Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
These 10 players did the most during Senior Bowl practices to help their 2024 NFL draft stock
Another week of Senior Bowl practices ended on Thursday. The three days of work from the American and National rosters helped elevate some players and spotlight who might not be as ready as hoped or hyped for the 2024 NFL draft.
The focus here is on some of the top performers and also a few lesser-knwon prospects who helped themselves during the sessions in Mobile.
Awesome kid.
Notre Dame linebacker and captain [autotag]J.D. Bertrand[/autotag] has been a solid defensive presence for the past couple of years. However, his contributions aren’t limited to tackles, which he led the Irish in last season with 101. He has made enough of a difference in the community to be one of 22 honorees for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The list stretches across all NCAA divisions and also includes the NAIA.
Bertrand’s primary community work comes with Uplifting Athletes, which is about giving experiences to children with rare diseases as well as their families. As president of the Notre Dame chapter, Bertrand has put together many fundraisers. Over the past year, he helped the university raise $80,385. He also has made a connection with and constantly communicates with one young football fan along with his family.
Here’s to more of this off-field success for Bertrand and everyone involved with Uplifting Athletes. College football really is about more than winning games.
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Who leads the Irish going into their 10th game?
Can Notre Dame survive its final regular-season test against a winning team? The answer to that question will come when it faces Virginia on the road. Here’s who to watch for when it comes to the Irish:
Who are the Irish most turning to?
After beating North Carolina, Notre Dame is ready to renew its rivalry with Navy. It felt weird to not see this programs play each other last year, but college football has been restored to normalcy. Here are the players the Irish can best look to for this game:
This game is far from over.
The third quarter featured a lot of what you would expect in a college football game. Through it all, Notre Dame and North Carolina both refused to go away quietly. The good thing about it is the Irish have a 31-27 lead heading into the final frame.
The Tar Heels needed only five plays to open the second-half scoring as Ty Chandler ran 53 yards to give his team its first lead. Not to be outdone, the Irish struck back with an even quicker drive of three plays. Kyren Williams ran for 14, yards, Jack Coan completed a 40-yard pass to Lorenzo Styles, then Coan ran (yes, ran) 21 yards for a touchdown to take the lead right back. It appeared defense was going to be optional this quarter.
The Irish forced a three-and-out on the next possession, but that only was determined after the officials overturned a first down on a review that took far too long for anyone’s liking. The important thing was the Irish got the ball back, and it was another successful drive. Along the way, they lost Williams to injury for the time being, and Coan found Styles again on a 25-yard completion. While it eventually took three plays for the Irish to punch it into the end zone on first-and-goal from the 2-yard line, the touchdown came on a beautiful jump from Logan Diggs.
When the defense returned to the field, J.D. Bertrand was called for roughing the passer, and it proved costly. Sam Howell subsequently completed a couple of passes for solid yardage before hitting Antoine Green for a 33-yard touchdown. It was a reminder that you cannot give this offense a shorter field. The Irish’s offense then went three and out, and Jay Bramblett punted the ball only 33 yards before it went out of bounds to set the Tar Heels up at their own 40.
Howell ran 11 yards for a first down in which he eluded one Irish tackler after another. It looks like he’s ready to prove a lot as this game reaches the fourth quarter. Kyle Hamilton’s is looming larger with each passing minute.
Who are the guys everyone is watching?
Fresh off a bye week, Notre Dame is heading straight into its annual rivalry with USC. You better believe all of its big players will be more ready than usual. But who are the absolute best that the Irish likely will depend on? Here they are:
