Tag: Pat Coogan

Georgia should target Notre Dame transfer OL

Georgia football lost four starting offensive linemen to the 2025 NFL draft and should be interested in a talented Notre Dame transfer

The Georgia Bulldogs should target Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Pat Coogan in the NCAA transfer portal. Coogan has 26 career starts and primarily played left guard with the Fighting Irish.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound redshirt junior has one season of eligibility left. Georgia lost four of its five starting offensive linemen to the 2025 NFL draft. However, the Bulldogs return four linemen with a decent amount of experience: offensive guard Micah Morris, offensive tackle Earnest Greene, center Drew Bobo and offensive tackle Monroe Freeling.

Georgia would feel better about its offensive line group if it could add one more experienced player. The Dawgs could roll with who they have on the roster and have an open competition for the other offensive guard spot, which would be among redshirt freshman Daniel Calhoun, redshirt sophomore Bo Hughley, redshirt freshman Michael Uini and others. However, among UGA’s reserves mention above, none of them have played in more than three career games for Georgia.

Coogan would bring an excellent combination of experience and production to Georgia. He would help replace the NFL draft talent Georgia lost and is a leader. Coogan could also mentor some of Georgia’s talented, but inexperienced linemen. Coogan primarily plays left guard, which is where Dylan Fairchild played last season for Georgia.

Yet another Notre Dame offensive lineman is in the transfer portal

Notre Dame loses another offensive lineman.

Notre Dame lost another offensive lineman to the transfer portal on Thursday.

At least this time, the player in question was a special-teamer and not a starter.

[autotag]Ty Chan[/autotag] is following [autotag]Pat Coogan[/autotag] and [autotag]Rocco Spindler[/autotag], both starters, into the transfer portal. Fighting Irish players have a five-day window to enter the portal following the national championship game loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Chan’s departure will hurt less than Coogan’s or Spindler’s, but he’s still a depth piece and the fourth offensive lineman to leave. [autotag]Sam Pendleton[/autotag] is leaving, too, to seek more playing time.

The departures of Coogan and Spindler are baffling though details that would explain why could emerge later. For Chan, the choice is likely about getting more playing time.

Jan. 20, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman looks on against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half the national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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A pair of Notre Dame offensive linemen enter the transfer portal

The transfer movement continues for the Irish

While Notre Dame football didn’t see any transfer movement during its run in the College Football Playoff, the same can’t be said about following the season-ending loss.

On Wednesday, the Irish saw three players enter the portal, offensive lineman Sam Pendleton, and a pair of wide receivers in Deion Colzie and Jayden Thomas. On Thursday, the exodus continued, as offensive lineman Rocco Spindler and Pat Coogan have now entered the portal and will play their final season somewhere other than South Bend.

After starting the majority of his junior year, Spindler had to battle to regain his spot this season. While he did play in the majority of games in 2024, he wasn’t a starter at the beginning of the year and was inserted into the lineup due to injuries to others.

Watch as injured Notre Dame offensive lineman returns to practice
The Notre Dame Leprechaun wears offensive lineman Rocco Spindler’s (50) helmet after winning a NCAA college football game 52-3 against Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend.

As for Coogan, he was the heart and soul of the Irish offensive line this fall, but had a similar fate as Spindler as far as playing time. Both of them stepped up when the Irish needed them to, so you have to credit them for being consummate team players.

Nov 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Pat Coogan (78) celebrates after a win against the Army Black Knights at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

We wish Rocco and Pat the best, as they will finish their collegiate career somewhere other than in a Notre Dame uniform.

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Notre Dame vs. Virginia: Second-Quarter Analysis

This quarter lasted over an hour and was quite crazy.

If you were hoping for more action between Notre Dame and Virginia in the second quarter, you would have gotten some. In a quarter that lasted over an hour in real time, the Irish had one crazy moment after another, and it ended with them holding a 28-0 halftime lead.

Both teams continued to struggle offensively for the first few minutes. After [autotag]Max Hurleman[/autotag] muffed a punt and the Cavaliers recovered, the Irish’s 7-0 lead appeared to be in jeopardy. But the Irish took the ball right back a few plays later when [autotag]Rod Heard II[/autotag] forced a Kobe Pace fumble that was recovered by [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag].

The difference between the two turnovers is that the Irish took advantage. Their offense had its most productive drive of the day, and it culminated when [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] hit [autotag]Jayden Harrison[/autotag] for an 8-yard touchdown.

On the next possession, Leonard fired another apparent touchdown pass to Harrison from 78 yards out, but it was wiped out when [autotag]Pat Coogan[/autotag] was penalized for illegal hands to the face.

Another apparent touchdown then was wiped out after a very confusing sequence. Faced with fourth-and-11, the Irish opted to fake a punt and try a fumblerooski, and [autotag]Jordan Faison[/autotag] ran the ball 73 yards to the house. However, the officials called it back for illegal formation, much to the chagrin of the Notre Dame Stadium fans and the NBC announcers.

But that touchdown was dying to be scored, and it finally was after [autotag]Adon Shuler[/autotag] returned an interception 46 yards and Leonard immediately faked a handoff before firing to an open [autotag]Cooper Flanagan[/autotag] in the end zone from 2 yards out.

The Irish weren’t finished though. Anthony Colandrea threw another interception, this one to [autotag]Leonard Moore[/autotag]. On the final of three subsequent passes, [autotag]Mitchell Evans[/autotag] had a 16-yard touchdown.

Colandrea kept feeling generous though because Watts picked off another one of his passes in the waning seconds of the quarter. Although [autotag]Mitch Jeter[/autotag] missed a 54-yard field goal as time expired, the Irish still deserved a rest in the locker room after everything that had just happened.

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Notre Dame Week 7 highlight: Pat Coogan averts disaster

Pat Coogan gets a most unexpected first down.

Notre Dame offensive lineman Pat Coogan made an athletic play to get a first down on what could’ve been a Stanford interception of a Riley Leonard pass.

Stanford Cardinal linebacker Gaethan Bernadel batted the pass up in the air and the ball found its way to Coogan who caught it and carried for the first down.

Usually offensive linemen have to report as eligible before catching a pass. In this case, an alert Coogan made sure the Irish retained the football — and got a key first down.

Unexpected catches by the big fellows are always fun.

Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Audric Estime (7) follows a block by offensive lineman Pat Coogan (78) against the Duke Blue Devils during the first quarter at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

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Pat Coogan explains why he stayed at Notre Dame after losing starting spot

Coogan loves for Notre Dame made his choice simple

In this transfer portal era of college football, it would have been very easy for someone like Notre Dame offensive lineman [autotag]Pat Coogan[/autotag] to leave the program after losing his starting job the previous year.

Team all across the country are always looking for quality lineman in the portal, especially ones with starting experience. After starting at left guard for the Irish in 2023, Coogan was named the second-team center behind Ashton Craig ahead of the season opener against Texas A&M.

Unfortunately, Craig went down with an injury at Purdue, and Coogan re-entered the picture. The redshirt junior helped Notre Dame’s beaten up line dominate the Boilermakers, with Coogan playing a big part once again.

On Tuesday night, the Illinois native spoke with the media and obviously was asked what made him stay in South Bend. Coogan’s answer was simple, “my love for the University of Notre Dame is so much stronger than any individual honor or goal,” while explaining that it “sucked” not being on the field with his teammates.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) celebrates with Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Pat Coogan (78) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Sullivan Absher (75) after scoring a touchdown Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, during the NCAA football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Notre Dame Fighting Irish won 66-7.

Coogan believes that everything happens for a reason, kept a positive attitude while still working hard. I have no doubt in my mind that Pat will made Irish Nation proud.

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Three Notre Dame athletes sign NIL deal with Chicago White Sox

What an opportunity for these three Irish athletes

The era of NIL has changed a lot about what collegiate players can do, and multiple Notre Dame athletes are taking full advantage of a unique opportunity.

Center [autotag]Pat Coogan[/autotag] and defensive end [autotag]Rylie Mills[/autotag] along with soccer player [autotag]Berkley Mensik[/autotag], all hail from the Chicagoland area and on Thursday it was announced that they have partnered with the Chicago White Sox for an NIL deal.

The two players, along with multiple other local college stars were named in 2024’s CHISOX Athlete Class, which former Irish soccer player Bryan Dowd is an alumni. The deal allows the players to throw out the first pitch at a game, a photoshoot at Guaranteed Rate Field and more.

Congratulations to these three Notre Dame stars on an exciting NIL opportunity.

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Thoughts on Notre Dame’s depth chart ahead of Ohio State

Plenty of take aways from the seasons first depth chart

As in each year of college football, a new group of stars emerge from one season to another. This season will be no different and for Notre Dame, there are more then a few players who could make a significant leap in the eyes of college football fans everywhere. Here are a few observations on Marcus Freeman’s first regular season depth chart.

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Freeman still on the road, this time visiting a Chicago powerhouse

The Irish head coach has been getting his frequent flyer miles in

New Irish head coach Marcus Freeman is logging is air mileage this week. Yesterday he was on the east coast and today Notre Dame’s brand new coach was in Chicago as he visited Marist High School.

As a former scout in this area, I know that Marist has a very exceptional program. Each year they send at least one player to compete at the Power-5 level, Notre Dame signing offensive lineman Pat Coogan in the 2021 class.

As for the future, it is unknown who Freeman was there to impress, but surely the Marist coaching staff has given him a hint as to who will be the new up-and-coming Red Hawk that has Power-5 potential.

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See: Notre Dame ‘21 commit Pat Coogan maul defender

Up close and personal, Pat Coogan is a bad man

I had to pleasure to going out to Notre Dame yesterday, the College Prep school in Niles, Illinois to see the Don’s host the Marist Red Hawks. One of the best players on the field yesterday was Notre Dame commit Pat Coogan. The Red Hawks easily took care of the Don’s in the opener for both teams, 34-13.

It was a great performance for the Red Hawk’s as the offense led the way. Their quarterback Dontrell Jackson, a Coastal Carolina commit, was untouched all evening in part due to plays like this from Coogan:

The left guard was spectacular last night, finishing plays like this one and even getting reps as the teams long-snapper. Coogan showed the high level talent that the Notre Dame coaching staff saw when they originally offered him.

[lawrence-related id=21894]

In an interview with him earlier in the year, Coogan told he was would play his final year then head out to South Bend. That was bad news for opposing high school players.