Category: Notre Dame Football

USA Today Releases Preseason Top 25, Where was Notre Dame Ranked?

Once again the Irish are ranked high, but just how high is the question entering the 2020 campaign.

Once again, the college football world is seeing another way too early Top 25,this time by the USA Today. It has become fairly obvious that the Irish are among the best teams in the nation and they have been ranked accordingly.

Checking in at 10th overall in the country, Brian Kelly’s team has the makings of one that can make a run for a final four spot in the College Football Playoff. The USA Today notes that the goal is to win a national championship, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Since the inception of the CFP in the 2014-15 season, only 4 schools have been crowned champions: Ohio State and LSU winning it once, Alabama and Clemson each owning two titles.

It seems like the USA Today has narrowed in on the offense for the Irish, as they questioned if Tommy Rees at such a young age, 27, could lead the offense to the promise land. When Rees took over for Chip Long before the Camping World Bowl many wondered what the offense would look like with a new leader. Rees led the offense to 33 points, with QB Ian Book going 20/28 for 247 yards, a TD and no interceptions. Tony Jones Jr. went off for 135 yards on just 11 carries and WR Chase Claypool benefited from Book’s good day with 7 receptions and 146 yards with the lone TD through the air. Although the offense put up plenty of points, there will still be some questions regarding how Rees will call an entire season when teams get a more advance look at what concepts he likes to deploy. A spring game would have been huge for Rees’ development as the play caller.

Although there are some questions for Notre Dame going into the 2020 season, not many teams don’t, there are some very encouraging signs. The whole offensive line returns, sack leader Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah returns for what could be a huge junior year, leading tackler LB Drew White is also back, and a reworked secondary has plenty of weapons. The Irish are poised to be a Top 10 team entering 2020 and the USA Today’s ranking once again confirms that.

Brian Kelly Names Date for College Football to Run Normally in 2020

“30 years of being a head coach I thought I had the handbook memorized but I’ve seen nothing like this”

Brian Kelly hasn’t spoken publicly about the pandemic of Covid-19 and its effect on the Notre Dame football team but that changed late Wednesday night as he joined Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter.

“30 years of being a head coach I thought I had the handbook memorized but I’ve seen nothing like this,” Kelly said. “Our staff had to take off the coaching head sets and put the academic hats on.”

The big question out there now for college football fans is when do things have to get started in order for the regular season to go on like normal. Like any good journalist would, Scott Van Pelt asked that exact question to which Kelly answered:

“If you can’t start physically conditioning your team by July 1 and giving your strength and conditioning coaches that time then you’re in jeopardy” Kelly said.

“You’re going to need at least four weeks, strength and conditioning coaches are going to want six. You’re looking at a minimum of four weeks conditioning before you put them in camp and college football will be effected if we’re not playing in 90 days in terms of the conditioning element and getting these young men ready.”

Kelly also spoke about how different recruiting is in this strange time where things have a bit of a wild-west feel from afar. He also mentioned how he and his staff aren’t risking anything, instead opting for video calls and using social media for significantly more than in years past. When available, we’ll post the full interview.

I’m curious if July 1 is realistic as we sit on the late evening of March 25. Some states you’re not supposed to leave home unless it’s for a vital job or to get medicine and groceries while others have no stay home rules in place. When you look at what’s happening in New York City does July 1 seem likely?

I hate to come across as pessimistic but I have my doubts in our ability to follow direction and slow the number of cases significantly enough to allow for that date to work.

Now I hope like hell each and everyone of you go prove me wrong and that college football is fired up and getting started nationwide on that July 1 date Brian Kelly says would be required.

Now go be smart, stay safe and stay healthy.

Notre Dame vs Penn State – March 25, 2020

one of the best offensive tackles in the 2021 recruiting class will announce his commitment in a battle that has found Notre Dame and Penn State as the two favorites

Notre Dame and Penn State haven’t met on the football field since the home teams both won easily in the most recent home-and-home series held in 2006 and 2007. The two schools don’t have each other on any future schedules either, but a huge battle between the two in regards to football will be determined on Thursday.

That’s because one of the best offensive tackles in the 2021 recruiting class will announce his commitment in a battle that has found Notre Dame and Penn State as the two favorites.

Tengwall would join Blake Fisher on the 2021 classes offensive line and be a massive get for Notre Dame if he does end up choosing the Irish.

For what it’s worth, all crystal ball predictions available on 247Sports have Tengwall choosing Penn State.

