Tag: Jack Kiser

Notre Dame linebacker marks historic occasion against Virginia

Notre Dame’s Jack Kiser has very noteworthy achievement.

Notre Dame linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] has earned a very cool honor.

Kiser has now played the most games for the Irish in school history.

The sixth-year man played in his 63rd game on Senior Day against Virginia on Saturday.

He surpassed safety/special teams player [autotag]Houston Griffin[/autotag] (2018-2022) for the honor.

Kiser wouldn’t have the chance to play so many games for the Irish if the COVID-19 pandemic hadn’t led the NCAA to offer extended eligibility.

One of the neater things about this is that Kiser played with [autotag]Kurt Hinish[/autotag], who had 61 games for the Irish before his career ended, and is now playing with Kurt’s brother Donovan.

“Jack is special to me,” Notre Dame coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] told the South Bend Tribune this week. “He’s the only player in this program I actually got a chance to coach as his position coach.”

“(Kiser) is truly a Notre Dame man,” Freeman said. “He grew up here in Indiana. He reached his full potential. He’s been an unbelievable leader. He’s made this place better. And he’s going to leave this place better than he found it.”

Notre Dame safety Rod Heard II (2) and linebacker Jack Kiser (24) celebrate a tackle by Heard during a NCAA college football game against Virginia at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser named Campbell Trophy finalist

Congrats, Jack!

Notre Dame is proud of its academic reputation as well as its athletic excellence. It does its best to make sure those two things go together rather than be independent of each other. While some Irish fans think those academic standards make it difficult to attract top football talent, the university simply will not compromise itself in this way.

Case in point, Irish linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] has been named one of 16 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, the college football award given to the player who best combines their on-field performance with their academic performance and community service.

Just for being named a finalist, Kiser will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship to continue his education. If he wins the award, and he’ll find out Dec. 10 at the prestigious Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, that scholarship will be bumped up to $25,000.

Knowing of the friendship between Kiser and former teammate [autotag]JD Bertrand[/autotag], a 2023 award finalist, the Irish chose to have Bertrand give Kiser the news:

Congratulations to Kiser on this wonderful honor.

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Notre Dame LB Jack Kiser named a semifinalist for on and off the field success

Another honor for Kiser

It’s not just one organization that views Notre Dame football linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] as an all-around person, as the [autotag]William V. Campbell Trophy[/autotag] named the senior a semifinalist for its award.

Previously it was the Wuerffel Trophy recognizing the linebackers on and off the field excellence, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that Kiser was on the Campbell Trophy’s list as well.

He’s constantly giving back to the South Bend community, as he represents the Irish extremely well. Not only that, Kiser was named a captain, showing his leadership on the field.

Kiser is having a solid start to the season, as he’s racked up 22 tackles over the course of four games for Notre Dame. The big plays have yet to happen, but eventually they will as he’s shown the ability in the past.

It’s another individual honor for Kiser who doesn’t necessarily go out looking for them, it’s just in his nature.

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Notre Dame statistical leaders through four games

Who’s on the board going into the next game?

The great thing about Notre Dame’s dominant win over Miami (Ohio) is that a few more players got a chance to shine. Consequently, we have a few new names popping up in our weekly statistical leaders listicle heading into the game against Louisville. That should force the Cardinals to be a little more aware of the players they’ll be going up against.

This goes without saying, but the Irish always can benefit from new players appearing in these categories. It highlights just how deep the team’s talent is, and anyone can step in at any point. It might take some players longer to crack the leaders lists than others, but that’s the beauty of a regular season that runs through the end of November.

So who are the players standing out the most going into the Irish’s last game before their first bye week? Take a look for yourself here:

Jason Onye dedicates his season to injured Notre Dame teammate

You can feel the ND family in Onye’s words

In any sport, your teammates has to get each others backs and it looks like that is going on for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

Defensive end [autotag]Jason Onye[/autotag] spoke with the media recently and let everyone know he’s playing with heavy heart due to [autotag]Jordan Botelho[/autotag]’s season-ending injury. One of his closest friends on the team, the defense wants to play for him.

He wasn’t the only member of the team to speak about Botelho’s injury, as linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag], like the leader he is, stepped up to speak about how the team is rallying around his injury.

Onye said the team is “motivated as ever now, to play fast and do it for him (Botelho) because if he was on the field, he would be right there with us.” Different things motivate different people, and it seems like this injury has had a huge impact on the Notre Dame locker room.

Notre Dame defensive lineman Jason Onye (47) reacts after a Northern Illinois field goal during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Northern Illinois at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser has a big day off the field

Kiser gets some big recognition for his work off the field

If you haven’t seen Peacock’s “Here Come the Irish” Notre Dame Fighting Irish football docuseries, then you missed out on an off the field look at linebacker[autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] .

The Indiana native knows how important it is for him to represent the Irish as a home-state star, and has gone out of his way to help the community. Kiser was honored by AllState twice on Tuesday, as he was selected as a member of the Good Works Team and named a semifinalist for the [autotag]Wuerffel Trophy[/autotag].

The award is given out annual to a player across the nation for their work on the field, in the community and in the classroom.

It’s surely a great honor for Kiser to be recognized for his efforts off the field, but he doesn’t do it for that. Clearly he’s as great of a person as he is a football player.

https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1836021642767601868

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Notre Dame releases teaser of ‘Here Come the Irish’ ahead of premiere

The doc premieres tomorrow

If you haven’t heard, Notre Dame football is releasing a documentary called “Here Come the Irish” on Peacock that will cover fall camp and onto the season.

The premiere is tomorrow, August 29th, and to create some excitement and anticipation, they released a minute-long trailer ahead of the first episode. It features linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag], while he’s on his farm working with his father.

This will be a great look into the Irish program, on top of getting to know the players away from the game of football. The short clip has Kiser talking about how he recognizes the special opportunity he has had to play for Notre Dame.

For many, it will be a must watch program. I will be tuning-in as soon as possible tomorrow.

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‘Farm Boy’ Jack Kiser ready to rock for final Irish season

Just a ‘farm boy’ playing ball for the Irish

Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] may be just a farm boy, but he’s also a key part of a defense that is expected to put the Irish on a playoff path this season.

He’s also on the watch list for the Butkus Award.

Not bad from a guy from the small town of Royal Center, Indiana.

“I’m proud to say I’m from a small town, a small school— a farm boy to be able to come here & contribute but also perform at such a high level,” Kiser said in an interview.

Kiser was a triple-option QB before transitioning to LB and bulking up. He says he’s worked hard to improve his football intelligence and film-study habits as he’s grown as a football player and person.

The senior also said that since this is his final training camp, he has a new energy going in.

Kiser also earned praise from fellow linebackers Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry and linebackers coach Max Bullough.

You can watch the whole thing below.

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Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser on the Butkus Award watch list

Could Kiser break the Irish’s drought and win the Butkus this fall?

Notre Dame linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] has been placed on a watch list.

No, not that kind of watch list — this one’s a good one. Kiser is on the preseason watch list for the [autotag]Butkus Award[/autotag], which is given out each year to the nation’s best linebackers at the high school, college and professional levels.

This means that Kiser, a graduate senior entering his sixth season, is a strong bet to win the award, which is named after the late Dick Butkus. Butkus, who starred at Illinois and later with the Chicago Bears in the NFL, is considered to be one of the best linebackers of all-time.

At the very least, Kiser should be in strong consideration for the award, barring injury.

He had 62 total tackles, one-and-a-half sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception in 2023. Forty-one of those tackles were solo.

Kiser also returned two interceptions for touchdowns in 2021.

Kiser figures to be a key part of the Irish defense is 2024, and if he’s ultimately the award winner, that should mean that Notre Dame’s defense did big things.

Such as perhaps working towards to a College Football Playoff push.

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Two Notre Dame players named to award watch lists

Think either player can win?

With the 2024 college football season approaching, we’ll start to see more players being named to award watch lists. The players obviously have a long to way to go before they actually win those, but it’s nice for them to be honored like this anyway.

To that end, two Notre Dame players have been named to different award watch lists. That should be a good sign of things to come for the Irish in this regard.

[autotag]Jayden Harrison[/autotag], who’s both a receiver and return specialist for the Irish, is on the Paul Hornung Award Watch List. This award, named for the Notre Dame legend, is presented to the most versatile player in college football. Ironically, no Irish player has won this award since it first was given out in 2010.

Linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] has made the watch list for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, which recognizes the player who best combines athletic and academic excellence with community service. Former Irish linebacker [autotag]Drue Tranquill[/autotag] won this award in 2018.

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