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Now that the NFL Draft Combine has wrapped up, and teams are starting to narrow in on their targets, let's look at where former Irish athletes will be best suited in the NFL. Photo by The Irish Tribune Benjamin Morrison (CB) Morrison was once considered one of, if not the best cornerbacks coming into the draft this year. Unfortunately for Morrison, a mid-season hip surgery has dampened that hype, but it should not impact the value he can bring to a team. Before the injury, Morrison was slotted to be a mid-first round pick but things have changed since then. It appears that Morrison could be picked somewhere in the late first or early second, which would bring excellent value. On the earlier side of things, the Philadelphia Eagles, with the last pick in the first round, would be a potential landing spot for Morrison. The Eagles recently let their starting cornerback, Darius Slay Jr., walk, so Morrison could serve as a solid addition to a revamped CB room. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio loves to blitz and leaves his corners on islands, similar to Morrison's experience with Al Golden. Coincidentally, the New York Giants, another NFC East team, could definitely use Morrison's talent. They own the second pick in the second round, right around where Morrison is projected to go. The Giants have had troubles at CB for years now, and still don't have a clear lockdown CB. They did draft a CB a couple of years ago when they selected Deonte Banks out of Maryland. He has shown promise, but this is still a weak position for the Giants. Morrison would be a huge get for the Giants, pairing two young corners together to start building for the future. Xavier Watts (Safety) Watts became a fan favorite throughout his career, known for his incredible ability to cause turnovers and be a playmaker all over the field. His ball-hawking ability sets him apart from most players. He reads the play using a combination of IQ and instincts, and his solid athleticism compliments those abilities. Instinct is something coaches can't always teach, making him a valuable prospect for any team. This is what makes projecting his landing spot tricky - lots of teams could use a player like Watts. Watts is most likely a second round pick, but it doesn't seem like he will last long in the second round. One team that could potentially be in play for Watts is the Chicago Bears. The Bears own two picks early in the second round, the perfect time to take a player that can immediately help your team win. One downside for Watts in the draft process is his age, but this also gives him a better chance to make an instant impact. The Bears are in a position to start winning now, and the Watts pick would make a lot of sense. He also offers the ability to replace aging veteran, Kevin Byard. Byard is in the late stages of his career, but Watts could give the Bears an answer to his replacement. Riley Leonard (QB) Leonard had a bit of a rollercoaster senior year at Notre Dame. It started with the high of beating Texas A&M, but was immediately met with criticism due to poor play in a loss to NIU. Leonard displayed his tough mindset and bounced back to lead Notre Dame to the National Championship. While his impressive athleticism makes him an attractive prospect, his limited arm talent points to a late round pick or UDFA who will most likely be aiming for a backup position. A team that will be in the market for a backup QB is the Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence is the starter in Jacksonville, but they are losing both their backups in free agency. This makes them a prime candidate to use one of their late round draft picks to help fill their QB room. Another team that Leonard could find himself on is the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are also losing their backup QB, Jimmy Garoppolo, to free agency. Leonard's athleticism might make him an intriguing prospect for Head Coach, Sean McVay. McVay is well known for his creative play-calling and Leonard might be a QB he believes can operate his offense well due to his mobility. Mitchell Evans (TE) Evans is another player that could be a great value pick late in the 2025 draft. Evans made a name for himself during his junior year when he became the number one target for Sam Hartman. It appeared he was making a breakthrough as one of the top tight ends in the country before he tore his ACL. This injury set him back quite a bit, and seemed to limit his production in the 2024 season. It did appear that he started to get back into form late in the season, where he made a larger impact. Although Evans has shown some impressive capabilities as a TE, he will likely end up being another late round pick. One team that could be interested in Evans as a backup TE is the Washington Commanders with their fifth round pick at 146. The Commanders currently have veteran TE, Zach Ertz, locked up for the future but that future may not be long. Ertz is in the final years of his career, but that hasn't stopped him from being impactful. This past season he became Jayden Daniels' favorite target. With Ertz's retirement in the near future, Evans may be a candidate for his eventual replacement, or at the very least, a player that can help supplement his production. Jack Kiser (LB) Kiser was the heart and soul of the Notre Dame defense for the last couple of years. He is a tremendous leader and plays incredibly hard. Kiser has also played a ton of football at the college level, which has helped him build a high football IQ. He is a sure tackler, but his age might be a concern for many teams. Kiser will soon be a 25-year-old, making him amongst the oldest in the class. Kiser projects to a special teams player/depth linebacker. The Green Bay Packers are a team that could use some more depth at LB. The Packers are losing two veteran LBs this offseason, so they'll be in the market for more LBs. The question will be how much they want to invest in the position. They may look to free agency, but that will cost more than a late round pick. If they decide to use one of their late round picks, Kiser could be a potential prospect to fill that role for a team that is looking to compete now. Rylie Mills (DT) Mills became a consistent force for the Notre Dame defense during his time in South Bend. At Notre Dame, Mills showed off his talent as both a pass rusher and run stopper, making him one of the most productive players Notre Dame had. Mills was contemplating entering the draft before last season but turned that opportunity to return to Notre Dame. Sadly for Mills, his season was ended abruptly in the first round of the playoffs due to a significant knee injury. Due to his injury, Mills will likely fall into the later rounds of this draft. One team that may be interested in his services is the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are well known for their tough, physical, and rugged defensive fronts that a player like Mills will fit right in with. Along with that, Steelers All-Pro veteran Cameron Heyward is likely to retire soon, so Mills may be able to offer depth to a position that they will soon have to replace. There are a lot of teams that may be looking into Mills, however. The defensive tackle position is usually a spot that teams like to save money on, likely with a late round pick. Howard Cross III (DT) Along with Mills, Cross was the other half of a dominant Notre Dame interior line that wreaked havoc on opposing teams for years. Cross used his athleticism and wrestling background to become a force in the interior, even though he is undersized for the position. His size is a concern for many NFL teams, and will likely be reflected in his draft position. With Cross' lack of size, his role will likely change in the NFL. Instead of being a three-down lineman, Cross will most likely be used as a third-down pass rusher or an edge rusher in a 4-3 defense. Because of this, Cross will be limited to the number of teams that will look to draft him. One team that could be interested is the New York Giants. Not only may the Giants be a good fit for Cross, it will also make for a great story as the Giants are the team Cross' dad won a Super Bowl with. Cross will be able to add some variety to a defensive line that is already well established. The Giants have two talented edge rushers along with one of the best tackles in the league, Dexter Lawrence. Lawrence is a huge body in the middle for teams to deal with, and their lightning quick edge rushers cause teams a lot of problems. Cross could act as a sort of in-between lineman that is bigger than the Giants' current edge rushers, but smaller than Lawrence, giving them some options at the position. Beaux Collins (WR) Collins' time at Notre Dame was marked with highs and lows all season. The highs featured him catching big-time touchdown catches like the one in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. The lows saw him consistently dropping balls and disappearing at times. All of this has caused him to be a bit of an unknown as a prospect, but there are still things to like with him. Collins is a long, rangy wide receiver that can be a solid target on the outside. As mentioned before, his hands are a concern, which NFL teams are surely aware of. With this, and a lack of elite athleticism, it would not be a surprise to see him go as an undrafted free agent. The Las Vegas Raiders are a team that could be in the market to see what Collins has to offer at camp. Although he is unlikely to fill the starting role that the Raiders need, he is a prospect that could get a look at supplying depth to a room that needs talent. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Although not the end-all be-all for player evaluation, the NFL Combine provides teams with the opportunity for a closer assessment of the incoming draft class through testing, on-field drills, and team interviews. Over the weekend, 8 players represented the Fighting Irish in Indianapolis. Photo by The Irish Tribune QB Riley Leonard, WR Beaux Collins, TE Mitchell Evans, DT Howard Cross III, DT Rylie Mills, LB Jack Kiser, CB Benjamin Morrison, and S Xavier Watts made the trip to Lucas Oil Stadium, roughly 2.5 hours from where they spent their college careers. Riley Leonard, Mitchell Evans and Jack Kiser are the only players that took part in the on-field drills, with Evans being the only one to also participate in testing. The rest of the group was limited to team interviews for various reasons, but most of them will be gearing up to show NFL coaches and GM's some of what they can do at their pro days. I wanted to look at the performances of the players that took the field in some capacity at the combine, and how they may have helped their stock. Best Combine: Mitchell Evans It would be hard to not pick Evans by default simply because he partook in the most drills, but even so, there were some things that he did on the field that would garner this ranking regardless. Evans' 10-yard split time was tied for first with Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson. For reference, Ferguson had the fastest 40 yard dash time among the position group, which tells you the type of athlete Evans kept pace with. The 10-yard split is so critical because it measures a player's ability to be explosive and accelerate off the line of scrimmage. In Evan's case, it was a great sign to teams that may have been concerned about how his late season ACL tear in 2023 would affect his athletic ability. Evans also had a 4.40 20-yard shuttle, which is designed to test lateral agility and change of direction. None of his other testing numbers were eye-popping, but his on-field work also earned him some praise. Evans effortlessly tracked the ball over his shoulder during the first catch drill. On the sled block drill, he showed good leg drive and effort. He probably should have gotten a tad lower to simulate playing with a good pad level, but his ability to block should not be a question mark for teams. During the gauntlet, Evans showed natural catch ability and good eye discipline, looking each pass into his hands while working down the line. On the in-cut drill, Evans did a good job getting out of his break, getting eyes back to the QB quickly and making a clean hands catch. All in all, Evans had a solid performance and should cement himself even more as a prospect on Notre Dame's pro day. Jack Kiser Kiser skipped out on testing at the Combine, but did participate in the on-field linebacker drills. Kiser's biggest question mark was always going to be whether or not he can provide 3-down versatility or if he is more of a 2-down thumper in the run game. That question can not be answered at the combine, but I thought he did a very nice job in the drills designed to test lateral quickness and change of direction, which are important when being asked to drop into coverage. He executed the back pedal and react drill to perfection, which earned an audible buzz from the other participants. Kiser had a nice day overall, and I think when teams combine his extensive playing experience, with what he showed on the field, he will end up on a lot of front offices' draft boards. Riley Leonard Similar to Jack Kiser, Leonard chose to not do any on-field testing, but he did take part in the quarterback drills. It was a bit of a mixed bag for Leonard on the day. Leonard showed solid ball placement on in breaking routes and threw with some anticipation on corners and out routes, which is important at the next level. Leonard did not have a whole lot of zip on the ball, missing some lower body torque when delivering passes. His accuracy was not as sharp on the second level throws but during the "go ball" portion of the drills, I thought he showed some good arm strength on two of the three passes and working on his lower half mechanics will continue to help him in this area. Leonard is not a perfectly polished passer, but the intangibles he possesses such as leadership, competitive toughness, and work ethic will make teams more willing to help him develop as a thrower knowing all the mental stuff is there. Overall, I think all three of these players are likely to come off the board some time on Day 3 (Rounds 4-7). It has not been announced if any of them will be testing at their pro days or simply doing on-field work for NFL coaches and GM's, but I don't get the sense that their likely draft positions would skyrocket either way. I look forward to seeing where all of Notre Dame's players land and the roles they can carve out at the next level. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Spartans played spoiler this weekend, defeating the Irish 5-2 on Friday and Saturday, while Notre Dame honored their seniors and Head Coach Jeff Jackson as he coached his final game at Compton Family Ice Arena. Photo by The Irish Tribune Friday: On Notre Dame’s Senior Night, Michigan State opened up the scoring 11:55 into the first period. Following coincidental roughing after the whistle penalties, the Spartans snuck one past Irish Goaltender Owen Say to make it a 1-0 game during the four on four opportunity.  MSU added another goal 14:12 into the period to extend their lead to 2-0. The Irish struck back in the second period when senior captain Justin Janicke finished off a rebound on the power play. The PPG, which occurred 5:01 into the frame, was assisted by Danny Nelson and Cole Knuble. Janicke cut the Irish deficit to 1-2 just nine seconds after MSU was assessed a hooking penalty. Michigan State responded with under two minutes remaining in the period to extend their lead to 3-1. The visitors added another goal 8:37 into the third period to take a late 4-1 lead. However, less than a minute later, Notre Dame found a response when Axel Kumlin’s wrist shot off a Spartan defender cut the Irish deficit to two. Knuble and Nelson, again, were credited with assists on the score. MSU put the finishing touch on this contest when they added an empty net goal to give the visitors a 5-2 win.  Say did all he could between the pipes as the Irish struggled to generate any offense, especially in the second and third periods when they were outshot 28-15 in those forty minutes. Irish Stars: Owen Say: 33 saves, 4 goals against Danny Nelson: 2 assists, 2 shots Cole Knuble: 2 assists, 3 shots Key Team Stats: Shots: MSU (38) - ND (24) Power Play Success: ND (1-3) - MSU (0-2) Blocked Shots: ND (17) - MSU (11) Faceoffs: ND (35) - MSU (28) Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off Saturday The Spartans turned the pressure up early into Coach Jackson’s final game behind the Irish bench at Compton Ice Arena. With Nicholas Kempf in net for the home squad, MSU’s Shane Vansaghi got one past the young goalie just 2:25 into the game to give the Spartans an early 1-0 advantage.  Despite allowing the early goal, Kempf played great the rest of the period as he tallied 19 saves. Notre Dame’s offense mustered nine shots on goal in a fairly quiet first twenty minutes. Three of these shots came on an unsuccessful power play opportunity. It was Notre Dame who struck early in the second period. Grad transfer Grant Silianoff snuck one past the Spartan goalie to tie the game up at 1-1 just 32 seconds into the frame. Hunter Strand and Carter Slaggert assisted on Silianoff’s fourth goal of the season. MSU responded under four minutes later with a pair of goals in about a two-minute span. Tiernan Shoudy put the visitors up 2-1 4:23 into the period. Then, Vansaghi added his second goal of the contest 6:15 into the frame to extend the Spartans' lead to 3-1. Following a tripping call against Vansaghi, Notre Dame’s Janicke converted his second PPG of the weekend 9:11 into the third period. Blake Biondi and Knuble assisted the senior’s fifth goal in five games. The Spartans got their payback with a PPG of their own about three minutes later. This goal that extended the visitor’s lead to 4-2 followed a slashing penalty against the Irish’s Silianoff. Like Friday, MSU put the final touch on their victory with an empty-netter to secure their 5-2 win. Kempf finished the night with a career-high 45 saves as the Irish offense lacked production, being outshot 50-31.  Irish Stars: Nicholas Kempf: 45 saves (career-high), 4 goals against Grant Silianoff: 1 goal on 4 shots Justin Janicke: 1 goal on 3 shots Key Team Stats: Shots: MSU (50) - ND (31) Power Play Success: ND (1-2) - MSU (1-2) Faceoffs: ND (30) - MSU (30) Blocked Shots: ND (10) - MSU (8) Notre Dame will face Minnesota this upcoming weekend in the Big Ten Quarterfinals. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Fighting Irish Women’s Basketball team has now clinched a share of the ACC Regular Season Championship following Sunday’s 72-59 victory against the 25th-ranked Louisville Cardinals. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair as the teams changed leads five times in the frame. Louisville’s Jayda Curry buried a three with 2:49 left in the quarter to put the visitors on top 15-14. This was the final basket of the frame as neither team could find the bottom of the hoop to end the quarter. Curry and Tajianna Roberts led all first-quarter scorers with five points apiece for the visitors. Notre Dame was led by Liatu King who had a monster quarter with four points on 2-3 shooting from the field and six rebounds in eight minutes played. Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles contributed three-pointers to keep the Irish deficit at one. The Irish showed up in the second quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 22-13 in the frame. A 6-0 run from a trio of Notre Dame players put the home squad up 26-20 with 5:43 remaining in the quarter. Louisville would respond with a 5-0 run to cut their deficit down to one with 4:45 to play. Notre Dame then made their response, ending the quarter on a 10-3 run to give them a 36-28 lead at the half. Hidalgo and Sonia Citron led second-quarter scorers with eight points apiece; Citron shot 3-3 from the field in the frame. Louisville’s offense struggled as they received points from just three different scorers in the second. Notre Dame entered the half dominating the boards, led by King with nine rebounds, as they outrebounded the Cardinals 24-18, which led to 12 second chance points for the Irish. Defensively, the Irish were locked in as they totaled four steals and two blocks in the first half while Louisville only garnered one steal and one block. The Irish put together another great quarter coming out of the half as they outscored the Cardinals 22-12 in the third, extending their lead to 18. The home squad went on multiple runs in this quarter, starting with a 6-0 run from 4:15-3:37 that put the Irish up 45-35. They followed this up with a 10-0 run from 3:01-1:07 that put Notre Dame up 55-37. The period ended with a three-point buzzer beater from Olivia Miles to give the Irish a 58-40 lead. Miles led all third-quarter scorers with nine points including six free throws and the signature buzzer beater. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off Louisville fought hard in the final quarter but it was too little too late as they managed to outscore the Irish 19-14 in the frame. Notre Dame’s lead never dipped below 14 points until a Louisville three-pointer in the final seconds cut the score to 72-59. The Irish had just three different scorers in the quarter, however, Hidalgo led all scorers with six points on 2-3 shooting from the field including a three.  Despite some sloppy turnovers from the Irish in the second half, their great shooting gave them the ultimate edge in this contest. Miles’s 12 second-half points helped secure a share of the ACC regular-season title for the eighth time in 12 years. Coming off of two straight losses, the Irish needed this win and they got the job done. Notre Dame is slated to be the number-two seed in the ACC Tournament, which allows the Irish a much-needed break before Friday’s quarterfinal contest. NC State will be the number-one seed after defeating the Irish last week. Irish Stars: Hannah Hidalgo: 20 points (2-2 3FGs), 9 rebounds, 6 assists, +6 Olivia Miles: 15 points (3-6 3FGs, 6-6 FTs), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, +17 Liatu King: 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, +8 Key Team Stats: Field Goal Percentage: ND (44%) - UL (30%) Three Point Percentage: ND (40%) - UL (35%) Free Throw Percentage: ND (78%) - UL (58%) Rebounds: ND (48) - UL (40) Blocks: ND (6) - UL (2) Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

No stranger to tight matchups throughout the history of their rivalry, Notre Dame and Maryland met Saturday in Atlanta in a battle that captured the attention of lacrosse fans across the country. A rematch of last season's national title bout, both top-ranked Notre Dame and No. 2 Maryland brought their best, as a slug fest developed right out of the gates. Photo by University of Notre Dame Athletics Looking to begin the 2025 campaign a perfect four-for-four, the Irish (3-0 overall), used an aggressive wave of speed to push the Terrapins (4-0) back on their heels in the early going. Only 80 seconds into the contest -- which was played at Bobby Dodd Stadium, home of the University of Georgia Tech's football team -- Jake Taylor started the scoring for the two-time defending national champions. Left on an island, the graduate student sent a quick-release, behind-the-back rocket between the pipes, putting the Irish up 1-0. Taylor, who registered two goals on four shots in last season's national title win over Maryland, entered the day with 10 goals on 19 shots this season. Looking to keep the tempo rolling, the white and gold fired off another score 43 seconds later when Chris Kavanagh buried a top-shelf beauty past Terps keeper Logan McNaney. Kavanagh's 10th of the season had the Irish up a quick 2-0. With the Irish leading 3-1 following Jordan Faison's second goal of the season, the Terps -- who have relied heavily on a defensive unit that has surrendered just over seven goals per game this season -- went to work on the offensive end late in the first half. After tying the game at three, Maryland's Daniel Kelly gave the black and red its first lead of the game by beating beat Irish netminder Thomas Ricciardelli with a dart between the legs. With 6:50 left in the half, Maryland led, 4-3. Not to be outdone, however, Taylor answered back for the Irish off a pretty feed from junior Max Busenkell with an even six minutes left before break. Moments later, Notre Dame would take back the lead, this time with Busenkell sending one in goal. Off an incredible feed from Will Angrick, who was in a seated position after getting blasted to the ground, the Garnet Valley, PA, native put the Irish out ahead, 5-4, a lead they'd take into halftime. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off. While the first half bout, at least from a scoring edge, might have gone to the Irish, the second half belonged to the Terrapins. A string of three-straight goals, capped by Kelly's second of the game, put the four-time NCAA champions up 7-5 with just over four minutes remaining in a third quarter that was completely dominated by the Terps. Leading 8-6 through three frames, Maryland continued its confident play into the fourth quarter. Even after an acrobatic and physical goal by Kavanagh brought Notre Dame back to within a goal at 8-7 early in the fourth, the Terps -- who entered the game having lost their past three matchups in this series -- kept the physicality at a high level. Forcing the Irish into uncharacteristic turnovers throughout the game, the 2022 national champs stretched their lead to 10-7 with under 10 minutes to go in the game. Goals by Braden Erksa and Eric Spanos, coupled with the incredible play of McNaney in net, had the Terps in control of a game against an Irish team that had averaged 19 goals per game prior to the showdown in Atlanta. But as history as shown, the Irish don't go down quietly. With 6:53 remaining, Kavanagh popped in his third of the day to bring ND back to within two at 10-8. Moments later, the senior found the back of the net one more time, absorbing a blow and forcing a late-hit penalty on Maryland in the process, as Notre Dame had visions of knotting up the contest. Despite the sudden surge by the Irish, however, the Terps were able to settle back into their comfort zone at the six-minute mark of the fourth. Kelly's third of the game, this time off an assist by Jack McDonald, put his side out in front 11-9. The final 90 seconds of action was what you'd expect in a battle between the nation's two best teams. Faison's second of the game brought the Irish to within one at 11-10 with under 1:30 to go, and after yet another FO win by Will Lynch, the Irish had a late opportunity to even things up. With Kavanagh looking for his fifth goal of the game, the superstar senior had a great look, went low on goal, but was turned aside by McNaney. The graduate student's 16th save of the day was his biggest, as it sealed UMD's 11-10 triumph. The 11-10 loss for Notre Dame (3-1) was the first defeat over its last 18 games (regular and postseason combined) and first in the last four against Maryland (5-0). What’s Next for the Irish?   Notre Dame welcomes No. 17 Ohio State to Arlotta Stadium for a 2 p.m. ET start next Saturday, March 8 before traveling to Ann Arbor for a date with Michigan on March 15. The Irish hold a 16-5 all-time record against the Buckeyes, and a 6-1 mark against the Wolverines. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Notre Dame basketball week is already under way with its 15-point loss to Clemson Wednesday night. The Irish were without two of their top four scorers, as sophomore guard Braeden Shrewsberry is out for the season and senior guard Matt Allocco was also injured. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Despite the lopsided scoreboard, the Irish fought hard against the Tigers and never went away until the buzzer sounded. Sophomore guard Markus Burton finished with 30 points, five assists and four rebounds, while also knocking down two of his four attempted threes. While the expectations were already high for Burton, they rise even more with the loss of Shrewsberry for the season as Notre Dame travels to Wake Forest for its final road game of the season. They enter riding a two-game losing streak, with the most recent coming at home against Virginia. Now with just three games remaining, the Demon Deacons are sitting at 19-9 and hungry for a tournament appearance.   Wake Forest is led by senior guard Hunter Sallis, who has scored 20 or more points in four of his last five games. He’s now averaging 18.6 points per game on 47.3% shooting, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists.   Sallis’ right-hand man, senior guard Cam Hildreth from Worthing, England, is experiencing one of the hottest stretches of his career. He’s scored 20 or more points in five of Wake Forest’s last six games and is shooting 52.6% from three during that same span.   