Tag: notre dame fighting irish football

Monday’s have been kind to Notre Dame Linebacker Owusu-Koramoah

Another Monday, another watch list that Irish linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah appears in.

For the second Monday in a row, Irish linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, JOK, has been placed into elite company making another watch list. This time it is the Butkus Award, which is given to the nation’s best linebacker. This honor is on the heels of last Monday when JOK was put on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list as well.

Owusu-Koramoah has a lot to play for in his senior year, as we previewed him here last week, which  includes a potential selection in the first round of the NFL Draft. There is a ton of hype surrounding JOK and if he wins the Butkus, he would become the 3rd Irish linebacker to achieve that status following Jaylon Smith in 2015 and Manti Te’o in 2012. Smith’s season had him finish with 114 tackles and a sack while Te’o has 111 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

The competition will be tough for JOK to take home this award in the 2020 season as Penn State’s Micah Parsons, Alabama’s Dylan Moses and others have gotten significant pre-season hype as well. If JOK can up his tackle numbers from 79 to over 100 and keep the 8.5 sacks or even improve on those number, we can very well see Owusu-Koramoah being named the best linebacker in college this coming season.

ESPN compares Notre Dame commit Buchner to who?

The future Irish quarterback is compared to a current star in college.

The Elite 11 Camp has come and gone, with recruiting experts getting a chance to go over the film, the future for each of the participants has become clearer. A pair of Tom’s from ESPN, Luginbill and VanHaaren broke down each of the quarterbacks and 2021 Irish commit Tyler Buchner got some high praise from them.

The opportunity for early playing time for Buchner is there, as they noted, but what was more important was how the Tom’s see the future for the star QB. Their report on him is very encouraging, as Luginbill see’s “Buchner has good size and a high skill set. He can navigate the pocket, keep his eyes downfield and work through progressions. For a younger player, he is an advanced passer with a lot of poise.”

The player comparison was a surprise, as I haven’t heard much about Memphis’ Brady White, so I did some research. White was 4th nationally with 4,014 passing yards last year to go along with 33 passing touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The Tiger’s star was 10th nationally in quarterback rating, just a little behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence who is viewed as a Top 3 NFL Draft pick. White helped the Tigers to a 12-2 record last year, a New Year’s Six appearance in the Cotton Bowl, although they lost to Penn State, it was one hell of a year for White.

White began his career at Arizona State, but then transferred to Memphis where he has put video game numbers in his two seasons as their quarterback. The wins came last year, as the Tigers finished 8-6 in his first season, but the build up was worth it. If Buchner has a career like White’s, many Irish fans will be very happy with that result.

Irish offer ’22 Illinois Linebacker

Notre Dame goes into the Chicago Suburbs with their latest offer in the 2022 class.

Brian Kelly has gone a bit west with his newest offer in the 2022 class, as Evanston, Illinois linebacker Sebastian Cheeks has been given the opportunity to play in South Bend.

The Irish join Midwest schools like Michigan, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and others for the commitment of the 6’2 and 200-pound ‘backer. Cheeks has very good instincts, which leads to big plays for his Wildkit team. The potential for Cheeks to be a three down linebacker is very intriguing. What’s just as intriguing is the fact that Cheeks has his offer from the Irish pinned on his twitter page

[protected-iframe id=”9f2589d3d0b9c341bb39dac6f10094c2-162776928-178902091″ info=”//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11167300/5db6966c2347900ea0461462″ width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen=””]

It is clear that Kelly and defensive coordinator Clark Lea have gotten Cheeks attention as they battle for his verbal pledge. The Irish current do not have any commitments in their 2022 recruiting class.

College football pandemic scheduling: Notre Dame

A look at how the Irish fit into the larger picture

USC fans will miss playing Notre Dame this year, especially since the game was to have been played at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Staff writer Josh Webb talked to Fighting Irish Wire editor Nick Shepkowski about the cancellation of Trojans-Irish this year.

Removed from the USC angle, Notre Dame rates as a story unto itself. How will the Fighting Irish’s schedule change this year? Fighting Irish Wire came up with a tentative version of an adjusted schedule which was heavy on ACC teams. This makes perfect sense, given Notre Dame’s contractual relationship with the ACC and the desire on both sides to strengthen what has been a positive and productive partnership.

One has to note, however, that when the Big Ten and Pac-12 moved to conference-only game schedules, Notre Dame lost three opponents: USC and Stanford in the Pac-12, of course, plus a game against Wisconsin.

The obvious question should be asked: Will Notre Dame try to fill all three dates, or limit itself to just one or two of those three open dates?

