Notre Dame – Syndication Server

Former Notre Dame wide receiver finds new home in the ACC

Good luck Jayden!

It seems like Notre Dame and Virginia made a transfer trade this cycle, each of the teams receiving a wide receiver in return.

The Irish already got their part over a month ago, as Malachi Fields committed towards the end of December. The player-to-be-named later happened to be [autotag]Jayden Thomas[/autotag], who entered the portal just a few days after the season concluded.

Thomas, a Georgia native, had a decent career with the Irish, who had 64 catches for 838 yards and 7 touchdowns, with a few carries mixed in as well.

The “trade” between both teams looks like it fits each other’s needs, but if you had to pick a winner, it would be Notre Dame. Fields had almost as many yards last year as Thomas had in his whole career, and just two touchdowns short of that number as well.

Regardless of production, we wish Thomas the best as he looks to finish him eligibility with the Cavaliers.

Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jayden Thomas (83) runs the ball in the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

Two Notre Dame football stars named to top-10 2025 impact player list

The Irish return two bonafide stars In ‘25

With the college football season having been completed for just over a week, it’s never to early to look ahead to next fall and what Notre Dame could look like.

While the Irish lost star cornerback Benjamin Morrison, the rest of the roster turnover was made up of a few transfer backups and players who no longer had eligibility. That means that Notre Dame will be returning some elite players, and On3’s list to top-10 players for the 2025 season confirmed that.

Irish star cornerback [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag] and running back [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] made the list, as the pair had plenty of eyes on them during the run to the College Football Playoff Championship game.

Moore came in at No. 8, and is coming off a Freshman All-American season after 48 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and two interceptions. He also batted away 11 passes, and if he can turn just a few of those into takeaways in the fall, Moore could make more All-American teams in the future.

Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore win’s huge freshman award — Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore (15) celebrates interrupting a reception attempt during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend.

Love was the last player on the list, but you could make an argument he should be higher. He gained 1,125-yards on the ground with 17 touchdowns, while catching 28 receptions for 237-yards and two more scores.

Love did all of that while battling multiple injuries, and if he can stay healthy, he’s got a chance to make All-American honors as well. While I don’t think the volume will be there for him to win the Heisman, Love is still one of the most electric players in the country.

Could Jeremiyah Love be done with his knee brace against Ohio State? — Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates a first down in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

Drayk Bowen makes a big decision about his Notre Dame future

This move makes plenty of sense for Bowen

There is a pretty long history with Notre Dame athletes playing more than one sport during their time in South Bend.

Currently, there are a few on the football team, who double-dip in other sports, as linebacker [autotag]Drayk Bowen[/autotag] is one of them. He has been part of the Irish baseball team his first two years on campus, but according to Matt Freeman, the junior won’t be on the diamond during the spring and summer.

It makes plenty of sense, as Bowen didn’t play as a freshman and saw time in just three games last year. By putting all of his focus towards football, it hypothetically increases his ceiling for Notre Dame and the next level.

The Saint John native broke out on the gridiron this fall, with 78 tackles, a sack and three forced fumbles. Bowen has all the tools to succeed at the next level, and with a big season in the fall, he could have a very hard decision in front of him.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Drayk Bowen (34) knocks the ball away from Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) for a fumble in the fourth quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

Super Bowl LIX has Notre Dame ties

There will be Notre Dame alum on the field during Super Bowl LIX

There are plenty of Notre Dame Fighting Irish alum playing in the NFL, and at least will be playing in Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans this year.

Linebacker [autotag]Drue Tranquill[/autotag] and kicker [autotag]Spencer Shrader[/autotag] will be playing in the game for the Chiefs. Former Irish quarterback [autotag]Ian Book[/autotag] was briefly on the Eagles’ active roster, but he’s back on the practice squad. Book was a Chief briefly during the preseason.

Aug 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ian Book (19) looks downfield in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Star Notre Dame defender declares for NFL Draft

Notre Dame defensive lineman Rylie Mills is going to the league.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman [autotag]Rylie Mills[/autotag] is moving on.

Mills declared for the NFL Draft on Monday.

He was a key anchor for the Notre Dame defense, though he missed the final three games with a right knee injury.

The five-year player had 37 total tackles and 7.5 sacks in 2024.

Mills posted a long thank-you note to Notre Dame fans on his Twitter account.

Notre Dame’s defense has now lost at least three stars to the NFL draft, with [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] also declaring. The departures aren’t necessarily unexpected given how crucial the Fighting Irish’s defense was to Notre Dame’s run to the national championship game, but they’re a blow nonetheless.

Notre Dame gets terrible news as another starter is out for the year — SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 09: Rylie Mills #99 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a sack against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on November 09, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey

Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Ty Chan is heading back to home region

Good luck Ty!

For three years, Massachusetts offensive lineman [autotag]Ty Chan[/autotag] saw sporadic playing time for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

As many do at this level, they want a chance to show what they can do, and with that in mind, he opted to enter the transfer portal and find a new home. On Monday, Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported that Chan is expected to be playing close to home, as he committed to the Connecticut Huskies. He was one of multiple players on the offense line to enter the portal following the conclusion of the season.

By redshirting in his first season, Chan will have two more years of eligibility. The 6-foot, 5-inch and 320-pound lineman was a 4-star prospect out of high school, but he never was able to crack the rotation in South Bend.

Chan will now get a fresh start with the Huskies, one where you would have to expect that he will see the field right away. Hopefully he is able to achieve his goals there, as we wish him the best of luck a UConn.

Ty Chan is leaving Notre Dame. — Notre Dame offensive linemen Ty Chan (77) and Joe Alt (76) go through a blocking drill Wednesday, April 12, 2023, during spring football practice on the Notre Dame campus.

Nd Fb Spring Practice

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

Al Golden has kind words for Notre Dame as he’s introduced as Cincinnati’s DC

Golden was a bit emotional about his time in South Bend

For some coaches, when they leave for another job, you don’t quite see them be complimentary to their last home, but for former Notre Dame defensive coordinator [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag], that wasn’t the case.

It wasn’t easy for him to make the decision to return to the NFL, where he took the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator position. On Monday, Golden was introduced in his new role, and went out of his way to compliment the Irish.

He thanked head coach Marcus Freeman, athletic directors Pete Bevacqua and Jack Swarbrick, along with all of the players. Golden got a chance to sit down with as many players as he could face-to-face, and the ones he didn’t spoke with on the phone.

Golden was thankful for being able to make history with Notre Dame, and its seems like he very much enjoyed his time with the Irish as this clip of him speaking kindly was shared by On3’s Tyler Horka.

Cincinnati Bengals new defensive coordinator Al Golden speaks to the media at Paycor Stadium on Monday, January 27, 2025. Golden returns to Cincinnati after being the defensive coordinator for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Previously he was the Bengals linebacker coach from 2020-21.

Golden was fantastic in his time with the Irish, and most Notre Dame fans will be rooting him on as he starts his tenure with the Bengals.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

One of Notre Dame’s top defensive coordinator option picks Penn State

The Irish’s search of their new DC continues

The rumors were that Notre Dame football was one of the schools defensive coordinator [autotag]Jim Knowles[/autotag] was considering leaving Ohio State for.

We knew he would cost a pretty penny, but that is moot now. Knowles is leaving the Buckeyes for Penn State according to a report by 247Sports Matt Zenitz.

While Notre Dame was a contender, it wasn’t really ever seen as his top choice. It was more likely he was going to either stay in Columbus or leave for his home state power program (the Nittany Lions).

Coach Marcus Freeman did the right thing by inquiring about Knowles, but now both participants in the College Football Playoff Championship game are without a defensive coordinator.

It will be interesting how each of these two teams go about trying to fill the position. They could be battling for the remaining top candidates.

Jan. 20, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles celebrates after winning against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

Notre Dame is going to pony up if they want Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator

The Irish will have to open their pocketbooks to sign Knowles

With Notre Dame football still looking to find a replacement for defensive coordinator Al Golden, coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] isn’t leaving any stones unturned.

The Irish have been linked to Ohio State DC [autotag]Jim Knowles[/autotag], and the reports are he will wait until after the national championship celebration to decide what is next.

He is one of the top defensive minds in college football. We saw the Buckeyes do a pretty good job stopping the Irish offense just under a week ago.

Knowles could end up leaving Columbus, but it will not be because the Buckeyes didn’t offer a competitive salary. According to On3’s Andy Staples, Ohio State has offered him a contract that would make him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the nation.

Staples goes on to write that regardless of which school Knowles picks he will still end up being the highest paid in the sport. Oklahoma, Penn State, the Irish and staying with the Buckeyes are his reported options.

We will know soon what Knowles decision is, and then what Freeman needs to do to find Golden’s replacement.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

Notre Dame football loses key recruiting architect to bitter rival

Notre Dame loses a key off-field part of the football operation.

As if Notre Dame fans didn’t already have enough reason to hate USC.

The Trojans hired [autotag]Chad Bowden[/autotag], the Fighting Irish football program’s general manager, on Friday.

Yes, the award-winning Chad Bowden.

Notre Dame kept Michigan at bay when the Wolverines angled for Bowden’s services, but the Trojans swooped in with a reported multiyear offer of more than $1 million a year.

It’s apparently a big pay bump. Bowden was said to be earning about $300,000 per year at Notre Dame.

The Irish promoted Bowden, the son of longtime MLB executive Jim Bowden, from recruiting director to assistant athletic director for player personnel before this season.

He initially came to Notre Dame from Cincinnati along with current Irish coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] in January 2021 to be the recruiting coordinator for the defense.

If it seems like Notre Dame is losing a lot of key pieces of its team as defensive coordinator [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag] and key players like Pat Coogan depart, it’s also important to remember the Irish raked in a lot of money from the deep playoff run and have intriguing transfers coming in.

Still, this one might end up hurting significantly.

Jan. 20, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) receives the snap during the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in. the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. James Lang-Imagn Images

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Tim on X: @tehealey