Tag: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Former Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman given one of the highest guarantees among non-drafted players

Not bad first gig out of college for Hartman

Although former Notre Dame football quarterback [autotag]Sam Hartman[/autotag] did not hear his name called during the NFL draft, he did sign a contract with the Washington Commanders.

The agreement turned out to be one of the largest given out to undrafted free agents as the NFL Rumors social media page reports. Hartman will get a $20,000 signing bonus and a base salary of $225,000.

Not too bad for his first job out of college, but there is still work to be done. Hartman is going to a good place to have a legit chance at making a roster spot, as the Commanders don’t have much depth at the position.

Hartman will need to show them during the next few months that he is worth staying around in Washington.

See it – Sam Hartman Photo Gallery at Notre Dame

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Notre Dame baseball walks-off No. 8 Wake Forest, takes series from Demon Deacons

A fun weekend for the Irish

It was a weekend to remember for Notre Dame baseball as they hosted national ranked Wake Forest.

The Demon Deacons came into the series ranked as the No. 8 team in the country, only to see them lose two-of-three games to the Irish. Notre Dame didn’t start the weekend like they would have liked, dropping the first game on Friday night 4-3.

Although they didn’t come out victorious, the confidence they could play with Wake set them up for Saturday and Sunday. Notre Dame brought out the bats during game two, as they slugged three homers in the first, and never looked back.

Game three was won in dramatic style, as TJ Williams blasted a homer in the bottom of the ninth to walk it off for the Irish.

The series victory gives the Irish a 22-20 overall record, 7-17 in ACC play. They return to the diamond on Tuesday to make up the previously cancelled game against Michigan State.

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Notre Dame lands a commitment from 2025 Florida safety

The Irish land one of the nations best 2025 recruits

Notre Dame football has been doing a great job of recruiting the 2025 cycle and once again they won a battle for an elite prospect.

The Irish landed a commitment from Florida safety [autotag]Dallas Golden[/autotag], as he picked Notre Dame over Florida State, Clemson, and Georgia. Considered as one of the best recruits in the country, he ranks as the No 95 overall player and 11th safety according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

One of the reasons why Golden was so sought after was his versatility, as he is ranked as a safety but could play cornerback as well. His 6-foot and 176-pound frame is more in line with playing on the outside as opposed to the back end of the Irish defense.

Golden is the 20th total commitment of the class and pushes the Irish back to the top of the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings.

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Instant analysis of Chargers selecting CB Cam Hart

Analyzing the Los Angeles Chargers’ selection of Notre Dame CB Cam Hart with the 140th overall selection.

The Chargers have doubled up at cornerback.

After selecting Maryland CB Tarheeb Still with the 137th pick, Los Angeles went back to the well at 140, selecting Notre Dame CB Cam Hart.

A three-year starter at Notre Dame, Hart has long been a potential Chargers target after LA sent scouts to multiple Fighting Irish games in 2023. New safeties coach Chris O’Leary was also in South Bend with Hart prior to taking the job with Los Angeles and Jim Harbaugh.

Hart gave up more than 25 yards in a game just once in 2023, thanks to a combination of length and GPS speed (23.01 mph) that defies his pedestrian 4.50 40-yard dash time. While not a ball-hawk corner – Hart did not have an interception in his last 32 games in college – he comes with a fascinating package of tools that will make him a valuable punt gunner at the very least.

Hart does come with some injury risk – he’s had three shoulder surgeries in the last five years, including offseason surgery between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. But if he stays healthy, his eyes and athleticism could very well turn him into a starting corner for Los Angeles for years to come.

2024 NFL draft: Chargers pick CB Cam Hart with No. 140 overall selection

The Chargers added to the cornerback room with the selection of Cam Hart.

The Chargers selected former Notre Dame cornerback Cam Hart with the No. 140 overall pick.

After drafting Tarheeb Still, Los Angeles double dipped at the position by adding Hart.

With over 30 starts under his belt, Hart finished his college career with 90 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 17 pass breakups and two interceptions.

