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While Jeremiyah Love seems to be a surefire top-10 pick, Jadarian Price's name will likely be called early on day two, or perhaps even at the end of day one. The question now becomes, where does he land, and what kind of player is that team getting? It seems likely that Notre Dame's former two-headed monster will be the first two running backs taken in the NFL draft. Like Love, Price has been incredibly productive and efficient in the snaps he was given at Notre Dame. Even while being second-string to Love at Notre Dame, Price has still caught the attention of every NFL scout, enough to have him considered as the second-best running back in the class. It is not only a glowing endorsement of the running back room Notre Dame had, but it also shows just how special Price is, even if he does not always get the same attention as Love. Price burst onto the scene at Notre Dame during the first game of the 2024 season. In that game, Price hit on the Irish's first big play of the season when he broke a run loose for 47-yards against Texas A&M. That play was the first in a long list of incredible runs by Price that all Irish fans quickly grew accustomed to during his career in South Bend. In that season, Price went on to run for 746 yards, seven touchdowns, and averaged just over six yards per carry. It was this unselfish, impressive, and pivotal season by Price that put Notre Dame's RB room on the map as one of the best in the country. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! In 2025, Price continued his excellent performance, making it clear that Notre Dame had claimed the title for the best RB room in college football. While it was tainted by a couple of costly fumbles, Price reinforced his consistent ability to run hard, break tackles, and find lanes to the second and third levels of the defense. Price's carries did drop a bit in 2025, but he still managed to finish with 674 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six yards per carry. Although Price might not have the other-worldly athleticism and burst of Love, Price has a lot of qualities that NFL teams would be lucky to have. First, Price has the perfect NFL body to survive in the fast, hard-hitting nature of the league. Standing at 5'11" and 210 pounds, Price has a stout build, making him a physical runner that is hard to bring down. With that size, Price still has the speed and acceleration to finish plays and find his way to the end zone. Secondly, Price has incredibly fast feet. Price became known at Notre Dame for his ability to navigate the line of scrimmage, bounce a run to the outside, and then beat defenders to the end zone. It was plays like this that displayed just how smooth and fluid a runner Price is. Lastly, Price projects to be an excellent and effective kick returner, which has become much more important due to rule changes in the NFL. Now that NFL teams return more kickoffs, an explosive returner like Price brings extra value to a player who is already getting high-pick considerations. Price is projected anywhere from the tail end of the first round to the beginning of the third round, giving him a lot of potential landing spots. While it is hard to pin down an exact spot that he could land, here are a few teams that could be looking to improve at the running back position this draft. Round 2, Pick 59/Round 3, Pick 69: Houston Texans The Houston Texans have some questions to answer this offseason when it comes to the running back room. While Joe Mixon is still under contract, there is some uncertainty about whether he will be a Texan next season. Mixon missed most of last season due to an injury. Injuries have been plaguing Mixon for years, and at his age, the Texans could stand to get younger and a lot cheaper at the running back position. That is why Price could be a viable option for them in the late second and early third. The Texans have already found success in their young running back Woody Marks, and with Price, they could form a young and talented room for years. In today's NFL, many teams look to accomplish success in the run game with 2-3 running backs. Neither Price nor Marks are "bell-cow" running backs, but they are both more than good enough to build a strong committee of runners in Houston. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Round 2, Pick 62: Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are in huge need of a running back after a very strong season that was ended in the AFC Championship. With such a strong team, it is now their job to reinforce their weaker positions to ensure they can make another run, hopefully this time ending in a Super Bowl. One position that they will give a lot of attention to is the running back position. RJ Harvey showed promise this past season, but J.K. Dobbins is set to become a free agent, making the Broncos incredibly thin at running back. Price could be an option for them late in the second round, which could bring some big-play ability to this offense. If the Broncos do not sign a running back in free agency, Price would pair nicely with Harvey. Harvey is a physical, bruising runner who chips away at a defense five yards at a time. While Price does have some of that, he is really looking to hit on a big play after making a defender or two miss. Big plays were a huge focus for the Broncos last season, as their offense would sometimes become bogged down. Price could come in and immediately be a difference maker in that role. The Texans and the Broncos are two of the main teams that could be looking to draft Price in the late second and into the early third, but any team could really be an option for Price. Teams are constantly making moves to get younger and cheaper at positions, especially at running back. Free agency will give a lot of insight into which team may still be looking to draft a running back. Price projects to instantly become a contributing part of the rushing attack and a dangerous return man. In the future, Price does have the potential and talent to be an established starter in the NFL. All of that makes him a coveted prospect in a draft that is weak at the running back position. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

CJ Carr’s 2025 season put two traits on tape: pre-snap command that expanded over time, and boundary/vertical arm talent that let Notre Dame stress defenses from the far hash. The arc shows up clearly when you evaluate points from the beginning, middle and end of the year—and if you look at how the offense asked Carr to operate before the snap and where the ball went after it. Photo by Maysum Hassanali The Early-Season Baseline: Pre-Snap Routine Under the Microscope Texas A&M became the early reference point because the conversation around Carr wasn’t only about his decisions but also about pre-snap information. Postgame reporting focused on a stance tendency that correlated with run versus dropback and gave the defense a cleaner pre-snap picture than Notre Dame wanted.  Quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli later acknowledged “tendencies,” described them as addressed, and framed it as a fix-and-move-forward item.  That week serves as a useful starting point. Carr still threw for 293 yards on 32 attempts against A&M. However, the offense had to spend part of the early season tightening the pre-snap operation—specifically, presentation, cadence consistency, and process—so defences received fewer tells before the ball was snapped . Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Arkansas: The First Game Where “Command” Shows Up on the Drive Chart and the Throw Chart Two weeks later, Carr’s trip to Arkansas marked the first game where the tape and the stat line both read “in control.” He went 22-of-30 for 354 yards with four touchdowns and no picks.  UHND’s recap framed it as “Carr in Control” and pointed to the late-half sequencing that buried Arkansas: a short TD to Jeremiyah Love, followed by a 35-yard screen TD to Jadarian Price right before halftime. From a quarterbacking standpoint, Arkansas is where the pre-snap layer becomes visible in the structure of the offense. You see more snaps where motion forces leverage and rotation tells, and you see Carr cash those tells quickly—screens into perimeter looks, intermediate concepts into favorable shells, and boundary shots when the corner’s leverage was inside or off, and safety depth invited it. Arkansas is also the cleanest single-game evidence bank for Carr’s arm talent.  Notre Dame very neatly packaged all 354 passing yards into a single “shortest to longest” compilation. And when you tag those throws, the recurring theme is stress: intermediate timing windows, movement out of the backfield, deep placement, and several opportunities to drive the football outside the numbers. The Season-Wide Profile Across 2025, he posted 63 completions of 15+ yards and 31 completions of 25+ yards. That’s enough volume to treat “medium-to-deep” as a defining trait rather than an occasional highlight, especially given the offense’s reliance on a 1A-1B run game with Love and Price.  It is surely something that Freeman & Co. will gameplan around come this fall.  The next step is locating where those gains live on the field. For Carr, the most translatable subset is throws outside the numbers—far-hash outs/comebacks, boundary hole shots, and vertical sideline work—because those throws compress the defense’s margin for error. When your OC trusts you with those reads, defenses play on their back foot. And those throws correlate with his developed comfort pre-snap: protection communication has to be clean, and the picture has to be understood quickly, because boundary concepts are timing concepts.  Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle November: The Late-Season Boundary/Vertical Throw Arrives with Efficiency Boston College offers a late-season snapshot where the volume is modest, but the damage is heavy: Carr was 18-of-25 for 299 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions. A review of the film shows many downfield throws, too, including a 44-yard touchdown to Will Pauling towards the seam and a 40-yard TD to Malachi Fields on a ball thrown with touch.   Those are the kinds of plays that show up when an offense, particularly Carr, Coach Guidugli, and Coach Denbrock are comfortable calling vertical concepts into the right shell and comfortable letting Carr execute with timing and placement. Stanford, two weeks later, adds another late-season “toolbox” indicator: 205 yards on 27 attempts with two touchdowns, no picks, and a long of 54.  The film value here sits in two categories: a deep completion that demands placement, and a handful of snaps where you can see pre-snap ID translate into post-snap answers—hot/replace throws, quick boundary access, or an intermediate concept triggered by a favorable leverage look.  We would have seen more of the offensive scheme at play had Notre Dame been encouraged to widen the scoring margin, but the Committee suggested that need not be the case. The Throughline: Expanded Pre-Snap Confidence Forces Defenses to Change Their Strategy The season’s pre-snap story starts with an early tendency that drew attention and a coaching staff that treated it as correctable.  It continues with a mid-September performance at Arkansas, where sequencing, tempo, and a wide menu of throws suggest an offense operating with clearer pre-snap information and Carr with more confidence.  By November, the late-season efficiency games feature an increase in strikes down-the-field and consistent explosive production at a rate supported by every situational stat available. That combination—pre-snap clarity plus a boundary-capable arm—shapes how defenses have to play Notre Dame in 2026. Corners can’t sit on the short stuff.  Safeties can’t cheat into the run fit without exposing the sideline. Pressure packages have to win quickly, or they turn into leverage throws and explosives.  And with the potential offensive line and Carr’s pre-snap read ability, pressure packages are a high-risk, high-reward wager for future DCs.  Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame secured their third straight win on Sunday, toppling the SMU Mustangs 88-63 in Dallas, headlined by another sensational performance from Hannah Hidalgo. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame (17-9; 9-6) entered SMU (9-18; 2-13) on a two-game win streak with the regular season’s end rapidly approaching. During the game, Hidalgo spent her 21st birthday doing what she does: Hooping. The Irish star finished the game with 31 points, 11 steals, and was just one rebound shy of a triple-double in the rout. As a team, Notre Dame’s 53% shooting from the field and 44% from three mixed with lockdown defense was too much for the Mustangs to handle. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! SMU kicked off a high-scoring first quarter with a 5-0 run initiated by a game-opening three from Ayanna Thompson. The Irish responded with a 7-0 run led by Cassandre Prosper to take a two-point advantage just over three minutes into the game. After a little back-and-forth, Hidalgo and Iyana Moore led the Irish on a 9-0 stretch that pushed Notre Dame’s lead to 18-11 with 4:04 remaining in the quarter. The two squads continued going at it for the final four minutes, with Notre Dame just outscoring the Mustangs 11-9 to secure a 29-20 lead heading into the second quarter. Moore had a big first 10 minutes, leading all scorers with an efficient 10 points, including two made threes across three attempts. Following a pair of made free throws by Hidalgo to open the second frame, SMU was able to string together a quick 5-0 burst capped by a three from Grace Hall, which cut the Irish lead to six, 31-25, just under two minutes into the quarter. The Mustangs refused to go away, keeping the game within single digits until the final two minutes. That is when Hidalgo turned up, swiping two steals and tallying a quick four points to give the Irish a 44-34 advantage heading into the half. Hidalgo entered the break with a game-high five steals and was tied with Moore for a team-high 12 points. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame shut down and erased any life inside of SMU’s Moody Coliseum in the third quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 30-15 in the frame that featured separate 8-0 and 9-0 runs by the Irish. Offensively, the visitors shot 11-14 from the field, including 4-6 from three in an impressive effort. Seven different players scored for the Irish in the quarter, with Hidalgo’s eight points leading the way. Hidalgo also recorded all five of Notre Dame’s steals in the third to give her a 20-point, 10-steal double-double through 28 minutes played. The Irish wrapped up the third quarter with a 74-49 lead following a dominant 10 minutes. The final quarter saw the scoring slow down a bit, but Hidalgo opened the first four minutes of the fourth on a 5-0 run by herself. Her layup off a shot clock violation by SMU pushed the Irish lead to a game-high 30 points, 79-49, with 6:32 on the clock. The Mustangs were able to close the game on a 14-9 stretch, but to no avail as Notre Dame locked up the 88-63 road win. Hidalgo scored 11 of the Irish’s 14 fourth-quarter points, shooting 5-6 in the frame. Notre Dame improves their record to 18-9 overall and 10-6 in ACC play with just two regular-season games remaining. Up next, the Irish host Syracuse (21-6; 11-5) for senior night at Purcell Pavilion on Thursday. Irish Stars Hannah Hidalgo : 31 points (11-18 FGs) , 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 11 steals, +28, 38 minutes played Iyana Moore : 20 points (8-13 FGs, 4-8 3FGs) , 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, +23, 38 minutes played  Gisela Sanchez : 10 points (4-7 FGs, 2-3 3FGs) , 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 19 minutes played Key Team Stats Field Goal Percentage: ND (53%) - SMU (40%) Three Point Percentage: ND (44%) - SMU (43%) Free Throw Percentage: SMU (73%)  - ND (67%) Bench Points: ND (16) - SMU (4) Points in the Paint: ND (42)  - SMU (24) Steals: ND (18) - SMU (6) Blocks: ND (4) - SMU (2) Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Jeremiyah Love is set to become one of the highest drafted Notre Dame players in recent memory after a legendary career at Notre Dame. With that career all said and done, where are potential landing spots for Love, and what does he project to be in the NFL? Photo by The Irish Tribune Love comes into the draft as the consensus No. 1 running back. This does not come as much of a surprise after the two dominant years at Notre Dame, where he made a name for himself with his explosive athleticism and dazzling footwork. During his time at Notre Dame, Love totalled 2,882 rushing yards, 594 receiving yards, and 42 total touchdowns. Love burst onto the scene during his sophomore year, quickly showing the entire country that he possessed a special ability to break a play loose every time he touched the ball. It was in this season that Love became known for his unique ability to hurdle almost every defender in front of him. Along with this, it was his jaw-dropping runs in the first and third rounds of the CFP that immediately made him a household name in Notre Dame lore. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Coming into his junior year, Love had a lot to live up to. He was a Heisman Trophy candidate and considered the best running back in the country. Love lived up to all the expectations and broke Notre Dame records on the way to the Doak Walker Award. While Love continued to show off his electrifying talent, he also proved that he had become much more than just his athleticism. He showed real growth in the nuances of the run game. He became a more patient, physical, and shifty runner. He showed a willingness to wait for blocks to develop instead of hitting the first opening he saw. It seemed he was more willing to grind an opposing team down with physical run after physical run, like the game against USC. He also showed a larger arsenal of moves to make defenders miss, like the spin move against Pitt that allowed him to break free for a long touchdown run. Along with all of this, he continued to prove his ability to impact the game through the air with his more than capable hands. All of these skill sets cemented his place as not only the best running back in the draft class, but one of the best players in the entire class. With all of his talent and impact as a true three-down back, Love is easily a top-five talent in this year's draft, but will likely go lower than expected due to his position. Running backs are not the most valued position that NFL teams are looking for, but Love's ability to impact a game won't keep him on the board for very long. Round 1, Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals This seems to be the earliest possible spot for Love to land in the draft. Running backs rarely go this early, but for a draft that lacks a lot of premier talent, the Cardinals could seize their opportunity to pick up the best offensive player that is not a quarterback. For years now, the Cardinals have struggled to find an elite offensive player to help score points. In 2025, the Cardinals ranked only 22nd in points per game, something Love could instantly change. As of now, the Cardinals have no real game-changer at the running back position. James Conner is the starter, but he has struggled to stay on the field during his time in Arizona. While Conner has been serviceable at times, Love would be an excellent change of pace back and someone who could also impact the offense in the passing game. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Round 1, Pick 8: New Orleans Saints The Saints at eight is a real possibility for Love in this draft. The Saints' offence has been centered around Alvin Kamara for years now, as he has been one of the most productive and impactful running backs in the league. With Kamara now being 30 years old and on the last year of his deal, it may be time for the Saints to look towards the future. There is hope for Saints fans that they have found something in rookie QB Tyler Shough. With Love, they could begin to solidify the future of their offense, giving Shough a target in the passing game and a workhorse in the run game. While Kamara may be one of the best receiving backs in the NFL, Love could seamlessly fill in that role for the Saints. This could be a significant advantage for the Saints, as they would not have to alter their offensive philosophy significantly. They continue to be an offense that centers around getting their running back the ball with space to work with. That is something that could make Love one of the most impactful rookies in the 2026 NFL season. Round 1, Pick 9: Kansas City Chiefs It is hard to imagine a world that Love makes it past the Chiefs at nine. During the Chiefs' recent reign over the rest of the NFL, they never truly had a difference-maker at the running back position. It was an offense centered around the spectacular play of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and even Tyreek Hill early on. Recently, the Chiefs have pivoted to a more defensive-focused mindset, with many teams starting to catch on to the passing attack. With no true RB1 to look to, the Chiefs' offense has struggled to keep up. Love could be the answer to their prayers. He would provide a more balanced attack to an offense that has solely relied on Mahomes' arm. Yes, Mahomes is currently recovering from a torn ACL, but Love would be someone they can lean on until they get him back in the lineup. When he is back in the lineup, defenses would then have to constantly worry about Love's explosive running and Mahomes' creativity in the pocket, a nightmare for any defensive coordinator. Along with this, Andy Reid is known to be one of the best and most creative play-callers in NFL history. This offense would thrive on Reid finding new and creative ways of getting Love the ball in space. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! 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Hannah Hidalgo’s 26-point night was more than enough as Notre Dame Women’s Basketball hammered the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Thursday evening in Winston-Salem, 78-54. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Coming off a resume-boosting win against NC State, Notre Dame (16-9; 8-6) kicked off a short two-game road trip with a road matchup at Wake Forest (13-13; 3-11). Ultra-efficient shooting and lockdown defense were keys in the dominant showing. Four Irish scorers reached double digits while four defenders tallied at least two steals.  The Irish started hot, kicking off the game with a 10-0 stretch featuring threes from Hidalgo and Iyana Moore. Wake Forest did not go away that easily at home, though, stringing together a 7-0 run led by Grace Oliver. Notre Dame closed the last four minutes of the quarter on a 6-2 run, with four points from KK Bransford, extending their lead to 16-9 heading into the next frame. Hidalgo opened up the second quarter with a three-pointer to push the Irish lead to 10. Oliver then led the Deacons on a 6-0 run, cutting the Irish lead to 19-15 four minutes into the quarter. Following some back-and-forth, Notre Dame maintained a four-point, 24-20, lead with 2:58 to play in the half. The Irish found their touch in these last two-plus minutes, draining three three-pointers in an 11-3 closing stretch. A made layup by Bransford gave Notre Dame a 35-23 lead at halftime. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The Irish dominated coming out of halftime, outscoring Wake Forest 21-6 in the first 8:12 of the third quarter. A three from Sanchez extended the Irish lead to a game-high 27-points, 56-29. The Deacons were able to close the final one-plus minute on a 6-0 run, led by Emily Johns. Bransford’s team-high of six points in the quarter helped send the Irish into the final frame with a 56-35 lead.  Wake Forest opened up the fourth on an 8-4 run, including back-to-back threes that cut the Irish lead to 17 about 2:15 into the quarter. Moore knocked down her third three-pointer of the night with 6:35 remaining, which pushed the visitors’ lead back up to 22, 65-43. The rest of the game was back-and-forth, with Hidalgo’s six points in the final four minutes more than enough to hold off the Demon Deacons. Notre Dame’s 78-54 win at Wake Forest improves their record to 17-9 overall and 9-6 in ACC play. The Irish take their two-game streak into Dallas on Sunday evening for a date with the SMU Mustangs (9-17; 2-12). Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Irish Stars: Hannah Hidalgo: 26 points (10-20 FGs, 3-4 3FGs, 3-3 FTs) , 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, +26, 32 minutes played Iyana Moore: 11 points (3-7 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) , 5 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, +22, 29 minutes played Cassandre Prosper: 10 points (4-6 FGs, 2-2 FTs) , 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, +23, 29 minutes played Malaya Cowles: 6 points (3-6 FGs) , 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 3 steals, +27, 30 minutes played Vanesa de Jesus: 6 steals, +12, 32 minutes played Key Team Stats: Field Goal Percentage: ND (52%) - WF (40%) Three Point Percentage: ND (44%) - WF (24%) Free Throw Percentage: ND (89%) - WF (61%) Steals: ND (17) - WF (6) Blocks: ND (5) - WF (1) Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Last year, we watched Xavier Watts, a Bronko Nagurksi Trophy winner, fall all the way into the third round of the NFL Draft despite his accolades and elite production. Watts would inevitably prove every team wrong for passing on him, as he was a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year this past season. It seems like every year, Notre Dame has a few extremely talented players who slip in the draft, only to break out in the NFL. This year, two slept-on offensive stars will soon command NFL respect. Photo by Maysum Hassanali Malachi Fields - WR Fields is now surging up draft boards, but before the Senior Bowl, Fields was viewed as a day-three pick by the majority of analysts. Fields came to Notre Dame as a senior transfer by way of Virginia, bringing much-needed size to the boundary position and delivering immediately. Fields became a downfield specialist for Notre Dame, showcasing his excellent body control and hand strength to win 50-50 balls down the field. Standing at 6'4", Notre Dame often targeted Fields on shot-plays or when the defense would jump offside. It might almost be an insult to call Fields a 50-50 ball specialist, as more often than not, he would make an incredibly acrobatic play on the football. Fields finished his final season at Notre Dame with 36 receptions for 630 yards and five touchdowns, averaging an insane 17.5 yards per catch. Before joining the Irish, Fields boasted incredible production at Virginia, with two seasons of over 800 receiving yards against Power-4 competition. With a good combine that plays to his strengths, it wouldn't shock me to see Malachi Fields go very early in the second round. His floor as a receiver, plus his physical tools and experience, put him a leg up on a lot of other prototype boundary receivers in this year's draft. Whoever lands Malachi Fields will surely be getting a great return on their investment. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Jadarian Price - RB Gone are the days of having to play second fiddle for Jadarian Price. It's a narrative that's been beaten to death at this point, but one that still rings true. The fact of the matter is that Jadarian Price would have probably been the featured running back on 95% of college football teams this season. He just happened to be on the same team as one of the greatest running backs of this generation, which reduced his carries by a significant margin. Despite this, Price has absolutely dominated when the opportunities have presented themselves. Whether it be a routine carry that Price utilizes his signature jump cut to the outside, or a kickoff return in one of the season's biggest moments, Price made the most of every opportunity, which is part of the reason he's looked upon with such high regard. Price, like Fields, is a projected day two pick in this upcoming draft, with some people mocking him as high as the RB2 behind Jeremiyah Love. The upside to Price not being the featured back at Notre Dame is the amount of tread he still has left on the tires. Running back is one of the most physically demanding positions in football, and it averages one of the shortest pro careers as a result. A highly skilled player with not a lot of wear and tear is seen as a huge upside in draft circles. This past season, Price tallied 674 rushing yards on 113 carries, averaging just over 6 yards per touch, with 11 touchdowns on the ground and two through the air. For a back who saw roughly a third of the total carry count on the season, these are very encouraging numbers. Price brings an NFL-ready frame, with experience and the numbers to back it all up. He has all the makings of an NFL starter, and soon, he will get his chance to prove it. The teams that pass on Price will eventually come to regret it. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame and Villanova’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs are in the “final stages” of scheduling a historic 2026 College Basketball Season Tip-Off in Italy, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. Photos via Notre Dame Athletics While the official start date for next season’s start is November 2nd, the NCAA has granted “special clearance” for the two programs to play their doubleheader one day early on November 1st, "given the historic precedent of the games." The obvious reason this idea came to light is because of the two schools’ ties to Pope Leo XIV. Besides Notre Dame and Villanova being two of the most prominent private Catholic schools in the country, Pope Leo XIV, or at the time Robert Francis Prevost, is a 1977 Wildcats alumnus. Pope Leo XIV also grew up in the Chicagoland area, surrounded by Notre Dame’s heavy Midwest presence. Norlander reports, “The Pope's involvement in the event — if any — is unclear and very much to be determined, according to sources, though officials from both schools have been in contact with the Pope and people around the Holy See.” Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd and Pope Leo XIV held a private meeting in November.  Photo via Vatican Media Norlander also reported, “Villanova and Notre Dame worked in concert on arranging the game for months, sources said, with talks seriously materializing in the early fall. Paperwork has not been finalized, but both schools are moving forward with the expectation that one of college basketball's most ambitious scheduling ideas in recent memory will transpire on the first day of November.” Fox is set to broadcast both games from the afternoon in Rome, which is morning in the United States. “...The general plan is to have Villanova-Notre Dame lead into NFL coverage on Fox in the United States on that Sunday. The women's game is planned to air afterward on Fox Sports 1.”  Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! This matchup is believed to be the first men’s college basketball season-opener in a different country and the first-ever regular-season DI basketball games in Italy. Palazzetto dello Sport, translated to “Small Sport Palace,” will host the games in its 3500-seat venue. The arena was originally designed for the 1960 Rome Olympics and still stands following recent renovations in the past decade. Palazzetto dello Sport is located just 30 minutes from the Apostolic Palace, where Pope Leo XIV resides. This season, the Notre Dame and Villanova Men’s teams are heading in different directions. The Irish, under third-year Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry, are 11-14 and 2-10 in the ACC, albeit without their star Markus Burton. The Wildcats appear back on their way to March Madness after a disappointing couple of seasons led by Kyle Neptune. Now, with former Maryland Head Coach Kevin Willard in charge, Villanova sits at 19-5 and 10-3 in Big East play. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle On the Women’s side, the Irish and sixth-year Head Coach Niele Ivey are experiencing a bit of a setback this year with a 15-9 record, including 7-6 in the ACC. They will likely need to string together some solid wins this month, including in the conference tournament, to secure a spot in March Madness. However, there is reason for optimism with a strong 2026 recruiting class and a potential senior season from Hannah Hidalgo providing some future light for Ivey’s squad. Villanova is also led by a former player alumnus who was hired the same season as Ivey, Denise Dillon. After missing out on March Madness the previous two years, the Wildcats appear back on track, sitting at 20-5 and 13-3 in the Big East. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame is losing a lot of their 2024 production to either the NFL draft or the transfer portal. Luckily for the Irish, there is now room for their talented younger players to step up. Who will they be? Photo by Tyler Wong Aneyas Williams/Kedren Young - Running Back Unfortunately for Irish fans, gone are the days of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Together, they comprised one of the most dangerous backfields in Notre Dame history. With both now headed to the draft, it is time for others to take their place. As it looks now, Aneyas Williams and Kedren Young are in line to do just that. In 2024, Williams played a key role for the Irish on their run to the National Championship as a productive third-down back. During that season, Williams rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Through the air, he totalled 172 yards and came up with a key play in the Orange Bowl that set up Notre Dame for its first touchdown of the game. In 2025, Williams saw his opportunities dwindle due to the stacked backfield of Price and Love. Heading into 2026, Williams is now the most experienced player in the positional group and will likely have the chance to receive a bulk of the carries. Williams is a tough, physical runner with great hands that make him an ideal target coming out of the backfield. Those skills could have him ready to become an essential part of an offense looking to make a deep run in the CFP. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Like Williams, Kedren Young has also been patiently waiting for his chance to see real playing time on the field. During the 2024 spring game, Young showed flashes of his unique size and quickness. Those flashes gave many hope that he could be a productive part of the 2025 team. Unfortunately for Young, he would miss the entire season with an ACL injury sustained before the season's start. Although Williams may be in the lead role, Young could prove to be an effective change-of-pace runner in shorter downs. Standing at 5'11" and 240 lbs, Young is a bruising ball carrier with surprisingly nimble feet for his size. Although they may not have the explosiveness that Love and Price had, Williams and Young could certainly be the dynamic running tandem that Notre Dame needs in 2026. Micah Gilbert - Wide Receiver Wide receiver might be the most complicated position group on this Notre Dame team. It is a mix of talented freshmen, inexperienced 5-star transfers, and players who have been with the program for years but have yet to leave their stamp on the team. While it is still unclear who will see the most snaps, Micah Gilbert could be someone who takes the next step and becomes a productive member of the offense. Gilbert came to Notre Dame as an exciting 4-star prospect who possessed great size and speed, standing at 6'2". While he did not see many snaps his freshman year, Gilbert was able to find his way onto the field in 2025. Gilbert was not very productive during the season, but he did score the first Notre Dame touchdown of the season. Gilbert has all the physical tools needed to become a productive wide receiver for a team that is in need of someone to step up. Madden Faraimo - Linebacker Faraimo arrived at Notre Dame last year as a 4-star recruit and one of the most coveted linebackers in the country. As a freshman, Faraimo struggled to see the field, as he was the youngest in a group of very talented and experienced players. With that being said, he was still able to produce, totalling 16 tackles and two sacks. Heading into 2026, Faraimo may be needed to step up and become a key part of the defense. With Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa's ACL injury, defensive coordinator Chris Ash could lean on Faraimo to fill that hole in the middle of the defense. While KVA is expected to play in 2026, it is still unclear when, meaning Faraimo will need to be ready. Faraimo will likely receive first-team reps all spring and may see significant playing time to start the season. With that sort of development and opportunities, it would not be surprising to see a talented and athletic player like Faraimo take the next step. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame Basketball has fallen two games below .500 following Saturday’s home loss to the 11-12 Florida State Seminoles. With the Irish virtually eliminated from March Madness and currently sitting outside of the ACC Tournament field, how does the program proceed? Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry is set to enter year four of his original seven-year contract signed back in March 2023. For the sake of not overcomplicating things, let’s just assume Shrewsberry is indeed retained next season. In my opinion, here is how Notre Dame would be best suited moving forward in this scenario. With no transfers, Notre Dame would be sitting at 13 of a maximum 15 scholarship players on the roster: returners Logan Imes, Markus Burton, Cole Certa, Brady Koehler, Ryder Frost, Jalen Haralson, Braeden Shrewsberry, Garrett Sundra, Sir Mohammed, Tommy Ahneman, and incoming freshmen Jonathan Sanderson, Gan-Erdene Salongo, and Nick Shrewsberry.  The notable players leaving the program include Kebba Njie, Carson Towt, and Matthew MacLellan (non-scholarship). Brady Stevens and Luke Devine are two other non-scholarship players who could return next year.  Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! In a perfect world, and everyone does indeed return to South Bend, this leaves the two remaining scholarship spots. How should these be used? Well, the biggest priority has to be locking down an experienced transfer big man (ideally, 7+ feet) who can pose as an offensive threat. Towt plays his role to the best of his ability at the moment, but having to be the team’s big man at just 6-8 in the ACC is rarely going to end well, especially as a 37% free throw shooter. Ahneman and Salongo are intriguing, but both need development, especially the latter. Ahneman, who missed this season due to injury, just needs to polish his offensive game, and that should come with playing time in non-conference play at the beginning of next season. Now with the remaining scholarship slot, I would try to find a versatile wing option who can drive, finish in the paint, create for others, and defend. The combination of Burton, Haralson, Certa, Shrewsberry, and Imes should be capable enough to handle guard duties. However, Burton and Haralson are the only two returning players capable of consistently getting to the lane to either finish or find an open shooter. Finding another player similar to Haralson could provide some relief to the lineup. In addition to experience, I prefer my transfers to come from winning programs, but Notre Dame should probably just focus on finding talent for now. Notre Dame Basketball may not allocate the same amount of resources to its program as Duke or North Carolina, but it is more than capable of at least fielding a competitive team. Every week, it seems like the Irish find new ways to embarrass themselves via blown leads, coaching errors, crashouts, etc. The Irish rank in the bottom four in the ACC in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency ratings. And next season’s incoming freshman class features three players, two of whom need serious development, and all have some sort of family tie to the current program. Notre Dame, with GM Pat Garritty, needs to do serious work in this portal. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle I would also consider upgrading at certain spots, specifically with Imes and Mohammed. Imes is a complete liability on offense, averaging 3.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, and 1.1 TOPG in 19.3 MPG. He offers little threat as a scorer while shooting 34.4% from the field, 29.4% from three, and 47.1% from the free-throw line. In the three games before Saturday’s Florida State matchup, Imes had a combined four personal fouls, three turnovers, and no points. His defensive presence would certainly be missed, but it can be replaced.  Mohammed offers slightly more offensively than Imes, but is a worse defender while playing a similar role. In 15.7 MPG, the son of Nazr is averaging 5.6 PPG while shooting a solid 40.6% from the field, but a measly 27.3% from three and 54.5% from the free-throw stripe. Mohammed also averages 2.8 RPG and 1.2 APG with 1.5 TOPG. Besides freshman Ryder Frost, who is known as an offensive threat and receives less than 6 MPG, Mohammed is arguably the worst defender on the team. He averages 0.5 SPG and has just four blocks (two against FSU) in 24 games played as a 6’6 guard. For what it is worth, he has actually played pretty well this week against a tough Louisville squad and FSU, where he played a season-high 28 minutes. However, in recent contests against Syracuse, Virginia, and Boston College, Mohammed was exposed defensively, averaging a -4.1 defensive plus/minus in 14 MPG. With four straight losses and a 2-10 record in the last 12 games, Coach Shrewsberry should be coaching for his life. Will he do enough to save his job? Time will tell. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? 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College football in 2026 is truly a war of attrition. Teams have always had to account for losing players through graduation and pursuing their dreams at the next level, but the transfer portal era has made building depth and keeping position groups stocked with talent an unenviable task. Recruiting will always be the foundational piece of any contending program, but if you want to consistently place yourself in title talks, using the transfer portal is not only an additional tool, but a necessity. Even for a storied program like Notre Dame, the same rings true, but thankfully, Coach Freeman and company have excelled at adapting to the new order of things. By any metric, the 2025 season for the Notre Dame secondary was not a perfect one, especially early in the season. Some injuries, scheme changes, and flat-out poor play were all culprits that contributed, but the bottom line is it was not the lockdown unit that helped propel the Fighting Irish to the National Championship the year prior. Now, the depth from that unit is set to also take a hit with the outgoing transfers of Cree Thomas, Karson Hobbs, Ben Minich, Chance Tucker, JaDon Blair, and Taebron Bennie-Powell, plus the graduation of Jalen Stroman and DeVonta Smith. That is a lot of talent to walk out the door at one position group, but under the leadership of Coach Freeman, it has never been rebuild but reload, and for the 2026 season, he did some major reloading. One of those portal additions is 4-Star Cornerback DJ McKinney, who spent last season under the tutelage of Deion Sanders at the University of Colorado. McKinney is a long corner, listed at 6'2", and definitely presents some versatility in his film. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Biggest Strength: Zone Coverage Notre Dame fans saw a lot more zone Coverage toward the back end last year, as compared to Al Golden's scheme previously. It provided some moments of angst before the defense really settled in for the year. If the plan is to continue to mix in healthy doses of zone for the foreseeable future, a cornerback like McKinney certainly fits. He has a very natural feel for when to drop and get some more depth on his zone, and when to drive on underneath routes. He displays high-level mental processing, understanding route concepts and when to pass things off. He reads the Quarterback's eyes well and triggers on throws with good timing. McKinney is very proficient from a cover 2 look, giving himself enough depth to defend corner routes and deep outs and also has the athletic ability to carry WRs vertical out of cover 3. H possesses the ball skills to turn errant passes into turnovers, which will continue to be a big point of emphasis for the Fighting Irish under Freeman. I think McKinney shows a knack for mirroring off the line of scrimmage in man coverage as well, with the athletic ability to stay in phase with WRs in and out of their breaks, but I would lean towards zone as his strongest scheme fit. Biggest Weakness: Press Although I would label McKinney as a solid man corner, press coverage is something specific I would call an area to keep an eye on. McKinney has the ideal length for being able to be physical at the line of scrimmage, but he doesn't always do the best job of pairing his punch timing and footwork. At times, he can get himself off balance when he goes for the jam, which allows the WR to create some separation right off the line and make it hard for McKinney to get back in phase. He needs to do a better job of keeping a solid base and landing his punch in order to be able to consistently hold up in man on the outside, especially when left without safety help over the top. Mike Mickens was one of the best secondary coaches in the country, helping develop guys like Leonard Moore and Xavier Watts, but he has departed since the signing of McKinney, so now Aaron Henry, who is expected to join Freeman's staff from Illinois, will be tasked with working with McKinney on this part of his game. I would expect DJ McKinney to see a healthy amount of playing time during his first season in South Bend, and as his development continues, so too will his opportunities. Marcus Freeman saw his defense get off to a slow start in 2025, which ultimately culminated in missing out on a playoff berth. To avoid not-so-ancient history from repeating itself, players like McKinney will have to quickly fill voids created by the constant roster churning that pervades the new college football landscape. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

After it was announced that Notre Dame linebackers coach Al Washington would be leaving to take a job with the Miami Dolphins, it appears that Marcus Freeman is narrowing in on his replacement, Brian Jean Mary, per multiple sources. Photo by Maysum Hassanali If Notre Dame is able to get a deal done, Jean-Mary would be the perfect replacement. With well over 20 years of coaching experience, Jean-Mary has become known for not only being able to recruit high-level talent but also developing that talent into units that rank among the best in the country and eventually become NFL draft picks. Jean-Mary landed his first coaching job as a graduate assistant on the Louisville strength and conditioning staff. After just one year there, he would get his first job on the defensive side of the ball as a part of Lou Holtz's staff at South Carolina. It would not be for a few years that Jean-Mary would land his first big gig as a linebackers coach at Georgia Tech. From 2004-09, he helped build the Yellow Jackets' defense into one of the best units in the country. In 2007, Georgia Tech finished top-25 nationally in both scoring defense and total defense, and second in tackles for loss. Although that was his best year there, the Jackets were consistently a top-30 defense in the country during his tenure, laying the foundation for Jean-Mary's future success. After Georgia Tech, Jean-Mary returned to Louisville, this time as an assistant head coach/linebackers coach. In four seasons, Louisville went on to win two Big East titles (2011, 2012). In two of those seasons, Jean-Mary helped in transcending the Cardinal's defense. In 2010 and 2011, the Louisville defense ranked in the top-20 in five different defensive categories. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Jean-Mary would then find himself in Austin, Texas, as the linebackers coach and a recruiting coordinator for the Texas Longhorns. In those three seasons, the Longhorns became known for their ability to get to the quarterback, ranking inside the top-15 for sacks in each of his three seasons as a part of their staff. With that success, Jean Mary would take on more responsibilities as the defensive coordinator for the USF Bulls. At USF, he built a defense that became elite at causing turnovers. In his three seasons as the DC, the USF defense was responsible for 69 turnovers, causing more than 20 in each season. Since 2020, Jean-Mary has been the linebackers coach for both Michigan and Tennessee. At both programs, he has continued to build great defenses that excel at stopping the run and wreaking havoc in the backfield. He has a long track record of doing just that, finding success at every stop throughout his storied career as a defensive coach. At Notre Dame, it will be just as important to recruit at a high level as well. Marcus Freeman has brought Notre Dame to the forefront of both high school and portal recruiting. With the losses of Mike Mickens and Al Washington, Notre Dame is in need of effective recruiters on the defensive staff. Jean-Mary has shown the ability to be exactly what Notre Dame needs. During his time at Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech, Jean-Mary helped recruit at least one top-15 recruiting class at each stop. With the ability to bring in talent, he has also helped develop 10 of those players into NFL draft picks. All in all, if finalized, Jean-Mary appears to be a home-run hire for Freeman and the Irish. He checks all the boxes as an experienced and successful position coach at the highest level of college football, and he also strengthens the staff's recruiting prowess, which has been at an all-time high in recent years. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

After losing DB Coach Mike Mickens to the NFL, Marcus Freeman moved swiftly to name a successor. Aaron Henry, the former DC and DB's coach at the University of Illinois, will be taking on a similar role with the Fighting Irish. Photo via The University of Illinois Henry's playing days began in Wisconsin, where he played safety for four seasons with the Badgers, earning Academic All-Big Ten selection three times. Henry finished his career with the Badgers, totalling 181 tackles, 7 TFL's, 4.5 sacks, and 7 interceptions. He would eventually be signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Raiders; however, his professional career was short-lived. After being released by the Raiders, Henry's coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Arkansas alongside his former HC, Bret Bielema, at Wisconsin. He would leave after two seasons to join current Notre Dame DC Chris Ash at Rutgers to coach defensive backs in 2016. That year, the Scarlet Knights' secondary finished in the top-20 in opponent passing yards per game, but finished at an abysmal 2-10. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Henry would leave for a three-year stint at NC State the following season, coaching safeties in his first year before transitioning to coaching cornerbacks. Henry would help lead the Wolfpack to an impressive 9-4 record during his first season, although the defensive metrics were anything but staggering. After finishing with the same record in 2018, NC State would finish 4-8 during his final season in the ACC. Finally, after a stint at Vanderbilt, Henry would once again reunite with Bret Bielema at Illinois in 2021 as the Defensive Backs Coach. In 2022, Henry would earn a nod as Football Scoop's DB coach of the year after the Illini improved to 8-5, with his secondary amongst the best against the pass. Henry was promoted to Defensive Coordinator in 2023, where he cut his teeth as a playcaller. Henry led the Fighting Illini defense to the winningest stretch in program history, with 19 wins between 2024 and 2025, with six wins against ranked opponents. In 2024, the Illinois defense improved drastically, jumping 62 spots in scoring defense from the previous season, allowing under 22 points per game. Finally, in 2025, eight defensive starters on Henry's defense earned all-conference honors. Replacing Mike Mickens is a tall task, but bringing in a familiar face for DC Chris Ash, as well as a coach who has improved year over year, could be just what the doctor ordered. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @LiamGaudetIT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!