that got him fined, ironically, after a Florida State game.) but this press conference was different. It was not simply him being upset, it was him being defeated. You could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice, and feel it in his actions. He was a guy who knew the end was coming, and it was eating him up. The emotions that he did such a great job of keeping under control during his remarkable 23 year career at Notre Dame were beginning to spill out. He seemed unraveled as he talked about spoiling people, slapped the table several times, mimicked himself all while seemingly trying to do it in a funny way, although it was apparent there was no humor inside of him. This man, who had given so much to this program, knew he was approaching the end and it hurt. Credit: Kenosha News Mike Brey came to Notre Dame in 2000 and lead the Irish to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1990. In fact, Brey lead the Irish to the Tourney in his first 3 seasons, including a trip to the sweet 16 in year 3. (Featuring one of my all time favorite Notre Dame players, Chris Thomas) After 3 straight years of making the tourney, he went 3 straight without making it. Brey rebounded by making the tournament 6 out of the next 8 years, however the Irish never made it past the 2nd round. What were great regular seasons in the Big East seemingly took a lot out of the Irish come post season. The Irish were no longer a pushover program, they were competing with the top teams in the top conference in college basketball all year long. However, come tourney time they were an easy and quick out. Just when I was wondering if Brey had taken the Irish as far as he could, the 2014-15 season came along... Credit: Chicago Tribune The 2014-15 season was something I will never forget. Lead by a starting lineup consisting of Jerian Grant, Pat Connaughton, Demetrius Jackson, Zach Auguste and Steve "The Baby Faced Assassin" Vasturia, (Not to mention Bonzie Colson and V.J. Beachem off the bench). This team was the perfect blend of talent, selflessness, and heart. After finishing the season 3rd in the ACC, the Irish entered the ACC tournament as a bit of a dark horse. At this time, it was assumed either Duke, Louisville, or North Carolina would be the team to come out victorious. After all, Notre Dame had been nothing but a regular season team who couldn't hack it at the end of the year, but the Irish had other plans. Notre Dame began the tournament by knocking off Miami in the quarterfinals. Up next was a huge test, the #2 overall ranked Duke Blue Devils in their home state. Everybody and their mother had Duke to come out on top of this one, but Brey and his squad not only beat Duke but beat them by double digits. The Irish walked away with a 10 point victory and an appointment with North Carolina for the Championship. Once again, Notre Dame was the underdog, facing another blue blood in their home state in a tournament they had plenty of experience winning. The game started off well for the Irish who went into half with the lead, but North Carolina came out hot to start the second half and built a lead that went as high as 9 points. The Irish refused to go down easy and with just under 8 minutes left in the game the Irish took the lead and never looked back, running away to an 8 point win and their first ever conference tournament championship under Mike Brey. This, in only their second season in the ACC. The Irish celebration was short lived as they had to prepare for the NCAA tourney, the same one that had been such a hinderance for them in years past. The good news was the Irish had a TON of momentum going into it, but would they have enough left in the tank to perform? Would they get bounced out early like back in the Big East Days? Fortunately, they had plenty left to give, and refused to let history repeat itself. This was the first time since Brey's sweet 16 appearance in year 3 that he had made it back to the Sweet 16, but the Irish were not done there. After knocking off Wichita State, next up was a matchup with the juggernaut Kentucky Wildcats in the Elite 8. Kentucky was not only the overall #1 seed in the tourney, but they were a remarkable 37-0 going into the game. This was a lineup that included Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Tyler Ulis....coming off the bench! This game had all the makings of a David vs Goliath matchup, and staying true to their nickname, the Irish gave a David like performance. Notre Dame fought hard the entire game and showed they belonged on the same court as the mighty Wildcats. In the end, Karl-Anthony Towns and Kentucky proved to be just one possesion better after a Jerian Grant desperation 3 from the corner missed to end the Irish season. Even though it was a heartbreaking loss, the momentum for the program was very, very real. Credit: Notre Dame Magazine The following season started without Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton who were off to the NBA. Although there were high expectations, no one was expecting the Irish to replicate what they did the season before. With the emergence of Bonzie Colson, the Irish found themselves back in the Big Dance. After big wins over Michigan, a miracle tip in by Rex Pfleuger against Stephen F. Austin, and a 5 point victory over Wisconsin (who made it to the finals the year prior after giving Kentucky their only loss of the year) the Irish were back in the Elite 8. An incredible feat for Brey and his program. Unfortunately, once again, the Irish fell short of the Final Four. This loss was much more convincing than the past years, but the buzz around Mike Brey and his program could not have been any louder. The Irish were turning into a national presence in college hoops for the first time since the Digger days. Any doubt I had in coach Brey fell to the wayside, and I was ready for this to be the new normal in South Bend. Unfortunately, Notre Dame could never sustain that momentum. The following year the Irish got bounced from the tournament in the second round. The next year, key injuries to Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell (Matt announced his retirement from basketball yesterday, before the Brey news broke) left the Irish as the first team out of the tournament. There was some hope, as next year's class would include Mike Brey's highest rated recruiting class in his career. However, this class, which still has some players playing today (Dane Goodwin, Nate Laszewski) never panned out. The Irish went 4 straight seasons of not making the NCAA Tournament (Covid canceled one of those post seasons, but the Irish were not going anyway) before finally making their return last season. The Irish played very well and made a drastic turn around from the previous year, finishing 2nd in the ACC. The Irish went on to win their play-in game and knock off a very tough Alabama team before falling just short against Texas Tech in the second round. Last year, once again, brought back some momentum to the Irish, but this year it did not carry over. Instead, this season has been nothing short of a disaster. A typical Mike Brey "old guys" team who is supposed to be the cream of the crop in his program, has played some of the worst basketball we have ever seen from a Brey team. So here we are.... Credit: IndyStar Although Mike Brey is one of my favorite coaches of all time, I feel like it is time. At some point, all great rides need to come to an end, and it's time to take the keys away. Although all Irish fans would have loved to see Coach Brey exit on top, this should not diminish what he has done for this program. I remember the days of Notre Dame basketball before he got there. They were horrendous to put it honestly. He inherited a basketball program at a football school and made it not only respectable, but competitive at a national level for many years. He will end his career with the most wins in Notre Dame history and a .641 winning percentage over 23 years. That includes an incredible .805 winning percentage at home, the place where Mike Brey shined the most. Whether it be on the sidelines or up in the crowd with the students, the Mike Brey magic was palpable inside the Joyce Center/Purcell Pavillion. This is how I will remember him most. The loose coach in casual attire with a big smile on the sideline, willing an underdog team to pull one out in a game they have no business winning, urging the crowd to get even louder than they already are. This is where he was at his best. So as this year comes to a close and along with it, an era, I will be grateful for everything that Mike Brey has done for this program. And who knows, maybe he has a little bit of his old magic left in the tank for the finish. One last midseason turn around, one last trip into the crowd after a win, one last hilarious post conference before he says goodbye to the game for good. Thanks for the memories, coach.

Written by Liam Gaudet, Senior Editor I remember September 12th, 2015 like no other. Notre Dame ranked ninth in the country heading into Cavalier territory after stomping the Texas Longhorns at home 38-3 had me ecstatic for a season that would surely see the Irish finally put it all together. A dual threat quarterback in Malik Zaire and dynamic playmakers on the outside, all rounded out by the swiss army knife that was C.J. Prosise had this offense looking dangerous. I can’t lie, the naïve young fan I was completely overlooked the Cavaliers and was anxiously anticipating what would be a top 15 showdown with Georgia Tech the following week, but I digress. The weather in Virginia was bleak. Light showers and a black sky covered Scott Stadium, almost foreshadowing the events that were about to take place. On a designed quarterback draw early into the game, Zaire would have his foot trapped beneath a defender and go down with a season-ending ankle injury. Enter DeShone Kizer, who hadn’t managed to get any meaningful snaps in his career up until the prior week in the aforementioned blowout win over Texas. Although the Irish managed to jump out to a two-score lead, it diminished quickly in typical Notre Dame fashion, and the Irish found themselves trailing 27-26 with the seconds ticking away on the final drive. The Irish found themselves on the Virginia 39 yard line with 19 seconds left on the clock, ticking away. Kizer bought time in the pocket and launched it toward the end zone - oh my god Fuller caught it! We actually did it, we escaped with a win… And of course the legendary meme was born. Photo by One Foot Down Looking back on that game got me thinking - When was the last time a Notre Dame receiver completely took over a game like that? This wasn’t Will Fuller’s first long and electrifying touchdown of the season, let alone the game, as he hauled in a bomb from Zaire prior to his injury. It seemed like whenever the Irish needed a miracle, Fuller would deliver against all odds. It was to the point where it was almost expected, and this would no doubt translate to more receivers elevating their play to reach new heights in the blue and gold… Right? Not exactly. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Since I started following Notre Dame closely about 14 years ago, the slow and painful decay of the receiver room has never been more prevalent than it was since the departure of our last true wide-receiver-one in Chase Claypool. Now of course I’m not ignorant enough to ignore the fact that below average quarterback play hasn’t crippled the potential of some seriously talented receivers, but it isn’t like some of our best receivers in the past decade were catching passes from Joe Montana. This issue has a lot of moving parts, and so far the staff has addressed some of them, but upon dissecting these issues myself, there are a few key points that have come to mind that are already being mitigated by Marcus Freeman and company. The immediate thing that comes to mind is lack of performance, which stems from lack of development. The slow poisoning of the receiving core rests mainly on the shoulders of Del Alexander, who had elite skill at his disposal only to either let it wither away on the bench or produce absolutely no meaningful results. I found it a miracle that Notre Dame was even able to recruit the position when he was on the staff, and I think the recruits finally caught on to the anemic production before exploring other options. The recruiting of elite receiving talent slowly diminished over time, and it wasn’t much of a surprise at all. Notre Dame saw decommitments and mass-transfers out of the program as a result, and suffered for it heavily the past couple of seasons. This put a lot of pressure on the depth of the Irish receiving room, which either lacked playing time and experience, or just simply lacked talent. When I mentioned that Notre Dame was able to recruit under Alexander, I didn’t necessarily mean well. Bayou Brian isn’t free of blame here either, as it was proven over the past two seasons by Marcus Freeman that it isn’t as hard as Kelly made it out to be to recruit at Notre Dame. I challenge you to look into Notre Dame’s receiver recruiting classes from 2017 to 2020. These four classes combined had a total of THREE top 300 ranked receivers according to 247 Sports. One of those players is Jordan Johnson, the only five star receiver in years to sign with Notre Dame who promptly transferred out of the program after his freshman season to the dismay of the entire fanbase. The other two players: Kevin Austin (ranked 82) spent the majority of his time injured before producing one decent season, and Lawrence Keys III (ranked 286) who transferred out as well. So if you can’t even get the best out of your top end talent on the roster, then why even bother attempting a forward pass at all. A change needed to be made, and thankfully it came. Photo by 247 Sports Chansi Stuckey didn’t reinvent the wheel in his first season at Notre Dame after Del Alexander’s departure, but he certainly managed to do more with less. Jayden Thomas was a bright spot this season after barely seeing the field in his freshman season, and although shaky at times, Lorenzo Styles will more than likely be a large piece in a Sam Hartman led offense next season. Deon Colzie is finally starting to look like the player we all expected after making a few key receptions this season, and even Braden Lenzy was utilized more to his skillset this season than in previous years. All this without mentioning that these players aren’t ones he recruited, but has still managed to make a meaningful impact on. I haven’t even mentioned the recruiting aspect of Stuckey’s regime, and this is where things start to get exciting. In just one cycle, Stuckey matched the number of top 300 receivers from the four recruiting cycles I mentioned earlier, as he secured signatures from Braylon James, Jaden Greathouse and Rico Flores. With the injection of talent into the room, there is no reason to expect that the product on the field will go anywhere but up. In the majority of interviews with the receiver signees, all of them cite their relationship with Stuckey as one of the driving forces in attending Notre Dame. Pairing his ability to bring the best out of even the worst of situations with his tenacity in recruiting, and you have a recipe for long-term success. It’s finally time for the Notre Dame wide receiver redemption arc.

By: Michael Blough | Writer | Twitter: @MichaelBlough12 College Football is simply unrivaled in its pace. The season moves by so quickly that you breeze past the fact that there will be no more games until late August. Today is one of those days! With the end of the 2022 Notre Dame Football season passing us just over two weeks ago, it's time to start looking forward to next year. At 9 A.M. this morning, the official 2023 Notre Dame football schedule was released. In this article I will break down each game, give some important info about each team (as with anything in CFB these days, it is subject to change), and give some insight into the scheduling as a whole. If you have not seen the video tweeted out by the official Notre Dame Football account (embedded below), give it a look as it is pretty neat. Game 1: Navy (Dublin, Ireland) Notre Dame will start its season on August 26th in Dublin, Ireland as it takes on Navy. Some people may remember that this is a game that was supposed to be played in 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Navy is coming off a 4-8 year where it fired its longtime head coach Ken Niumatalolo and hired Brain Newberry. Newberry has been on the staff since 2019 serving as its defensive coordinator. This year more than any, I saw much more distaste from fans on Twitter asking the very valid question, "Why does Notre Dame still schedule Navy every year". I won't get into my thoughts on the matter, but if they're on the schedule, we might as well beat them! I actually really like that this is the first game of the year rather than it being scheduled in the middle of the year. Reason being, Navy is always a trap game as they play a completely different style than any other team on the schedule. Get this game over with in week 0, and move on to the rest of the schedule after that. I'd look for Al Golden and Marcus Freeman to have a more comprehensive game plan this time around, unlike 2022 where Navy was able to put up 32 points and make it close in the second half. Game 2: Tennessee State (Home) For the first time in school history, Notre Dame will play an HBCU school. Also, this will be the first time that Notre Dame has faced off against an FCS school. Tennessee State is coached by College Football Hall of Fame inductee Eddie George, and are coming off a 4-7 year. This will be George's third year as the coach of the TSU Tigers. Tennessee State will be a run-first team just like many other FCS schools, and will come into the game with a lot of excitement looking to stun the Irish. I would expect the Irish to handle business and walk away with a comfortable win. Game 3: NC State (Away) The Irish will begin their ACC schedule by heading to the state of North Carolina to take on NC State. NC State will certainly look different without QB Devin Leary who hit the transfer portal and will now play ball at the University of Kentucky. Jordan Houston will return for the Wolfpack as the primary back, with Michael Allen getting some carries as well. NC State also lost their top receiver as Thayer Thomas is headed to the draft. NC State finished with an 8-5 record posting some impressive wins over UNC, Wake Forest, and Florida State, but also had some bad losses, most notably to Boston College. The Wolfpack seemed to struggle in the bowl game, losing to Maryland 16-12. I think this is a pretty representative of what their 2023 season will look like without Devin Leary slinging passes. Photo Credit: https://gopack.com/sports/football Game 4: Central Michigan (Home) Notre Dame gets a short break from ACC play and will host the Central Michigan Chippewas. Central Michigan is coming off a 4-8 season MAC season. the Chippewas are coach by Jim McElwain who will be heading into his 5th year as the head coach. After good years in 2019 and 2021, the Chippewas slipped in 2022, but are hopeful for the future as they brought in the #1 recruiting class in the MAC in 2023. I don't expect the Chippewas to have much for the Irish on September 16th, but this would be your classic "look-ahead" game, as the opponent the next week will be on the minds of the Irish. As we learned in 2022, these games can go sideways quickly, and the Irish should not underestimating anyone. Game 5: Ohio State (Home) Well, well, well. Ohio State is coming to South Bend on September 23rd to finish off their home and home series. The Buckeyes began the schedule for the Irish in 2022, but find themselves in the middle of the schedule here in 2023. Ohio State found themselves sneaking into the College Football Playoff in 2022, and even being a FG away from beating Georgia. But, much like Notre Dame in 2022, Ohio State will be starting a new QB as CJ Stroud finally announced he is heading to the NFL draft. I think this is a great spot for Notre Dame to flex their muscles and pick up a win versus a sure-fire top 10 team. Ohio State will return wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who had a monster 2022 season and will be looking for more in 2023. An important facet of this game will be Ryan Day's adjustment to being more of a manger-head coach rather than calling plays as well, as Brian Hartline (wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator) was promoted to OC this offseason. I am very excited about this game, and Notre Dame Stadium better be full (don't sell your tickets to Buckeye fans please!) Game 6 and Game 7: Duke and Louisville (Away) I already know what you're thinking, why group these games together? Well, I think these games against Duke and Louisville have very similar qualities. Duke is coming off a revolutionary year under head coach Mike Elko (who Irish fans should be familiar with as he was the DC in 2017). Louisville is coming off a decent 8-5 year, but underwent some staff changes as Jeff Brohm, previously the head coach of Purdue, was hired to be the HC of the Cardinals. Now, the Irish will be the more talented team in both of these games, but for some reason these feel like the perfect opportunity for an upset. Both Brohm and Elko are familiar with Notre Dame and the style they want to play, so don't look past either of these games on the schedule. Game 8: USC (Home) The Irish will host the Trojans on October 14th as Lincoln Riley will be in his second season at USC. If you had the "pleasure" of watching the game this year, you will know that USC poses a unique challenge to the Irish, and his name is Caleb Williams. The 2022 Heisman winner will return to USC before he heads off to the draft after the 2023 season. In one of the most confusing staff moves of the off-season, Riley announced that he would retain DC Alex Grinch. USC had one of the worst defenses in the country last year and I would have expected Riley to move on and find a new DC. Perhaps this could be good for the Irish as they have added a QB that can fully take advantage of a poor defense. I would expect this game to look a little bit different in 2023! Photo credit: New York Times/Todd Van Emst Game 9: Pittsburgh (Home) Coming off a bye week, the Irish will host the Panthers on October 28th. Pitt is coming off a nice 9-4 year after having to replace Kenny Pickett in 2022. Pitt is losing their QB from 2022 as Kedon Slovis is transferring again, this time to BYU. Pitt will be on the of the most experienced teams that Notre Dame plays all year, as they will have a lot of seniors and redshirt seniors on the field. I would think the Irish can handle business in this spot, but Pitt will put up a heck of a fight. Game 10: Clemson (Away) For the first time since 2015, the Irish will head to Memorial Stadium to face Clemson. The Tigers were a bit shaky in 2022, as they were getting more respect than they deserved. Coming into Notre Dame Stadium undefeated, they got beat up as the Irish pulled off the upset, 35-14. The Tiger's will be forced to replace their QB in 2023, as DJ U iagalelei hit the transfer portal, but that might be okay with Clemson fans. True freshman Cade Klubnik looked good in spots, but will need to make large strides to bring the Tigers back to the College Football Playoff. Also, Clemson is getting a heck of an OC in Garrett Riley (Brandon Streeter was fired last week). I would look for Riley to have a huge impact on this offense next year. Photo Credit: Ken Ruinard / USA TODAY Sports Game 11: Wake Forest (Home) On Senior Day at Notre Dame Stadium, Sam Hartman will face-off against his former school. Wake Forest will need to replace one of the best QB's in ACC history which will prove to be a difficult task. The Demon Deacons are coached by Dave Clawson and are notorious for running one of the most funky offenses in College Football. Notre Dame will need to prepare well for this, as it can put up points incredibly quick. Wake is coming off an 8-5 year with nearly all of their offensive success stemming from Hartman. I think the Irish will finish off their home season with a nice win over Wake Forest. Game 12: Stanford (Away) In one of the most frustrating games in recent memory, the Cardinals beat the Irish 16-14 at Notre Dame Stadium in 2022. Stanford was far less talented and the Irish let the Cardinals hold onto a win. To say I don't expect that to happen again is an understatement. Stanford fired David Shaw after a 3-9 year and hired Troy Taylor who was the head coach at Sacramento State and previously an offensive coordinator at Utah. Between a new coach, players leaving, and reestablishing a program, I would expect the Irish to get some payback and win comfortably.

By: Murray O'Connell | Writer | Twitter: @MurrayOConnell | Profile: @MurrayOConnell Image Courtesy of Nintendo Beau knows football, specifically quarterbacks. Beau Riley has grown up his entire life playing quarterback in Texas. He was once coached by Texas High School Football icon Eddie Peach and has worked individually with fellow icon Todd Dodge. After college, Riley had a few tryouts with some Canadian football teams, but decided to go the Arena Ball route instead playing for teams such as the Bossier City Battle Wings, Rio Grande Valley Dorados, and Odessa Roughnecks. Now Riley is a teacher and coach at the high school I teach at, so we were able to get him cheap. The son of a coach, Riley grew up a Joe Montana fan, so much so that he’s only played wearing either a # 3 or # 16 jersey number. However, he claims to only follow the college teams his former athletes now play for, unless there is a big game of the week. This is relevant because Riley does not consider himself a member of the Subway Alum, meaning he’s a little ambivalent to Notre Dame football and is able to look at things in an entirely unbiased fashion. The experiment: Riley was asked to break down film, something he does frequently at his current job, and evaluate both Tyler Buchner and Sam Hartman on the opening series of their bowl games, on their first series of the second half, and on a random scoring drive. He was tasked with evaluating Buchner and Hartman the same way he would break down the opposing quarterback his team would be facing on a Friday night during football season. Opening drive: Buchner vs the South Carolina defense: "It looks like it was his first time back from an injury because he’s throwing the ball really fast, but there is not a lot of wasted motion in his throw, he has a quick release, that’s good. He’s in empty formation a lot so obviously he’s a runner. When in the pocket he gets it out quick without a big wind up, that's more effective because when the pocket collapses the ball isn’t out there for a defender to reach. He does carry the ball a little low, but he can throw from different arm positions which is good because when he’s got a defender on him he’s going to have to find ways to get rid of the ball quick." Hartman vs the Missouri defense: "He’s done a good job stepping up in the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield, that shows he has confidence in his arm. He is holding the ball low though, so when he opens up the ball is going to be more exposed. Compared to Buchner he has a slower release because he has to wind up his motion to make a throw. He puts a good touch on his passes, it takes him longer to get the throw out but he’s not late with it. Buchner could make throws like that, he just needs to learn how, but Hartman has more control over those type of passes." Second half drive Buchner: "He has good pocket presence even knowing he is going to take a hit after. He has a tight compact movement and keeps his eyes downfield. But none of that matters if the part of him that’s touching the ground isn’t good and he has such good quick feet. He looks like he’s doing a ladder run out there, but as long as he can put his foot down his throws will be crisp." Second half drive Hartman: "That long wind up is just how he throws, he knows how to make it work for him. He has good ball placement and great downfield control, when he throws a deep ball he knows exactly where it’s going. It’s like he’s not thinking with his brain, it’s almost like a zen way to throw, his entire body already knows what to do." Buchner scoring drive: "I just really like how quickly he gets the ball out. He’s putting it in places where the receivers have a chance. I think Hartman is better at ball placement than him, but he’s not bad. He has really good feet, good footwork. I don’t know what his top end speed is, but it doesn’t really matter because he’s able to shift and his toes just tap the ground as he moves. He’s smart enough to let his lineman do their job and just not take off every time he feels pressure." Hartman scoring drive: "As far as putting the ball in catchable areas for his receivers to get to, he’s great at it. He’s throwing more catchable balls than Buchner. He has great pocket presence, even with a defender grabbing him he still keeps his eyes downfield. He knows what everybody should be doing on each play, when he feels pressure he knows where he needs to look for an open receiver." Buchner individual report: Vision: "It’s pretty good, it looks like a lot of their play designs are set up so his progressions will eventually lead to a run, I think he sees the field pretty good because he’s throwing to guys that are open." A rm Strength: "I didn't see a whole lot of deep balls, but he threw some good mid range balls, I would assume, from what I've seen from his form, he probably can throw it deep but with his release he maybe has some difficulty controlling where it goes. He’s no Dan Marnio, but there was another guy that wore # 3 in the 70’s for Notre Dame who didn’t have tremendous strength and ended up doing pretty ok. He’s got arm strength but maybe not arm control. Think of it like Ricky Vaughn from Major League, obviously he’s not taking anybody's head off, but it's the idea that it becomes a finesse thing to be able to really know when you throw a ball where its going to end up. Footwork: "Obviously it’s very good. He is super quick on his toes, does a great job keeping his feet underneath him, and doesn’t overextend with his feet. He keeps his feet within his frame and allows his body to have balance." Mobility: "He is pretty fast, pretty quick, he’s got some twinkle toes so it's hard for him to be tackled. He is good at setting up blockers by dipping in and out and allowing them to do their job." Accuracy: "Everything is good except for the deep ball, he seems a little jittery, a little wild, but it's gonna happen. The balls were close enough to the receivers for them to be able to at least touch it, and I tell my receivers if you can touch it then you can catch it." Intangibles: "He seems to carry himself and the team well. It's obvious the guys respond to him and his leadership. South Carolina had a really good last few games so for him to come in and run like he did, he’s got a little bit of swagger." Hartman individual report. Vision: "He has excellent vision, he sees the field great. He looks like he recognizes man vs zone and recognizes which routes he needs to throw to for sure." Arm strength: "It’s good, he certainly has the ability to put and control the ball downfield. Yeah he’s kind of a stud." Footwork: "It’s good, he kept everything underneath the frame. He didn't overreach, didn't do anything outside his body to put himself terribly out of balance. To run slow mesh you have to have good footwork in order to bring your foot back around fast and make a good throw from that mesh position." Mobility: " He’s ok, he’s not Buchner. He’s more of a pro style quarterback that's going to stand back in pocket and throw. In the pocket he does good things, but I didn't see anything to make me think he’s a threat as a runner. When he does run he may get his 3-4 yards and then they run the next play, but if Buchner were to run he’s going to get you 10-15 yards, he’s on a different level." Accuracy: "He’s got really good accuracy, he puts the ball where the receiver can get it, he’s able to find holes in the defense and put the ball where it needs to be. Even though he has a longer throwing release he still has good motion, it's only going to hurt him when the pocket collapses." Intangibles: "He’s got more than a little swagger. He is really confident in what he’s doing and carries himself differently. When he’s out there he knows he’s the guy." Now the million dollar question, if Riley was Coach Freeman, who would be leading the Irish in August in Dublin, Ireland against Navy? Both quarterbacks offer different strengths and weaknesses which affect the offense in various ways. There is however one factor that Buchner has to offer over Hartman. “I go with Buchner because he’s there, he’s invested in the program and has experience running it. Even though Hartman is more talented, he may not have the experience in the offense yet. That’s not to say he couldn’t get it easily, but personally I’m going to stick with the guys that have been there. It’s going to be an open competition, but I’m going to dance with the one that brung me, the one that’s been in the locker room already,” said Riley. Who ever will be leading the dance in August for the Irish has yet to be determined, but it's safe to say Notre Dame finds itself in a position at quarterback where they have not been in for a very long time. They actually have a couple of high quality options available, and one or two more waiting in the wings. Photos courtesy of Michael Conroy AP, yahoo!sports, Gary McCullough AP. Video courtesy of ESPN.

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer When Oklahoma State safety Thomas Harper announced his transfer to Notre Dame, fans of the Fighting Irish knew they were getting a physical and competitive player. But what they may not have realized is that they're also getting a leader who is determined to help his team win at all costs. In an exclusive interview with Harper, he made it clear that he's not just a talented player, but a team player who is ready to do whatever it takes to bring Notre Dame to the top. In talking with Harper, the first thing I thought of was "this guy is a competitor." With Harper joining the Notre Dame defense, the Fighting Irish are sure to have a player that gives 100% and is a leader on the field. Harper's physicality, passion, and determination will definitely make him a valuable asset to the team and one that the fans should look forward to watching. Photo Credit - Instagram iamtharp_ What are some of your hobbies outside of football? "I'm kind of chill and laid back. I like to read a lot, watch movies, go outdoors, fish and hike." How was the process of going through a second recruitment? What were your final schools? Did NIL play a role? "It came down to Kansas St, Michigan St, Tulane, and Notre Dame. NIL was not the leading cause of my decision. I was more concerned with being on a team that can compete for a National Title or a New Years 6 bowl. Being on a team that will be in the top 10. Along with that, I wanted to go somewhere that would maximize my potential. Somewhere that I can continue to improve my game and get good coaching." What was it about Notre Dame that made you decide to commit? "When you think of Notre Dame, me personally, I think of prestige. I think of a consistently good football program that wins. That was all very attractive for me. Also, the players that they have produced on the back end and on the defensive side of the ball. The coaches and their resumes made it a very attractive destination for me when they offered." In watching your film, it looks as though you can play anywhere in the secondary. Safety and Nickel are the two areas of need for the Irish, do you have a preference? And why? "The coaching staff explained to me that they are looking for me to play either nickel or safety. They think I can add a lot of versatility to the secondary. I don’t really have a preference. I enjoy playing both. Honestly, I feel like playing nickel is a little bit more difficult, but I don’t have a preference. I enjoy playing both." You played special teams at Oklahoma State. Did the staff talk to you about playing special teams at Notre Dame? "No we didn't really get into special teams, but I assume that I am going to be a part of special teams. I'm not a guy that doesn't want to be on special teams. Its a big part of the game and especially with this season, watching all the games, special teams plays a huge role. I’m sure I will have a role on special teams. Whatever role that is, I will be sure to execute that role and do my job." "I did return some kicks at Oklahoma St. I mainly played wide receiver in high school, so I have a background with the ball in my hands." Do you have a relationship with anyone on the Notre Dame team? You visited around the same time as Hartman, what are your thoughts on him? "Sam came in a little bit earlier than me, and we both had busy schedules, but I got to talk with him some. He’s a really good guy. Real good dude. I look forward to him being my teammate." Which coaches have you had a chance to get to know? "Coach Bowden and Coach O’Leary, I was with both of them pretty much the whole visit. I got to spend time with them, pick their brain, and get a feel for how they think and who they are as people. I mean, I love them both. I think they are both good guys and good coaches that can help me." What are your thoughts on Marcus Freeman? "I think coach Freeman is great. I think he does a great job of leading and pushing his players to be leaders. He encourages you to ask questions and challenge everything. Really, just helps them to become better people overall as a person. My little time I spent with him, we had a really good conversation. He's just a good guy, good person, and obviously knows the game of football. I look forward to learning from him, not just football wise, but in life and leadership too. I think he's a great guy. I have nothing but positive things to say." Photo Credit - Twitter @IamThomasHarper What do you plan to study? "I am a grad transfer, but I want to focus on something related to business. I plan to take advantage of being there and want to get a masters degree." What is one thing that surprised you about the recruiting process? "Nothing crazy, but what surprised me was the job that all the recruiters did. I had people that followed me from high school that reached out. That was kind of crazy how some relationships can be so genuine." Personal goal for this upcoming season? Team goal? "That's a great question. I like to break down my goals periodically, specifically for the Spring, I want to know the playbook in and out. I want to be able to know the playbook like the back of my hand. I want to know what everybody does around me. That's a big goal for me in the Spring. Also, creating that bond, that brotherhood with my new teammates. For the Spring that's really what I am focused on. Also, getting healthy and getting my body the best its ever been." "My goal for the upcoming season is to be competing for a National Championship. Really, it all comes down to winning. I really just want to be able to win as many games as possible with my brothers and my teammates." A message to Notre Dame nation "You should expect from me that the bottom line to me is winning games. Being able to win is fun. I’m a player that wants to win and I am going to compete at all times, so you can definitely expect that out of me." As the interview with Thomas Harper came to a close, it was clear that he is not just a talented safety, but a leader who is determined to make an impact on the field. His passion for the game, his competitive spirit, and his willingness to do whatever it takes to win make him a valuable addition to the Notre Dame team. Harper's physicality and leadership will be a great asset for the Fighting Irish and it will be exciting to see him in action on the field. With Harper leading the way, Notre Dame's defense will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming season.

By: Patrick Byrne ⏐ Writer ⏐Twitter: @PatrickByrneIT Photo Courtesy: Associated Press Instant gratification. We all want it, it's ingrained in the fabric of every American at this point. You can probably blame the internet or perhaps corporate efficiency. Regardless, we all want it and we want it now. Our sports are no different. We all want our sports teams to be great NOW, not tomorrow, not next year, NOW. College football fits perfectly into our "now" way of thinking in today's world. With the advent of the transfer portal and players being able to start immediately upon transferring, rather than sitting out a year, we have all we need to bury our "win later" mentality, and go for it today. But wait a minute, is that the right attitude to have? Shouldn't we let players develop over time, and get better, as a team? In the case of Tyler Buchner, I think the answer is yes. Tyler Buchner has started three games for Notre Dame in two seasons on campus - three. Sure, he played in 2021 but was used sparingly, more as a running than a passing threat. And yet, we all saw the potential of what he could do or could be in the Virginia Tech game, when he threw a long pass down the field to Kevin Austin, who was able to make the play for a big gain. What about the throw to Braden Lenzy in the Gator Bowl, on the fly, for a TD? Compare that to the heave thrown by Drew Pyne to Lenzy in the Navy game, where Lenzy had to make a circus catch on a comically underthrown ball. The accuracy and arm strength aren't even close. This doesn't even bring into play the multiple sidearm throws incorporated into Buchner's game, a must have in the Mahomes-esque football world we all now live in. This is the good news, now for the bad news. We've also seen him throw multiple pick sixes, the most recent of which was on the 7 yard line on a slant to a waiting South Carolina defender, who returned it 100 yards for a score (sorry for having to rehash that one in your mind). I'm not here to defend the pick sixes, but I am here to remind you that Tyler Buchner missed his sophomore year of high school due to injury and didn't play his senior year due to Covid. I'm also here to remind you he's started in 3 games, oh wait, I already said that. He also changed his throwing motion his junior year of high school. I have no idea why he would've done this, but he did. Add up all of these things and I see a kid who's still learning how to tap into his full potential. He's somewhat learning as he goes, which is of course frustrating to us fans but none the less, this is where he is. Where that full potential lies we won't know unless he stays in the game and continues to play. Trevor Lawrence ruined it for all quarterbacks. He started for Clemson as a freshman and was otherworldly, throwing passes that were on a rope while gallivanting around the field for 10-15 yard gains like he was out on a Sunday stroll. Trevor Lawrence isn't the norm, Max Duggan is. Yes, that Max Duggan, the same one who's led his TCU Horned Frogs to the National Championship game. Unless your college football expanse doesn't move past the Irish, you already know he was benched last season. He also threw 10 interceptions as a freshman and 10 more the next 2 years, while racking up 36 TDs. That's a 36/20 TD to INT ratio, not completely awful but certainly not worthy of Heisman consideration. This year, he threw 32 TDs and 6 picks, quite the comeback story as many have already scripted. Buchner isn't Duggan, I'm simply proving a point that a guy who plays can and will get better over time if they're able to fully hone their talents. Sitting Buchner at this point won't allow him the ability fully grow. So, am I saying Notre Dame shouldn't have courted and signed Sam Hartman? Reluctantly, no, that's not what I'm saying. In this age of college football and the way the transfer portal is setup, they would've been foolish not to sign him. He's an experienced QB that instantly provides a boost to the QB room. What I'm saying is this, Buchner was "the guy" when Notre Dame signed him. A once 5 star recruit, he's similar from a recruiting perspective to fans reactions of CJ Carr. A can't miss prospect, he was going to propel the Irish to new heights and finally position Notre Dame to not only contend in the playoffs but potentially win the whole thing. How times have changed. The "can't miss kid" throws a few INTs and now he should be relegated to the bench, thrown into the transfer portal or simply sit and wait his turn while Hartman takes over the reigns. This isn't a Phil Jurvovich situation. Jurkovich has shown his immaturity time and time again and, in the end, the Irish are better off having shed a potential cancer from the locker room. Buchner may transfer as well, but I can assure you Irish fans would lament this long after when he ends up reaching the potential he's flashed at his new home. Photo Courtesy: Associated Press Greatness takes patience. It's not something that's handed to us on a silver platter. It's no mystery that Sam Hartman will make Notre Dame better from the jump to start the 2023 season, but will he make the Irish great? Perhaps, but still somewhat debatable given he's played in a slow mesh offense that's allowed him time to scan the field for open receivers. How will he do in Tommy Rees' offense? Hopefully the growing pains will be minor, but we won't know until the Irish take the field in Ireland against a newly coached Navy team. If you, the Irish fan, wants Buchner (or any QB for that matter) to be good, you have to let them grow into the position. This kid had offers from Columbia and Yale as well as Notre Dame, he's smart and will learn to pickup situations on the field much quicker than most (I'm aware that Hartman is also smart, having gone to Wake Forest). He simply needs the time to be able to show what he can do, and the reps on the field to do it. Hartman will be nice to have on the team and he will most likely win the games we always should win (I'm looking at you Marshall) but will he be able to elevate Notre Dame to the next level? Maybe, but maybe the guy sitting the bench watching him do it was the answer all along.

By: Michael Blough | Writer | Twitter: @MichaelBlough12 The news is now official, Javontae Jean-Bapiste is coming to Notre Dame after seeking the transfer portal from Ohio State! This news is very interesting for two specific reasons that I will get into. The first reason this is interesting is because the Irish have some depth issues on the defensive line with Isaiah Foskey and both of the Ademilola brothers heading to the draft. Jean-Baptiste is a player that was highly sought after coming out of high school, but found himself bouncing in and out of the rotation at OSU. His clear strengths involve rushing the passer. He will really excel as a situational end that comes in to get after the QB in long down situations and third down. He comes in at 6’5”, 249 pounds and will surprise you with his speed. Now, let’s talk about what the film shows. Jean-Bapiste uses his lanky frame to his advantage as he is able to use his hands and long arms to keep himself from getting inside of the offensive tackle. His best strength on film seems to be rushing upfield and then using his hands to get back underneath. This is a credit to his agility and speed as he can keep the QB in the pocket with his speed and athleticism. What you won’t see on film is a lot of plays in the run game. I would consider this his biggest weakness as his build doesn’t provide a lot of strength in the run game. My biggest question is how many snaps he will get in run situations compared to more of a vyper role in a Marcus Freeman/Al Golden defense. I reached out to a friend who is a life-long Buckeye fan and he said “A former 4 star that had some expectations he didn’t quite live up to, but with a crowded DE room it was just hard to find his footing. He shows flashes of being really good. He was out there on 3rd down a lot because he was good at getting to the QB. Think he will do very well at ND because he has a chance to be the #1 DE there and just hasn’t got the snaps to show he can be productive”. I think this was a perfect way to sum it up as he has seen him play for the last few years. I am very excited to see him land here at Notre Dame and I’m pretty sure we will see him on the field a lot this fall! Go Irish! Photo: Sports Illustrated

By: Michael Blough | Writer | Twitter: @MichaelBlough12 Just over a week removed from the feel-good win over South Carolina in the Gator Bowl, I felt like it would be a good time to look at the position groups from this year and grade them. Some of these grades you might not agree with (which is fine), but go ahead and leave a comment on this post and provide some reasoning! I'd love to hear some differing opinions on this topic as well. First, we will start with the defense, specifically the defensive line. Defensive Line: B- I'll admit, this was one of the harder grades to give. After both looking at advanced statistics and using the eye test, a B- was the most fair grade I could give. Based on the eye test, the D Line seemed to be missing a superior interior player that was capable of stopping the run. But, after looking at some stats, the Irish defense ranked in the top 40 in opponent rush yards per play, and also opponent rush yards per game. Now, should the Irish be expected to be better than this given the talent that was on the D Line? I think absolutely, and if the Irish have any hope of competing with the likes of Michigan and Georgia, they will need a standout interior line player to push them over the edge. Linebackers: B First of all, I'll just admit that I was somewhat biased towards this group. I really enjoyed watching this group, specifically JD Bertrand (let's try and limit the targeting penalties next year please). Early in the season Notre Dame faithful was not happy with how Bertrand had been playing, and perhaps rightfully so. But as the season went on, JD turned into maybe the most useful player on the defense. His high-motor allows him to make plays that he shouldn't. His sheer knowledge of the game, specifically when reading screens and other gadget plays is something that you see in great linebackers. I am really looking forward to seeing what JD can do next year. I also thought similar things about Jack Kiser throughout the season as he proved to be impactful. The last player I will highlight is Marist Liufau, and I am looking for some improvement from him. His big frame allows for him to be disruptive in the run game, but it seems he is not always filling in the right spot. For me, the linebacking core needs more speed and athleticism as the USC game highlighted the Irish's inability to contain a great athlete like Caleb Williams. Corners: A This year we saw Benjamin Morrison explode onto the scene in a way that I don't think anyone predicted, including myself. Morrison proved that he is capable of being CB1 on the depth chart by grabbing 6 interceptions this year with all 6 coming in 3 games. His ability to be a ball hawk is really impressive from a freshman, and maybe the thing I am most impressed with is his ability to read the wide receiver's eyes and be able to quickly track the ball. Several of his picks came on back-shoulder fades where he was simply able to beat the receiver to the ball. If he continues this trend, he could be one of the best we have ever seen at ND. Now, all the Morrison talk took away from a really stellar season from Cam Hart, who will be coming back for a fifth season. Hart was mainly left to deal with the opposing teams WR1, and I think he did a good job at containing them. The Irish look to be set for next year and beyond with their production and recruiting at the corner position. Safeties: D D? Really? Well, hear me out. Lets start with Brandon Joseph. I had watched him several times at Northwestern, and to be honest, I thought the world of him. He seemed to be a playmaker, a true free safety in terms of his ability to take away the deep ball in his part of the field, and a decent enough tackler. Well, what we got is someone who is not a good open-field tackler, s whose production seemed disconnected from what he is capable of, and someone who by the end of the season didn't seem locked in. Now, is he better than what we would've had out there if he didn't transfer here? Maybe, but that is not what this grade is about. Moving on, I thought DJ Brown had some great plays, especially in the run game, but nothing to get me too excited. Simply put, the Irish need to be better at the position if they want to compete for national championships. Now, lets move on to the offense. I could write a million words on the roller coaster that this offense was, but consider yourself lucky because I don't really have the time. Offensive Line: A+ Photo Credit: 247 Sports Is it even necessary for me to write anything here? I mean seriously, this O-Line was something else. Let's start at the tackle positions, where the Irish were the best. Joe Alt and Blake Fisher had amazing seasons. Now, if you have been paying attention you'll know that Alt got most of the press because of his domination at left tackle, and rightfully was the highest graded lineman by PFF. You know what is even more amazing? He played tight end in high school. Now, the Irish had always planned on moving him to the tackle position when he got here, but his ability to pick it up so quick has been nothing short of amazing. His 6'7" 320 pound frame is enough to attract attention, but his ability to dominate against really good pass rushers (I'm looking at you Clemson) and be dominant in the run game was nothing short of stunning. And remember, he can't be drafted until 2025! At the other tackle position, Blake Fisher put in a pretty damn good year too. He might have allowed a few more pressure than Alt, but Fisher is pretty nasty in the run game too. Look for this duo to be even more dominant next year. Now, for the interior guys, their names weren't in the press as much but they were just as good. Jarret Patterson came off a preseason injury and made a huge impact in the dominant run game. Lugg and Correll seemed to be the same. In Hiestand's first year back as OL coach at Notre Dame, his presence was certainly felt. Tight Ends: A+ Two words. Michael Mayer. The best tight end in the nation (shame on you Mackey Award voters). The stats don't do justice to just how important Michael Mayer was to this team. A leader, a great run-blocker, and an elite pass catcher. As a matter of fact, he holds all of Notre Dame's tight end records. In a pass game that looked awful at times, the only redeeming factor was Michael Mayer. It got to the point where Drew Pyne was only looking at Mayer, and guess what, it worked. Several times Mayer was triple covered and that didn't seem to bother him. In my honest opinion, we will never see another one like him at Notre Dame. Another shoutout to Mitchell Evans, who was stellar in the run-blocking game and reinvented the way the team converted 3rd-and-short attempts. Needless to say, the TE room has massive shoes to fill, in fact, I'm not sure if the shoes are even fillable. Wide Receivers: D What a disappointing year from the WR room. Before the season started I was fairly high on Lorenzo Styles and thought he was primed for a breakout year. Boy, was I wrong. While he still caught 30 passes for 340 yards, his season was beyond confusing. He dropped the ball more than I thought was even possible and seemed that he lost confidence in the offense and the team within the first 4 games. He really needs to improve this offseason and come back with a stronger mindset. A bright spot was Jayden Thomas, who brought in 25 receptions for 340 yards. Early in the year, he was often found in the flat or near the sideline and was able to make a few impressive catches. Most importantly, he seemed to be a pivotal part of the passing game in the bowl game. I think this is a great indication of what we will see next year from him. A few other guys had great plays, but nothing that can convince me that the Irish don't need to get a whole lot better at this position. Another thing I'd like to mention is that I can't place all of the blame on the receivers. I'm sure they were open more than I thought, but when you are so limited by your quarterbacks ability and decision-making, this is what happens. As I mentioned before, the Irish HAVE to get better at this position. Running Backs: A If you watched any Notre Dame Football on NBC, you'd know that Jac Collinsworth couldn't get enough of this "running back trio". The trio was comprised of Audric Estime, Logan Diggs, and Chris Tyree. While Tyree's rushing attempts were limited due to his less-powerful build, he was still effective in the run game, and most effective in the short passing game. Tyree's speed is something that the Irish need to fully lean into, rather than having him run up the middle several times a game. As for Audric, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but what we got was an ultra-effective runner when between the tackles. The O Line was able to give him huge holes and get him up the second and third level where he is able to literally abuse defenders. His north-south running style allows him to use the stiff-arm and truck very effectively and is great in the red zone. If you're wondering, there isn't enough money you could give me to try and tackle him when he's running full speed. Lastly, Logan Diggs was solid as well. His running style is a blend of Estime and Tyree, as he likes to lower his shoulder and pick up yards, but is also agile enough to make people miss and pick up yards that way. I am very excited for this group next year, as Jadarian Price should get some looks as well. Photo Credit: 247 Sports Quarterbacks: D Well, we made it. I saved the most important for last for a good reason. This team was held back by it's quarterback play and you can't convince me otherwise. Tyler Buchner made his first two starts and lost both games, which was very uninspiring for the future of ND football. He would then be injured and turn over the team to Drew Pyne. I won't spend too much time on him as he transferred to Arizona State, but simply put, he wasn't good enough. He stared down receivers, often made shaky throws, and was good for at least one ball batted down at the LOS per game. Now, Buchner would return from injury and play maybe the most confusing game ever, where he would combine for 5 TD's (3 passing and 2 rushing) but also throw 3 interceptions (2 would be returned for pick sixes). However, a lot of Irish fans were inspired by this performance because he was able to push the ball down the field which we really hadn't seen from him. Unfortunately for Buchner, he is in for a heck of a QB battle this upcoming season with Sam Hartman who committed earlier this week.

By: Mike Stacey | Writer | Twitter: @ MikeStaceyIT Credit: Sports Illustrated I recently had the opportunity to talk with 2023 Notre Dame commit Sam Pendleton out of Reagan high school in North Carolina. Sam is a versatile 4 star offensive lineman who projects to play interior O-line for the Irish. In talking with Sam, I can assure you all that not only is Notre Dame getting a terrific talent but a true "Notre Dame Man". Sam has a great head on his shoulders and seems to prioritize everything that Notre Dame is looking for in a recruit. He values his education, the traditions at Notre Dame, doing things the right way and hard work. After one conversation with him, I already can't wait to see what this young man does moving forward! Sam will be an early enrollee for the Irish this season. I spoke to Sam about his recruitment, Notre Dame, and his fellow classmates, among a few other things. Check it out below! On what the recruiting process was like for him: Sam: " I enjoyed it for the most part. I was a late offer guy, I didn't get a lot of offers until late December, early January, but I really enjoyed going to the games and being a part of that process. It was nice to be able to say I was actually recruited. I met a lot of players and coaches I look up to so, yeah, I would not change anything ." On schools that were on his radar/dream schools going into the recruiting process: Sam: " I've always liked NC State, Clemson, and Michigan and those schools but I never really had a dream school that I wanted to go to. " On why he chose Notre Dame: Sam : "I wanted to go somewhere that had tradition a bit more than just football. Notre Dame is full of tradition, whether it is football or academics, They really believe in what they do. They believe that everyone should get their degree and pursue the degree that they want. Coach Free (Freeman) has done a great job developing that atmosphere on campus. I really loved the last time I went up there, and on top of that they are one of the most prestigious offensive line universities. They have really great coaches in coach Heistand and coach Watt, so just a couple of things I am looking forward to and that attracted me." On the moment when he knew he was going to choose Notre Dame: Sam: "I went to visit the day before my birthday and I was very intentional with my visit. It was a very important trip for me to take because I knew that I had a lot of interest in them. So I got there, got off the plane, it was about an hour and a half into my visit and after interacting with the coaches, seeing the environment, talking to coach Free, talking to the guys, I knew it was the place I wanted to be. It's not flashy, it's not super NIL getting carried away, it's college football and it's the way it should be. So that's what really attracted me and when I knew." On what his favorite thing is about Notre Dame: Sam : "I would say the tradition. I really love all the traditions at Notre Dame. The Victory March from the Basilica to the stadium, the no names on your jerseys, the traditional uniforms, the song as you enter the stadium, and how die hard the fans are. They abide by the tradition and it's not just some people follow some don't, if you are a Notre Dame fan you follow the tradition." On his goals for this season and where he sees himself fitting into the offense: Sam: "I really want to be able to make travel team my freshman year. Even if I don't play I want to be able to be a part of the team and active. Whether I'm on the scout team, whether I'm 3rd string, whether I'm second string I am going to work my hardest to put myself in the best position I can be in. With regard to position I am an interior guy, that's what the coaches have told me. I played tackle at my high school but they are going to move me inside. I'm really excited to play that position, a position I am confident playing. I can snap the ball, I can play guard, left or right, wherever they are going to put me, I'll play ball. (Text doesn't do this quote justice, you could hear the enthusiasm in his voice, this guy is READY) That's how I am looking forward to adding to the offense." On his relationship with the other guys in the class: Sam: "I feel like we are one of the tightest recruiting classes in the nation and I stand by that. I have a lot of other friends who are going to other universities and we will talk about our groups, talk about our guys, and I really think we have a special bond. We are really like-minded and we all have the same goals and I feel it's going to be good for the chemistry of the team. I'm really close with the offensive line, being an offensive lineman myself, I was the first O-line guy to commit so I really was involved in talking to people about coming to Notre Dame, thinking about it as your future, especially Offensive Lineman. I have another guy from my area coming up with me, so Sulli (Sullivan Absher) and I are really close, Joe (Otting), Charles (Jagusah), The only one I haven't met yet is Chris (Terek) because he committed late but I am sure we are going to bond just fine." On who in the class is the funniest guy: Sam: "Devan Houstan. (There was NO hesitation) Devan is the funniest guy I have been around in a long time." On who is the most intimidating/tough guy in the class: Sam: "I'd say, hmm....I have never heard Brenan Vernon speak more than 5 words to me. I mean he's a nice guy he just doesn't talk much, kind of that quiet stoic guy. I would probably say him." On who is the top gamer in the class: Sam: "Oh that's tough! I am going to go either Adon or Devan is pretty good too not going to lie. I am going to go with Adon Shuler. Or Drayk, Drayk Bowen is really good too." On some of his hobbies outside of football: Sam: "Yeah so I live on a farm, up in northern North Carolina, so I spend a lot of my time fishing, hanging out with my family, I spend a lot of my time lifting weights. I really enjoy it. I got started doing it because of football and then I just fell in love with lifting weights and being fit, so those are some of my hobbies." On his favorite NFL team (Go Birds): Sam: "I am a Pittsburgh Steelers fan." (As long as it isn't the Cowboys) On which NFL player he compares himself/aspires to be like: Sam: "I really want to be like Zach Martin, not to be cliche because of the Notre Dame thing, but he is very technical, we have similar body builds he is a hard worker, he's not a loud mouth or a trash talker, his actions speak for themselves. He has more pro bowl appearances than he has holding penalties, and that's something I aspire to do too. So, yeah, I aspire to be like him." On his favorite spot on campus: Sam: "Thats hard. I really like that little courtyard in front of Touchdown Jesus. Right where the stadium is, people passing through all the time, always a breeze blowing, I really like it there." I hope you all enjoyed this interview! To get to know Sam Pendleton more, give him a follow on Twitter @SamPendleton7 or on Instagram @samuelpendleton72. Go Irish!

By Liam Farrell｜Writer｜Twitter @LiamFarrell_IT Via USA Today Fresh off the hands of a bowl game victory against #19 South Carolina, many Irish fans' optimism is at an all-time high. In a game where young stars got their opportunity to shine, some players stuck out to me in their limited number of snaps. With Notre Dame losing many starters to graduation and the NFL draft, let's look at some potential breakout stars in the upcoming 2023 season. Offense Via Michael Caterina, South Bend Tribune First off, we have Tobias Merriweather. It feels as if all season fans longed for Tommy Rees to allow the lengthy wideout to shine. There were rumblings before the season opener against Ohio State that Merriweather would finally get his chance after the brutal career-ending injury to Avery Davis. Yet, this was not the case. Merriweather appeared in a handful of games this year, with his shining moment being a 41-yard touchdown against Stanford. Merriweather had also battled the injury bug by dealing with a concussion towards the latter-half of the year. However, he still appeared during the Taxslayer Gator Bowl, where he looked lost within the offense. Nonetheless, Merriweather will be a big play weapon for Rees and co. to work with. Via 247Sports Next up: Rocco Spindler, the "Monster of the Midwest." Spindler, one of the most prized recruits in recent memory at Notre Dame, has been behind a log jam on this offensive line. Spindler will finally get his time to shine with both guard positions left vacant this offseason. The recent success of tackles Blake Fisher and Joe Alt have overshadowed the positional depth that this offensive line has. With Spindler and Fisher having great chemistry, the right side of the Notre Dame Offensive Line should be locked up tight. The Irish will return Zeke Correll anchoring the middle of the line, and then it is a battle between Andrew Kristofic, Billy Schrauth, and Ashton Craig for the left guard position. Via Matt Cashore, USA Today The last pick that I see making an impact is Jadarian Price. Price is a name that made waves during Notre Dame's Spring Game by having an impressive 51-yard touchdown on a screen pass from Steve Angeli. Price's speed and ability to read blocks were very impressive for a true freshman. Even though he is recovering from a torn achilles and is behind a couple of absolute studs in the running back room, Price could make an impact should something happen to one of the three-headed monsters. Defense Via Michael Caterina, South Bend Tribune My first pick to click on the defense side of things could be considered an asterisk since he's already proven himself on the special teams level, but I'll start with Jordan Botelho. Botelho is one of the toughest, most electric players I've seen in recent memory. Botelho recorded two sacks during the bowl game and was always in the backfield making a play happen. I can easily see Botelho sliding into the VYPER role left by Isaiah Foskey's departure. Also, with the Irish unable to land an established edge rusher so far in the portal, Botelho's performance could be pivotal in Notre Dame's overall success. Via NBC Sports The next player who jumps off the page is true-freshman linebacker, Jaylen Sneed. While Sneed had two 15-yard penalties in the bowl game, his freakish physical talent cannot be overlooked. The sideline-to-sideline speed of Sneed, the Hilton Head, South Carolina, product, and his sheer size is remarkable. Notre Dame's future as a whole at the linebacker position is bright as ever. With Marist Liufau being paired with former Butkus award winner Prince Kollie and this past year's Butkus award winner Drayk Bowen coming in: the Irish are primed for a stout linebacking core. Via Sports Illustrated Thought I forgot someone while listing all of Notre Dame's talent at linebacker? That's because Junior Tuihalamaka deserves a paragraph of his own. I've had the privilege of seeing Tuihalamaka play throughout high school because our high schools were pretty bitter rivals regarding football. However, despite the differences, it was abundantly clear that Junior Tuihalamaka is an absolute stud. He's so much of a difference-maker on the defensive side of the ball that Al Golden has the liberty of sticking him either at Middle Linebacker or shifting him over to VYPER. Tuihalamaka's versatility will lead to more playing time early on in his career, and it will be an absolute breakout season for Tuihalamaka in his sophomore campaign. Wrap Up Notre Dame's 2023 season will have the most anticipation in recent memory. With a blend of familiarity and a little sense of the unknown, the Irish are poised for a championship-caliber season. With an offensive line returning 60% of itself, an All-American running back room, and a plethora of athletic wide receivers, Notre Dame's offense could be one of the nation's best. On the flip, the Irish are losing a ton of experience and leadership in a stout front seven that the school prides itself on. As the calendar turns to January, Notre Dame fans can only dream about the team's capability before seeing their Irish again on Irish soil with a matchup against Navy opening up the season.

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer ☘️☘️☘️ The goal headed into the off-season for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was clear; find an elite quarterback in the transfer portal. Tommy Rees was hitting the road after the season, but his whereabouts were mostly unknown. It was clear that the Irish wanted to keep their quarterback targets under wraps to ensure they could get the guy they wanted. It was a little over a month ago that Tommy Rees was able to salvage the quarterback position for the 2023 recruiting class by picking up Kenny Minchey. Coach Rees has done it again. Rees and the coaching staff have secured a commitment from one of the best college quarterbacks in the country by landing Sam Hartman. Photo Credit - Roanoke Times If you would have asked me who my pick would be to transfer to Notre Dame, outside of Drake May, Hartman would have been my clear number one choice. Hartman is a player that comes into the program and immediately upgrades this team to a potential playoff contender. What Hartman has been able to accomplish at Wake Forest is extremely impressive. Throughout his Wake Forest career, Hartman completed 921 passes on 1561 attempts for a 59% completion rate. Those completions equated to 12,687 yards, 107 touchdowns, and 40 interceptions. Additionally, Hartman rushed for 841 yards and 17 touchdowns. Hartman stands 6’1 185 lbs and was ranked as a three star prospect coming out of high school in South Carolina. Hartman’s film is extremely impressive. His greatest asset is his accuracy. He shows great ability to hit his target right in the numbers and fit the ball into tight windows. He puts phenomenal touch on his passes and knows when to put more zip on the ball when needed. Along with his ball placement, Hartman shows great pocket presence and knows when to escape the pocket to make something out of nothing. Hartman shows solid athleticism that allows him to scramble when it is needed. He is not a true dual-threat quarterback, but he has enough quickness to still be a threat running the football. He has good, not great arm strength but shows the ability to make all the necessary throws at the college level. He continuously shows the ability to put the ball where only his receiver can catch it, even with defenders in tight coverage. Hartman shows great touch on short to intermediate routes from check-downs, to drags, to deep outs on the opposite hash. Additionally, Hartman is very good when throwing the deep ball. He is able to attack a defense vertically with seam routes, flag routes, and post routes with impressive touch. All together his biggest strengths are his accuracy/ball placement, touch on passes, and his ability to improvise in bad situations. Photo Credit - Kyle Rowe/The Tailgate Podcast While Hartman shows a lot of promise at the quarterback position, there are still some areas that he needs to improve. Hartman has a tendency to put the ball in dangerous situations while trying to make a play, which has led to him throwing interceptions. Additionally, he will take sacks at times while trying to make a play instead of throwing the ball away or to a check down. The good thing about those two weaknesses is that they can be corrected, or limited. Tommy Rees is a smart Offensive Coordinator who puts his quarterbacks in good situations with his play-calls to limit interceptions. Also, Hartman will be playing behind a much better Offensive Line at Notre Dame than the one he had at Wake Forest. Along with everything mentioned above, it is clear that Sam Hartman has an exceptional football IQ. He has great situational awareness as the leader of an offense and its obvious that the team follows him. He goes through all of his reads and has a quick trigger when he finds his open receiver. Furthermore, Hartman shows an impressive ability to read defenses and uses that to his advantage to throw his receivers open. It is clear that Hartman is an all around outstanding football player. Photo Credit - Total Pro Sports Most people expected Sam Hartman to declare for the NFL draft after he announced in November that this would be his last year at Wake Forest. Make no mistake about it, he is absolutely NFL ready if he would have declared. He would not have been a day one draft pick, but a team would have picked him up. By moving on to Notre Dame, Hartman has a chance to improve on his game in a pro-style offense, gain national exposure, benefit from NIL, and possibly compete for a National Championship. This Notre Dame team has the talent at every position to compete with any team in the country. The only thing missing is an elite quarterback, and I believe they now have that in Sam Hartman. Overall, Notre Dame fans should be very happy to have Sam Hartman coming to Notre Dame. His experience, leadership, ball-placement, touch, and football IQ will be a perfect fit for this team. Get excited, Irish Nation, Sam Hartman will have us in the playoff hunt for the 2023 season. ☘️☘️☘️

Written by Liam Gaudet, Senior Editor It's no secret that Notre Dame possesses the talent to be an elite football team in all phases of the game, and through ups and downs, there are a few players worth special recognition at the end of the season in which they truly excelled in their field. These individuals embody the future which lies ahead for this program, and as long as recruiting maintains its excellent course, expect to see players of this caliber continue to show out for years to come under the dome. Joe Alt - Offensive Tackle Photo by ON3 The ultra-talented sophomore tackle hailing from North Oaks Minnesota was under-recruited coming out of high school, and as a result, was undervalued by the majority of recruiting websites. A three-star prospect according to rivals , Alt continues to prove the doubters wrong, using his towering 6'7 frame to push defenders off the point of attack and pave the way for the majority of the success that was found both on the ground and through the air for what was otherwise an average at best offense. With the return of coach Harry Hiestand, Alt picked up right where he left off after an astounding freshman campaign, earning first-team All American honors. It is safe to say he is well on his way to continuing the legacy of incredible first round draft worthy offensive lineman at Notre Dame. Alt will no doubt be the stalwart of Notre Dame's protectors next season, and is an example to be followed for decades to come. In a few short years, don't be surprised to see Alt's name mentioned amongst the likes of Ronnie Stanley, Zack Martin and Quenton Nelson in Notre Dame lore. Audric Estime - Running Back Photo by 247 Sports I've never been more excited for a recruiting victory than I was a little over a year ago when Notre Dame flipped Audric Estime from Michigan State. This dude is serious, and although many believed him to be the lead back, I often felt he was underutilized in key situations throughout the season. After a slow start and some fumble issues, the ground game hit its stride with Estime earning back-to-back 100 yard performances against two ranked opponents in Syracuse and Clemson in the latter-half of the season. When it was all said and done, Estime finished with 920 total rushing yards and 11 scores on the ground, adding nine receptions for 135 yards and a score through the air to boot. Although these aren't mind boggling counting stats, it's important to remember that he shared touches almost equally with Chris Tyree and Logan Diggs. Estime also averaged nearly six yards a carry, and most of that was accomplished through his punishing running style where he often dragged defenders well past the line to gain. I'm so excited to see how much more he develops in the offseason, and if he can hit that next level and make himself a household name in the college football landscape. Benjamin Morrison - Cornerback Photo by 247 Sports Who saw this coming? When the face of the Notre Dame secondary in Kyle Hamilton departed for the NFL, I winced a little bit when imagining the issues we may have defending the pass in the future. Enter true freshman Benjamin Morrison, who jumped Clarence Lewis on the depth chart early in the season and never looked back. Morrison finished the season with a team leading six interceptions, capped by a three interception performance against Boston College and a two interception performance at home against Clemson where he returned his second nearly the length of the field for a touchdown. Often targeted early by opponents, Morrison rose to the challenge and completely shut down number one receivers, while also showing the instincts and ability to challenge and make punishing tackles. Just a true freshman, Marcus Freeman's elite recruiting ability has already churned out a major playmaker on the defensive side of the ball for an Irish team that desperately needed it. Having consistent elite play in the secondary is a welcomed change for Notre Dame, as it is often one of the weakest areas on the roster from year to year. A product of of his exceptional focus, Morrison will no doubt be a force for years to come. Isaiah Foskey - Vyper Photo by ESPN When Isaiah Foskey would announce that he would be returning for his senior season, my jaw hit the floor. I was so excited to see the level of dominance that we all expected from the De La Salle product we were used to, and even after a slow start, Foskey would indeed deliver. Racking up 11 sacks, Foskey would go on to break the all time sack record at Notre Dame previously held by the great Justin Tuck. Teams started to hold Foskey on nearly every play, but even that wasn't enough to stop him, as even when he wasn't able to get to the quarterback, he would apply enough pressure to force an incompletion or disrupt the timing of a play. With the infusion of life to the special teams unit courtesy of Brian Mason, Foskey was able to block a few punts during the season as well, adding another dimension to his skills for NFL scouts to consider. There isn't much else that can be said about Foskey that hasn't been already, so I'll end it by saying thank you to one of the most dominant pass rushers to ever play for the Fighting Irish. Michael Mayer - Tight End Photo by The Athletic Shame on the Mackey Award selection committee for snubbing the greatest tight end in the sport of the award. Mayer lead Notre Dame in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns as a tight end this season, which is absolute insanity until you remember just how talented he is. Mayer now holds all career records for tight ends at Notre Dame, and I think its safe to say he is the greatest to ever do it at the position in the history of Irish football. Whether it be making circus catches to bail out the offense, or elevating his game to new heights with elite blocking skills, Mayer truly has the tools to do it all. To think that his stats could have been even better with more stability and talent at quarterback only speaks to his skillset further. We can only hope that highly rated tight end prospects from around the country have noticed just how dominant you can be at Notre Dame, but there's no doubt that Mayer is a once in a generation talent. No matter where he gets drafted, he will be a steal and is easily the most pro-ready prospect on the Notre Dame roster.