In the post, it will be senior forward Tre’Von Spillers who stands at 6’7” and is averaging 10.1 PPG with 7.7 RPG. The Deacons haven’t gotten the production out of Spillers during this two-game skid, as he’s shooting just 7-18 from the field while shooting 53.4% on the season. Should Wake Forest play through the month of March, Spillers is going to need to have big performances as the season concludes, starting against Notre Dame.   It was heartbreak for the Notre Dame women’s team this past Sunday, as the Irish traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina for their first loss since Nov. 30 to the hands of the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics They had won 19 straight games and were off to the best start in ACC play in nearly 10 years. Notre Dame is now ranked third in the country and will play its final two games in Purcell Pavilion against No. 24 Florida State and No. 25 Louisville, who has already suffered a loss to the Irish this season back on Feb. 2. Following back-to-back losses, Florida State has won three straight games including a ranked road win over Georgia Tech on Sunday. This was good enough to catapult the Seminoles into the top 25 as they stand at 22-6 and tied with Duke and Louisville for the fourth spot in the ACC.   The Seminoles have the highest scoring offense in the ACC averaging 89.4 PPG, but give up the second most points in the conference at 71.2 per game. That high-scoring offense is led by Ta’Niya Latson, a junior guard averaging the most points in the country with 26.2 PPG on 47.6% shooting, along with 4.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Latson has seven games this season where she’s scored 30 or more points, including a 40-point performance against Virginia Tech on Jan. 2. She has also scored 20 or more points in her last eight games, and 11 of her last 12.   Latson has missed the last three games for Florida State but is expected to go on Thursday against the Irish, giving us a matchup between the top two scorers in the nation.   With Latson out, senior forward Makayla Timpson has stepped up for the Seminoles, averaging 20.3 PPG over her last three games. Standing at 6’2”, Timpson is averaging 10.6 RPG on the season and has 14 games with 10 or more rebounds, including 16 against Georgia Tech on Sunday.   The combo of Latson and Timpson is going to give the Irish headaches, but ensuring you get out on shooters like O’Mariah Gordon is just as important. While Gordon has missed the last two games and is not confirmed to be playing, she did score 34 points in her most recent action against Miami on Feb. 16. Gordon is shooting 39.6% from three-point land and is averaging 3.7 attempts per game.   To win the ACC outright, the Irish are going to have to take care of business first against Florida State and then Louisville on Sunday in the regular season finale. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off The Irish already knocked off Louisville earlier in February as the Cardinals responded with four straight wins including two against ranked opponents on the road, and one ranked opponent at home. Following a home loss to No. 9 North Carolina, the Cardinals will take on Clemson on Thursday before traveling to South Bend for a date with the Irish on Sunday.   Louisville prides itself on defense, giving up an average of 67.9 PPG, however, that was not the case as Notre Dame scored 89 points and won by 18 in the first meeting. Tajianna Roberts, the 5’10” freshman phenom, had 17 points against the Irish and is averaging 15 PPG in her last seven games.   Senior forward Olivia Cochran, who is averaging 10.1 PPG on the season, was the second leading scorer for the Cardinals in their first matchup, finishing with 14 points on 6-11 shooting. Despite the solid performance against Notre Dame, Cochran is shooting just 9-28 in her last three games, averaging 9 PPG in that same timeframe.   The Cardinals will also look to senior Jayda Curry who has been in double figures in four straight games, averaging 19.5 PPG during that stretch. Against the Irish, she was scrappy on defense collecting a season-high five steals in her 26 minutes of action. She will put up plenty of shots, as the 5’6” guard is averaging 10.3 shots per game in her last three games.   While Notre Dame still sits atop of the ACC after the loss to North Carolina State, the Irish do not have an easy path to a conference championship. A high-power offense on Thursday followed by a scrappy defense on Sunday to close out the season is a daunting task. It will be a matter of grit and toughness for Notre Dame, especially on their home court.   The game against Florida State will tip off at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on the ACC Network. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

When Mike Brown was named the wide receiver coach before the 2024 season, he took over a position group that had become much maligned in the eyes of Notre Dame fans. Photo by The Irish Tribune For too long, it felt as if the Fighting Irish struggled to consistently have difference-makers on the outside, with extraneous factors such as coaching and consistent quarterback play also contributing to big vertical plays becoming a dormant part of the offense. In addition to the hiring of Brown, Notre Dame dipped into the transfer portal for some fresh faces in hopes of turning things around. Beaux Collins, Kris Mitchell, and Jayden Harrison all came to South Bend for their senior seasons, joining Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse who had both flashed potential in their freshman campaigns with the Irish the prior year. In Brown's first go as the leader of that group, the numbers do not jump off the paper, but it is undeniable that his wide receiver room showed up in some of the biggest moments of the season. There is more improvement to be made, but the groundwork laid in 2024 was the first step in returning Notre Dame's WRs to major threat status. Let's look at where the film shows some of the biggest jumps were made. Release: The ability to fight through contact at the line and quickly accelerate and stem. Beaux Collins takes a bit of a hesitation release here, which throws off the timing of the jam by the defensive back. Collins is able to quickly get a step on the corner and sell the vertical route which forces the defender to start to bail. Collins then sinks his hips and breaks off for a comeback creating plenty of separation. Staying in the same game versus Stanford, Kris Mitchell is facing press man from right outside the five-yard line. He does a great job of taking a fake jab step outside to win on his inside release, leading to an inaccurate jam by the DB, only being able to make contact on Mitchell's outside shoulder. Mitchell quickly stems his route and creates the space needed to secure the touchdown grab on the slant. In the Orange Bowl, Jaden Greathouse made one of the most memorable catches in Notre Dame history, and it was due to his initial release. After motioning Jordan Faison down, Greathouse is given a great deal of space to work with on his release. He uses his shiftiness at the line and takes a hard step inside which gets the DB off balance to the point that when Greathouse gets vertical towards the numbers, the cornerback is on the ground and there is nothing but green grass in front of him. This play is also a great example of YAC (Yards After Catch) as Greathouse is able to stop on a dime which allows the safety to go right past him so that he can take it the rest of the way to the house. Contested Catching: Showing concentration and the ability to catch through contact. Beaux Collins set the tone for the season with this catch vs Texas A&M in week one. The cornerback for A&M does a good job of staying in phase with Collins and never lets him create separation on the back shoulder throw. Collins is still able to adjust his frame and go up with strong hands to grab the ball with the DB draped all over him. He shows good body control, making sure to get a foot down and control the catch through the ground. It was a big-time play in a hostile environment and you can see the emotion from Collins after the play. Greathouse's touchdown in the Orange Bowl will be the play engraved in everyone's memory but this reception to set up the game-winning field goal was just as crucial. Greathouse shows good courage/concentration in this moment. Penn State decided to bring an all-out blitz on third down and play man behind it. Greathouse working from the slot, finds a soft spot to sit down right between two defenders. The cornerback flashes in the passing lane at the last second and gets a hand up but Greathouse is able to highpoint the ball and look it into his hands and does not worry about absorbing contact from the safety on the back end. It picks up a critical first down and helps set up the Mitch Jeter kick that sent the Irish to the National Championship. In the Championship itself, Greathouse continued his playoff hot streak and showed another case of being able to grab a contested ball when the stakes are high. During Notre Dame's furious comeback attempt late in the fourth quarter, Greathouse ran a slot fade for a touchdown. Greathouse was never able to fully stack the DB so it was a very tight window for Riley Leonard to drop it into. Greathouse fought through the early contact from the corner that drew a flag, tracked the ball over his shoulder, and brought it in with one hand with the corner hanging off of him. You will not find many better examples of a receiver making a contested catch than this one, and Greathouse could be due for a huge season next year. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off Hands: Showing Dexterity, Concentration, and Ball Tracking Skills The most basic but important trait of being a successful wide receiver is having good hands. There are two examples on opposite ends of the spectrum that highlight this trait from this past year. Jayden Harrison is the point man of the bunch formation here and runs a corner route versus a Cover 2 look by FSU. Riley Leonard puts a little extra air on the pass and Harrison has to go up and high point the ball near the sideline. He does an excellent job of adjusting his frame and tracking, and although this is an inconspicuous play in a lower-stakes moment, it speaks to the different things every player brought to the position this past season. Where Harrison went high, Jordan Faison went low in the above play. Leonard is never able to step into his throw because of the contact by the defender so the pass is left woefully short. Faison maintains concentration while going to the ground, and gets his hands underneath the ball, ensuring there is no movement and no chance for the refs to call an incomplete pass. Faison had an outstanding playoff debut and this may have been his most impressive catch. Route Running/Awareness: The ability to win 1 on 1 matchups by getting in and out of breaks quickly with proper depth and leverages, as well as displaying the ability to find a void and settle when playing against Zone Coverage. Faison is 1 on 1 on the outside here and makes the most of his opportunity. He quickly eats up the cushion versus the off coverage without drifting towards the numbers which gives him more space to work with. Faison runs a textbook post-corner route, selling the post with a couple of hard steps inside, forcing the corner to flip his hips and commit. Once that happens, Faison shifts his weight back outside without breaking stride and gets his head around. The pass was delivered a little late and was a tad underthrown but Faison created so much separation on his initial break that it was still a relatively easy touchdown for him. We have seen Faison win against man, and here he is showing excellent feel against zone. With a defender dropping underneath Faison when he comes out of his break, Faison subtly begins to slide and uncover himself while keeping his eyes on Leonard who is rolling out at this point. He finds a soft area to sit down and Leonard is able to find him for the first down. Plays like this show the processing ability of Faison and what makes him such a reliable receiver. Above is another example of good awareness and understanding. Stanford runs a cornerback blitz, so the safety rotates over to fill the void left by the blitzer. Once Collins recognizes the safety bailing he knows it is nothing but open space and takes off vertically up the seam. The underneath defender that is supposed to take Collins has no chance as Collins blows by him off the line and it results in a huge gain that probably should have been a touchdown but Collins had to slow down and wait for the ball. Heading into 2025, wide receiver finally feels like a position to be excited about again. It feels like Jaden Greathouse is on the verge of a breakout season and Jordan Faison is as reliable as it gets from the slot position. Notre Dame went back to the portal and picked up Malachi Fields from Virginia who has back-to-back seasons of 800+ yards with less than stellar QB play, and Will Pauling from Wisconsin who is looking to get back to his 2023 form. In addition, one would assume that the change in quarterback in 2025 will lead to a more receiver-friendly offense. Riley Leonard will go down in Notre Dame history for helping lead Notre Dame to their first title appearance since 2012, but the use of his legs was such a focal point of the offense that the passing game at times took a back seat. If Mike Brown can continue to cultivate the talent he has at his disposal, then now would be a good time to buy stock in the Notre Dame passing attack for 2025 and beyond. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

With Notre Dame‘s playoff run and national championship appearance in the rearview, eight Irish players were invited to the NFL draft combine, and even more look to find their way onto a professional roster. As we await draft night, let’s take a look at the Notre Dame alumni currently active in the NFL. Photo by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame’s NFL footprint is among the biggest in college football. The Irish have 46 players across 11 draft classes and on 23 different teams. This article will cover the 2024, 2023, and 2022 draft classes, with part II covering the remaining players. 2024 Draft Class - 10 Players Joe Alt - Los Angeles Chargers - OT - Round 01: Pick 005 Alt was the highest draft pick for the Irish in 2024, going 5th overall to the LA Chargers. The high draft spot secured Alt a comfortable 4-year - $33.2 million rookie contract. He started 16/17 games and finished the season ranked 4th in pass blocking with a 94% win rate. Alt held down the RT spot for most of the season and is projected to stay one of the anchors of LA’s front five next season. Alt has already lived up to his draft spot and has established himself as one of the best young linemen in the league.  Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off Blake Fisher - Houston Texans - OT - Round 02: Pick 059 Fisher was the ninth offensive tackle off the board in the 2024 draft, going to the Houston Texans in the second round with the 59th overall pick. Fisher didn’t play until week four, and after an injury to Tytus Howard, earned the starting spot against the Buffalo Bills. He had a solid start and played again the following week, getting the majority of snaps through weeks nine and 10, and finished the season strong, playing the last four games straight. Fisher made a noticeable impact in his rookie year, and as of the 2024 off-season, he is slated to be the Texans starting right tackle for 2025 alongside former Notre Dame lineman Jarrett Patterson. Marist Liufau - Dallas Cowboys - LB - Round 03: Pick 087 Liufau was drafted in the third round with the 87th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys. He quickly lived up to his high draft stock with a stellar rookie season that cemented him as a mainstay in the Cowboys linebacker room. He appeared in all 17 of the Cowboys' regular season games and racked up an impressive 50 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Liufau has made an instant impact and will likely become a full-time starter before his rookie contract is up. Cam Hart - Los Angeles Chargers - CB - Round 05: Pick 140 Hart was drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Chargers with the 140th overall pick. He had a solid rookie season, appearing in 14 of LA’s 17 regular season games and an appearance in the AFC wildcard game against the Houston Texans. By season’s end, Hart had racked up 37 tackles, 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and 7 pass deflections. As of right now, Hart is second on the depth chart for the left CB slot.  JD Bertrand - Atlanta Falcons - ILB - 2024 - Round 05: Pick 143 Bertrand was drafted in the 5th round with the 143rd overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons. It was a homecoming for the ATL native, and he got to work quickly. Bertrand played the first eight games of the season before sustaining a concussion during the Falcons’ late October win over the Bucs, forcing him to miss the next four games. Thankfully, he was able to play the remaining five games to close out the regular season and finished with 23 tackles and 1 sack. He spent the majority of the season in a 2nd string backup role but maintained sizable rotation minutes before and after his injury. It looks like Bertrand will be a regular rotation piece in Atlanta’s linebacker core and should earn more playing time as 2025 goes on.  Audric Estime - Denver Broncos - RB - Round 05: Pick 147 Estime went to the Denver Broncos with the 147th overall pick in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL draft. He arrived at a loaded running backs room filled with Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Tyler Badie, all looking to earn reps in the backfield. Estime made his first NFL appearance in the season opener against the Seahawks after playing all the preseason games. Unfortunately, he sustained an ankle injury and was sidelined for the next four weeks. He made his next appearance against the Los Angeles Chargers and finished the season with 13 appearances. In those games, he collected 310 yards for 2 touchdowns and 5 receptions for 27 yards. Estime had a solid rookie season and solidified himself as the third-string running back behind Williams and McLaughlin. Despite having significantly fewer carries, Estime put up more impressive numbers when adjusted for snaps than the 1st or 2nd string backs, beginning discussions about who should be the starter. As of the 2024 off-season, Estime should be no lower than 3rd string on the depth chart and could very possibly vie for the 2nd string spot. Javontae Jean-Baptiste - Washington Commanders - DE - Round 07: Pick 222 Baptiste was drafted by the Washington Commanders late in the seventh round with the 222nd overall pick. He was signed to a traditional four-year rookie contract and had a solid first year with the team. He appeared in 12 games, starting just one, and secured his first and only career sack in week three. Javontae suffered an ankle injury in October but was reactivated for play in late November. He appeared in all three of the Commanders' postseason games, their wins over Tampa Bay and Detroit, and their loss to Philly in the NFC championship. Baptiste may only have a year under his belt, but he’s already contributing to a playoff team. He could carve out a nice career for himself in Washington before the end of his rookie contract. Spencer Shrader - Kansas City Chiefs - PK - CFA Shrader has had an interesting start to his NFL career and has covered quite a bit of ground. He went undrafted in 2024 but signed as a free agent to the Indianapolis Colts. He was waived in the off-season but signed to their practice squad before the season started. He made his first NFL appearance in week one against the Houston Texans, where he went 3/3 on extra point attempts. He was ultimately released in October before signing with the New York Jets practice squad. Shrader was called up once again, and this time, he made his Jets debut against the Arizona Cardinals, where he went 2/2 on field goals.  The Kansas City Chiefs lost starting kicker Harrison Butker and signed Shrader in November 2024. He made his Chiefs debut against the Buffalo Bills, where he went 3/3 on extra points before making his mark with a stellar performance in November against the Carolina Panthers. Shrader nailed 3/3 extra points and 3/3 field goals, including a game-winner as time expired. The following week, he was placed on injury reserve and did not make an appearance in the Super Bowl. Thomas Harper - Las Vegas Raiders - S - 2024 - CFA Harper wasn’t selected in the 2024 draft, but was picked up in free agency by the Los Angeles Chargers. He hung in on the Rams practice squad until his release in August but was picked up off waivers the following day by the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a stroke of luck for Harper, as the change of scenery earned him a spot in the rotation. He’d go on to play 15/17 games for the Raiders in 2024 and recorded 26 tackles, 0.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, two pass deflections, and 1 interception. It remains to be seen how Harper will fit into the 2025 Raiders, but it's a good sign that he was able to carve out a place for himself in just one season. Sam Hartman - Washington Commanders - QB -  FA Hartman went undrafted in 2024 but signed with the Washington Commanders as a free agent before the season began. Washington eventually waived Hartman, and he joined their practice squad but was promoted to the active roster after an injury to Marcus Mariota in September. The Commanders waived Hartman again, and he rejoined the practice squad before formally signing a future/reserve contract with Washington in July 2025. Hartman hasn’t seen the field yet, but depending on how the QB situation works out, he may or may not have a spot in 2025. 2023 Draft Class - 6 Players Michael Mayer - Las Vegas Raiders - TE - Round 02: Pick 035 Mayer was high across all the draft boards and was the 3rd overall TE picked, going to the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2nd round with the 35th overall pick. Mayer split reps with Austin Hooper and put up a quiet 27 catches for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns in just 14 games amidst a strange QB situation. 2024 was Mayer’s shot at the starting spot, but the Raiders drafted 2X Mackey award-winning, All-American TE from UGA, Brock Bowers. Bowers stole the job out from under him, and Mayer was forced to hold down the #2 spot for another season. Mayer missed four weeks between October and November for non-football-related reasons but still appeared in 11 games by the end of the year. He finished with 21 catches for 156 yards and zero touchdowns. It was a disappointing sophomore outing, but Mayer will have essentially the same situation next year. He’ll have to either beat out Bowers for the starting role, which seems unlikely, or excel at the backup position and draw interest from other teams looking for a starter. Isaiah Foskey - New Orleans Saints - DE - Round 02: Pick 040 Foskey was drafted in 2023 by the New Orleans Saints in the 2nd round with the 40th overall pick. He earned rotational minutes at DE and played in eight of the first nine games of the season before leaving the Saints vs. Bears game with a quadricep injury. It kept him sidelined for several weeks and threw a wrench into the flow he’d reached up to that point. Foskey could only suit up for two more games in 2023 and finished the season with 10 games played, 10 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and 1 pass deflection.  2024 was a bounce-back season for Foskey. He managed to stay healthy and appeared in all 17 regular season games for the Saints. He improved with 16 total tackles but was unable to record any sacks. While it may not have been Foskey’s breakout season, he was able to improve over his rookie year and is currently projected as the 2nd string DE for 2025. Jarrett Patterson - Houston Texans - OC/OG - Round 06: Pick 201 Patterson was drafted 201st overall in the 6th round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Houston Texans. He was named the starter for the 2023 season and played in his first eight games before going down with a fractured fibula. Thankfully, Patterson bounced back but lost his starting job at center to Juice Scruggs for 2024. Patterson only played in week 2 until Scruggs moved to LT and opened up the center role. Patterson held down the center spot and played eight games for the Texans to close out the regular season. Currently, Patterson is projected to maintain the starting center spot for 2025. Blake Grupe - New Orleans Saints - PK - FA Grupe signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent after going undrafted in 2023. He immediately became the starting kicker and had a stellar first season, going 40/40 on extra points and a respectable 30/37 on field goals after starting all 17 regular season games. Grupe Remained the starting kicker for the Saints in 2024, once again appearing in all 17 regular season games. While Grupe regressed slightly on extra points, going 31/33, he improved dramatically on field goals, hitting 27/31. That raised his field goal percentage from 81.1 in 2023 to 87.1 in 2024. All signs indicate Grupe holding onto his job with the Saints next season.  Brandon Aubrey - Dallas Cowboys - PK - FA Brandon Aubrey was a Notre Dame student and accomplished men’s soccer player for four years from 2013 to 2016 and has arguably the most interesting path to the NFL on this list. Aubrey was selected 21st overall in the first round of the 2017 MLS draft by Toronto FC. He moved to the USL in 2018, signing with Bethlehem Steel FC before being released at the end of the 2018 season. He then switched from soccer to football and began to train as a kicker with hopes of making a professional team. Aubrey was eventually drafted in 2022 by the USFL Birmingham Stallions. He played 10 games, going 22/24 on extra point attempts (91.7) and 18/22 on field goals(81.8%). In his very first season, the stallions went all the way to the USFL Championship game and beat the Philadelphia Stars 33-30. Aubrey capped off an incredible regular season with a Championship performance of 2/3 on field goals and 3/4 on extra point attempts. He remained with the Stallions for the 2023 season, finishing 14/15 on field goals (93.3%) and 35/35 on extra-point attempts. The Stallions once again made it to the Championship game and won their second championship in as many years, 28-12. The success of the Birmingham Stallions and Aubrey‘s stellar two-season performance earned him a contract with the Dallas Cowboys in July 2023. He won the starting kicking job outright and played in all 17 regular season games. In that time, Aubrey went 36/38 on field goals (94.7%) and 49/52 on extra points (94.2) for a total of 157 points.  The 2024 season was similarly successful for Aubrey, playing in all 17 games once again and putting up similar numbers. His field goal rate dropped to 40/47 (85.1%) but improved to 30/30 on extra points. By the end of the regular season, Aubrey was tied for 1st place amongst all NFL kickers in extra point percentage, led the league with the longest field goal of the season with a 65-yarder, and was tied for second amongst kickers with 150 points. While Aubrey didn’t play football for the Fighting Irish, it’s incredibly unique to see a Notre Dame alumni and collegiate athlete go professional in his sport, change his mind, and go professional in a different sport he’d never played before. In a matter of three years, Brandon and Aubrey went from watching NFL games to winning back-to-back USFL championships and earning a starting spot on an NFL roster. If only the Irish coaching staff had been watching soccer practice between 2013 and 2016. Chris Smith - Detroit Lions - DT - FA Smith went undrafted in 2023 but was picked up by the Detroit Lions as a free agent. He was cut and signed to the practice squad in late August before going through a cycle of three more releases and re-signings. By the end of 2023, Smith had not appeared in any NFL games for the Lions and had gone through a similar cycle of leaving and rejoining before being signed to active duty in September 2024. He appeared in his first game in week one against the Los Angeles Rams, going on to play four more regular season games, including the Lions’ postseason match-up with the Washington Commanders. It was an up-and-down season for Smith, but he finished strong and may have carved out a place for himself with the Lions in 2025.  