Tag: Jack Kiser

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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Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts named third-best safety in college football

Time for him to go out and prove it.

Notre Dame figures to rely on its defense once again to win football games in 2024. It’s hard to dispute that given that there’s some future NFL talent on that side of the ball. Among that talent is safety [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag], who many currently project to be taken as high as the third round in the 2025 draft.

Big Game Boomer, college football’s list aficionado on social media, has released his list of the top 50 safeties in college football entering the upcoming season. Let’s just say Watts will be the best safety on either side of the ball at least during every regular-season game for the Irish this year:

Big Game Boomer already had reserved spots on his respective position lists for [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag], [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag], [autotag]Howard Cross III[/autotag], [autotag]Rylie Mills[/autotag] and [autotag]RJ Oben[/autotag]. Most recently, he has put transfer Jordan Clark on his nickel/slot corners list:

So yeah, this defense is gonna be good. Let’s hope the offense can support it.

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Benjamin Morrison third, Jack Kiser ninth on respective position lists

Does this excite you?

Despite the hopes for Notre Dame’s offense, it appears the defense once again will the program’s primary strength in 2024. This is not only because that’s how the program traditionally has been, but some real quality talent is on that side of the ball. College football diehards have taken notice of that.

Big Game Boomer is known on social media for making lists, particularly relating to college football. The time has come to list the top 50 players at each position entering the upcoming season.

Big Game Boomer released the list for linebackers Sunday, and a familiar name for Irish fans ranked highly:

The next day, the list for cornerbacks came out, and another Notre Dame name was even higher up:

Morrison isn’t a surprise as he’s widely expect to be picked early in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. Kiser could be drafted on the second or third day depending on how well he builds his stock this season. Either way, Irish fans have reason for excitement.

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Veteran Notre Dame Linebacker Seen as 2025 NFL Draft Sleeper

A rising, or Kising star for Notre Dame.

If it feels like linebacker [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] has been on Notre Dame’s football roster forever, it’s because he practically has.

Kiser was part of Notre Dame’s 2019 recruiting class, meaning he played three seasons under Brian Kelly before the last two for Marcus Freeman.  He’s back for his sixth and final year this year thanks to the Covid-19 exemption, and one NFL draft analyst thinks it couldn’t be anymore perfect of timing for him.

“Kiser has made a living at Notre Dame off “right place, right time” football. He’s instinctive and active and has filled up the stat sheet thanks to that ability. The 6-1, 223-pound senior had 62 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and an interception last season from his middle linebacker spot.

“Kiser is all over the place for them” said an AFC North area scout who has evaluated Notre Dame. “I love his read-and-react ability. The hip flexibility is my biggest question, but he has pretty good speed in space.”

“The 2024 linebacker class didn’t produce a first-round pick. Kiser will be hoping to change that in 2025.” – Matt Miller, ESPN

Miller named Kiser as one of 14 players he views as potential sleepers in next year’s NFL draft.

Kiser will have a slight position role in 2024, moving from rover to the weakside linebacker which will amount to more field time for him.  With more field time comes more production and with more production hopefully comes higher draft stock.

Personally, and this isn’t a knock on Kiser in any way as his veteran presence will be important, but with what Marcus Freeman and company have brought in talent wise at the linebacker position, Kiser will have to continue to play at a high level just to stay on the field as Notre Dame’s linebackers are quickly turning into one of the best in the country.

[lawrence-related id=35030,86578,84734]

Notre Dame’s JD Bertrand named First-Team Academic All-American

The captain is quite smart.

[autotag]JD Bertrand[/autotag] was a captain at Notre Dame the past two years. Somehow, that didn’t take the linebacker away from his studies enough for his grades to suffer. In fact, he absolutely thrived in the classroom, and now, he’s been recognized for that.

Bertrand has been named a First-Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators. He’s the 37th Irish player to be so honored and the first since [autotag]Drue Tranquill[/autotag] in 2016 and 2017. Other Irish honorees over the years include [autotag]Mike Golic Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag], [autotag]John Carlson[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Theismann[/autotag].

Bertrand was recognized by virtue of earning a 3.62/3.74 GPA. He also was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team alongside [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] and [autotag]Davis Sherwood[/autotag]. There are some smart players on the Irish indeed.

Bertand’s current focus is preparing for the NFL draft. Whoever picks him, if anybody, will be getting someone with intelligence and leadership qualities. Hopefully, those will be on full display at the next level.

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Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser will return in 2024

Good news.

Amidst all the talk of Notre Dame players leaving via the transfer portal, it’s nice to hear about someone coming back for once. [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] announced on social media Wednesday that he is returning to the Irish for the 2024 season. While it wasn’t the most flashy such announcement ever made, the important thing is the Irish are getting the linebacker for another season:

Kiser already has surpassed his career high this season with 59 tackles, good for third on the team. He also has one sack, one tackle for loss, one interception and one forced fumble. The 10 tackles he had against Central Michigan are a career high.

With the Irish already looking different for both the Sun Bowl and the 2024 season, a little continuity on the defensive side of the ball should help. After all, somebody needs to help let the incoming freshmen and transfers know what playing for Notre Dame is all about.

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Notre Dame statistical leaders through 11 games

Hopefully, these players can end the regular season on a high note.

Notre Dame has one game left in the regular season against Stanford. Good luck finding a way to watch it on the Pac-12 Network, but that’s a topic for another day. Right now, let’s focus on who is most likely to help the Irish beat the Cardinal.

Statistically, here’s who is likely to factor in whether the Irish can get revenge for last year’s defeat in South Bend: