Tag: 2020 notre dame football

Former Notre Dame O-lineman Dillan Gibbons transfers to Florida State

The Irish will see an old friend to begin the season.

Four days after Notre Dame offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons entered the transfer portal, he has made his decision. Gibbons, a native of Clearwater, Florida, will be headed close to home as he suits up for Florida State as a graduate student:

This makes Notre Dame’s 2021 season opener all the more intriguing as it’s slated to happen against the Seminoles on Sept. 5 in Tallahassee. On top of that, Gibbons and the rest of the Irish’s offensive line played a key role when these teams met in 2020. The unit didn’t allow any sacks and made 554 yards of total offense, including 353 on the ground, possible. That rushing total was more than double what the Seminoles’ defense allowed on average going into the game.

It will be interesting to see whether Gibbons can provide the Seminoles with Irish’s defensive line’s Achilles’ heel during their game plan or if that D-line knows exactly what to expect from him and uses that to its advantage. Of course, it will be more interesting if that particular aspect determines the outcome.

Notre Dame Football: Injury Bug Bites Defensive Line

Notre Dame is only three days into fall practice but the injury bug has already started to make its unwanted presence around the football team. 

Notre Dame is only three days into fall practice but the injury bug has already started to make its unwanted presence around the football team.

Just over a week ago news came out that receiver Kevin Austin, who was expected to have a breakout season, broke his foot and will be out an unknown amount of time.

Then on the first day of actual practice this past Wednesday we got word that three players would go on medical scholarship as their football careers are over due to different injuries.

And Friday morning brought news that defensive lineman NaNa Osafo-Mensah will likely miss the entire 2020 season after injuring his knee in football related activities on Tuesday and having surgery to repair his lateral meniscus on Thursday.

Osafa-Mensah was a four-star recruit getting set to start his sophomore campaign at Notre Dame.  Osafa-Mensah played in two games as a freshman in 2019, recording a tackle against New Mexico.

Osafa-Mensah figured to be in a battle to make the second string on the depth chart as an edge rusher behind the likes of Daelin Hayes and Ade Ogundeji.

Notre Dame Finally Gets 2020 Football Schedule

Notre Dame’s 2020 football schedule is officially out. Check it out here and find out what longtime rivalry sadly ends…

Notre Dame and the ACC unveiled their 2020 football schedule on Thursday with some significant changes compared to what it looked like just a month ago.

Here’s how 2020 shapes up for Notre Dame:

Notre Dame 2020 Football Schedule:

September 12 vs. Duke
September 19 vs. Western Michigan
September 26 at Wake Forest (Charlotte)
October 3 BYE
October 10 vs. Florida State
October 17 vs. Louisville
October 24 at Pitt
October 31 at Georgia Tech
November 7 vs. Clemson
November 14 at Boston College
November 21 BYE
November 27 at North Carolina
December 5 vs. Syracuse
December 12 or 19 ACC Championship in Charlotte

There it is – Notre Dame’s first schedule as a member of the ACC.

As you may notice, the Navy game was unable to be worked out, marking the end of a consecutive series that dates all the way back to 1927.

Brian Kelly: “We really don’t know” about season starting on time

“When you’re an independent and you have an open schedule, everyone is going to look towards Notre Dame as the first one you fill it with.” 

To me there is no better sports radio host in America than Dan Patrick.  His interview skills are superb, he doesn’t take himself too seriously and he doesn’t throw ridiculous “hot takes” at you endlessly in the hopes of getting retweets and more attention.

To me he’s the best at what he does but that’s not why you’re here.

Patrick welcomed Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly to his show on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest in regards to a 2020 college football season and everything else in regards to his Fighting Irish team.  Once a link is available it will be posted in here so you can listen instead of read the words but for the time being, this is what we’ve got:

On his message to the team:

“’What’s your priority?’ If you want to play college football this fall, you’ll have to do the things you’ve done over the last four weeks and the numbers speak for themselves. We’ve already said you can do this, but you’ve done it in a confined environment. They’ve had to do the things necessary. It’s staying out of the bars. They’ve stayed away from parties – social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands. All the things we already know.

“They’ll have to continue that and there is going to have to be peer accountability. Guys will have to say, ‘you can’t do that because I want to play this fall. If you do that and you get me sick, I’m not going to be happy.’

“A big dose of peer accountability and a good dose of guys wanting to play this season is really going to be about what happens when the season starts.”

Does he think the season starts on time?

“I’m optimistic we’re going to start. Then students get on campus and our guys move off-campus. Essentially, we leave the bubble and start the season, unlike some of the professional teams like the NHL or the NBA. They move into a bubble and start the season. College football leaves the bubble and starts the season. We’ll get to the starting line and we’ll see what happens after that.”

Where Notre Dame is at in terms of season-prep:

“We’re in strength training and conditioning. It’s really about four weeks in. Most football programs would normally get about eight weeks in prior to their first padded practice. We still have some work to do relative to the time off. Remember, no spring practice, no real designated offseason. These guys were deconditioned a little bit. We’re getting back there, but we still need a little more time to condition our athletes.”

More…

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Notre Dame Player Preview: Brendon Clark – Quarterback

The race to be Notre Dame’s backup quarterback in 2020 is on. Find out more about the leading candidate for it, Brendon Clark, right here!

We get a day closer to Notre Dame football returning and although we’re anything but certain as to what exact day that will be, we’re still excited for the idea of it.

Before the ball is kicked though we need to keep informing you on those that will suit up in blue and gold this fall (or next spring).

In this edition we look at a young man who isn’t going to be starting any games in 2020 but will be working towards being the starter at his position in 2021.

We’re talking about quarterback Brendon Clark, a young man who has never shied away from a difficult path.

Stats and Information…

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Notre Dame Player Preview: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah might be the best defender on Notre Dame’s roster entering 2020. Find out more about the star linebacker right here

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said recently that it wasn’t a matter of if college football would be played this year but when.  In those regards we’ll continue to bring you player previews for Notre Dame’s entire team in 2020.

Next up is linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah who some have pegged as a fringe first round draft pick in 2021.

What’s in store for “JOK” in what very likely will be his final season in South Bend, though?

That’s exactly what we’re here for.

Stats and Information…

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Notre Dame Player Preview: Avery Davis – RB/WR

Davis was recruited out of Cedar Hill, Texas as a quarterback but changed positions after the likes of Brandon Wimbush, Ian Book and Phil Jurkovec found themselves well ahead on the depth chart.  Davis might not have stats that jump off the page at you but some of his highlights certainly do.

vWe get a day closer to Notre Dame football returning and although we’re anything but certain as to what exact day that will be, we’re still excited for the idea of it.

Before the ball is kicked though we need to keep informing you on those that will suit up in blue and gold this fall (or next spring).

In this edition we look at a player who was recruited as a quarterback, has spent time as a corner and also at wide receiver and running back.  We’re talking about Notre Dame’s version of the Swiss Army Knife, Avery Davis.

Stats and Information…

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Notre Dame Player Preview: Kevin Austin – WR

In this edition we look at perhaps the favorite to breakout on Notre Dame’s 2020 roster, wide receiver Kevin Austin.

We get a day closer to Notre Dame football returning and although we’re anything but certain as to what exact day that will be, we’re still excited for the idea of it.

Before the ball is kicked though we need to keep informing you on those that will suit up in blue and gold this fall (or next spring).

In this edition we look at perhaps the favorite to breakout on Notre Dame’s 2020 roster, wide receiver Kevin Austin.

Stats and Information…

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

2020 Virtual Notre Dame Football Cards: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – Linebacker

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s nine tackles, three sacks and four tackles for loss and forced fumble in the Camping World Bowl win over Iowa State landed him a spot on ESPN’s 2019/20 All-Bowl Team.

2020 Notre Dame Football Player Cards

Remember how great football cards were when you were a kid?  So do we!  We unfortunately can’t print out a bunch of pictures on cardboard and send them to all of you but we have the next best thing, virtual player cards for the 2020 Notre Dame football team!  Here you’ll find all the information, stats, facts and in some cases a photo gallery and/or highlights of all of your favorite Notre Dame players ahead of the 2020 season.  Check it out as we build the complete team set throughout July!

Card number four in the series belongs to one of the returning stars of the defense, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Next: Information and Stats

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

2020 Virtual Notre Dame Football Cards: George Takacs, Tight End

Card number three in the 2020 Virtual Notre Dame football set belongs to tight end George Takacs, who has his work cut out for him.

Remember how great football cards were when you were a kid?  So do we!  We unfortunately can’t print out a bunch of pictures on cardboard and send them to all of you but we have the next best thing, virtual player cards for the 2020 Notre Dame football team!  Here you’ll find all the information, stats, facts and in some cases a photo gallery and/or highlights of all of your favorite Notre Dame players ahead of the 2020 season.  Check it out as we build the complete team set throughout July!

Card number three in the set is that of tight end George Takacs as he enters his third year with the Fighting Irish.

Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Next:  Information and Stats

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3