2022 Draft Class - 4 Players Kyle Hamilton - Baltimore Ravens - S - Round 01: Pick 014 Kyle Hamilton is arguably one of the biggest NFL stars from Notre Dame. He was drafted 14th overall in round one of the 2022 draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Hamilton appeared in 16 games in his rookie season and put up impressive stats. He ended with 62 tackles, two sacks, one force fumble, and 5 pass deflections. The following year, he only appeared in 15 games but dramatically improved his numbers, racking up 81 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 13 pass deflections, and a whopping four interceptions. He once again improved across the board in 2024, playing in all 17 regular season games and both playoff matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills. As Hamilton enters his final year on his rookie contract, many believe he will reset the salary standard at the safety position. It’s obvious that Hamilton is a foundational mainstay in the Raven’s defense and will likely get a hefty contract that keeps him there for the foreseeable future. Kyren Williams - Los Angeles Rams - RB - Round 05: Pick 164 Williams was drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft with the 164th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams. Unfortunately, Williams suffered a broken foot during June practice and was forced to undergo surgery, causing him to miss his first preseason slate. He made the starting roster for the season opener but suffered a high ankle sprain on his first kick return and was forced back onto injury reserves. Despite the injuries, Williams appeared in 10 games during the 2022 season, racking up 139 yards with a respectable 4-yard average and 9 pass receptions for 76 yards. It was an encouraging yet ultimately disappointing rookie season for Williams, but that feeling wouldn’t stick around for long.  The following year, Williams blew up. He started the season strong and only sustained a single injury during week six that kept him out for an extended period. By season's end, Williams appeared in 12 games, starting 11 of them and putting up a ridiculous 1,144 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Not only that, but he caught 32 passes for 206 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns. Needless to say, Williams shocked not only his team but the whole NFL with his performance and made him a steal as a pick from the fifth round.  2024 was an even better year for Williams. He began the season as the starting running back and appeared in 16 of the Rams' 17 regular season games and their playoff games against the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles. In the regular season alone, Williams racked up 1,299 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 34 catches for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had four regular season games with 100+ rushing yards and a 5th in the playoffs against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Williams managed to put up career-bests in yards and touchdowns as well as receptions. He ended the regular season ranked 3rd in carries, 7th in rushing yards, and 5th in rushing touchdowns across the NFL. In three short seasons, Williams has managed to become one of the NFL’s best running backs. Kevin Austin Jr. - New Orleans Saints - WR - FA Austin went undrafted in 2022 but was picked up as a free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was waived and signed to the practice squad before securing a formal future/reserve contract in January 2023. He remained on the team through the preseason but was waived before the regular season began. After a year with the Jags practice squad, Austin began 2024 by signing a contract with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL. Austin appeared in 12 games for the Stallions and finished his first year with 253 yards and 2 touchdowns. After drawing NFL interest, Austin ended his contract with the Stallions to join the New Orleans Saints on a one-year deal. He was cut yet again in August of 2024 and signed with the practice squad before earning a promotion to the Saints active roster in December. By the end of the 2024 season, Austin played in eight games for NOLA and finished with 151 receiving yards and 9 rushing yards.  Kurt Hinish - Houston Texans - DT - 2022 -  FA Hinish went undrafted in 2022 but was signed as a free agent by the Houston Texans. He began the 2022 preseason as a backup but quickly earned first-team reps before the season started. As a rookie, he appeared in 15 games and finished with 23 tackles and 1 sack. In 2024, Hinish played 17 games, recording 22 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and one pass deflection. 2024 was a bit of a step back, as Hinish was sidelined for the season's first six games but finished strong with 10 starts. Despite his short window of availability, he managed to record 12 tackles. Hinish has performed well with the Texans defensive front and should have a healthier and longer 2025 season. Next Article In the next piece, we’ll cover the remaining 26 Irish players currently playing in the NFL and explore the course each has taken since leaving South Bend. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Mike Martin makes his way to South Bend after helping create some very talented teams for as a member of the Detroit Lions, filling the GM role for Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame football following the departure of Chad Bowden. Photo by The Irish Tribune The hiring process for Notre Dame's GM position had been a bit of a roller coaster for Freeman and the staff. It started with the former GM, Chad Bowden, who left somewhat surprisingly just a few days after the season had concluded. To make the loss worse, it was to Notre Dame's biggest rival, the USC Trojans. His departure marked the beginning of a long-winded hiring process that eventually led Notre Dame to Mike Martin. To begin the search, North Carolina's Patrick Suddes emerged as a target, but Notre Dame quickly pivoted to Texas Tech's James Blanchard. Blanchard had become a popular name when it came to recruiting, making him a prime target for Notre Dame, and a target the fanbase could get behind. The deal seemed to be on the brink of being done before Blanchard declined, leaving Notre Dame and its staff to continue the search again. That led to rumblings that Notre Dame was to pursue Auburn's director of recruiting, Kenyatta Watson, but nothing ever materialized. After all of this, Freeman finally found the man who would help him build the roster of Notre Dame football teams in the future, Mike Martin. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off Martin has a long history in the NFL, but his football career started at the college level. From 1999 to 2002, he was a defensive back at Vanderbilt, where he was a finalist for the SEC scholar-athlete of the year. Directly following his college career, Martin took his first steps in the NFL as an intern with the Tennessee Titans for one year. He then landed his first prominent job in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His time with the Buccaneers lasted four seasons, working as a personnel assistant, a pro scout, and then a southeast region scout. Martin then moved on to the Houston Texans, where he would spend 11 years. He spent most of those 11 serving as a college scout before receiving a promotion going into his last year with the Texans. That promotion made him the assistant director of all college recruiting for the team. His path then led him to the Carolina Panthers, where he spent a short time as an area scout before eventually landing in Detroit. With the Detroit Lions, Martin worked as the director of scouting advancement for four seasons. In those four seasons, the Lions' roster saw a dramatic turnaround with the talent on the field. The Lions were considered to be one of the worst teams in the NFL for quite a while before Head Coach Dan Campbell and his staff arrived. They quickly flipped the script and built the Lions into one of the best teams in the NFL, going 27-7 in the last two seasons. Martin had a huge part to play in this revitalization. His role with the Lions was to improve the efficiency and accuracy of their scouting department. Martin's hard work was evident on the field as the Lions continuously hit with their draft picks and were excellent at signing key free agents. Now, Martin will bring all of the skills and experience he has gained in the NFL to South Bend. Martin brings a unique experience to Notre Dame that can be seen as a major advantage for Notre Dame going forward. Not only has he seen how pro teams evaluate and select players, but he also understands the business aspect of football, which has now become a part of the college game. His time with the Lions proves he is more than capable of building an impressive roster with a budget in place. I believe this is so valuable in modern college football. With NIL, teams only have so much money to go around, so having someone who understands that situation is critical. Overall, Martin is a home-run hire with all the right experience and skills to improve Notre Dame's already talented roster. This hire also indicates Freeman has no plans of slowing down. With Ja'Juan Seider's hire, and now this one, Freeman is making it known that Notre Dame is determined to keep its name at the top of college football. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Fighting Irish Hockey bounced back from an ugly Friday defeat with a big 6-1 win on Saturday in their trip to Madison against the Badgers. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Saturday’s tilt was highlighted by 18 penalty calls, nine against each team, leading to 63 total penalty minutes and three players ejected.  Notre Dame got on the board under five minutes into the game when Niko Jovanovic scored his first career collegiate goal to give the Irish an early 1-0 advantage. Axel Kumlin and Henry Nelson were credited with assists on the game's opening score. With 52 seconds remaining in the first period, Notre Dame was granted a power play opportunity following a roughing call against the Badgers. Justin Janicke converted this man advantage for the visitors with just five seconds left in the period to give the Irish a 2-0 lead heading into the second frame. Blake Biondi and Cole Knuble were given assists on Janicke’s 13th goal of the season. At the 13:55 mark in the second, Biondi got intertwined with a Badger, and both players were sent to the box, setting up two minutes of four-on-four action. With the extra space on the ice, Knuble connected on a backhander to put the Irish up 3-0 with 12:16 on the clock. Nelson and Kumlin, like the game’s first score, earned assists on this goal.  Wisconsin finally responded with 3:25 remaining in the period when Anthony Kehrer beat the Irish goalie, Owen Say, to cut the Badgers deficit down to two, 3-1. This score held for all of seven seconds as Notre Dame’s Danny Nelson responded immediately with a goal of his own to hand the Irish their three-score lead back. Brennan Ali and Michael Mastrodomenico were credited with assisting on the goal that gave the visitors a 4-1 lead with 3:18 left in the period. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off The first half of the third period was relatively quiet until Ian Murphy’s goal extended Notre Dame’s lead to 5-1 with 12:24 to play. Biondi and Janicke earned assists on this goal, marking the second point of the night for both of these leaders. Henry Nelson’s night ended early as he was assessed a game misconduct following a spearing call with 9:31 on the clock. Notre Dame played a stellar five minutes on the penalty kill, with Grant Silianoff adding a shorthanded, empty-net goal to secure the Irish’s 6-1 win with 4:44 remaining. Mastrodomenico added his second assist of the night on Silianoff’s six-on-four empty-netter. Irish Stars: Cole Knuble: 1 goal, 1 assist, +2 Justin Janicke: 1 goal, 1 assist, +2 Owen Say: 31 saves, 1 goal against Key Team Stats: Shots: UW (32) - ND (24) Power Play Success: ND (1-9) - UW (0-8) Penalty Minutes: ND (37) - UW (26) Faceoffs: UW (28) - ND (24) Blocked Shots: ND (19) - UW (10) Notre Dame ends their regular season at home next weekend against top-ranked Michigan State. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Irish Men’s Basketball returned to the win column in front of their home crowd on Saturday afternoon after a 76-72 victory over the Pitt Panthers. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics With Braeden Shrewsberry and Matt Allocco out with injuries, the Irish offense needed to find a way to put points on the board without their key guards. The first half was a back-and-forth affair as the teams could not separate by halftime. With 11:22 to play in the first, Pitt took their largest lead of the half following a Cameron Corhen jumper that gave the Panthers a 15-10 lead. Corhen led all first-half scorers with 14 points on 6/7 shooting from the field. Notre Dame’s Markus Burton buried a jumper with seven seconds on the clock to send the game into halftime tied 30-30. While Burton contributed nine points in the half, Tae Davis led the Irish offense with 12 points on 5-6 shooting from the field including a three.  Despite both sides struggling to hit from deep, combining for 4-14 from three, they both shot over 56% from the field. Additionally, both offenses turned the ball over eight times apiece as the Irish’s Sir Mohammed secured two steals in his 11 minutes played. This back-and-forth contest continued into the second half as it seemed neither side was capable of pulling away. That was until with 5:39 to play as Burton kickstarted an 8-0 Irish run that resulted in the home team owning an 11-point, 67-56 lead with under three minutes remaining in the game. Burton scored six of the Irish’s eight points on that game-defining run. However, the Panthers did not go away easily as they managed to cut the Irish lead down to three with 23 seconds left following a trio of clutch threes from Ishmael Leggett. With eight seconds on the clock, Pitt’s Brandin Cummings tipped in a missed three to cut the Irish lead all the way down to two, 74-72. Needing a foul, the Panthers sent Notre Dame’s J.R. Konieczny to the line and he was able to ice the game, draining both free throws to give the Irish a 76-72 victory. Notre Dame had four scorers with nine or more points in the second half, led by Cole Certa’s 12 points off of three made three-pointers on four attempts. Burton had 11 and Konieczny added 10 in the second half as the Irish outscored the Panthers 46-42 in the frame. Pitt’s Leggett led all second-half scorers with 15 points on 6/10 shooting from the field including his three late-game three-pointers. Both offenses played well, combining for just five total turnovers in the half but it was Pitt’s poor free throw shooting that gave Notre Dame the winning edge as they shot just 7-14 from the line. Irish Stars: Tae Davis: 21 points (8-11 FGs), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal, +3 Markus Burton: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, +6 Kebba Njie: 8 points (4-7 FGs), 7 rebounds, 1 steal, +4 Next, the Irish travel to Clemson on Wednesday to take on the 18th-ranked Tigers. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

While Notre Dame got plenty of contributions from the 2024 recruiting class, the Fighting Irish are expecting to see even more players see the field next season. These are the next breakout candidates heading into their sophomore season. Photo by The Irish Tribune During Notre Dame's run to the National Championship, the Irish got many key performances from their true freshman. Leonard Moore filled in seamlessly for the second half of the season when All-American cornerback Benjamin Morrison had season-ending hip surgery. Moore replaced Morrison and earned Freshman All-American honors for the Fighting Irish. Anthonie Knapp was thrust into the spotlight for the entirety of the year after projected starting LT Charles Jagusah had a regular season-ending pectoral injury. The Irish also got key contributions from RB Aneyas Williams, LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, and DE Bryce Young. These players matured quickly during Notre Dame’s lengthy postseason run, and were forced to develop due to injuries at key positions. Yet, even while Notre Dame has received a significant impact from the class of 2024, there are still many stars that spent last year developing and adjusting to college football, that will surely make an impact in the 2025 season. Let's break down some candidates who are destined to make an impact during their sophomore season. CJ Carr It is almost impossible to have this discussion without mentioning CJ Carr's name. Carr, the highly touted quarterback prospect from Saline, Mich., will compete in an open quarterback battle with Steve Angeli and Kenny Minchey. Many are already penciling in Carr as the Irish's starting quarterback in Coral Gables next year, yet it should be an extremely fierce QB competition throughout spring and summer camp. Out of the three, Carr provides the highest upside for the Fighting Irish. His accuracy and mobility in the pocket are the strengths of his game, alongside his high IQ. With Carr being an early enrollee during Notre Dame's bowl week game in 2023, he has had plenty of time to work with quarterbacks' coach Gino Guidugli. Whether or not Carr earns the starting spot, his number might be called upon at any point in the season. Marcus Freeman was adamant about not taking a transfer portal quarterback in this cycle because of the belief he has in the QB room: much of that faith has been placed within the arm of CJ Carr. Micah Gilbert Even with the Irish bringing in Malachi Fields and Will Pauling from the transfer portal, Micah Gilbert has a chance to take a giant step forward this year for Notre Dame. An interesting note is that Fields will not enroll at Notre Dame until the summer, which leaves a hole on the outside that Gilbert will attempt to fill during spring ball. Gilbert has shown flashes of greatness during his time in South Bend. He was the leading receiver in the 2024 Blue vs Gold game, in which he had five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Gilbert also saw playing time this season during the final moments of the games against Purdue, Stanford, and Navy. If Gilbert can establish himself as a reliable option for any of the quarterbacks, the sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., can make an impact in a young receiver room. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off. Loghan Thomas Loghan Thomas might be an exception on this list because the freshman saw playing time in almost every game, yet he wasn't given enough snaps along the defensive line to show his true potential. Even though Bryce Young was the freshman DE who received the most snaps, Thomas proved that he could play from the time he enrolled at Notre Dame. He played in 15 games while netting seven tackles and 1.5 sacks. Thomas' speed is his greatest attribute, and he displayed that during the Louisville game last year. While Notre Dame is returning Boubacar Traore and Jordan Botelho from injury, Thomas' athletic ability is tough to keep off the field. With more snaps, Thomas can easily be a viable pass-rushing option for the Fighting Irish. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun