Greg McElroy calls Notre Dame’s secondary best in college football

Do you believe this to be true?

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.

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

Four-star tight end picks Notre Dame

Nice get.

Notre Dame has developed a reputation in recent years as the landing spot for many quality tight ends. Our own Nick Shepkowski has taken to giving Notre Dame the moniker of “Tight End U.” Well, he’ll able to keep calling it that for the foreseeable future.

Many experts are high on [autotag]Nate Roberts[/autotag], and the 2025 four-star recruit from Washington, Oklahoma, picked the Irish during a live announcement on 247Sports’ YouTube channel:

Roberts, Oklahoma’s No. 2 recruit and the nation’s No. 3 tight end in the 2025 class, appropriately received his offer from the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and was getting offers as recently as June 6. [autotag]Gerad Parker[/autotag] and [autotag]Marty Biagi[/autotag] led the charge in recruiting him, and this definitely is a big win for them. He’s comparable in size to [autotag]Michael Mayer[/autotag] and could very well catch up in at least that department by the time his collegiate career begins. Maybe the Irish should start the process of trademarking “Tight End U”?

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

Watch the second episode of ‘Grit & Glory: Journey To The Draft’ featuring Bo Nix

The second episode of “Grit & Glory: Journey To The Draft” shows quarterback Bo Nix preparing for his Oregon pro day.

After previously releasing the first episode of Grit & Glory: Journey To The Draft in early May, Bolt Tv released the second episode two weeks ago.

The three-part series follows new Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix as he prepares for the 2024 NFL draft. The second episode features Nix’s pro day and his preparation for that throwing session.

“As a kid I always wanted to know how the quarterbacks I looked up to prepared for the NFL draft,” Nix told Bud McLaughlin of 256 Today. “This is an opportunity to do just that — to share my process with the next generation and provide some insights that hopefully will help in their journey.”

You can check out Episode 2 below:

The series shows Nix working with QB Country coaches David Morris and Ben Neill and it includes interviews with his parents — Patrick and Krista — and former coaches Dan Lanning and Kenny Dillingham.

The third and final episode is yet to be released. It will feature behind-the-scenes footage of Nix’s family celebrating when the Broncos picked him in the first round of the NFL draft earlier this offseason.

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2024 PGA Championship proved golf is more fun when Bryson DeChambeau is in the mix

The game of golf is in desperate need of characters, and the PGA Championship was better off thanks to Bryson.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On Saturday evening, as the sun set on Valhalla Golf Club at the PGA Championship, Bryson DeChambeau did what he does best.

I’m not talking about his chip-in eagle from off the green on the par-5 18th hole. I’m talking about how he celebrated that eagle. The bulked-up bomber turned on his star power, lunged into an epic fist pump and sent the thousands of fans surrounding the green into a full-on frenzy of excitement. DeChambeau had moved into a tie for fourth place at 13 under alongside Shane Lowry and Viktor Hovland, two shots behind 54-hole leaders Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa.

Come Sunday, DeChambeau dazzled the crown once again with a bogey-free 7-under 64 that was sealed with another electrifying fist-pumping moment on the final hole. Playing in the group ahead, DeChambeau took the clubhouse lead and tied Schauffele at 20 under, which equaled the record-low score in relation to par at a major championship. Had you told DeChambeau before the round that he’d shoot a blemish-free 64, he would’ve thought that was enough to win. After all, it would take a historic performance to top that.

“I seriously thought 18 was going to do it,” DeChambeau admitted after the scorecards were signed. “Then when I saw what Xander was doing, it’s like, ‘Man, he’s playing some unbelievable golf.’ Viktor was right there. I mean, he was beating me for quite awhile, and I was hitting it all over the place.”

“I mean, it was an impressive, impressive round of golf by all three of us,” he added. “I don’t know what else to say. It was just difficult.”

It’s rare when DeChambeau is left speechless, so you know this one hit hard. Since he turned pro in 2016, DeChambeau has never been afraid to speak his mind, no matter the topic, for better or worse. He’s tinkered with not only his game and clubs – so much so that he’s been dubbed the Mad Scientist – but also his personality. His detractors have called him out over the years for his, at times, cringey behavior and corny antics. There’s no denying he’s a quirky guy who struggled with the early fame he received in his career. When he took his talents to LIV Golf, DeChambeau made a few comments that I’m sure he would take back if he could.

2024 PGA Championship
Bryson DeChambeau reacts on the ninth green during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 19, 2024, in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

But DeChambeau, now 30, appears to be living his best life. He’s matured but still has a youthful exuberance. He’s designing clubs built for his game. He’s contending in majors again. He’s having fun off the course and creating entertaining and informative content on YouTube. All of that has led to his re-emergence as one of the truly great showmen the game has to offer.

“YouTube has helped me understand that a little bit more. When the moment comes, knowing what to do, what to say, how to act is really important,” DeChambeau explained. “You know, when I was younger I didn’t understand what it was. I would have great celebrations and whatnot, but I didn’t know what it meant and what I was doing it necessarily for. Now I’m doing it a lot more for the fans and for the people around and trying to be a bit of an entertainer that plays good golf every once in a while.”

In the wake of his move to LIV, DeChambeau used to be booed at major championships. This week, he rode the good vibes like a wave and crowd-surfed his way back into the hearts of the fans at Valhalla. The game of golf is in desperate need of characters, and the PGA Championship was better off thanks to DeChambeau.

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Watch: Notre Dame alumnus Regis Philbin brings show to campus in 2004

This man was an absolute legend.

Regis Philbin had no problem bragging about Notre Dame, his alma mater. He loved it so much that he was buried on campus after his death in 2020. Long before Cedar Grove Cemetery became his permanent residence, he took his talk show “Live” to campus. It was October 2004, and while the football team had just dropped a 24-23 heartbreaker to Boston College, spirits were high as you’ll see in this highlight package uploaded to YouTube:

With Kelly Ripa’s husband, Mark Consuelos, having just taken over as her third permanent co-host since Philbin’s retirement, it serves as a reminder of just how difficult it can be to replace a TV legend. In this case, we’re talking about a TV legend that absolutely bled blue and gold. The fact that he was willing to share that with the world shows you what kind of man he was. We miss him every day, but his legacy remains.

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

Watch: Former Notre Dame player was fired as NFL coach at halftime

Bet you haven’t heard this story.

The Los Angeles Chargers’ putrid performance against the Las Vegas Raiders cost coach Brandon Staley his job.

In fact, during Amazon’s halftime report, Richard Sherman wondered out loud if Staley should still have a job in the second half. While it turned out to be Staley’s final half coaching the Chargers, a halftime dismissal would have put him in extremely rare company.

YouTuber JaguarGator9 tracked down the only time a coach didn’t survive a game. It was [autotag]Frank Coughlin[/autotag], the captain of Notre Dame’s 1920 squad after [autotag]George Gipp[/autotag]’s withdrawal from the university. He was named coach of the Rock Island Independents, one of the NFL’s founding franchises, for 1921. The problem was he also was a practicing lawyer in South Bend and refused to move to Rock Island, so he was barely around for practices.

JaguarGator9 explains it all here starting at 5:55:

So, yeah, it was clear Coughlin was not cut out for coaching. To his credit, he went on to a very successful legal career as a St. Joseph County prosecutor and Indiana’s assistant attorney general under two governors. When it comes to pro football though, he is notorious for all the wrong reasons.

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

How Dan Lanning manages ‘behind-closed-doors’ content in cinematic recap videos

Oregon’s weekly cinematic videos give the fanbase a unique view into what goes into winning on Saturday.

Oregon has been inventive for quite some time, but a new wrinkle to the next generation of promoting the program has been in place this season.

The cinematic videos titled “Oregon vs. Them” show some game highlights, inspirational speeches to the team and a glimpse into the weekly preparation for the upcoming game.

They’ve become popular among the fanbase on YouTube. The video that came out that highlighted the 35-6 win at Utah, has about 43,000 views, while the Week 4 video vs. Colorado got over 23.2 million views on social media.

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While that exposure is great for the program, from a coach’s standpoint, you also have to be careful about what you are willing to share from behind closed doors.

This is a balance that head coach Dan Lanning has had to strike up during the season, weighing what he does and does not want to be included in the recaps.

“I get to see them before they get released and, every once in a while we’ll make some edits,” Lanning said. “But I think it’s good for everyone to be able to see the work that our players put in and the preparation that goes into success. I think it provides a great glimpse of all the work that does go into your 60-minute game. There’s so much more than just obviously those 60 minutes (on the field). So our video staff has done an unbelievable job capturing some great content.”

In the latest iterations of the recaps, we’ve seen coaches’ headset audio from during the game be included, giving us a look at real-time calls from the sideline, and coaches talking to their players during the game.

The videos, which run about six to eight minutes each, also show the players’ commitment and study time they put in for each game. For example, in one video, Lanning told the team that quarterback Bo Nix wrote down, by hand, all 125 offensive plays that were in the game plan for that particular week.

“Really, the other piece that’s fun for me with those is it gets to highlight the great people in our program. Not me, the players, the coaches, the video staff,” Lanning said. “Just everybody who touches our program makes such a great impact. I think it tells a great story about our team and each week and how each week is unique and different.”

It’s obvious the impact that the videos have had on the recruiting world, giving a chance to allow prospects to get a deep look at the inner workings of the program. It also has gone a long way with fans, who feel as involved in the program as they ever have.

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LOOK: Badger MBB standout set to launch Youtube channel

Badger men’s basketball star is set to launch Youtube channel highlighting the life of a student-athlete at UW-Madison.

With the 2022-2023 men’s basketball season an overall disappointment, one positive that came out of the campaign was the emergence of the Badgers’ only freshman player. Connor Essegian burst onto the scene and was a starter by the end of his first year in Madison.

Essegian averaged 11.7 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 40.4 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from deep during his freshman season. Additionally, he made a Wisconsin freshman record 69 three-pointers, becoming a fan favorite.

He is now set to launch a Youtube channel to showcase the behind-the-scenes aspects of being a UW-Madison athlete. Essegian’s popularity is certainly set to grow ahead of his second campaign at Wisconsin.

Watch: Driving around Notre Dame campus and surrounding area

Beautiful, ain’t it?

Whether you graduated from Notre Dame or just like to visit, you can’t deny how beautiful the campus is.

If that’s not enough, the university is surrounded by amazing homes that anyone would love to set foot inside, if not own. The YouTube channel Explore USA Cities & Towns took the opportunity to drive around campus and the area near it and capture some of the cleanest footage you’ll ever see:

With Notre Dame around for as long as it has, it’s inevitable changes are made, and you can see a few in progress here. The Notre Dame you see in this video might be different from what you remember as a student or as someone who hasn’t been back in a while. If, for whatever reason, life has kept you away from campus longer than you would have liked, we hope this video will be enough to tide you over until you can return.

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

A YouTube TV outage late during Celtics-Heat had NBA fans furious (and NFL fans worried)

NBA fans either got an error message or the Little Mermaid trailer over and over. Not good!

This isn’t going to make fans happy about the idea of watching live sports on YouTube TV.

On Wednesday night, during the Miami Heat’s Game 1 Eastern Conference playoff win over the Boston Celtics, YouTube TV suffered an outage, with fans having trouble accessing TNT’s feed.

They either got an error message or, for some, the Little Mermaid trailer played over and over. Not great! And with Sunday NFL Ticket coming to the streamer this fall, there were a lot of concerns from NFL fans about what that could mean later this year.

Here’s a roundup of the complaints and worries on Twitter: