Tag: Marist Liufau

8 potential Lions draft prospects to watch in CFB Week 4

Here are eight prospects to watch on Saturday, September 23rd with an eye for how they might appeal to the Detroit Lions in the 2024 NFL draft.

College football is moving into conference play around the country. The Detroit Lions will have their collegiate scouts out and about at several games to investigate some potential draft prospects of interest.

There are several games that feature multiple prospects of interest, including two matchups in the Great Lakes region that the Lions staff is confirmed to be credentialed for attending. The prospects here are largely drawn from those matchups.

Here are eight prospects to watch on Saturday, September 23rd with an eye for how they might appeal to the Lions in the 2024 NFL draft.

Notre Dame statistical leaders through four games

Here are the players most equipped to take down the Buckeyes.

Notre Dame got through its four games unscathed, and now it’s time for the really big test. Ohio State is coming to South Bend, and this could more or less decide the Irish’s fate for 2023.

It will be tough, but they’ve shown they have the personnel to meet the challenge.

Here are the statistical leaders to watch out for in the upcoming contest:

Notre Dame statistical leaders through three games

Here’s who to watch against Central Michigan.

Notre Dame not only got through its first real test of 2023, but it stepped on the gas against NC State to show how talented it is.

Up next is Central Michigan, which should provide a bit of a breather. More importantly, it will serve as a tuneup for when Ohio State comes to South Bend the following week.

Here are the statistical leaders to watch out for in the upcoming contest:

Notre Dame statistical leaders through two games

Here’s who to watch against NC State.

Notre Dame dominated its first two opponents in Navy and Tennessee State. Some might be wondering if a challenge will show up anytime soon. We’ll see if one exists when the Irish travel to NC State for their first true road game of the season. Here are those most likely to push the Irish over the top, specifically those who lead the major statistical categories:

Notre Dame statistical leaders through one game

The first of many updates this season.

Notre Dame looked like a team that was ready for the season against Navy. Hardly any weaknesses were on display. Now, we get to see if the Irish can repeat that performance or at least mimic it in their home opener against Tennessee State. To get you started for the week, here are the team’s statistical leaders after the first game:

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:

Notre Dame linebacker makes preseason award watch list

Another member of the Irish getting preseason recognition

The Polynesian culture and football go hand in hand, and when the [autotag]Polynesian Football player of the year[/autotag] watch list was released, [autotag]Notre Dame[/autotag] linebacker [autotag]Marist Liufau[/autotag] made the list.

The list was complied with candidates “based on past performance and future potential,” according to their release their watchlist. The award is fairly new, as it began in 2014. Only one former Irish player has won the award, offensive tackle [autotag]Ronnie Stanley[/autotag] in 2015.

Liufau enters the season as one of the expected starters for the Irish. The Hawaiian had his best season in South Bend last year: 51 tackles, one-half sack, a forced fumble and an interception.

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Notre Dame players named to preseason award watch lists

Will anyone win this year?

It’s the time of year when we start seeing award watch lists come out in anticipation of the college football season. With Notre Dame expected to be highly ranked once again, there are plenty of players who are ripe for watching. Whether or not any of them actually take home any of this hardware is anyone’s guess right now, but they’re at least on the radar of those who know college football best.

In some cases, more than one Notre Dame player is on the watch list for the same award. Also, as different award watch lists come on different days, it can be difficult to keep track of them all. Rest assured, we will be doing just that as these lists continue to come out.

At season’s end, we’ll find out if any of them or maybe somebody different becomes the first national award winner for the Irish since [autotag]Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah[/autotag] won the Butkus Award in 2020:

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.

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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.

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