The Olney (Good Counsel), Maryland product is set to announce his decision at noon ET on Thursday. FIW will have reaction immediately after whether he goes Notre Dame or Penn State.

Notre Dame Offers Star ’21 Illinois Athlete

Notre Dame offered three/four-star athlete Sam Jackson of Naperville, IL a scholarship on Wednesday.

Notre Dame has offered a 2021 athlete from the state of Illinois as Sam Jackson is the latest prospect to get a scholarship offer from Brian Kelly and the Fighting Irish staff.  Jackson made the offer public knowledge on his Twitter profile Wednesday morning.

Jackson is listed at 5-7 and 170 pounds and plays quarterback at Naperville Central in Naperville, Illinois but is being recruited as an “athlete” by most schools.  Maybe a gadget guy who can occasionally be a threat to throw?

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Jackson was a one-time commitment to PJ Fleck and Minnesota but announced he was re-opening his recruitment in January.  Most of the Big Ten aside from Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State have offered scholarships while Missouri, Oregon and Virginia Tech are some of the bigger names nationally to have offered.

Notre Dame Transfer Pryor Named One to Watch

The graduate transfer from Ohio State is expected to provide an instant impact in the Irish secondary.

When the NCAA instituted the transfer portal, it seemed like college football was going to have a free agency type impact for many teams. That has been the exact case with some big-time examples such as former Alabama QB Jalen Hurts moving to Oklahoma and former Georgia Bulldog Justin Fields going to Ohio State, both helped their new teams make the College Football Playoff last year.

This coming season will feature the same type of instant impact players and today Rivals ranked the top nine transfers to watch for this coming season. It should come as no surprise to see Notre Dame’s presumed starting safety and Ohio State transfer Isaiah Pryor making the list.

Rival’s Recruiting Director Mike Farrell mentioned Pryor “fills a big need at Notre Dame and he has the talent to impact right away.” I tend to agree with him, as the Irish will be breaking in two new safety starters, but neither will lack talent. Kyle Hamilton is the other potential starter.

Pryor went to Columbus from IMG Academy in Florida with high expectations, but after three years could never crack the starting rotation. His playing time dipped from his sophomore to junior year, and with him graduating, had an opportunity to move on and play right away. Pryor committed to the Irish in November of last year and will have two years remaining to play for Brian Kelly.

Also, of note in this article, Farrell opines to have some changes for this recruiting cycle due to the impact the COVID-19 has had on making visits to campuses and contact with recruits. Yes, everything has changed with the mandated dead-period, but when everything returns to normal, so should recruiting. Making changes seems like an overreaction, just getting back to normal would be fantastic.

Irish in the NFL: Tyler Eifert Signs with Jaguars

Eifert inked a two-year, $15.5 million dollar deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars Tuesday and helps fill a void at the position for the Jags.

One of the best to ever do it at Tight End U has a new NFL home as Tyler Eifert is headed to Jacksonville after spending the first seven years of his professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Eifert inked a two-year, $15.5 million dollar deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars Tuesday and helps fill a void at the position.  Last year Jacksonville saw substantial injuries to both James O’Shaughnessy and Geoff Swain at the position.

Eifert’s career has been productive when available but also marred by injury as he’s played in all 16 games just once in his seven years and reached ten games played just three times.  In his 59 career games though, Eifert has averaged over three receptions per game while finding the end zone 24 times in his career.

Who is throwing him the ball will remain a question in Jacksonville.  Gardner Minshew II won the hearts of a country last year but remains with plenty of questions, as does Josh Dobbs who moves up to their backup roll after the Jaguars traded Nick Foles to the Chicago Bears last week.

If you’re bored and want to remember just how good Tyler Eifert was at Notre Dame, click ahead and watch his highlight tape from his days in blue and gold…and sometimes green.

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The NCAA Sucks – Reason Number 7,216,517

The NCAA uses Trevor Lawrence to show its latest reason why it sucks.

At this point you’re probably aware that the NCAA is just the worst.  OK, the International Olympic Committee is in the team picture as is FIFA but I have trouble thinking any of them are actually worse.

Why now you ask?

They’ve now managed to outlaw fundraising for Coronavirus victims if you’re a student-athlete.

Quickly ask yourself – who is the most-known eligible college football player, nationwide?  The most recognizable who if they were to speak, would draw the most attention.

I think it’s safe to say that’s Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.  His great talents, flowing locks and him seeming like a just stand-up young man are great and the fact that he’s likely going to one day be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft only makes him more compelling.  It’s great when young people use their platforms for the general good, can we all agree on that?

Well, the NCAA can’t as they forced Lawrence to take down a GoFundMe page that was dedicated to raising funds for Coronavirus victims.

Ridiculous.

Laughable.

Unreal.

One day it’s blocking a transferring player from being eligible because, well, there is no good reason while granting immediate eligibility to others at bigger schools.  The next its shutting down a fundraiser benefitting a literal world-crisis.

Great job, NCAA, great freaking job.

You seriously can’t make this crap up.

Brian Kelly Introduces “Notre Dame Minute”

In an effort to showcase what Notre Dame has to offer, the football program unveiled the new “Notre Dame Minute” on Tuesday.

With spring practice being cancelled, all classes happening over computer instead of in-person and no recruiting visits being made, it’s safe to say it’s a weird time in college football.  With nothing technically happening, Notre Dame is trying to stay ahead of the curve, today launching the “Notre Dame Minute” on YouTube.

What is the “Notre Dame Minute” you ask?  Go ahead and give the first episode a spin:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuRLdu6pI9k&w=560&h=315]

It’s a way to try and get creative and showcase what Notre Dame has to offer.  Like videos we saw last year of Brian Kelly checking in on former Notre Dame football stars and selling the program that way, I’d assume it’s only a matter of time until we see assistant coaches and former players popping up in these.

It may not be actual football, nor may it even be un-padded practices, but at least it’s, well, something for Notre Dame fans to consume.  On the scale of “nothing” to “game-changer” it’s at least…something.

Now carry on with your day of social distancing.

Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton Backs up 5-Star Ranking

The former 5-Star lived up to his billing during this freshman year, setting up for a big sophomore year.

When recruits arrive on campus with a 5-Star next to their name, the expectations are high, and that player is expected to make an immediate impact for their team. When Kyle Hamilton arrived at South Bend last summer from Georgia as the highest ranked member of the 2019 class, playing early seemed like a shoo-in.

The question was about production and after looking back at what Hamilton accomplished as a true freshman was impressive and 247Sports thought so as well. Tom Loy of Irish Illustrated noted that Hamilton impressed immediately with “a three-interception performance during his first practice,” which clearly set the tone for his first year with the Irish.

Hamilton then went on to play in all 13 games, registering 41 total tackles, defending 6 passes, picking off 4 and taking one of those to the house. When a true freshman leads the team in interceptions while playing a part-time role, it just puts a stamp on how impressive Hamilton’s season actually was. Multiple outlets named him to their Freshman All-American team: The Athletic, Pro Football Focus, Sports Illustrated and Football Writers Association of America.

Hamilton will most likely step into departing seniors Alohi Gilman’s spot, and after this debut season the expectations will be high once again for him. If he continues improving and posts similar numbers but in a full-time role, you can expect to see Hamilton on All-American lists once again after the 2020 season concludes.

NCAA.com Releases Preseason Top 25, See Where Notre Dame is Ranked

NCAA.com has released their preseason Top 25 and Notre Dame is highly ranked. Find out exactly where they are compared to the nation.

Although spring practices and games have been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, NCAA.com still has released a preseason Top 25 late last week. With so much uncertainty regarding the sports world, it is always nice to look forward to what could be and where Notre Dame is ranked.

The Irish are just outside the Top 10, checking in at 11th overall in the country which is just a bit lower than where we have seen Notre Dame ranked in other preseason polls. The Irish’s ranking was justified by “QB Ian Book’s return, Notre Dame Should be potent on offense.” With every offensive lineman returning along with Book, the offense will have to find weapons on the outside, making the loss of spring practices loom large for the offense.

Defensively, the Irish “should be strong, though the secondary is the biggest question mark there,” is how NCAA.com sees the other side of the ball. Ohio State transfer Isaiah Pryor bring experience with Shaun Crawford, but the rest of the secondary is fairly green. Again, spring practice would have helped this unit out a ton.

Looking ahead at the schedule, the Irish will face #16 Wisconsin, #1 Clemson and #19 Southern California according to the NCAA.com’s early rankings. They also mention the season opener in Dublin against Navy and the home date against Louisville as tough matchups, so the road to grabbing a Top 4 College Football Playoff spot won’t be easy, but it’s certainly attainable.