How will Notre Dame use Rod Heard II? A little bit of every way it seems…
Notre Dame spent their spring short a starting safety as transfer [autotag]Rod Heard II[/autotag] was finishing up his time as a Northwestern student down the street.
Heard II follows the same path [autotag]Brandon Joseph[/autotag] took a couple years ago, starring at Northwestern before ending up in South Bend. So what does Heard bring to the mix for Notre Dame’s already talented secondary?
“Being able to maximize and make plays in all different phases of the game, I think that’s what makes me a special player,” the grad transfer said in late June. “I want to maintain that.”
“All these (interior) spots are kind of interchangeable now anyway,” said Heard, listed at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds. “I think that’s why they wanted me here, because I still have the ability to play the nickel, play safety, play zone coverage, play man coverage and all that.
It seems to be a little bit of everything is what Heard will bring.
Notre Dame is spoiled with some future NFL talent in its secondary. [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] widely is projected to be picked early in the first round of the 2025 draft, and [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] currently figures to be picked on the second day. All of this and more is why ESPN’s Greg McElroy thinks the Irish have the best secondary in the country.
Speaking on the ESPN College Football YouTube channel, McElroy justified his feelings this way:
“They have, I think, one of the best corners in the country. Maybe the No. 2, maybe the No. 3, depending on what the pecking order looks like in Benjamin Morrison. You have one of the best safeties in the country in Xavier Watts, who brought home the Bronko Nagurski (Trophy) last year. Best defensive player in college football. That’s what some people would say. I don’t know if I would put him at the top, frankly, as the best defensive player in college football, but from an opportunistic standpoint, seven interceptions that did not allow a touchdown in coverage last year. Two pretty good spots to start.
You also have the addition of [autotag]Rod Heard[/autotag], which I think was massive coming over from Northwestern. And I think he is a guy that people don’t know right now, but should factor in there at the safety spot as another guy that can potentially impact the game.
So if you look at what they have at both corner spots, one of the best tandems in the sport, one of the best safety tandems in the sport, assuming that Rod Heard is as advertised. I think they’re in a great spot. Couple that with the great front seven, Notre Dame brings home the title for the best defensive secondary.”
If you want to see McElroy’s complete list, you can watch the video here:
So needless to say, the secondary will be a unit to watch for the Irish in 2024. Let’s hope the reality matches the preseason expectations.
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Another day, another commitment for Notre Dame. Since Saturday the Fighting Irish have now seen four different players give the Notre Dame football program their pledge after Rod Heard announced his commitment to Marcus Freeman and company Wednesday.
Heard comes to Notre Dame via the transfer portal from Northwestern. The veteran safety will bring plenty of experience as he enters Notre Dame ahead of his sixth and final season of eligibility.
Heard is coming off a stellar season for Northwestern as he helped the Wildcats to an epic turnaround. Heard made 85 tackles in 2023, four of which came for a loss. He also intercepted a pass and forced a pair of fumbles for the Wildcats who went from 1-11 in 2022 to 8-5 in 2023.
Heard told Irish Sports Daily:
“I can see that [Irish head coach Marcus Freeman] and the coaching staff are putting something together,” Heard said “I think it’s going to be a great year.
“I think it’s a great collective of guys who have already had success, but I think what’s coming next year and all the pieces that have been added to the team, me included, and the coaching staff that they have. I think it’s going to be a very successful year.”
Heard has played in 46 games at the collegiate level and should help provide support to All-American Xavier Watts on Notre Dame’s back-half in 2024.
The Irish aren’t done with portal additions as they look to bring in a talented corner
Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman isn’t resting on his laurels and is still trying to improve his team.
The Irish already have a glut of incoming transfer portal talent, led by quarterback Riley Leonard and defensive end RJ Oben. There could be more additions. Allen Trieu of 247Sports is reporting Notre Dame has scheduled an official visit with former Northwestern cornerback [autotag]Rod Heard[/autotag].
The graduate transfer had a very good 2023. He picked off a pass, forced two fumbles and had 85 tackles. Heard had multiple games with more than 10 stops, including two of his last three games. At 5 feet, 11 inches and 190 pounds, he would be a great addition to the Irish program.
Northwestern cornerback transfer Rod Heard has set official visits with Michigan State and Notre Dame.
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