Tag: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame: Brian Kelly Pays Elite Running Back a Visit

Edwards, a 5-11, 190 pound running back is listed as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and appears to have recently become more interested in Notre Dame.

The silent period for recruiting has reached its conclusion and now the tracking of which prospects college coaches are out visiting can commence.

It is a bit weird seeing where adult men are headed to try and wow 16 or 17 year olds?

You won’t get any argument from me on that however it’s clearly the lifeblood of any successful program.

So where is Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly as of Friday morning?

Look no further than West Bloomfield High School in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

West Bloomfield is home to class of 2021 running back Donovan Edwards. Edwards, a 5-11, 190 pound running back is listed as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and appears to have recently become more interested in Notre Dame.

Here’s what he told 247Sports after a recent visit to campus:

“I didn’t really look at Notre Dame too much, but after I got back there, I really feel like family up there. Khalid Kareem took care of me when I was up there. He’s a cool dude.”

Edwards would be a massive get for whoever eventually lands his letter of intent as he’s ranked the second best running back in 247’s composite rankings for 2021.

Brian Kelly and Notre Dame appear to be trying to come from behind against Michigan and Ohio State who 247 lists as his most likely landing spots.

Will Kelly end up anywhere else today? Word on the street is yes and if so, we’ll update you when something is matter-of-fact.

Notre Dame Pair Featured in USA TODAY Mock Draft

The other Golden Domer that Middlehurst-Schwartz had going in round one would be headed to one of the few franchises still playing football this January.

As college football has concluded for 2019 and the NFL has just three more games of consequence we slowly start to turn to the annual blending of the two, the NFL Draft.

Next weekend will be the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama and coaches and scouts will get a chance to see the stars of tomorrow up close for a week.

With that in mind it is officially Mock Draft Season.

Perhaps the excitement in the air isn’t quite as rich as when the holidays hit in December but for football fans and followers it’s an interesting time to watch stocks rise and fall NFL bound players.

With that in mind the USA TODAY released their latest NFL Mock Draft on Thursday and a pair of key 2019 Notre Dame players made their way to the first round.

Here is who Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz has going and where he has them headed in April’s draft:

23. Patriots — Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame: While New England’s future with Tom Brady remains unclear, perhaps it’s time for Bill Belichick and Co. to focus on a different glaring issue. As the draft’s top talent at tight end, Kmet might help fill the Rob Gronkowski-sized hole in this offense.

Ah, the natural fit. If you’re a tight end you want to go to Notre Dame because they turn out more talent than anyone else at the position. Meanwhile if you’re in the NFL it’s hard to find many places better to play than New England where so much of their offensive success over the last two decades has been built on great tight ends. This would be a dream scenario for Kmet.

The other Golden Domer that Middlehurst-Schwartz had going in round one would be headed to one of the few franchises still playing football this January.

29. Titans — Julian Okwara, DE/OLB, Notre Dame: Mike Vrabel has thrown an assortment of players into the pass-rushing mix, yet none have proven consistent threats. Tennessee can ramp up its efforts on this front by grabbing Okwara, who’s still learning the finer points of his position but has a tantalizing athletic profile.

Will Okwara end being a first round pick? It depends you ask, read or follow as he is seemingly very much on the bubble there. After what they’ve done the last two weekends and really since the middle of the regular season Okwara would be walking into a place to likely to compete for something big again.

Notre Dame in the NFL: Tranquill Named to PFWA All-Rookie Team

Wednesday the Pro Football Writers Association released their All-Rookie Team and Tranquill was named to it as the Special Teams Specialist.

It’s fitting that Drue Tranquill is making an impact on special teams his first year in the NFL as the first memory most Notre Dame fans have of him is a blocked punt he had against Stanford in his freshman year of 2014.

Tranquill went on to become a captain and a huge reason Notre Dame’s defense was lights-out in 2018, helping guide them to a 12-0 regular season.

Tranquill was drafted in fourth round of last year’s NFL Draft to the Los Angeles Chargers and has already turned heads across the league for his play there.

Wednesday the Pro Football Writers Association released their All-Rookie Team and Tranquill was named to it as the Special Teams Specialist.

Tranquill was the only Notre Dame product named to the team and finished 2019 with 71 tackles between special teams and on defense for the Chargers.

Notre Dame Football Offers ’21 5-Star Texas Defensive End

Wednesday night saw the Fighting Irish make an offer to one of the most sought-after defensive ends in the country for the 2021 recruiting class.

Brian Kelly spoke ahead of the Camping World Bowl that Notre Dame was ready to start taking an extra step in recruiting. Kelly pretty much stated he saw it as good, but far from elite.

Well, winning the commitment of a new target of the Irish would be a step towards elite.

Wednesday night saw Kelly and the Fighting Irish make an offer to one of the most sought-after defensive ends in the country for the 2021 recruiting class.

Tunmise Adeleye is a five-star defensive end per 247Sports and a four-star by the Rivals rankings and is the latest player to receive a full-ride scholarship offer to Notre Dame.

Whichever the case, both rank him in the top 50 players in the class of 2021 as he checks in at 26 on 247Sports and 43 on Rivals.

Adeleye would be a massive get for the Irish who still have just one defensive commitment in their highly-regarded 2021 class.

As you’d expect, all of the traditional big dogs are in pursuit of Adeleye as the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and plenty of others have already offered the 6-4, 255 pound defensive end.

The Katy, Texas (Hopkins) product has as an impressive amount of highlights just like you’d expect that can be found on his MaxPreps Page.

Notre Dame’s Rees: Tom or Tommy?

When he was Notre Dame’s quarterback it was Tommy Rees but when he moved to the coaching staff he apparently grew up and became Tom.

Former Notre Dame quarterback Rees from 2010-2013 returned to campus in 2017 as quarterbacks coach before being promoted Tuesday to offensive coordinator at the school.

When he was Notre Dame’s quarterback it was Tommy Rees but when he moved to the coaching staff he apparently grew up and became Tom. Or at least some people in more powerful positions or something wanted him to be.

What has happened is that we’ve entered to one of the hottest debates of our time: is it Tom or Tommy Rees?

Because I first heard of him as Tommy he has always been Tommy Rees to me.

Just like one of my best friends from childhood – I grew up calling him Ronnie. Just because we’re in our thirties now and he’s married doesn’t mean I’m going to call him Ron, even if he calls himself that now. You were Ronnie when I first met you and you’re Ronnie now, dammit.

But back to Rees. I have been a Tommy loyalist like I said. When others went with Tom, I’ve stayed with Tommy. Had he made some formal request to be called Tom I suppose I would have changed it, but I never got that memo.

The good news is this great debate that has captivated Notre Dame nation of whatever you want to call it can be officially put to rest because the man himself has spoken.

It doesn’t get much more official than that. Now get changing and fixing all your press releases, Notre Dame!

Good start.

Early Vegas odds to win college football championship in 2021

The confetti is probably still falling in the Superdome while many LSU fans are likely still celebrating on Bourbon Street following the Tigers’ CFP title win Monday night over Clemson. But it’s never to early to look ahead to 2021. It certainly …

The confetti is probably still falling in the Superdome while many LSU fans are likely still celebrating on Bourbon Street following the Tigers’ CFP title win Monday night over Clemson. But it’s never to early to look ahead to 2021. It certainly never stops sports bookmakers in Las Vegas.

Let’s take a look at the early favorites, which feature the usual suspects, and the chances your school has been given to win it all next Jan. 11, 2021. The following odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13

Notre Dame Shown Major Disrespect in “Too Early” Top 25

Brett McMurphy of Stadium released his “Top 25 Rankings for 2020” and quite frankly, they should be rolled into a ball and thrown into the closest fire pit.

I hesitate to even draw attention to this because I think it was done for that exact reason.

That or someone is entirely oblivious to the world.

We’re at the time where “Way Too Early Top 25” polls are being released daily as the focus now shifts to 2020 after Clemson and LSU get done Monday night in New Orleans.

Brett McMurphy of Stadium released his “Top 25 Rankings for 2020” and quite frankly, they should be rolled into a ball and thrown into the closest fire pit.

Clemson checks in at one which nobody should have any problem with.

No. 2 is Ohio State before the water-carrying for the SEC begins as LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Texas A&M check-in three through six.

A few more spots down you’ll find the team Notre Dame just dismantled in Orlando, Iowa State tenth, and no, the Irish are not listed in that 7-10 range.

Nor are they right after Iowa State.

You have to go to 15, one spot behind even USC to find Notre Dame, where you’ll find this write up:

Last year, Notre Dame might have been one of the most under-appreciated two-loss teams in recent memory. Only a close loss at Georgia and a blowout loss at Michigan kept the Irish out of the playoff and New Year’s Six bowl contention. Still, Brian Kelly became the first coach in Notre Dame history with three consecutive double-digit win seasons since Lou Holtz (1991-93). Quarterback Ian Book, 20-3 as a starter, announced he would remain at Notre Dame for his senior season, which will be a huge boost for the Irish, who lost RB Tony Jones Jr. and TE Cole Kmet early to the NFL Draft.

Excuse me, what?

In what was perhaps the biggest bowl game in the history of Iowa State football they got fired into the sun by Notre Dame, who we weren’t sure had any interest in being there much of the week.

The talent discrepancy was as evident in that game as it was on any Saturday in South Bend this year besides the New Mexico or Bowling Green clashes. Yet those close games Iowa State lost get rewarded with a top ten ranking.

Hilarious.

And USC at 14 in their current situation is just as laughable. In a bad Pac-12 they were an after-thought in regards to the conference championship. A notorious underachiever who just got their doors blown off by Iowa in the Holiday Bowl are going to finally put it all together in 2020?

Good luck with that.

Notre Dame returns a ton on both sides of the ball. Obviously replacing Claypool and Kmet will be a challenge but the offensive line figures to be better, defense should be nearly as good even with a dip at corner and potentially a game-changing offensive coordinator could still be brought in.

15?

If Notre Dame finishes 15th in the final rankings next January it will have been an incredibly disappointing season for the Fighting Irish.

Side note —

Should I do my own of these? Warning: I would use actual logic behind them and not just fire crap at the wall to see what sticks.

Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton Named FWAA Freshman All-American

Hamilton saw the playing field starting in Week One at Louisville and made an instant impact.

It was known fairly early on that Kyle Hamilton was going to be different for Notre Dame, in that they haven’t had an impact freshman defender quite like him in a while.

On Monday it was announced that Hamilton was named to the 2019-FWAA Shaun Alexander Freshman All-American Team.

Hamilton saw the playing field starting in Week One at Louisville and made an instant impact. He finished his freshman campaign with four interceptions, having returned one for a touchdown and 41 tackles, 27 of which were solo. He was also credited with six passes defended.

Quarterback Kedon Solvis of USC, running back Javian Hawkins of Louisville and linebacker Azeez Ojulari of Georgia were the three Notre Dame opponents from 2019 to also make the squad.

First year head coach Ryan Day of Ohio State was selected as the first-year head coach for the squad.

Watch: Muffet McGraw’s Emotional Response to Blowout Loss

As frustrating as it’s been for fans and players, it’s been that much harder on legendary head coach Muffet McGraw and she let it show after Sunday’s game.

It’s been a trying year for Notre Dame Women’s Basketball.

Rebuilds are tough and whether you like it or not, it’s what you get when your five best players from a season ago are playing in the WNBA now.

After a decade of Final Four appearances being the norm, getting even a home victory has become tough as the Irish sit just 6-11 overall and 1-4 in ACC play after getting routed Sunday by No. 9 North Carolina State.

As frustrating as it’s been for fans and players, it’s been that much harder on legendary head coach Muffet McGraw and she let it show after Sunday’s game.

An incredibly rare moment to see a coach wear their emotions on their sleeve quite like that, especially one as accomplished as McGraw.

Hopefully this dark season is an exception and things get turned around soon because seeings videos like this much longer will get rather tough to watch.

Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Roughed Up by NC State

Three separate 6-0 runs by the Wolfpack in the quarter helped guide them take 39-25 lead to halftime before a monstrous 16-1 run to start the third quarter but things out of reach.

A frustrating season met an incredibly frustrating match Sunday as the Notre Dame Women were blown out at home against No. 9 North Carolina State, 90-56.

Anaya Peoples left halfway through the second quarter, aggravating a shoulder injury that has bothered her throughout the year. Three separate 6-0 runs by the Wolfpack in the quarter helped guide them take 39-25 lead to halftime before a monstrous 16-1 run to start the third quarter but things out of reach.

Elissa Cunane was too much as the Wolfpack starting center put up a team-high 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Jada Boyd added another 16 points and six rebounds off the bench for the now 15-1 Wolfpack who improved to 4-1 in ACC play.

Katlyn Gilbert led the Irish with a game-high 25 points while Destinee Walker was the only other Irish player to score more than six, as she put down 11 points on the afternoon.

Notre Dame falls to 6-11 overall and just 1-4 in ACC play. They return to action Thursday night when they travel to Durham to take on Duke in a game that can be seen on ACC Network.