Tag: Jordan Botelho

Notre Dame statistical leaders using 2022 statistics

Get ready for the season with some familiar names.

The first buildup to a Notre Dame football game for 2023 finally has arrived. You all have been very patient in waiting for this week, but that patience has paid off. Waiting for this long deserves a pat on the back, so give yourself one as you’re reading this. And even if you have heard this preseason spiel before, give yourself a pat on the back anyway.

With that schmaltz out of the way, let’s talk about the players on the 2023 Irish roster who performed the best in 2022. We should see some of that on display in the season opener against Navy. Although the Midshipmen are not exactly the best opponent to use as a measuring stick, we at least can get an idea of what’s to come. After all, they don’t call it Week 0 for nothing.

Here are the 2023 Irish players who did the best in football’s top statistical categories:

Five keys for Notre Dame to return to the College Football Playoff in 2023

What are your keys for the Irish to make the CFP?

For many year two head coaches, that’s the season when it all comes together and guess what? [autotag]Notre Dame[/autotag]’s [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] is about to start his second full season in South Bend.

The expectations are extremely high, especially considering the Irish finally have a quarterback that can lead them to a title in [autotag]Sam Hartman[/autotag]. The recruiting has seen an uptick in the Freeman era, while player development is also on the same trajectory.

Next is the on-field results and the Irish have an opportunity to return to the College Football Playoff this season, but there are few keys that need to happen for the Irish to play for a title. Find out which five in my eyes are most important.

Notre Dame offers 2025 Hawaiian linebacker

As just a sophomore!?!

The [autotag]Notre Dame Football[/autotag] program has a reach that many schools don’t possess. There is solid history in almost every state and that includes Hawaii.

The list is long for the Irish recruiting in [autotag]The Aloha State[/autotag], including former star linebacker [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag]. Currently on the roster from the state is defensive end [autotag]Jordan Botelho[/autotag] and linebackers [autotag]Marist Liufau[/autotag] and [autotag]Kahanu Kia[/autotag].

There very well could be another Hawaiian linebacker on their way to South Bend, [autotag]Josiah “Ko’o” Kia[/autotag]. The six-foot-two-inch and 190-pounder just finished his sophomore year, but it was all that the Irish staff needed to see. Kia tagged linebackers coach [autotag]James Laurinaitis[/autotag] and special teams coordinator [autotag]Brian Mason[/autotag] when announcing the offer.

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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.

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen

Hidden plays that helped Notre Dame comeback against South Carolina

The Irish didn’t just use big plays to get a Gator Bowl win

That was fun, wasn’t it? Now that the Irish have their bowl victory in hand, we can all breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate into New Year’s Eve tomorrow night.

Notre Dame didn’t make it easy on themselves early, but hung in there and eventually secured a 45-38 victory over South Carolina in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. It game Marcus Freeman his first bowl win and a 9-4 record this season.

The Irish used plenty of big plays to get back into this game, but here were some plays that helped dictate the outcome that weren’t huge and these are those plays.

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

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen

Five hidden plays that dictated Notre Dame’s win against Boston College

Which non-scoring plays stood out to you?

That was a fun one wasn’t it Irish fans? Notre Dame played their most complete game of the year, throughly dominating Boston College to a 44-0 outcome. It wasn’t just a bunch of scoring plays that dictated this game, there were some that won’t show up on highlight shows that helped the Irish win and these five stood out.

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

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen

Five hidden plays that made a difference in Notre Dame’s win against Clemson

That was fun, wasn’t it?

During a game, there are plays that don’t directly result in points but are still big plays. Every week after each Notre Dame contest, we look back at those plays and see why they made a difference, even if they won’t make highlight shows. Find out below which of those plays made a huge impact in Notre Dame’s upset of Clemson.

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Twitter reacts to Notre Dame touchdown off blocked punt

Can’t end your first defensive possession better than this.

If you thought [autotag]Isaiah Foskey[/autotag]’s two blocked punts in the first quarter against UNLV were impressive, how about something to top it? Specifically, how about Notre Dame’s punt return team doing it to put points on the board against Clemson? To conclude the Irish’s first defensive possession, [autotag]Jordan Botelho[/autotag] blocked Adam Swanson’s would-be punt, and [autotag]Prince Kollie[/autotag] scooped up the loose ball for a 17-yard touchdown to put the Irish up, 7-0:

If you’re going to play spoiler against a College Football Playoff contender, this is one heck of a way to start it off. Notre Dame Stadium was up for grabs after this and so probably were Irish watch parties all over. We have no idea if the Irish will be able to repeat what they did against the Tigers on this exact field two years ago, but they’re showing they won’t just lay down in this game either.

Here are some of the best Twitter reactions to the big play from Irish fans:

The day after: Lasting thoughts on Notre Dame’s win over Syracuse

What still sticks out in your mind?

The Irish win against Syracuse was exactly what many envisioned this team would be like in 2022. Even though the season hasn’t gone to exactly to plan, they have gotten better, regardless of how fast that progression has gone. With two very tough games remaining, Clemson next weekend and USC in the regular season finale, the Irish have an opportunity to make a mark nationally. Find out what has been stuck in my mind since Notre Dame’s 41-24 road win against a ranked Syracuse team.

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

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen

5 stars: The best and worst from Notre Dame’s win over Syracuse

Who played well and who didn’t today for the Irish?

The Irish once again went on the road and grabbed an impressive victory. It got pretty hairy during a third quarter run by Syracuse, but Notre Dame answered the bell and will return home victorious. There were some very good performances and there were a few so-so and a couple bad ones. Find out who was the best, 5 stars, and worst, 1 star, in Notre Dame’s 41-24 win over Syracuse.

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

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen[lawrence-newsletter]

Notre Dame vs. Navy: First-Quarter Analysis

We have a game.

Some might have thought Notre Dame would just cruise to victory over Navy. If that’s going to happen, we haven’t seen it yet. In fact, the Midshipmen are showing they won’t just be pushed around at Notre Dame Stadium. Consequently, they have a 3-0 lead after the first quarter.

Neither team picked up a first down on the game’s first three possessions. On the fourth possession, the Midshipmen showed the first signs of life when they converted on a fourth-and-1, which was followed by a 32-yard gain from Jayden Umbarger on a reverse pitch. Four plays later, Tai Lavatai was successful at converting a fourth-and-1 in the red zone, but he then was sacked on back-to-back plays by Kurt Hinish and Jordan Botelho. Even after that disaster for the Midshipmen, who burned all three of their first-half timeouts on the drive, Bijan Nichols kicked a 49-yard field goal to open the game’s scoring.

The Irish sent their offense back onto the field, and things finally got moving, at least for a bit. After a couple of runs from Kyren Williams, Coan hit Deion Colzie for a 31-yard completion to the Navy 25-yard line. Though the Irish got into the red zone over the next three plays, they opted to go for it on fourth down. Coan was sacked by John Marshall, and the Irish turned it over on downs.

Hopefully, this is just a slow start.