Three former Notre Dame players have been selected to the “NFL Top 100” list, selected by the players. Photo via Baltimore Ravens 99. Quenton Nelson The Indianapolis Colts cornerstone OG enters his ninth season in the NFL. This year’s appearance marks his fourth time being selected to the “NFL Top 100,” last being chosen in 2022, when he was ranked 28th. Last season, Nelson started all 17 games and finished the year ranked fourth among starting OGs in PFF overall and run-block grade. He was just as reliable as a pass-blocker, allowing just one sack on the year. Nelson’s efforts have been continually recognized throughout his NFL tenure, earning Pro Bowl honors in each season he has played. After being selected to his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl last season, Nelson became the first player in Colts history to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight years, and the second Offensive Lineman to accomplish this feat, alongside Hall of Famer Joe Thomas. Nelson was named to the AP All-Pro Second Team, his sixth All-Pro selection in eight seasons. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! 89. Kyren Williams Making his third straight appearance on this list is the Los Angeles Rams RB, who received his highest ranking of 78 in 2024’s edition. Despite seeing his role slightly diminished by the addition of Blake Corum, Williams’s appearance on this list is a testament to the player he is. Last season, Williams rushed for 1,252 yards and 10 touchdowns across 259 carries. He finished the regular season with the sixth-most rushing yards and tied for the ninth-most rushing scores. Last year was also his third straight season garnering over 1,100 rushing yards and at least double-digit rushing scores. Williams also served as a key piece to the Rams’ quick pass game, tallying career-highs with 36 receptions for 281 yards and three touchdowns. Finally, the most underrated part of Williams’s game is his pass-blocking prowess, routinely named among the top blocking RBs in the league. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle 63. Kyle Hamilton One of the more head-scratching placements on this list is that of the top safety in the league. Hamilton has now dropped in the “NFL Top 100” in each of the past two years despite being named an All-Pro for a third consecutive year and being voted to the Pro Bowl for the third year in a row as well. Regardless, this is Hamilton’s third-straight appearance in the “NFL Top 100,” where he peaked at #43 in 2024. This past season, the Baltimore Ravens S recorded 105 tackles, seven TFLs, one sack, two forced fumbles, and nine passes defended. As mentioned above, Hamilton was recognized for his efforts with an AP All-Pro First-Team selection. Hamilton’s game should continue to elevate under new Ravens HC Jesse Minter and DC Anthony Weaver. 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!

To pair with an elite QB like CJ Carr, Notre Dame may finally have the wide receiver group to put real fear into opponents, thanks to returning talent and exciting newcomers. For a time, the receiving group at Notre Dame has left something to be desired. While there were stronger groups and players, there has not been a steady stream of talent year after year. In 2026, that may change, as Notre Dame looks to have a plethora of talented options at the position that includes returning players and new transfers. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Main Contributors Jordan Faison Jordan Faison has been one of the Irish's most consistent offensive players for the past two years. Over those two seasons, Faison has thrived as a crafty, elusive playmaker in the middle of the field. With sure hands, he is a reliable target for Carr. With such a dangerous skill set, he consistently gets open and has the ability to extend every play after the catch. This season, he is slotted to be the main target of the offense. With the offense likely becoming more of a passing attack, Faison will be put in a lot of advantageous positions to make plays. Faison does lack the ability to truly beat defenses over the top, but that is not what he is mainly asked to do. Instead, he works underneath as a short-to-intermediate route-runner looking to extend drives. Last Season Stats: 49 rec | 640 yards | 4 TDs Jaden Greathouse Jaden Greathouse has had a bit of a roller-coaster career during his time in South Bend. In 2024, he showed real glimpses of stardom. Those glimpses hit their pinnacle in the CFP, where Greathouse became the hero of the Orange Bowl against Penn State. He then followed up that performance with another special game in the National Championship. While Notre Dame's offense was quiet for most of the game, Greathouse broke out in the second-half, giving them a chance to win late in the game. After what appeared to be a breakout season, he unfortunately struggled with a hamstring injury that kept him out for most of 2025. Now, Greathouse returns with the expectations of being a main producer for the offense once again. He possesses enough speed and a knack for locating deep passes, making him one of the Irish's best deep threats. The main thing Greathouse will have to contend with is consistency. While his talent is undeniable, he can disappear at times. For Notre Dame to hit their full potential, he must be a threat that defenses are constantly worried about, as he does have the ability to break a game open. Last Season Stats: 4 rec | 73 yards | 0 TDs Mylan Graham Mylan Graham is one of two Ohio State transfers coming in this season who appears ready to take this group to the next level. He comes to Notre Dame as a former five-star recruit. After spending a year at Ohio State, Graham now becomes a weapon for Carr in an offense in need of talent like himself. As a player, Graham has some elite traits that could turn him into Notre Dame's best receiving threat. The first thing that is apparent with Graham is his speed and acceleration, especially off the line of scrimmage. He explodes into his routes, making it hard for any defender to stay in stride. After that, he uses his fluid and precise route-running ability to create space to get open. To pair this with his 6'1" frame, Graham has all the necessary tools to become a great player in this Irish offense. He does have the versatility to play on the outside or work in the slot, giving OC Mike Denbrock options to move him around the field. Last Season Stats: 6 rec | 93 yards | 0 TDs Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Role Players Micah Gilbert Micah Gilbert could easily be in the "main contributors" group, but the potential of Graham could result in Gilbert's role becoming more limited. Gilbert finally broke onto the scene in 2025, scoring the first Notre Dame touchdown of the season against Miami. While that was an early indicator that Gilbert was ready to take a significant jump, Gilbert struggled to see meaningful snaps throughout the season, even with Greathouse's injury. This season, Gilbert will once again be competing for playing time, as it is a deep position group. Gilbert appears to be best suited on the boundary, where he can use his great size to win contested catches and position himself along the sideline. Standing at 6'2", Gilbert is a tall target with solid speed, presenting potential matchup problems for opposing cornerbacks. Gilbert has provided good depth for the offense in past seasons. This year, the question will be if he can finally crack into significant playing time. Last Season Stats: 9 rec | 93 yards | 1 TD Quincy Porter Quincy Porter is the second half of the Ohio State receiving tandem who transferred to Notre Dame in the winter. As a former five-star, Porter possesses immense talent, but like Graham, he is still relatively unproven. During his time at Ohio State, he struggled to see the field as part of the best WR group in the country. Now, he will battle to prove himself as a trusted and reliable part of this offense. Porter is the most physically impressive player of the entire group. It is clear why he was one of the most coveted players in his class based purely on his physical traits. Standing at 6'4" and 215 lbs, Porter is a monster at the position, who uses that size to shield defenders from the ball and to win deep balls downfield. As if that was not enough, Porter moves surprisingly well at his size, possessing a rare combination of elite size and speed. For Irish fans, Porter may remind them a lot of 2025 Notre Dame star Malachi Fields, with possibly better athleticism. Porter has been battling an injury this off-season, which could set him back at the start of the season, but he does have the potential and athleticism to be a focal point of the offense by season's end. Last Season Stats: 4 recs | 59 yards | 0 TDs Cam Williams Cam Williams is a player Irish fans have been waiting on for a long time to finally break out. Williams came to Notre Dame as a highly rated prospect who seemed primed to make a big impact early. While that has not been the case, there is still a lot of untapped potential for Williams. Now, as a Junior, Williams has had years to familiarize himself with the offense and Carr, which could be all he needs to see playing time in 2026. Like the other players in this group, Williams offers great size and speed for the position; listed as 6'2", he is another big target for Carr to get the ball to. Williams pairs his size with smooth route-running, making him a potential handful for opposing teams. Last Season Stats: 1 rec | 6 yards | 0 TDs Reserves Outside of these two groups, Notre Dame has a lot more exciting young players waiting in the wings. While it is still unclear if any of these players will be featured in the offense, they do provide excellent depth at the position and represent the group's promising future. In past years, players of their caliber would have likely seen playing time, but Notre Dame has been able to build a talented and deep WR room in 2026 that may limit the amount of time these players are on the field: Logan Saldate Elijah Burress Jerome Bettis Jr. Kaydon Finely Bubba Frazier Devin Fitzgerald Matt Jeffery Brayden Robinson Dylan Faison 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!

Indiana Football Head Coach Curt Cignetti recently called out Notre Dame amidst the sudden cancellation of two matchups between the Irish and Hoosiers. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics The in-state matchups were scheduled to take place in South Bend in 2030 and in Bloomington the following season. The Hoosiers reportedly opted out of the scheduled arrangement, which removed the only power-four program for Indiana’s future non-conference opponents. “They ought to come to our place twice, and we’ll go up there once, since they’re not in a conference”, Cignetti told Big Ten Network. The agreement was signed before the hiring of Cignetti and the subsequent success that followed, including a Heisman-winning QB and a National Championship. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The cancellation of the two-game series brought forth a revival of the Notre Dame and USC rivalry, which many fans applauded. However, others openly wondered what was lost in the cancellation, which may have resulted in the start of a legendary in-state rivalry between the two sides' powerhouse Universities. Under Cignetti, the Hoosiers have faced the Irish only once. The matchup was the first game of the current College Football Playoff (CFP) format. Under the watchful gaze of ‘Touchdown Jesus,’ Notre Dame dominated the Hoosiers with a final score of 24-17 to advance to the next round of the 2024 CFP. Although Cignetti’s inaugural season guiding the Hoosiers ended by Irish hands, Indiana would go all the way the following season to win the 2025 National Championship. Overall, the Irish have led the series against Indiana, with 24 wins and four losses. The Hoosiers have dropped the last seven consecutive matchups. The first iteration of the in-state rivalry occurred in South Bend during the 1898 season, when the Hoosiers defeated the Irish 11-5. The two programs would trade wins and losses before the Irish lifted off starting in 1908. It would take over four decades until Indiana broke the losing streak when they upset the Irish 20-7 in 1950. Since then, Indiana has failed to defeat Notre Dame in the last seven matchups. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame and Indiana have not crossed paths much compared to the Irish’s historical in-state rival, Purdue. Despite being less than 200 miles apart (over three hours on highway US-31), the two schools have scarcely faced off. This is in part due to Indiana joining a conference and the widespread anti-Catholic sentiment that forced Notre Dame to travel across the country in search of opponents. Although the anti-Catholic sentiment has largely evaporated from modern culture, the conference dilemma remains. The Indiana athletics department sees the potential matchup between Notre Dame as a win/lose ordeal. If Indiana wins, then they benefit with a signature win. However, a Hoosier loss would almost certainly have playoff implications down in Bloomington. The real losers of the deal are the fans on both sides, who are actively being neglected in an accelerating matchup that would create legends and lore for the Hoosiers and Irish players alike. If the cancellation had happened four years earlier, then there would be less controversy and what-ifs. The fact remains the state commonly referred to as the “Basketball State” now features two premier football programs, which both carry the capacity and expectations of championship contention. There is little doubt that the renewal of the matchup would result in intense and passionate gridiron battles. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s former QB, won the coveted Heisman Trophy last season, and current betting odds show CJ Carr, Notre Dame’s current Sophomore QB, as this season's frontrunner Heisman candidate. A duel between Coach Cignetti and Coach Freeman would be riveting for sports fans as a whole. Hopefully, the near future will contain a Hoosier State showdown between the two schools. 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!

The season opener against Wisconsin at Lambeau is just under a month away. Marcus Freeman and his team are earnestly preparing one game at a time. Despite criticisms over a lackluster schedule, each matchup will provide the Irish with a unique challenge. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics The 2026 Notre Dame Football team looks different from the previous year, as the dynamic duo of running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price was drafted in the first round. The Irish also lost contributors to the draft in Eli Raridon, Billy Schrauth, and Gabriel Rubio. However, despite the departures, Notre Dame has some exciting young prospects filling the empty spots, most notably RB Aneyas Williams. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! September 6th vs Wisconsin Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin 2025 Record - (4-8) No. of Returning Offensive Starters - 3 No. of Returning Defensive Starters- 3 The first game for the Irish will be the 2026 iteration of the Shamrock Series. The Badgers lost the majority of starters on both sides of the ball and only see six total returning starters. However, Wisconsin brings in an impressive 34-man transfer portal class paired with a class of 12 incoming freshmen. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Head Coach Luke Fickell will begin his fourth season at the helm on the hot seat. Perhaps a win over the Irish will ensure another contract. Jeff Grimes will remain offensive coordinator, despite having a lackluster passing attack that featured 27 sacks last season. Grimes will rely heavily on transfer QB Colton Joseph on his quest to transform what was one of the worst offenses last season. Mike Tressel will also remain defensive coordinator. The Badger defensive line surprisingly caught fire at the tail end of last season, as Tressel attempts to build consistency throughout the gridiron. The defensive back room will certainly be more talented than last year, as Wisconsin brought in Javan Robinson and Marvin Burks in the portal. Overall, the Wisconsin Badgers will have plenty to prove this season, as Fickell's feet dangle beneath the heated coal on the hot seat. Notre Dame will be expected to win, but given that early-season upsets have struck Freeman in the past, I would still be careful. 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 Volleyball Head Coach Salima Rockwell has brought in six new faces in her attempt to rectify the Lady Irish. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Rockwell will begin her fifth season with the Irish on August 28th against Ball State in South Bend. Rockwell was a four-time National Championship coach and three-time All-American before accepting the head coaching job with the Irish in 2022. She has had two different assistant stints at her alma mater Penn State, separated by a position on the dominant Texas coaching staff in between. Despite a rather impressive coaching resume, Rockwell’s tenure at Notre Dame has been somewhat disappointing, with the Lady Irish going 45-66 under her. Last year, the Notre Dame Women’s Volleyball program posted a mediocre 12-18 record, going 9-11 in ACC play. The Lady Irish graduated five seniors last May, including key contributors Cailey Dockery, Harmony Sample, and Lucy Trump. However, Coach Rockwell will be seeing six new faces join the 26/27 team, which includes two talented transfers. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The most disappointing loss of the season was All-American Morgan Gaerte, who transferred to Kentucky this offseason. However, the Irish gained outside hitter Stella Adeyemi when she transferred from Hawaii. Adeyemi garnered 378 kills and 378 points in her 46 matches played for the Rainbow Warriors. She brought in 200 kills her sophomore season and was likely to surpass that total in the 10 matches she played before an injury sidelined her for the 2025 season. The Irish also brought in a very talented transfer libero in Chloe Hooker, who is moving from the sand to hardwood in her last year of eligibility. Hooker was a dominant force for Loyola Marymount Beach, where she garnered a 29-8 record and was selected as the West Coast Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and All-WCC Beach Volleyball First Team. The switch from beach volleyball to court volleyball will certainly be different, and it may seem as if Coach Rockwell took a gamble bringing her to South Bend. Nevertheless, Hooker could definitely play a meaningful role in the team’s success. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle On top of the pair of transfers, the Lady Irish also bring in four freshman recruits. Hailie Vaughn is a two-time Kansas Volleyball Association All-State First Team selection. The outside hitter will join the Irish from Overland Park. Vaughn helped lead Blue Valley Southwest to a runner-up finish in the KSHAA 5A State Volleyball tournament. She pairs her 6’0” height with a 10’0” approach touch for a powerful and precise spike that has the potential to garner plenty of kills over her collegiate career. The Irish coaching staff even went international in their pursuit of talent, which culminated in libero Carla Mercado from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, committing to a team in Northern Indiana. Mercado is a versatile and scrappy player. She has also received both national and foreign recognition after she was a member of the gold medal Pan American Cup U17. She could very well prove to be a steal for Rockwell and the Irish if she continues to develop over the course of her time at Our Lady’s University. The final two incoming freshmen are both middle blockers. Portia Zeidler joins the team from Los Gatos, California, where she was a four-year starter and three-time SVAL All-League selection for Los Gatos High School. Zeidler rose to 43rd overall in California by Prep Dig California. She combines her towering 6’5” height with a highly athletic background (her father highjumped for Cal) to result in a devastating block for opponents. I predict she will see the floor early. Isabella Sangha rounds off the list for the Irish after she committed to Notre Dame from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sangha built up a highly renowned reputation over her time at St. Thomas Aquinas, which she transferred to after dominating at Pine Crest School. Sangha is ranked as the number one middle blocker in Florida, which is added to her 7A-5A player of the year selection from the Sun-Sentinel Broward County. Even more impressive, Sangha will also be playing in Women’s Basketball for the Irish this winter. She has plenty of accolades there as well, but we will save them for the WBB Preview this fall. Sangha will be a force to be reckoned with after she gets acclimated and comfortable playing for the Irish. 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!

Head coach Marcus Freeman hyped his star quarterback CJ Carr ahead of the 2026 season. Following an impressive 2025 campaign—2,741 yards on a 66.6% completion rate—CJ Carr has emerged as an early favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in his junior year. Following an offseason in which two Notre Dame running backs, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, Carr should see his usage increase in his second year as a full-time starter. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! "He has unique talent," Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said in an interview with ESPN's Andy Rittenberg. "He's got great arm strength, he's extremely intelligent." He continued, "CJ has that unique trait of being an ultra-competitor. He has the potential to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football, not only this year but in my time at Notre Dame." This is extremely high praise from a coach who has seen four opposing quarterbacks drafted first overall during his tenure with the Fighting Irish. Being compared to players such as Bryce Young and Caleb Williams is not something many players can relate to. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle An opposing coach who faced Carr and the Fighting Irish agreed with Freeman, saying, "he was good. He made some big-time throws against us that I was like, 'OK, that's an NFL arm.' I was more impressed with Jeremiyah Love, but he was poised. We tried to do some things to throw him off, and he was just smart. Like, for a younger player, smart, made some really good decisions, was never flustered. His future is super bright." With another offseason to sharpen his game, Jordan Faison dropping lacrosse to lock in on football, and a hopefully healthy Cooper Flanagan, it is easy to see how the junior QB can have another elite season. The major question Carr and the Fighting Irish will face is whether or not their offensive line will be enough to keep pass rushers at bay. He is not the most athletic player at his position and can sometimes struggle when the pocket starts to collapse because of it. If they can figure that weakness out, Freeman's comments on his starting QB have a good chance of coming to fruition. 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 @GibbyLowen 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 looks to strike lightning once again with the 2028 class after landing two back-to-back best classes we've seen in a generation. We have not seen anything like this since the Weis days, when he pulled high-caliber talent such as Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Harrison Smith, Kyle Rudolph, and Manti Te'o. As impressive as it is, Marcus Freeman and staff were able to top that in back-to-back classes; in fact, some say the 2026 and 2027 classes are the two best in program history. Below are the 2028 Big Board Defensive talents that Notre Dame has their eyes on: Edge Asher Ghioto (5-star) 6-5, 250lbs out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 3rd overall nationally and 1st overall at the defensive line position. He holds 63 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame Nov. 7th (Miami) Cassell Cruickshank (5-star) 6-6, 230lbs out of E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 8th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the Edge position. He holds 40 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame on Nov. 14th (Boston College) Antonio Thomas Jr. (5-star) 6-3, 240lbs out of Carrollwood Day High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 14th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the Edge position. He holds 47 D1 offers. Jalanie George (4-star) 6-5, 250lbs out of Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 21st overall nationally and 5th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 35 D1 offers. Landen Wade (5-star) 6-5, 250lbs out of Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 22nd overall nationally and 6th overall at the Edge position. He holds 21 D1 offers. Kameron McGee (5-star) 6-4, 245lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 25th overall nationally and 7th overall at the Edge position. He holds 44 D1 offers. Jayden Bell (4-star) 6-4, 210lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 33rd overall nationally and 8th overall at the Edge position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Cam Toomey (4-star) 6-4, 245lbs out of Saratoga Springs High School in Saratoga, New York. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 47th overall nationally and 9th overall at the Edge position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Major Stokes (4-star) 6-6, 240lbs out of Orem High School in Orem, Utah. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 54th overall nationally and 11th overall at the Edge position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Keoni Snipes (4-star) 6-5, 250lbs out of Saraland High School in Saraland, Alabama. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 94th overall nationally and 12th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 35 D1 offers. Merrick Ham (4-star) 6-5, 235lbs out of Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 123rd overall nationally and 15th overall at the Edge position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Asa Burch (4-star) 6-5, 235lbs out of Harding High School in Warren, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 130th overall nationally and 16th overall at the Edge position. He holds 23 D1 offers. Jeremiah Figaro (4-star) 6-5, 210lbs out of Dexter Southfield High School in Brookline, Massachusetts. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 233rd overall nationally and 21st overall at the Edge position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame on Sept. 12th (Rice) Merrick Ham (4-star) 6-5, 235lbs out of Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 123rd overall nationally and 15th overall at the Edge position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensive Line Kellan Hall (5-star) 6-4, 265lbs out of Christian Academy of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 2nd overall nationally and 1st overall at the defensive line position. He holds 27 D1 offers. Tyzon Swann (5-star) 6-4, 250lbs out of Henry E. Lackey High School in Indian Head, Maryland. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 10th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 49 D1 offers. Prince Che (5-star) 6-3, 305lbs out of Thomas County Central High School in Thomasville, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 18th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 38 D1 offers. RJ Wyms (4-star) 6-1, 255lbs out of College Park High School in The Woodlands, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 57th overall nationally and 6th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame on Sept. 19th (Michigan State) Simon Nuamah (4-star) 6-3, 260lbs out of Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 62nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Christian Webb-Scott (4-star) 6-6, 260lbs out of Westside High School in Anderson, South Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 79th overall nationally and 8th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Ayden Woodruff (4-star) 6-5, 280lbs out of Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 124th overall nationally and 15th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Caleb Tucker (4-star) 6-3, 355lbs out of Mount Carmel in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 147th overall nationally and 18th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Dawson Jacobs (4-star) 6-3, 240lbs out of Blessed Trinity Catholic in Roswell, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 179th overall nationally and 21st overall at the defensive line position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Zylen Little (4-star) 6-2, 300lbs out of Carrollwood Day High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 186th overall nationally and 22nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame on Nov. 7th (Miami) Jamir Lee (4-star) 6-2, 275lbs out of Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 237th overall nationally and 26th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Arthur Jones (4-star) 6-3, 250lbs out of Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New York. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 285th overall nationally and 31st overall at the defensive line position. He holds 23 D1 offers. Linebacker Tahj Gray (5-star) 6-4, 230lbs out of St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 24th overall nationally and 1st overall at the linebacker position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Jameer Miles (4-star) 6-3, 200lbs out of Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 52nd overall nationally and 3rd overall at the linebacker position. He holds 15 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame on Sept. 19th (Michigan State) Andre Alexander Jr. (4-star) 6-1, 220lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 77th overall nationally and 4th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Gabriel Player (4-star) 6-3, 190lbs out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 93rd overall nationally and 6th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 47 D1 offers. Ryan Peterson (4-star) 6-1, 220lbs out of Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 125th overall nationally and 7th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Brayden Bonik (4-star) 6-1, 195lbs out of Fort Bend Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 158th overall nationally and 10th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 45 D1 offers. Allen Kennett V (4-star) 6-1, 220lbs out of Servite High School in Anaheim, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 206th overall nationally and 15th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Skylar Alston (4-star) 6-2, 210lbs out of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 215th overall nationally and 17th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 38 D1 offers. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Cornerback Nasir Richardson (5-star) 6-1, 165lbs out of Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 11th overall nationally and 1st overall at the cornerback position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Keaton Fields (5-star) 6-3, 185lbs out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 15th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Tyler Boyd (5-star) 6-0, 190lbs out of Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 34th overall nationally and 4th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Jai'lil Goley (4-star) 6-1, 175lbs out of Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 38th overall nationally and 5th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Logan Thompson (4-star) 6-0, 175lbs out of Althoff High School in Belleville, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 43rd overall nationally and 6th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Grayden Reid (4-star) 6-3, 185lbs out of Atherton High School in Louisville, Kentucky. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 58th overall nationally and 7th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Langston Pridgeon (4-star) 6-2, 175lbs out of DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 89th overall nationally and 8th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 35 D1 offers. Adrian Woodward (4-star) 6-0, 170lbs out of St Peter's Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 104th overall nationally and 9th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Izayah Vickers (4-star) 6-0, 170lbs out of Florida State University School in Tallahassee, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 107th overall nationally and 10th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 21 D1 offers. Deonte Fleming Jr. (4-star) 6-3, 190lbs out of McDowell High School in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 114th overall nationally and 11th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 14 D1 offers. Phoenix Evans (4-star) 5-10, 160lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 188th overall nationally and 13th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 46 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame on Oct. 10th (Stanford) Amir Woodward (4-star) 6-0, 165lbs out of St Peter's Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 126th overall nationally and 14th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Nekhi Lambeth (4-star) 6-0, 175lbs out of Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 166th overall nationally and 17th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Safeties Casey Barner (5-star) 6-0, 190lbs out of McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 5th overall nationally and 1st overall at the safety position. He holds 54 D1 offers. James Foster III (5-star) 6-1, 195lbs out of Lancaster High School in Lancaster, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 20th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the safety position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Giovanni Tuggle (4-star) 6-0, 175lbs out of Winder-Barrow High School in Winder, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 56th overall nationally and 4th overall at the safety position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Jaylyn Easterling-Flores (4-star) 6-2, 180lbs out of Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 59th overall nationally and 5th overall at the safety position. He holds 35 D1 offers. CJ Craig-James (4-star) 6-3, 185lbs out of Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 73rd overall nationally and 7th overall at the safety position. He holds 45 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame on Nov. 7th (Miami) Jalen Flowers (4-star) 6-2, 185lbs out of Palos Verdes High School in Palos Verdes Peninsula, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 84th overall nationally and 8th overall at the safety position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame on Nov. 7th (Miami) Athletes Kamieon Compton-Nero (5-star) 6-3, 185lbs out of Rejoice Christian High School in Owasso, Oklahoma. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 48th overall nationally and 1st overall at the ATH position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Grant Bowen (5-star) 6-4, 220lbs out of Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 51st overall nationally and 2nd overall at the ATH position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame on Sept. 19th (Michigan State) Dion Edwards (4-star) 6-0, 160lbs out of Tyner Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 98th overall nationally and 5th overall at the ATH position. He holds 18 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame on Nov. 7th (Miami) Camden Noe (4-star) 6-4, 215lbs out of Portage Central High School in Portage, Michigan. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 120th overall nationally and 6th overall at the ATH position. He holds 13 D1 offers. 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 @bruce_straughan 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 looks to continue to strike lightning once again with the 2028 class after landing the best class we've seen in a generation last cycle. We hadn't seen anything like this since the Weis days, when Weis brought in high-caliber talent such as Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Harrison Smith, Kyle Rudolph, and Manti Te'o. As impressive as it is, Marcus Freeman and staff were able to top that in back-to-back classes; in fact, some say the 2026 and 2027 classes are the two best in program history. Below are the 2028 Big Board Offensive talents that Notre Dame has their eyes on: Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Running Back Kevin Hartsfield (4-star) 6-0, 210lbs out of Newton High School in Covington, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 35th overall nationally and 1st overall at the running back position. He holds 47 D1 offers Zaiden Jernigan (4-star) 5-11, 205lbs out of Louisville High School in Louisville, Mississippi. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 51st overall nationally and 2nd overall at the running back position. He holds 23 D1 offers. Currently scheduled to visit Notre Dame Nov. 7th (Miami Game) Micah Rhodes (4-star) 5-9.5, 180lbs out of Klein Oak High School in Spring, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 119th overall nationally and 8th overall at the running back position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Xander Edwards (4-star) 6-2, 220lbs out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 117th overall nationally and 7th overall at the running back position. He holds 38 D1 offers. Acely Brown (4-star) 6-0, 190lbs out of Petal High School in Petal, Mississippi. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 104th overall nationally and 6th overall at the running back position. He holds 19 D1 offers. Elijah Cromwell (4-star) 5-11, 180lbs out of Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colorado. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 167th overall nationally and 11th overall at the running back position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Jayshawn Mitchell (4-star) 5-11, 195lbs out of San Antonio Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 250th overall nationally and 18th overall at the running back position. He holds 25 D1 offers. Tahmere Brown (4-star) 5-11, 188lbs out of The Pennington School in Pennington, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 169th overall nationally and 12th overall at the running back position. He holds 19 D1 offers. Wide Receiver Brysen Wright (4-star) 6-4, 215lbs out of Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 1st overall nationally and 1st overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Jaylen Addai (4-star) 6-1, 170lbs out of Shadow Creek High School in Pearland, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 12th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Madoxx Davis (4-star) 5-10, 190lbs out of Cartersville High School in Cartersville, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 23rd overall nationally and 5th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Deandre Bidden (4-star) 5-11, 170lbs out of Harper Woods High School in Harper Woods, Michigan. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 22nd overall nationally and 6th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Lorenzo McMullen Jr. (4-star) 6-0, 185lbs out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 29th overall nationally and 7th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Malachi Lee (4-star) 6-2, 185lbs out of Loudon Sports Academy in Leesburg, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 38th overall nationally and 8th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Troman Isaac Jr. (4-star) 5-11, 175lbs out of Chaminade-Madonna High School in Hollywood, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 88th overall nationally and 12th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 38 D1 offers. Tyree Mannings Jr. (4-star) 6-0, 175lbs out of Venice High School in Venice, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 93rd overall nationally and 13th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 23 D1 offers. Zyren Menor (4-star) 6-0, 180lbs out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 95th overall nationally and 14th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 15 D1 offers. Derrell Hines Jr. (4-star) 6-1, 175lbs out of Carrollwood Day High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 98th overall nationally and 15th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Jayce Halasz (4-star) 6-2, 175lbs out of Graham-Kapowsin High School in Graham, Washington. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 130th overall nationally and 17th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 15 D1 offers. Tight End JC Wessel (4-star) 6-6, 225lbs out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 131st overall nationally and 5th overall at the tight end position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Braxton Rein (4-star) 6-6, 230lbs out of Baylor High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 142nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the tight end position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Theo Schott (4-star) 6-4, 210lbs out of Zionsville High School in Zionsville, Indiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 246th overall nationally and 10th overall at the tight end position. He holds 35 D1 offers. Tre Oiler (4-star) 6-6, 220lbs out of Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wisconsin. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 274th overall nationally and 11th overall at the tight end position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Set to visit Notre Dame on Nov. 7th (Miami) Jack McNamara (4-star) 6-5, 235lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 337th overall nationally and 16th overall at the tight end position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Offensive Line Maui Tonata (5-star) 6-5, 315lbs out of Orem High School in Orem, Utah. He is ranked by 247 Sports 17th overall nationally and 1st overall at the interior offensive line position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Joseph Frierdich (4-star) 6-7, 260lbs out of Carbondale High School in Carbondale, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 67th overall nationally and 9th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 13 D1 offers. Austin Attalah (4-star) 6-8, 270lbs out of Cajon High School in San Bernardino, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 30th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Joey Fleming (4-star) 6-5, 280lbs out of Huntsville High School in Huntsville, Alabama. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 37th overall nationally and 4th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 22 D1 offers. Wyatt VanBoening (4-star) 6-7, 280lbs out of Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 80th overall nationally and 11th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 16 D1 offers. Lincoln Fa'alafi (4-star) 6-8, 360lbs out of JSerra Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the 91st overall nationally and 12th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 13 D1 offers. King Pitts (4-star) 6-4, 270lbs out of Kapa'a High School in Kapa'a, Hawaii. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 242nd overall nationally and 15th overall at the ATH position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Ben Coleman (4-star) 6-4, 285lbs out of Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 321st overall nationally and 31st overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 10 D1 offers. Apisai Fifta (4-star) 6-6, 220lbs out of Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as 443rd overall nationally and 37th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 10 D1 offers. 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 @bruce_straughan 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!

Three-Star to Unanimous All-American: How Leonard Moore epitomizes the modern-day "Rudy." The suffocatingly hot Texas sun beats down on the thick artificial turf as rubber cleats dance across it. The stove-like turf belongs to Round Rock High School. The cleats belong to a young 18-year-old named Leonard Moore. Moore had 21 tackles and an interception during his senior season at Round Rock. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! For Moore, the goal was to play high-profile college football. But Texas, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M decided not to pursue him. On3, Rivals, and 247 Sports all rated Moore a three-star, which is definitely valuable but not what premier programs build their teams around. When Moore arrived in South Bend for the 2024 camp, the Irish defense was commanded by renowned defensive coordinator Al Golden. The season opened with a nationally televised, prime-time victory at 20th-ranked Texas A&M. The freshman Moore saw the field scarcely, but did record his first career tackle. The following week, the fifth-ranked Irish lost at home to Northern Illinois. Moore saw time on special teams, but that would be the extent of his time on the field. Limited time also carried over in dominant victories over Purdue and Miami (OH). Following the Miami win, it was announced that projected All-American and first-rounder Benjamin Morrison needed hip surgery and would be out for the season. This is when the Notre Dame faithful would see what prodigiously talented player the Irish had in Moore. The “Irish Wear Green” game would be against 15th-ranked Louisville in South Bend. This would be Moore’s first-ever start, and he did not let the opportunity pass him by. Moore would hold his ground with six solo tackles. More importantly, the Irish held the potent Cardinal offense to 24 points in a resounding 31-24 win. Morrison would play the next matchup against Stanford, which the Irish dominated in a 49-7 victory. Moore would see varying time the remainder of the regular season, as he and the Irish ran the table for Freeman’s first playoff appearance. The freshman cornerback would continue to shine on the largest stage, as Moore was a solid contributor in the Irish’s playoff run. Moore recorded 13 combined tackles as Notre Dame fell to Ohio State in the National Championship Game. The Irish secondary lost Morrison and stellar safety Xavier Watts to the NFL draft, therefore ensuring Moore would remain a significant force in the 2025 Notre Dame defense. The sophomore was already receiving accolades in the preseason, being a potential All-American prospect. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle The 2025 season started with an inexplicable 0-2 record after the Irish fell to Miami and Texas A&M. Although the defense looked different with new defensive coordinator Chris Ash at the helm, Moore was not to blame for the disappointing losses. Miami smartly avoided him in coverage, and Moore garnered two pass breakups and an interception against the Aggies. Sadly, Moore would suffer an injury and miss the Purdue and Arkansas matchups. Moore’s arguably best game of the season would occur on his first appearance back, against Boise State. Moore would have six solo tackles and two interceptions, capped by two forced fumbles in the 28-7 victory. Then, the Irish would run the table with Moore being a huge reason why. In all the remaining games, opposing offenses either intentionally passed away from Moore or attempted to run the ball. Moore would finish the season with many honors, including a consensus first-team All-American selection. He now enters the 2026 season as a preseason All-American and a projected NFL Draft first-round selection. The dearly beloved tale of the Notre Dame walk-on Rudy Ruettiger is often criticised for the array of added details which strayed from reality. This tale of how a three-star high school recruit became an All-American is as real as it gets. It is evidently clear that Moore will inspire generations to work hard and bet on themselves, which is a hundred times better than anything Hollywood can dream up. 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!

Gone are the days of the explosive duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, but Notre Dame still has a deep and talented group of running backs to help the Irish keep moving forward. The last few years at Notre Dame have been marked by the incredible performances of Love and Price. In that time, they carried the offensive load and provided Notre Dame with a plethora of big plays and iconic moments. After sending both of them to the NFL in the first round, Notre Dame now looks to a new stable of running backs to carry the torch. Although none of them appear to be the next Love, this group, as a whole, could prove to be an effective weapon for the 2026 season and beyond. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Starter Aneyas Williams Aneyas Williams is a prime example of waiting your turn. As a freshman, he was actually able to earn playing time due to his ability to pass-block and catch the ball on third downs. Those snaps became critically important late in the season, especially in the playoffs, where Love was dealing with injuries. During his sophomore season, Williams saw much of his playing time cut down. This was not due to poor play on his part but purely because of how good Love and Price were throughout the season. While he could have easily taken this as a sign to transfer when the season concluded, Williams decided to stay the course and is now looking at receiving starting reps for one of the most talented teams in the country. As a junior with playing experience, Williams will seem ready to thrive with an increased workload. From the jump, Williams will immediately help Notre Dame in the pass game. He has sure hands for a running back that gives CJ Carr another option from the backfield, but his biggest impact in the pass game may come from his blocking. Williams is a more than willing blocker that has a real knack for picking up blitzes. Even as a freshman, Williams looked to be the best pass-blocker at the position for Notre Dame. As a runner, he does not possess the home-run threat that Love and Price had, but he does run the ball with real power and physicality. He combines that strength with elusive movements and quick feet, making him hard to bring down with just one defender. With not a lot of getaway speed, Williams uses these traits to be an excellent chain-mover for the Irish who, on occasion, can hurt the defense for a big gain. Backups Kedren Young While Williams may receive starting reps, Kedren Young will likely be heavily involved in the Irish run game during the 2026 season. As a freshman, Young was also able to see some playing time as a part of special teams and the reserve squad during blowouts. The following year, Young tore his ACL before the season started, sidelining him for the entirety of the 2025 season. Now, he is likely RB2 for the Irish, looking to supplement Williams in the Irish rushing attack. As a runner, Young is as physical as it gets. Standing at 5'11" and 234 lbs, Young is a bruiser that invites contact. At that stature, he has the strength to fight through tackles and a low center of gravity that makes it hard for defenders to knock him off balance. Although power is what sets Young apart, he does also possess surprisingly quick feet, allowing him to make defenders miss and hit a hole on a moment's notice. Together, Williams and Young could form a dynamic one-two punch for this Notre Dame offense with their diverse skillsets. Nolan James Jr. Heading into sophomore year, Nolan James Jr. could be another key part of this running back group this season. While he is likely third on the depth chart, it is possible that Notre Dame takes a more running back-by-committee approach that could land James Jr. on the field. He arrived in South Bend as a four-star running back but struggled to see a lot of playing time his freshman season. Now, with a new look to the group, he may be called upon to provide for this offense. While James Jr. has not had a lot of time to show off his abilities, he has shown glimpses of what could make him a special player for the Irish. The first thing that shows up when watching him run is his elusiveness. He is an agile player who is quicker than he is fast. With that being said, he is not slow by any means. James Jr. has a quick burst when he is ready to make his move, giving him a real ability to turn into a true one-cut back. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Freshmen Javian Osborne/Jonaz Walton It is still unclear just how close the pair of freshmen running backs are to seeing playing time during the 2026 season. It could prove difficult, as the room is already filled by more experienced players. With that being said, these two four-star players do have real talent that has the potential to change a game. Osborne is a stocky, physical runner who projects to be an effective volume ball carrier. He also displays real patience in the backfield, allowing his blockers to create the best hole for him to hit. At his high school in Texas, Osborne holds the record for rushing yards and touchdowns. Walton projects to be a lot like Williams. In high school, he showed real chops as a receiver out of the backfield and in the slot. As a runner, he uses elite vision to find the best lane available and get out of problematic situations. At 5'9" and 215 lbs, he has a strong build for a freshman, making him a potential option right out of the gate. The two freshmen provide excellent depth at the position for the 2026 season and promising talent for the future. Whether this duo sees the field as running backs, special team players, or redshirts this year, they both have a bright future as the rushing tandem of the future in South Bend. 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!

As we enter August and the start of the 2026-27 academic year, Notre Dame could be on the cusp of a truly special nine-month run. Football It is no secret that this season is National Championship or bust as Head Coach Marcus Freeman enters his fifth official year at the helm of Notre Dame. The Irish are in a group of six championship favorites with +1000 or lower odds to raise the trophy on January 25th in Las Vegas. Talent should not be an issue, an ultimate credit to Freeman and his staff’s roster construction. The Irish enter the 2026 season with the second-highest blue chip ratio in college football at 80%, trailing only Georgia’s 85%. Last season’s Indiana championship team was the first to win with under a 50% ratio, proving how valuable this number can be. Just 12 teams enter 2026 with over the 50% “championship threshold.” This talent starts with QB CJ Carr. The Notre Dame signal-caller faces lofty expectations heading into ‘26 as a Heisman favorite, with Texas QB Arch Manning in the mix as well. Carr will be the Irish’s first returning starter since Ian Book, a vital reason the Irish are among title favorites. This season, the second-year starter will be asked to carry a much larger load of the offense compared to last, when he had the benefit of two first-round NFL RBs at his disposal in the backfield. The reason for optimism outside of Carr’s abilities is the receiving talent surrounding him. In addition to returning his top target from a year ago in Jordan Faison, the Irish also expect the return of Jaden Greathouse, the team’s leading receiver in 2024. Ohio State transfers Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter will also play a big role in Notre Dame’s 2026 offense. Over the last few years, college football has seemed to progress to a ‘trench-driven’ sport. Luckily for the Irish, Coach Freeman and his staff have been ahead of the curve, and one could argue that Notre Dame has the best overall “trenches” in college football. The Irish’s trenches, specifically the offensive line, are set to be this team’s strong suit. I believe Notre Dame does have the best offensive line in the country in terms of both depth and pure talent. Rounding out this talented group is the best defense that Freeman has compiled in his time at Notre Dame. Featuring nine returning starters, the Irish hold one of the best DB and LB rooms in the country. Personally, I would argue the Irish’s LB core is, indeed, the best in the nation, with an expected rotation featuring Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Drayk Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry, Jaylen Sneed, and Madden Faraimo. In addition to all of these featured returners, the Irish did an outstanding job filling in gaps via the transfer portal, where they added DL Francis Brewu and Tionne Gray, EDGE Keon Keeley, and CBs DJ McKinney and Jayden Sanders. Finally, the schedule. The 56th-toughest schedule, according to ESPN, paves the path to not just make the College Football Playoffs, but enter them with some momentum. Realistically, Notre Dame should be 6-0 heading into their first legitimate test of the season, a road date at BYU in mid-October. Just three weeks later, the Irish will host their biggest game of the regular season when the Miami Hurricanes visit South Bend on November 7th. At the absolute minimum, to prove they belong nationally, Notre Dame must split these contests. Outside of these two, there are no valid excuses to drop a game. We have seen Freeman’s teams lose games they are not supposed to before, and that is something he must resolve to ultimately reach and win the CFP. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Women’s Basketball Admittedly, asking for a championship in Women’s Basketball this year will be a much taller task compared to Football. However, this is an improved team coming off Head Coach Niele Ivey’s first Elite Eight appearance following four consecutive seasons of Sweet 16 eliminations. I believe a Final Four appearance is achievable this year for the following reasons. Hannah Hidalgo. Notre Dame’s superstar enters her senior season coming off a historic junior campaign. Hidalgo’s 25.3 points and 5.6 steals per game broke school records, while she also became the first men’s or women’s basketball player to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals per contest this century. The three-time AP All-American will enter this season on top of Wooden Award watchlists, and will have a legitimate shot at the prestigious honor. We have already seen Hidalgo’s increased leadership over the course of the last year, but expectations will still rise for her team in, potentially, her final season in South Bend. One of the ways Ivey and the Irish have improved around Hidalgo is through a top-five freshman class that addresses needs. My pick to be the next Notre Dame WBB superstar is Jacy Abii, and she has certainly impressed this summer in limited public action. The five-star and #10 overall recruit, according to ESPN, should make an immediate impact as a versatile 6-2 G/F. Playing alongside Hidalgo and Madison St. Rose should provide ample opportunities for Abii, maybe starting in game one. The rest of the class is just as intriguing. Top-20 prospect Jenica Lewis has the potential to be one of the team’s most reliable shooters with no limits on the Combo Guard’s range. Ivey rounded out the class with a trio of 6-2, four-star talents with Forwards Amari Byles and Isabella Sangha and Guard Bella Ragone. Additionally, Irish fans will get their first look at 6-2 F Leah Macy this winter after she missed last season recovering from an ACL injury. The former McDonald's All-American will add another needed boost to the Irish frontcourt. Similar to Freeman’s portal approach, Ivey and her staff seemed to place an emphasis on quality over quantity during transfer season. I do think NDWBB would still have been better off adding at least one more depth piece, but there may have been unknown extenuating circumstances that prevented this. Regardless, the Irish’s two incoming transfers do fill two needs and will likely serve key roles this year. Princeton Grad-transfer Guard Madison St. Rose will start next to Hidalgo in the backcourt, offering a high-level scoring option for the Irish offense when Hidalgo is inevitably drawing double teams. St. Rose brings experience, leadership, and another ‘dawg mentality’ to South Bend. Then, Louisville transfer Anaya Hardy will be looking for a breakout Junior campaign as she enters an increased role with Notre Dame. The 6-3 Forward from Detroit will provide the type of elite athleticism that was missing from Ivey’s squad a year ago. The final factor to mention is Niele Ivey. Each year, Notre Dame’s Head Coach seems to be more and more comfortable in her role, despite facing tall roster reconstruction tasks each of the past two offseasons. Ivey is not short on confidence, and her ‘player-first’ style seems to be paying dividends when you look at her recent recruiting successes. Her authenticity and ability to gain players' trust are two major reasons Ivey has been able to find consistent success in her first head coaching job. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Men’s Lacrosse Like Freeman and the football team, Notre Dame Lacrosse and Head Coach Kevin Corrigan will enter this season with a ‘national championship or bust’ attitude. One of the reasons the Irish will likely be preseason favorites to raise the trophy on Memorial Day is due to the amount of elite returning talent. The two most important pieces seeking a revenge title are G Thomas Ricciardelli and D Shawn Lyght. Ricciardelli enters his third season as the Irish’s starter in net, coming off a Senior campaign that featured ACC Goalie of the Year and Second Team USA Lacrosse All-American honors. As for Lyght, he looks to one-up a historic Junior season where he became the first defenseman in men’s lacrosse history to be named the Tewaaraton Award Winner. Other key returners include Fifth-Year Seniors Will Maheras (Midfield) and Will Gallagher (Defense), Senior Brock Behrman (Attack) and Nate Schwitzenberg (Defense), Juniors Luke Miller (Attack) and Matt Jeffrey (Midfield), and Sophomores Teddy Lally (Attack) and Dylan Faison (Midfield). Similar to the two coaches mentioned earlier, Corrigan has his culture firmly in place. Entering his 39th season, Corrigan will be seeking a third national title following back-to-back championships in 2023 and ‘24. This, combined with his 370-165 overall record, means the Irish’s leader knows what it takes to make and win on Memorial Day Weekend. Corrigan’s standard of excellence is evident in everything he does. 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!

The now-defunct scheduled matchup between the two in-state rivals opened up the door for a familiar foe. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics On Monday, August 3rd, Notre Dame and USC announced the renewal of the historic Jeweled Shillelagh trophy after the talks had fizzled out this past offseason. The Trojan Athletic Department had pushed heavily for a late-season matchup against the Irish, as a USC win would likely fare better in the playoff race. However, Notre Dame strongly pushed for an early-season matchup. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Notre Dame was originally scheduled to play the now-dominant Indiana Hoosiers in the front half of the 2030 and 2031 seasons. The agreement between the two schools was signed in March of 2021, before the Hoosiers had any serious thoughts of competing in the playoffs. In fact, the 2031 matchup in Bloomington would’ve been the first time since 1950 the Irish had traveled south to play the in-state rival. However, Indiana would request that Notre Dame be taken off the schedule so the Hoosiers could face fellow Big 10 schools instead. The Irish were the only major out-of-conference opponent scheduled for Indiana so far. Although it would certainly be cinematic to see the two Sycamore state powerhouses face off, I am glad Notre Dame and USC will instead continue to add to the shared legendary legacy of the rivalry. It is a shame the reconciliation hadn’t happened sooner, as the formerly annual matchup has been deemed “the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football” by journalists, fans, and even the schools themselves. The rivalry has been coined as a “conversation between wives”, when in the winter of 1926, the wife of legendary coach Knute Rockne begged to go someplace warm after listening to USC athletic director Gwynn Wilson’s wife. The Irish were in Lincoln, Nebraska, that day, playing in frigid weather in front of a very hostile and anti-catholic crowd of Husker fans. Mrs. Rockne won, and thus the legendary matchup was born. Since the inception of the game in 1926 (a 13-12 Irish win), the two teams have played 95 consecutive annual matchups except for a three-year stoppage during World War II and the 2020 COVID year. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Several memorable moments on both sides of the aisle have been conceived during the rivalry's tenure. In 1931, USC upset Rockne and the Irish in South Bend in a come-from-behind victory to clinch the Trojans’ second National title. In 1974, USC would orchestrate a 24-point comeback in a stomach-turning 24-54 Irish loss. The Irish have also had plenty of unforgettable moments; the most famous was the first interaction of the annual ‘Irish Wear Green’ game in 1977. Coach Dan Devine had the Irish dress in the traditional navy blue attire before changing into the now iconic green jerseys for game time, much to the surprise of Irish fans and Trojan players. The “Green Machine” would beat Southern Cal 49-19, as Quarterback Joe Montana led the Irish to a National Championship. In 1988, head coach Lou Holtz and future Heisman Tim Brown beat the star-studded #2-ranked USC squad. The #1-ranked Irish were still considered underdogs as they were without two prominent players, who had been suspended for disciplinary reasons. The games haven’t been without controversy, as many Notre Dame fans mournfully recall the infamous “Bush Push” game in 2005, when Trojan Running Back Reggie Bush illegally aided his Quarterback Matt Leinart in a last-second touchdown to seal the game for the Trojans. Irish fans can happily recall the Notre Dame secondary shutting down Heisman favorite QB Caleb Williams when the Trojans suffered five offensive turnovers. Overall, Notre Dame leads the series 51-37-5 over USC, with the Irish winning eight of the last ten matchups. I will forever hold this historic rivalry between two great teams over what could have been with Indiana. Would there still be excitement against the Hoosiers if they were awful that year? Probably not. But there is always excitement when blood, sweat, and tears are spilled fighting over the Shillelagh Trophy. As much as fans can detest and despise Southern Cal, they are a perfect rival for Notre Dame. They are a classy program, with fans who travel and care deeply about the team. That is what makes rivalries special. I will be looking forward to the renewal of this great duel in only four short years. Plenty of time for the hate to brew. 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!