I don’t have a lot of strong opinions on this particular question other than this: The fact that the USC game was scheduled for November 28 — at the end of the regular season, just before the conference championship games — makes it highly unlikely that the Irish will get that particular date filled. Therefore, I would be very surprised if the Irish try to play all 12 games. I would put the ceiling at 11 games and set the likely number at 10. Notre Dame will very likely try to get an ACC opponent to fill at least one of the three lost slots, but that partly depends on the ACC’s scheduling plans. If the ACC moves to a setup in which it plays only one nonconference game, Notre Dame’s options might be more limited. If the ACC plays two nonconference games, then yes, the Irish will almost certainly turn to the ACC to fill at least one open date created by the three Pac-12 or Big Ten cancellations.

A wild card: The ACC is considering some non-traditional scheduling moves in a pandemic.

That could upend Notre Dame’s plans. At any rate, we need to see what the ACC, Big 12, and SEC do before we can get a fuller feel for what the Irish intend to do. Notre Dame is in a position to wait for the remaining Power Five conferences to lay out their schedule plans. The Irish can then survey their options.

If the Irish don’t care for any of the menu items, it wouldn’t be the first time they stayed home… but in a pandemic, staying home might be the entirely appropriate action.

Q and A with Nick Shepkowski of Fighting Irish Wire

The Notre Dame situation

With the Pac-12 moving to a conference-only schedule, the Trojans will not be playing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the first time since 1945. They didn’t play in ’45 because of World War II. In fact, the Trojans didn’t play the Irish from 1943-45. That was the last time the two teams did not meet in the regular season. To talk about this psychic blow, and this unwelcome void on the 2020 schedule, Trojans Wire reached out to Nick Shepkowski, editor of Notre Dame Fighting Irish Wire site.

1. How is the cancellation of the USC game being received in South Bend?

Disappointment but understandable. Not only will it be strange to not have USC (or Stanford for that matter – played every year since 1997) on the schedule, what’s even odd is the Irish will be playing what could very likely be an entire ACC schedule despite remaining independent.

2. USC fans have been saddened by the loss of a key rival game. What’s the general feeling by the fans and players about not playing this game for the first time since 1945?

Disappointment. There might not be any love loss between the two programs, but historically speaking the two are as dependent on each other as any rivals in college football are. Without the long history with each other the past of both programs struggle to reach the blue blood caliber both are in. Midwestern and Southern California people might not see eye to eye on much, but I’m fairly sure I speak for both parties when I say that missing out on this rivalry for a year just sucks.

3. How will the loss of this game affect the Irish in their bid for a postseason shot, if at all?

If anything it helps. USC was supposed to be better this year — yeah, we’ve heard that before — but that was probably Notre Dame’s third toughest game in 2020 behind Clemson and Wisconsin. Even in recent undefeated seasons (‘12, ‘18) that trip to LA on Thanksgiving weekend has brought a couple real scares against some pretty formidable USC squads.

4. How badly do you think conference-only scheduling will have an impact on the way we process the postseason as a whole?

No way to judge conference superiority if all they do is play themselves. I think this year especially you have to expand the playoff and have every conference champion in because there is simply no way to actually tell the strength of any conference if no OOC games are played nationwide.

5. Let’s be honest: How excited were Irish fans to play Clay Helton one more time?

It’s nice to finally know what it was like when USC got to take advantage of playing Tyrone Willingham and Charlie Weis all those years. Y’all miss Coach O yet? Whoops.

ESPN: How does the Big Ten’s decision impact Notre Dame

A look at what could be ahead for Notre Dame in the 2020 season after the Big Ten decided to play a conference only schedule.

After yesterday’s huge news that the Big Ten will only play conference games in the 2020 season and the potential for other conferences to follow is something worth tracking for Notre Dame faithful. ESPN’s Heather Dinich and Mark Schlabach looked into the conundrum the Irish could be facing in this season.

With just one game schedule against the Big Ten this year, against Wisconsin, this may not seem like a massive deal, but it is. Dinich and Schlabach view it like this, “For the independent outlier, this is a predicament, but there is a solution. First, losing the Wisconsin game is significant, but the Fighting Irish could overcome that alone. The problem comes if the Pac-12 does follow suit, because then Notre Dame would lose two additional games, in Stanford and USC. The most likely and expected scenario there would be for Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick and ACC commissioner John Swofford to extend their partnership and have the Irish fill the rest of their schedule with ACC games.”

This does seem like the most logical solution, already half of the Irish’s previously scheduled opponents reside in the ACC. Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Duke, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Louisville would most likely stay on the docket, but who would the Irish add? It completely depends on what Swofford and other AD’s decide to do. There are rumors the Big Ten could play 10 conference games, but at the moment nothing is set in stone. If the ACC goes to conference only and plays 8 games, I would love to see the Irish add NC State, Florida State, North Carolina or Boston College. If the Irish join the ACC for the 2020 season, which opponents would you like to see them face?

College Football News Preview 2020: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish season with what you need to know. – Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak – What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense – Top …

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Notre Dame Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 11-2
Head Coach: Brian Kelly, 11th year, 92-37
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 13
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 12
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 15

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Notre Dame Fighting Irish Offense 3 Things To Know

– The Irish offense averaged 431 yards and 37 points per game, the running game was solid, and the team went on a roll over the back part of the season after surviving the Virginia Tech battle.

And now offensive coordinator Chip Long is an assistant for Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee Volunteers, and he’ll likely be a head coach somewhere soon.

CFN in 60 Video: Notre Dame Fighting Irish Preview
[jwplayer ipD5QeqP]

In steps Tommy Rees, the 28-year-old former Irish quarterback and the QB coach over the last few seasons to run the O. The passing game was efficient, but it has to do a bit more consistent. When it worked, everything else seemed to click.

Getting back Ian Book under center after throwing for over 6,000 yards with 57 touchdowns with 17 picks – hitting 64% of his throws – with eight scoring runs is fantastic.

He might have had a few down moments in big games – he threw six interceptions last year with two in three games, including the loss to Georgia – but he’s been a bit better than he gets credit for.

Phil Jurkovec is not at Boston College, so the spotlight will be on redshirt freshman Brendon Clark and on the way is star recruit Drew Pyne. The depth has to be developed, but it’s Book or bust.

– Can Jafar Armstrong stay healthy? The 6-1, 220-pound junior was able to make a 13 catches and run for 122 yards, but he was never able to get going.

The talent is there for Armstrong to be the No. 1 running back, but he’ll split time with sophomore C’Bo Flemister, who took on a bigger role over the second half of last year and finished with five scores. Throw in sophomore Jahmir Smith and Stanford transfer Trevor Speights, and the Irish have backs – it might take a few games to come up with the right guy.

No matter who has the ball, he’ll have one of the nation’s better lines to run behind.

Liam Eichenberg isn’t the nation’s best offensive tackle – that’s Oregon’s Penei Sewell – but he’s a franchise NFL talent still in college. He’s so good that junior Robert Hainsey gets overshadowed on the other side – the Irish are more than set at tackle.

Tommy Kraemer is a future NFL guard, sophomore Jarrett Patterson is a future NFL center, and overall, the front five is going to be fantastic.

– It’s a bit of a panic siren to suggest that the Irish receiving corps could be the team’s biggest early problem, but losing the top four targets – including Pittsburgh Steeler WR Chase Claypool and new Chicago Bear TE Cole Kmet – isn’t a positive.

Braden Lenzy is the team’s leading returning receiver after catching 11 passes for 254 yards and two scores – he averaged over 23 yards per catch as a fun, fast, big play talent – and Lawrence Keys returns after making 13 grabs, but the jobs are open for Northwestern transfer Ben Skowronek and super-recruit Jordan Johnson to take over roles right out of the gate.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Notre Dame Fighting Irish Defense 3 Things To Know

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Owusu-Koramoah Named to Lott Impact Trophy Watch List

Another pre-season accolade for Notre Dame star Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

There continues to be considerable hype for one of Notre Dame’s breakout defenders from last year, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. We have been keeping track of some of  said hype here, and here as well.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvWsIbQAkYY&w=560&h=315]

Adding more hype to Owusu-Koramoah for the 2020 season as he was named on the Lott Impact Trophy watch list. Of the 42 total athletes on the list, there are 16 linebackers, 15 defensive backs and 11 defensive linemen. The last time a Notre Dame defender won the Lott Trophy was in 2012 when linebacker Manti Te’o brought to award back to South Bend.

The Lott Trophy mentions Owusu-Koramoah’s versatility as he “can play multiple positions on defense,” in their short write up of the Irish star. Seeing his name on this list shouldn’t be surprising at all and his company is extremely impressive. Owusu-Koramoah should see his name on other watch-lists heading into the season, as the excitement for the senior to have a massive year is building.

ESPN: Four What If’s for Notre Dame to be Title Contenders

The Irish have appeared on many experts short list of title contenders, with ESPN looking at scenarios for those teams to make a CFP run.

When you look at what it takes for a run at the College Football Playoff Championship, teams with the least questions heading into the season usually have the best opportunities to finish the season winner of the CFP. ESPN’s Bill Connelly looked at 18 teams and their If’s regarding making a run at being a contender this season.

The Irish were included by Connelly, with 4 Ifs, two each on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The first If for the Irish starts with who will be catching passes from Book.  Now that Tommy Rees took over for Chip Long as the offensive coordinator, Rees will have to figure out Book’s best bet to make plays. Connelly mentions Northwestern transfer Ben Skowronek, Javon McKinley, Braden Lenzy and in-coming freshman Jordan Johnson as receivers who could step up and says, “someone needs to come through.” Connelly is right, at least two receivers or tight end’s will need to step up and be a major contributor. Keep an eye out for a pair of unknowns in Kevin Austin and incoming freshman Jordan Johnson, either one of them could have an impact this coming season.

Next, Connelly stays on the offensive side and looks at who will line up next to Book in the backfield. C’Bo Flemister, Jafar Armstrong and Jahmir Smith are the returning players mentioned while freshman Chris Tyree could make an impact as well. Connelly fails to mention the potential impact of Stanford transfer Trevor Speights, which gives me a feeling his impact might be minimal. I expect Tyree to emerge from the group, provided he stays healthy.

Moving on to the defense, Connelly is looking at the defensive backfield as and If for the Irish. This point I actually disagree with as I feel like this group will be a strength for Notre Dame. Sophomore safety Kyle Hamilton should become a household name by the end of the year, while cornerback Houston Griffin has been working hard this offseason to finally make an impact, which I think he will. The addition of NC State transfer Nick McCloud, a cornerback, along with Ohio State transfer Isaiah Pryor makes a solid group in my eyes.

Connelly’s final point stays on the defense and questions the “lack of beef” on the defensive line. I would agree with this point, as he points out that just “two of 10 returning contributing linemen are listed above 286 pounds. This group will have to grow up in a hurry to protect the linebackers and allow them to continue to make plays.

These four If’s are important keys to the Irish season, although some of them aren’t nearly as concerning as others, especially on the defensive side of the ball. If Kelly is able to overcome some of these questions, Notre Dame should have a standout 2020

Irish Overrated? CBS Gives Thoughts on Notre Dame’s ’20 Season Outlook

In a season series preview, CBS Sports looks at what is in store for the Irish this season.

The fact that Brian Kelly seems to falter against top teams is fair, since 2010 he has led the Irish to a 21-20 record in Top 25 matchups. So, Ben Kercheval’s assessment of that portion of the program is accurate, but that is in the past, this is about what is in store for the Irish in 2020.

There were multiple high-level players who left the Notre Dame program since it’s win over Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl just a few months ago. Kercheval feels like the biggest losses include TE Cole Kmet, WR Chase Claypool, RB Tony Jones Jr. and DE Julian Okwara. Each of them have brought their talents to the NFL.

What’s interesting is the fact that Kercheval mentions the firing of Offensive Coordinator Chip Long as a loss. Long was replaced by Tommy Rees prior to the bowl win, was seen as a excellent recruiter, but Kelly couldn’t mesh well with his play calling, especially in the aforementioned top matchups. While the offense under Rees was fantastic in Irish wins, averaging 38 points, the fact that Long couldn’t get more, 13.5 points per game, in losses irked Kelly and let to a change. The jury is still out on Rees, this season will be a big test for the first full year as offensive coordinator for the former Irish QB.

We all know about the returning Notre Dame stars, Kercheval sees QB Ian Book, OT Tommy Kraemer and WR Braden Lenzy as the offenses top returning playmakers. Pretty interesting that the other starting tackle, Liam Eichenberg isn’t mentioned, but Lenzy to me is the key. The leading returning receiver had just 11 catches last year, a number that will surely see a rise this coming season. The rising junior needs to break out for the Irish offense.

Defensively CB TaRiq Bracy and DE Daelin Hayes will be the key assets according to Kercheval. I think he didn’t pick the right players as Notre Dame’s key returning defenders. Safety Kyle Hamilton and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah would have been my choices. It’s not a knock on Bracy and Hayes, they’re great players in their own right, I just believe that Hamilton and Owusu-Koramoah will have larger impacts.

Rees was named a fresh face, along with Northwestern WR transfer Bennett Skowronek and incoming freshman RB Chris Tyree. Spot on with Tyree, as the newest face to the Irish running back room might be needed to contribute immediately. Skowronek was a captain for the Wildcats last year, bring leadership to a position group that will need it. There are plenty of others that could have ended up in these spots include transfers safety Isaiah Pryor and CB Nick McCloud or freshman TE Michael Mayer. Each of them could play big roles for the Irish in ’20.

Kercheval sees the floor as 9 wins for the Irish, otherwise disappointment will reign in South Bend. A favorable schedule should result in double digits wins, so Kelly’s streak of 3 straight 10-plus win seasons should extent to a 4th once the season is played.