Tag: Notre Dame recruiting

How Notre Dame broke USC

You really just hate to see it.

Last Saturday’s college football slate was loaded with intriguing matchups. With Notre Dame on bye, fans were able to soak in a wonderfully entertaining slate of games stress-free. This was a well-deserved break for everyone.

Of all the action that occurred, Southern Cal losing to Utah’s backup quarterback and a last-second field goal had to be the highlight for Notre Dame fans eating cheeseburgers all weekend.

Just a couple of short weeks ago [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] was in the hunt to repeat as the Heisman winner and USC, while flawed, were still undefeated and feeling themselves, in true LA fashion.

Then Notre Dame happened.

My how the tone inside and outside the Trojan program has changed quickly. Let’s examine the latest downfall of Troy more closely.

Notre Dame Bullied By Louisville: Irish Are In Big Trouble

Just how big of trouble are the Irish in?

Everyone knew that the four-game stretch Notre Dame is in the midst of currently would be tough. It appeared that way before the season and even more so once both Duke and Louisville got off to hot starts this year. But that doesn’t excuse the product Notre Dame put on the field against Louisville Saturday night. It cannot be used as an excuse.

Notre Dame got outcoached, out-schemed, out-efforted, out-executed, out-adjusted, and got sent to the outhouse when it was all said and done. The Irish were not prepared for this moment physically or emotionally. Quite frankly, this is completely unacceptable. For me, the worst part of this game result isn’t even the result itself, it’s the pandora’s box of negativity and questions, legitimate ones, big picture and small that will now loom over the rest of the season. Not ideal circumstances as undefeated USC rolls into South Bend next week.

Let’s examine the biggest areas of alarm.

Notre Dame vs Duke: Confidences & Concerns

How confident or concerned are you about how things will go Saturday night?

This is going to be a tough week for anyone who feels favorably about Notre Dame Football. The coaches, the players, and most certainly the fans. Let’s be very clear and direct. The Ohio State loss was not just any run-of-the-mill loss. It’s going to hurt, it’s going to sting, and because of the way it happened, it’s going to linger.

In many ways one could argue Notre Dame’s staff must have their best week of coaching yet before heading to Duke.

At Night.

With them undefeated.

Gameday present.

Their side flying high while those in the Irish’s corner feel like they’ve been run over by a truck physically and emotionally. Everyone is drained. This is a tricky spot for Notre Dame for many reasons. How will they respond after last week’s heartbreak?

Let’s take a look at some confidences and concerns Notre Dame fans may have entering this game with their emotional tanks on empty.

Notre Dame vs Ohio State: Confidences & Concerns

How you feeling about the Irish today?

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State week is upon us. All of college football awaits the answers to so many major questions relating to both of these teams. How much better does Sam Hartman make Notre Dame in the most premier of matchups? How will new Buckeyes starter Kyle McCord handle the hostile “greened out” home crowd? Are the Irish ready to take the next step or are the Buckeyes a threat to win it all this year?

In many ways, this game feels like both teams’ first. Neither the media or fans on either side of this battle seem to have drawn many concrete conclusions about either team based on the results of the games leading into this. This kind of game at Notre Dame Stadium doesn’t come around often. Will the Irish take advantage?

Let’s examine some confidences & concerns Irish fans may have entering this Saturday’s Midwestern masterpiece of a game.

FIW Exclusive: Interview with Notre Dame commit Cam Williams, Part III

Hear from one of Notre Dame’s top 2024 commits.

[autotag]Cam Williams[/autotag] is a four-star receiver commit in Notre Dame’s 2024 recruiting class. He is the state of Illinois’ second-best recruit in that class according to 247Sports. He also happens to attend Glenbard South in Glen Ellyn, my alma mater. To say the least, it’s been great to have him represent the same school community I once did as a student and continue to do as an alumnus.

I had the opportunity to see him play his most recent game, and he scored two touchdowns. One of them came on this 62-yard run that I captured myself from the top of the bleachers. This run is a perfect indication that he once was a running back:

I had a chance to speak with Williams after the game, making this the third time he has spoken with this site. I did it once last year, and our own Michael Chen did the other interview not long before. Here’s what what he to say:

Watch: Notre Dame commit Cam Williams stars in debut, reaffirms Irish commitment

He’s going to be something special with the Irish.

2024 Notre Dame receiver commit [autotag]Cam Williams[/autotag] has entered his senior season at Glenbard South in Glen Ellyn, Illinois with high expectations. Not the least of those is living up to his No. 2 ranking on 247Sports’ list of 2024 recruits in the Land of Lincoln. So Matt Freeman of Irish Sports Daily attended Williams’ season opener and did not come away disappointed. Take a look at how smoothly Williams cuts and how he uses that to his advantage:

These touchdowns all happened in the first half. Williams would tack on two more in the second half for a total of five scores in a 56-21 victory. As you can see from the above clip, he just makes it look too easy at times.

Last year, I noted that Williams and I share the same high school. After I shared this with him in order to interview him for the site, I checked in on him periodically to see how he was doing. When the above clip was released, this Raider alumnus asked the current Raider how he’s able to cut so smoothly after a catch. He said the following:

“To be honest, I think it’s from my running back days with vision and stuff.”

How many of you knew that he used to be a running back? It definitely explains why clips like this one of him exist. And for those of you worrying that he might change his mind about attending Notre Dame, don’t. He also said this:

“You know, I find a true peace to how I am knowing what I want. … Nothing can keep me away from South Bend.”

So opposing fan bases can try all they want to sway Williams. He’s sticking with the Irish. You have to admire a recruit who refuses to give into more financially lucrative opportunities he might find elsewhere in the NIL era. More recruits should follow his example.

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

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Notre Dame vs. Navy: Keys for an Irish season-opening victory

What unit impresses us the most Saturday?

As Notre Dame makes its final preparations before facing Navy in Dublin on Saturday, Irish fans are likely having mixed feelings entering the game.

Certainly, Notre Dame has the physical advantage, but the quirks of the way Navy plays the game have caused Notre Dame fans more hair loss than old age in recent history — as recent as the second half of last year’s game to be exact.

This football game is and has always been more about what Notre Dame does or doesn’t do correctly rather than it is about Navy. This game is going to indicate to fans what level the Irish are starting at. Is this game a cakewalk with a month to prepare or a dogfight like last year? Let’s examine the keys to an Irish win.

Early Vegas Notre Dame vs Marquee 3 Point Spreads

Who are you taking in these three showdowns?

Notre Dame football is just over a week away.  For a while now though we’ve had point spreads out on Notre Dame’s biggest games of the year.

Preseason point spreads do not tell the story of a season that hasn’t happened yet. They should not be taken as gospel in any way. But they are informative. They let fans know what many “experts” in Las Vegas think of their teams before the action gets started.

Intrigue with Notre Dame is always high. Point spreads with the Irish are also sometimes interesting because the Irish have a huge loyal following, many of which are ultra-believers in the team every week. There is also the large contingent of fans that despise Notre Dame is quick to bet against them heavily.

Let’s examine the marquee three lines and what they tell us.

Notre Dame makes top five for Zach Randolph’s daughter Mackenly

Hope they get her.

Notre Dame is looking forward to an exciting season. Almost all of last season’s Sweet 16 team will be back, and highly touted freshman [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] has been added to the mix.

But that doesn’t mean the future can’t be just as exciting as the present. The Irish have reason to be even more hopeful after Mackenly Randolph, daughter of former NBA All-Star Zach Randolph, listed the Irish as one of her final five choices:

Randolph has a five-star rating and a 96 grade on ESPNW. She made the MaxPreps California All-State Girls Basketball Second Team, and the following was said about her:

“Named to the all-area teams by the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Daily News and also a CIF Southern Section All-Open Division team, Randolph averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.”

The Irish will up against South Carolina, Duke, Louisville and Michigan State for Randolph’s services. That’s some pretty stiff competition, but it’s one the Irish can win. Best of luck to [autotag]Niele Ivey[/autotag] and her staff.

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

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Notre Dame lands commitment from 2024 forward recruit Garrett Sundra

Nice get.

Notre Dame has been lacking impact players down low for some time now. Sure, there’s been some talent there, but none of it has been good enough to build the lineup around. Might that change with 6-foot-10 power forward [autotag]Garrett Sundra[/autotag]? We soon will get an answer to that question after Sundra committed to the Irish:

Per 247Sports, Sundra is a four-star recruit and the fourth-best player out of Virginia in the 2024 class. Sundra made his official visit to Notre Dame on Aug. 1. In fact, it was the only official visit he made to any school. That was bad news for the others interested in him, including Butler, Providence, Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Miami, Maryland and Iowa.

[autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] still has a long way to go in building the team he wants. [autotag]Cole Certa[/autotag] is the only other 2024 commit he currently has, and that’s not counting all the inexperience on this coming season’s roster. The Irish eventually will get to where they want to be, but it’s going to require time and patience. Hopefully, everybody understands that.

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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 Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89