At 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds, Hart is a big corner with good speed to carry receivers downfield and plus zone coverage skills to read, react and make plays on underneath routes.

Hart will have the opportunity to earn a starting job early on.

2024 NFL draft: Watch highlights of new Chargers WR Ladd McConkey

Get familiar with the newest member of the Chargers, Ladd McConkey.

The Chargers improved the wide receiver room with the selection of Ladd McConkey at No. 34 overall.

There were questions about when Los Angeles would address the position after taking Joe Alt in the first round. They answered them by moving up three spots to get McConkey, arguably the best route runner in this class.

To get familiar with the newest member of the Bolts, here are some highlights of McConkey:

 

Watch: Joe Alt meets his new head coach, Jim Harbaugh

The All-American is already in Cali

It was a memorable Thursday evening for former Notre Dame All-American offensive tackle [autotag]Joe Alt[/autotag], who was selected fifth in the NFL draft by the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Irish tackle watched the draft in the comfort of his own chosen place, but he quickly had to get on a flight to California. It’s extremely typical for NFL teams to fly in their first-round picks to meet staff and the media the next day.

Check out the video below as Alt meets his new head coach, Jim Harbaugh, as he made his first visit to his new facilities on Friday afternoon.

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Jim Harbaugh sticks to guns with selection of Joe Alt: ‘Offensive linemen, we look at as weapons’

Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz sounded off on the Chargers’ selection of Joe Alt.

The Chargers drafted offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 5 in the 2024 NFL draft.

While not a luxurious pick, it meshed with Jim Harbaugh’s desire to inject the team with a physical, rugged, and imposing brand of football through the trenches.

“Offensive linemen we look at as weapons,” Harbaugh said. “When we talk about attacking on offense… Offensive line is the tip of the spear.”

Alt played left tackle throughout his collegiate career, where Rashawn Slater has played and earned All-Pro status in 2021. Despite the addition of Alt, Slater will remain the team’s blindside blocker.

Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz did not directly say where Alt would play but did say that he would be a tackle, which could indicate that he will be the starting right tackle.

If Alt is the starting right tackle, he would overtake Trey Pipkins. Harbaugh was non-committal about Pipkins’ job status, calling him “one of our best five right now.”

β€œDon’t rule anything out, who’s going to play where. We’re going to play the best five that we have on the team.”

Despite being only 21 years old, Alt plays like a veteran. He is a polished and physical lineman who possesses great size/length, overall technique, and strength.

β€œYou’re talking about a guy who’s still growing and maturing,” Hortiz said. β€œThe upside with him is tremendous.”

Alt’s services will benefit Justin Herbert, who has been one of the most pressured quarterbacks since entering the league in 2020. He will also improve the ground game, which hasn’t been efficient for over a decade.

β€œHe drives off the line of scrimmage,” Hortiz said about his run-blocking skills. β€œYou watch him move players over three gaps on his down blocks. He’s very athletic. Excellent range. High-level competitor.”

Even after the addition of Alt, look for the work not to stop there.

“We’re not done with the offensive line either,” Hortiz added.

2024 NFL draft: Watch highlights of new Chargers OT Joe Alt

Get familiar with the newest member of the Chargers, Joe Alt.

The Chargers bolstered the offensive line with the selection of Joe Alt at No. 5 overall.

Many wanted a wide receiver, but Jim Harbaugh stuck to his guns by adding a physically imposing player who will not only keep Justin Herbert upright but improve the ground game.

To get familiar with the newest member of the Bolts, here are some highlights of Alt:

 

 

Twitter reacts to Chargers’ selection of Joe Alt

Here is a snapshot of how the general population reacted when Joe Alt was announced as the newest member of the Chargers.

There were some talks about the Chargers moving from the No. 5 overall pick, but they ultimately decided to stay put and select offensive tackle Joe Alt.

While many fans wanted Los Angeles to take a wide receiver, the pick of Alt matches up with Jim Harbaugh’s goal of becoming a more physical and imposing team and establishing an efficient ground game.

Here is a snapshot of how the general population reacted when Alt was announced as the newest member of the Bolts: