Tag: Al Washington

Notre Dame players, coaches speak after Blue Gold Game

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame’s Blue Gold Game resulted in a 28-21 victory for the Blue squad. There were some moments that people came to see and weren’t disappointed by. No matter what happened, barring something catastrophic like multiple major …

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame’s Blue Gold Game resulted in a 28-21 victory for the Blue squad. There were some moments that people came to see and weren’t disappointed by. No matter what happened, barring something catastrophic like multiple major injuries, the Irish and their fans were going to come away feeling good about themselves. That meant a good all-around day for [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] and especially for winning Blue coach [autotag]Al Washington[/autotag].

[autotag]Steve Angeli[/autotag] was the star of this game, leading the Blue team to the win by completing 17 of 26 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns. His longest pass also resulted in the game-winning score. That was from 62 yards out, and the beneficiary of that was [autotag]Kris Mitchell[/autotag]. It was one of only two receptions for Mitchell the entire game, but it was enough to make the difference in this one.

No, the result of these game won’t mean a lot compared to the regular season. However, the fact that everyone had a positive demeanor afterwards speaks volumes. Fighting Irish Wire was on hand for the postgame news conferences, and we’d like to share only a small sample of what was said as they still were processing the afternoon they had just had at Notre Dame Stadium:

Notre Dame Football: Irish Assistant Coach in Mix for Boston College Job?

Could a Notre Dame assistant be on the way to Boston College?

A somewhat surprising move in college football happened this week when Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley accepted the offer to become the defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers.

That opened up an unexpected coaching post very late in the cycle.  And now according to one Boston College football reporter, Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington has emerged as a candidate for the open position.

According to Brett Rider of Eagles Daily, Washington, who played his college football at and previously served as an assistant coach at Boston College, is among the candidates.

Washington has been at Notre Dame the last two seasons, helping the unit to become one of the best in college football this past fall.  He’s also been incredibly valuable in recruiting the defensive side of the ball since coming from Ohio State where he held the same position.

We’ll continue to follow this story and coaching search as more develops.

Notre Dame lands commitment from 2025 Illinois defender recruit

Like this get for the Irish?

Elmhurst, Illinois is starting to become a hotbed for 2025 Notre Dame defensive commits. Earlier this year, the Irish received a commitment from defense end recruit [autotag]Joseph Reiff[/autotag] from York. Now, IC Catholic Prep in the same town has a commit for the same recruiting class in edge rusher [autotag]Dom Hulak[/autotag], who announced his decision Friday.

Like Reiff, Hulak was recruited by [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag] and [autotag]Al Washington[/autotag]. They beat out offers from many other schools, all of which were either in or near the Midwest. They included Louisville, Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa.

According to 247Sports, Hulak is ranked eighth on the list of 2025 Illinois recruits. Reiff is right behind him at ninth.

Hulak is the eighth commit in Notre Dame’s 2025 class, which ranks third on 247Sports behind Georgia and Alabama. The Irish are the highest-ranked program on the list without a five-star recruit. Fortunately, it’s early enough that that still can change.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Notre Dame lands 2024 linebacker recruit Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa

Solid get for the Irish.

Notre Dame just beat out two real blue bloods for the services of 2024 four-star linebacker recruit [autotag]Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa[/autotag]. On July 3, the Bellflower, California native announced that the Irish had made his final cut along with USC and Ohio State. After nearly three weeks of additional waiting, the recruiting efforts of [autotag]Al Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]Max Bullough[/autotag] have paid off. Viliamu-Asa made the announcement on social media:

Here’s how the actual announcement looked from his home:

Viliamu-Asa is the third linebacker commit of the Irish’s 2024 class. The others, [autotag]Teddy Rezac[/autotag] and [autotag]Bodie Kahoun[/autotag], are three-star commits, which makes Vilamu-Asa the biggest get at the position in the 2024 class so far. Greg Biggins of 247Sports had this to say about him in November:

“One of the most versatile linebackers in the country. He’s an inside ‘backer but a rare every down player who can move around and play multiple spots in a defense. He can stuff the run, blitz off the edge and is very smooth in coverage for a 6-foot-3, 230 pound athlete. He was the state’s top prospect as a freshman but tore his ACL in the final game of the season and missed his entire sophomore year. He’s a huge hitter and has a game built for pads but we saw him during 7v7 play lock up receivers and tight ends in coverage. He’s a smart kid as well, very instinctive and plays with a non-stop motor. He’s a tough kid and has a nice edge in his game.”

Here’s hoping that all is on display with the Irish.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Notre Dame football: Between Irish and longtime rival for top 2024 target?

Notre Dame and Michigan going at it again…just not on the field.

Notre Dame and Michigan may not play on the field often anymore but that doesn’t mean they’re not competing on the regular – especially for talented recruits.  According to one recruiting expert in the know, the biggest remaining target for Notre Dame in the 2024 class currently seems to have things between the Irish and Wolverines.

Of course we’re talking about five-star defensive tackle [autotag]Justin Scott[/autotag] of Chicago.  The St. Ignatius standout has long been connected to Notre Dame and is viewed by many, ourselves included, as the top remaining priority for the Irish in 2024.

“My latest intel suggests this is really a battle between Notre Dame and Michigan right now as the two schools that are at the top,” said Tom Loy of 247Sports, “obviously everyone else is in play: Miami, Georgia, Ohio State.”

“Right now my latest intel suggests the Wolverines and Fighting Irish are battling it out.”

Loy made those comments while talking with Allen Trieu of 247Sports following the official commitment of Brauntae Johnson over the weekend.

Michigan defensive line coach [autotag]Mike Elston[/autotag] has an incredible track record, something Notre Dame fans are plenty aware of.  It’ll be up to [autotag]Al Washington[/autotag], [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag], and [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] to overcome that and land the backyard five-star.

Loy went on to share that its believed that Scott will be on campus for Notre Dame’s showdown with Ohio State this September – as if you needed more reason to add to that game’s hugeness.

Landing Scott would go a long way in Notre Dame putting the finishing touches on a 2024 class that currently ranks fifth nationally but is behind Michigan.

See some of the best photos from Notre Dame and Michigan’s epic battles over the years below. 

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Notre Dame offers 2025 Ohioan with a recognizable name

Does Notre Dame know something?

We all remember the Bo Knows campaign for Bo Jackson, the two-sport superstar and now [autotag]Notre Dame[/autotag] has offered a 2025 Ohioan with the same name.

The Cleveland [autotag]Bo Jackson[/autotag] isn’t related to the Bo Knows star but is a very solid prospect in his own right who plays baseball as well. He is ranked as the 7th best athlete and 135th overall prospect by the 247Sports composite.

At 6-foot, 1-inch and 190 pounds, Jackson could end up on either side of the ball, running back or safety. He’s a track star also, as his speed stands out on which ever playing field he is on.

With Jackson tagging head coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag], run game coordinator [autotag]Al Washington[/autotag] and defensive coordinator [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag], he is truly being recruited for either side of the ball.

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Notre Dame defensive line target Bryce Young ready to commit

This would be an Irish legacy.

Notre Dame legacies are one of the greatest sources of pride for the university. The football team might be about to land a big one in Bryce Young, the son of Irish legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer [autotag]Bryant Young[/autotag]. Like his father before him, the younger Young is a defensive lineman, and he will announce his college decision Saturday. While USC, Michigan and Tennessee are finalists, many project him to pick to the Irish.

The similarities between Young and fellow Irish target Micah Gilbert don’t stop with who’s seeking their services. Both are four-star 2024 recruits, and both are teammates at Charlotte Christian in North Carolina. Additionally, Gilbert also is projected to pick the Irish when he makes his own decision next week.

Here’s hoping [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag] and [autotag]Al Washington[/autotag] did enough convincing to bring Young to the Irish. We don’t think our own John Kennedy would take him picking the Trojans very well. So for his sake and everyone else’s, we need common sense to prevail.

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

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Watch: Notre Dame line coaches mic’d up during spring practices

Get an inside scoop for two units’ workouts.

The battles in the trenches can be the most grinding of any on a football field. That’s why offensive and defensive lines require the best coaching possible in order for them to perform at their very best. If you don’t believe that, look what happens when the coaches responsible for those areas with the Irish wear mics during spring workouts.

First, let’s listen to second-year defensive line coach [autotag]Al Washington[/autotag]:

Now, let’s hear first-year offensive line coach [autotag]Joe Rudolph[/autotag], who is by no means a rookie college coach but just happens to be with the Irish has he approaches 20 years coaching at this level:

We understand that both videos represent only a fraction of what goes on during any given day. There is a lot of footage that ends up not being released, and there probably is plenty with language that wouldn’t fly for a general audience. Regardless, it’s great to see them guide and motivate their respective units.

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

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

 

Notre Dame offers big time 2024 athlete from Florida

The Irish are hitting the 2024 class hard

The Irish have gotten their first commitment this week in the 2024 class, Michigan defensive end Brandon Davis-Swain, shortly after the Blue vs. Gold game over the weekend. That is just the start and Marcus Freeman and his staff are hard at working looking for their next potential commitment.

Earlier today, Florida athlete Booker Pickett Jr. tweeted out that he has received an offer from Notre Dame. At six-foot-four-inches and 200-pounds, Pickett Jr. could grow into a defensive end or could play behind the end at outside linebacker or even a hybrid, think former Irish linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The Irish are included in Pickett Jr.’s ever growing offer list that already includes Georgia, Auburn, Ohio State, Michigan, USC and others.

It looks like linebackers coach Al Washington is leading the charge for Pickett Jr.’s verbal, as he was tagged in the announcement of the offer. It still early in the Florida athlete’s recruitment, but getting on him early is a good start for the Irish.

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

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Notre Dame officially names Al Washington defensive line coach

Thoughts on the Washington hire?

The following is courtesy of Notre Dame athletics:

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame continues to build out its coaching staff as Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman announced the hiring of 15-year coaching veteran Al Washington as the Bob and Leslie Mohr Family Defensive Line Coach and Defensive Run Game Coordinator.

“I have seen firsthand how talented Al Washington is as a coach,” said Freeman. “He is a great teacher and developer of his players on the field, but is just as impressive in how he goes about building great men off the field. On top of that, he is a passionate recruiter whose work in that area is going to help us compete for a national title.”

Washington comes to the Irish after spending the last three seasons at Ohio State. In his final season at Ohio State, Washington and the Buckeyes’ defense ranked in the Top-20 nationally in defensive touchdowns and turnover margin. Ohio State led the nation in defensive touchdowns with 6 and ranked 15th nationally in turnover margin with +9. Sophomore linebacker Steele Chambers was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten honoree by the media after totaling 47 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.0 sack in 2021.

In 2020, he developed all four senior linebackers for the next level. Each of the four senior linebackers on the 2020 Ohio State team were in the NFL as of August 2021: Tuf Borland (Minnesota), Baron Browning (Denver), Justin Hilliard (San Francisco) and Pete Werner (New Orleans).

Werner was a Butkus Award Semifinalist in 2020 after he led the team in tackles with 54 and forced fumbles with two. Werner was a First Team All-Big 10 selection by the coaches following the season.

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