Chat Transcript: Will realignment press Notre Dame to rethink scheduling?
Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat. the "Training Camp is Almost Here" Edition.
Some quick programming notes:
► The chat is back in weekly mode, with training camp starting on July 31. It may not always be on Wednesday through training camp, due to practice/interview conflicts, but it will be weekly. The next one after today will be Saturday, Aug. 3. I’ll definitely settle into a Wednesday routine by late August.
► If you missed the last episode of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, it keeps its shelf life long after the live presentation. We are in a bit of an irregular pattern there until but we’ll soon move back into our normal Monday at 7 ET time slot. Right now we’re working around vacation time and guest co-host availability. The latest edition was Wednesday night with former Notre Dame O-lineman Bob Morton as my guest co-host. We’ll have a special recruiting-oriented one on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET with longtime recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, of the Prep Football Report, as my guest co-host. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube.
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► No Inside ND Sports Podcast this week, with Tyler James on vacation. On the most recent Inside ND Sports Podcast, Notre Dame women’s basketball star guard Olivia Miles joined us. The 2023 All-American missed last season as she recovered from a knee injury, but she’s getting back in gear for a comeback year. She discussed the timeline of her recovery from the ACL injury, what she learned about herself while sitting out, scouting reports on newcomers Liatu King, Liza Karlen and Kate Koval, if she ever considered transferring, the keys to success in sharing a backcourt with Hannah Hidalgo, how head coach Niele Ivey helped her through this process, her confidence in her knee, how she's expanded her game and more. The podcast can be listened to via SoundCloud or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podbean and Pocket Casts.
► Finally, we’re all in on Notre Dame football preseason camp. And Darin Pritchett and I are together each week on Wednesday and Thursday on Weekday SportsBeat (96.1 FM, 960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com). The re-emergence of the show on 96.1 FM is new this week. The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. You can download episodes as podcasts.
As far as this week's chat …
PLEASE include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question. If you use "Guest" or "A Voice Crying From The Wilderness" as you name, I'm going to need to see some ID to authenticate.
Here are the rules:
Eric Hansen: The "No Drinking" rule will not be strictly enforced this week, except for me.
Scott from Greenville, S.C.: Eric! I hope you're having a very enjoyable summer! These chats along with the Football Never Sleeps are so informative for the Irish fanatics. Thank you for taking the time to share wisdom, humor and insight into ND football. No real questions regarding the team but I read a clip from Lincoln Riley and the possible future of USC and ND games. It made me think about future scheduling. One thing that has always been a staple of ND football are the superb opponents we play ever year. With the new conference alignments, I'm curious about future games. My hope is to see a couple SEC and BIG - whatever you call them, not 10 - games. Do you see a new road map of games, outside the ACC and Navy games? Just FYI, big fan of the team and you! Be safe and I look forward to reading you articles when practice opens.
Eric Hansen: Scott, what was your Venmo account ID again? ... Seriously, thanks for the compliments. ... The Lincoln Riley comments regarding the future of the USC-ND series were very fair, not that he is the decision-maker in that process, but I think it's realistic that all teams, including Notre Dame, will be open to recalibrating scheduling philosophies based on how the College Football Playoff Committee weighs scheduling into the CFP 12-team formula (and likely eventually 14-team format). Let me first share what new athletic director Pete Bevacqua had to say in a one-on-one interview with me that ran in a wide-ranging three-part series that ran this spring. This is about both the USC and Stanford series:
Since 1998, with some rare alterations, the Irish have played one of them at home in October and the other one in the regular-season finale after Thanksgiving on the road, alternating sites each year.
“What I will say about both of those series — the Notre Dame-Southern Cal game is one of the great matchups in the history of sports,” Bevacqua said. “It’s fundamentally important to us that we continue that rivalry, and we know that USC feels the same way.
“We also want to continue the Stanford rivalry. It’s had a great history of its own, and universities like Notre Dame and Stanford, we need to play each other. It's great to play each other. It’s important to play each other. Two top-ranked academic universities that also happen to put a real emphasis on athletics.
“Again, the exact times and locations and when that will happen, that could vary over the course of the next decade, but we start with the principle that we absolutely want to continue to play Southern Cal every year. We want to continue to play Stanford every year. And we don’t think they agree — we know they agree.”
So, there's a commitment there, but maybe those games are not played at the same points in the season, maybe Stanford counts toward the five-games-a-year ACC commitment. ND is largely scheduled out to the middle of the next decade with a few holes to fill. The viability of the ACC holding together will affect things. Pete Bevacqua also likes the Shamrock Series concept, but isn't married to it being EVERY year. My sense is unless the committee really reacts extremely one way or another to scheduling -- leaning into aggressive scheduling or not rewarding it at all -- Notre Dame will continue down the path that's similar to what it's been ... not including this season, which feels abnormally soft.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric!!!!!!!! Any update on Kevin Baumann? He is a Jersey Shore guy. His career has been riddled with injuries. Any chance he leaves the ND team and saves his last year (or two) of eligibility to use elsewhere with the hope of considerably more playing time?
Eric Hansen: Hi Len. I'm curious to hear from you how Marcus Freeman's talk went at the event in your area that you planned to attend ... Kevin is definitely someone I'm going to ask about on Wednesday at our first press conference of the preseason and after the first training camp practice. The grad senior tight end does have this season and next eligibility-wise because of his COVID exemption. Notre Dame is actually down to three such players with a COVID year option after this season. The others are Xavier Watts and Tosh Baker. And it's really doubtful Watts would use his.
It was good to see Bauman as a featured player in the promo video for the Shamrock Series uniforms. ... The only way Bauman would/could leave the roster at this juncture would be a medical retirement, which I don't anticipate at this time, but it could happen. He can't hit the transfer portal until December, at which point he'd have one year left. This will be a very interesting camp for him if he can be and stay healthy (and he was on track to be earlier this summer). Lots of talent there and lots of bad luck so far with injuries.
Mike Kraus from Costa Mesa, Calif.: I really enjoyed your YouTube show with B.Morton. Did losing Chris O' Leary play into losing several recruits recently ? Hate to ask this but I still have a ''DONTE MOORE '' Hangover. Could the reason ND lost 3 REC's is they know D. knight ain't coming to ND ?
Eric Hansen: Thanks Mike. We may try to get Bob to be more of a regular during the season. The response to him has been great. So, thanks for the feedback. ... Because the relationship with position coaches is so central to recruiting, losing one during the process is going to be an adjustment for most recruits. Marcus Freeman has tried to mitigate that by being the leader recruiter from start to finish, as opposed to being a closer. But Chris O'Leary's departure did affect two of the safeties in this class -- Ivan Tayler, who has since decommitted and JaDon Blair, who initially was taken aback but is now all in on Mike Mickens. It doesn't appear it was ever an issue with Ethan Long. And as far as the 2026 class, the No. 1 safety in that class, Blaine Bradford, was on campus for Notre Dame's Grill & Chill recruiting event, and the Irish are very much in the mix for him.
To your wide receiver recruiting question, there's some other questions in the queue that will push me for a more detailed answer, but to your facet of it -- no, that wasn't the reason.
Rich from Key West: Do you think the wide receiver recruiting this year has been hampered by the portal signings? Potential signees striving to play early not seeing a clear path with the upper class portal recruits.
Eric Hansen: And here's one of those questions …
In no way do I think that's the case. Maybe quite the opposite. Notre Dame goes to the portal less than many schools, and the three transfer WRs on the roster all would be gone before any of those players -- Derek Meadows, Tanook Hines and Dylan Robinson -- shows up on campus. Additionally, seniors Jayden Thomas and Deion Colzie, might not exercise a fifth-year option from a redshirt year. So, there would be plenty of opportunity to compete for playing time for a 2025 wide receiver recruit.
Tom from Kennesaw, Ga.: Eric, ND has generally been considered TE U by many fans and media. Historically we have done a great job in developing our TE's into great players rather than recruiting the #1 or #2 ranked TE, although we have had our share of those high ranked ones too. For 2025 Flannigan is well regarded and rising in his evaluation. With Grill and Chill this weekend are you aware of any key 2026 TE's we are after?? If our WR's don't progress as hoped this season do you think Denbrock will go to a more TE oriented offense later in the season?/ Thanks for all your hard work!!! Go Irish!!!
Eric Hansen: Tight end recruiting is intriguing, because there's so much projection that goes into that evaluation with players often arriving having played another position or being a different size. A good case is Mitchell Evans, who was the No. 26 tight end prospect in his class and is now arguably in the top 3. He was a high school quarterback. The last time ND recruited Rivals' No. 1 TE prospect was Brock Wright in 2017. Cole Kmet was No. 3 in the same class. Michael Mayer, by the way, was No. 3 in his class. Among current TEs on the roster, Eli Raridon, at No. 5 in his class, is the top-rated. Now to your questions ...
Notre Dame has offered scholarships to five tight ends in the 2026 class - Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8 in the Rivals positional rankings. Of those, they have the most traction with No. 8 JC Anderson of Mt. Zion, Ill., who has visited but was not at Thursday's Grill & Chill. The tight end in 2026 who was is Gavin Mueller, a really intriguing but unrated prospect from Illinois. He will be making his high school football debut after starring in basketball, but he has been piling up the offers this summer and performing impressively in camps. ND has not offered yet, but may here as he gets into the season. ... I don't think Mike Denbock is going to give up on recruiting elite receivers. He did an excellent job of that wherever he's been, including at ND last time, when his evaluation and recruiting skills landed him Will Fuller.
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Manny from San Pedro: Eric!!!!!!!! It stinks summer is rounding the corner but football!!!! Let’s go. For the record I love the shamrock jerseys!!!! What is the update on Morrison. Is he going to be good to go for A&M!?!?!?!?!?
Eric Hansen: Manny!!!*^%$#)^!! Thanks for the infusion of exclamation points. And I will duly note your opinion of the Shamrock Series unis. I'm just glad no one is evaluating my wardrobe (at least not openly). The anticipation continues to be that Ben Morrison will be 100 percent by the middle of August. Marcus Freeman will update that on Wednesday, but I don't think they would have moved freshman Karson Hobbs from boundary to nickel (as a depth piece) if they expected the injury to linger. For those not following the team closely this offseason, Morrison -- a junior cornerback and arguably ND's best player on either side of the ball -- underwent shoulder surgery in March. He has been working out with the team this summer, but not at full capacity.
Bob from Oxnard, Calif.: What are you most hoping to see in the first practice of fall camp?
Eric Hansen: Hi Bob. I have a pretty long list, even given the fact that the team won't be in full pads this early in camp. So let me give you what the top of the list will look like. I'm eager to see the June arrivals, players we didn't see in spring, especially S Rod Heard II, a projected starter, and WR Beaux Collins, who had a chance to be one. Also the Aussie punter James Rendell and the eight later-arriving freshmen -- with Guerby Lambert, Logan Saldate and Tae Johnson the most intriguing of that group. No. 2 would be the speed of the wide receivers and the chemistry timing they've built over the summer with QB Riley Leonard. Third would be the injured players coming back, like Mitchell Evans and Ben Morrison and how they're moving around. I'd be offensive line up at the top if this were a padded practice, but there's only so much you can glean in this setting.
Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric. I Hope you’re having a great week. Thanks for sneaking in an extra chat. How much access are you getting during camp this year? I’m assuming the first three days of practice will be noncontact, what would you like to see in those first three days that would make you feel good about things that happened over the summer? What could you possibly see that might be a bad sign? Also, any inside information on Ben Morrison, do they still think he’s going to be ready for the Texas A&M game? Thanks again for holding the extra chat. I know I speak for all the chat heads when I say we really appreciate it!
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. I've gotten to a couple of your question earlier, but not all ... so let me hit you with the access question. We will get one full practice -- next Wednesday -- and that's it as far as full ones go. And then we have some partials that will consist mostly of stretching, position drills but not many -- if any -- competitive periods of 7 on 7 or 11 on 11. Not complaining, but it is a bit of a rollback from previous seasons. We do have lots of interview access, which is great. ... Good sign in the first three days would be healthy players, good speed at the skill positions, good chemistry in the passing game and players making a leap in their games. Again, it will be hard to tell the first week what to make of the O-line. At least ND has the front seven on defense to test them throughout camp. And I appreciate you.
Johngipp from Lititz, Pa.: Hey Eric, With the retirement announcements of Saban and Jackson, they both inferred college sports is not what it was. This got my puzzler to puzzle (ala the Grinch). Are the new HCs who are cutting their teeth in these turbulent times at an advantage over the greybeards set in their ways? As an example Riley at USC went heavy in the transfer portal and regressed while Freeman was selective and improved. It seems that MF's philosophy of recruit and take selected transfers at a position of need who fit the program is the perfect elixir in the present scenerio. It seems to be the balance between Dabo's no transfers and other HC's can you breathe strategy. Does my puzzler make sense?
Eric Hansen: Hi John. It took me a minute to figure out the Jackson you were referring to was Notre Dame hockey coach Jeff Jackson, who will retire after the coming season. If I'm wrong, let me know. One thing I have noticed over the years covering college coaches is that the great ones DO adept and evolve constantly. However, the changes in college sports in the last couple of year or so and in the couple of years ahead are SO seismic, it affected the timing of those retirements and chased other coaches into the pro ranks. What I have noticed about Marcus Freeman is that he embraces those changes and has a strategy to deal with them and believes Notre Dame will give him the power to thrive in that environment. That's a powerful dynamic. So, whatever age the coach is, I think he's at an advantage if he embraces this new reality and has a strategy to not only survive in it, but thrive.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Eric, CMF was awesome. I can see why the players relate to him. He traveled with 9 players. Riley Leonard, Howard Cross , Mitchell Evans, Steve Angeli, Jack Kiser, Rylie Mills, Jordan Clark, Beaux Collins & Xavier Watts. The group was at the Yankee game on Friday. Benjamin Morrison was supposed to join in the Friday travel melee. I met Rylie Mills and he was a very big man. I ate lunch at a table with Howard Cross and Riley Leonard. RL was very engaging. HC had stronger looking arms, forearms and hands then anyone I have seen in a while. I can see how he has the strength to use hand play to ward off potential blockers. A funny aside the group got caught in normal Saturday Jersey Shore traffic, coming form NYC, and were late to the event. There was an alumni rep question session with CMF and then a Q & A with CMF but mostly with the players. They went back to the city after the event and saw Hamilton on Broadway that night meeting the cast before the performance.
Great twitter picture from ND football of the players on stage with the cast.
Eric Hansen: Len, thanks for the report!
Jeff from Phoenix: Hey Eric! First I just want to echo praise for Bob Morton on FNS. Based on Bob's friendship with Jeff Faine I looked him up, and wow, what a great story on his life, if others are interested, it’s at the ND site and titled "Strong of Heart". So, quick question, any off-season workout intel on Ben Morrison? Do you expect Freeman to remain tight-lipped to avoid an advantage to TAM? Thanks.
Eric Hansen: I don't expect Marcus to be tight-lipped on Ben Morrison's status unless he legitimately doesn't know. What I've found about Marcus Freeman in the time he's been at ND, he doesn't lie about injuries, but he will not necessarily volunteer info if you don't ask about it. He'll get asked about it. And thanks for the feedback on Bob Morton.
Bob from Loganville, Ga.: Eric, What completion percentage must Riley Leonard reach in our biggest 4 games (A&M, Louisville, FSU, USC) for the Irish offense to score 28 or more points in each game? Will there be an obvious improvement to the interior OL with Craig at C over Correll? Duke, Louisville and Clemson dominated the interior OL last year.
Eric Hansen: Hi Bob. I'm more of a pass-efficiency rating guy than completion percentage, because that also reflects interceptions and downfield passing, etc. Let me give you Sam Hartman's game by game numbers in that regard last year first: 231.7, 217.0, 217.6, 206.2, 140.0, 112.2, 115.6, 150.9, 152.8, 70.9, 198.2, 174.0. The losses were 140.0 Ohio State, 115.8 Louisville and 70.9 vs. Clemson. The 1115.6 was the escape at Duke. I would put the number at 140 for Leonard, because of his dimension as an elite runner. Had Hartman had that skill, his 140.0 against Ohio State would have been enough to win that game. ... If ND can get the left guard right (Coogan or Spindler), I do think you'll see more consistent and more powerful INTERIOR O-line play this season.
Beaver. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eric: Your recent articles talk about how ND remains “competitive” in the NIL space and ND’s recruiting success backs that up. I recall an interview you did several years back with retired AD Jack Swarbuck which indicated that if NIL progressed to the point of paying payers directly, ND would opt out of playing in the top tier of college football and would opt to play with schools that likewise embraced true amateur athletics. Is my recollection off? If that was Jack S’s view, was it based upon a misperception of how and how quickly NIL would play out? Or did he and ND suddenly change course?
Eric Hansen: Hi Beave. Your recollection is conceptually spot on. Father Jenkins was on board with that thought too. But I think there has been a change in course. And it's not just college football but all across college sports.
Mike from Phoenix: Eric, Happy Friday!! I’m old enough to remember going to watch the IRISH play as a 9 1/2 point underdog at Michigan in 1993. Set the tone early for a fabulous season. IMO, the A & M game sets up the same. Win and have a great season. Lose and it turns out not as good as expected. Really wish ND would open every year vs a good team. Schedule is a little light by ND standards. Freeman needs a big road win. I’m keeping expectations for Riley Leonard tampered after drinking the cool aid last year for Sam. How special do you think our LB’s can be this year? Maybe most talented set of LB’s since the 3 amigos. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Cheers!
Eric Hansen: Hi Mike. I'm not trying to one-up you on the "oldness" scale, but I was covering college sports when Lee Corso got fired as head coach of Indiana. And one of my grandkids used to think I was 24,000 years old. He's since amended that to 50-something which has put him back in the will. ... I do not agree THIS YEAR that game one is the all-or-nothing harbinger. Maybe in some years. But this is an offense that should be a lot better in November than in August. And so there's a good chance if there's a rematch, ND would do much better in a playoff game vs. A&M (if both somehow made it) than in August. And you can flip that script, ND could win at A&M (picked ninth in the SEC by the way), and if it's a team that gets hit hard by injuries or doesn't evolve offensively, they would get beat in November by Florida State or USC. I am picking ND to go 11-1 and make the playoff.
Yes, linebacker recruiting and development is trending in a very positive direction. In the first 20 years of Rivals player rankings, Notre Dame recruited a TOTAL of six players in the Rivals100 regardless of position who were linebacker prospects. That included one, Daelin Hayes, who was recruited as a defensive end. If ND can reel in Nathanial Owusu-Boateng and Madden Faraimo to complete this cycle, it will give ND SIX total top 100 players who happen to be linebackers in a four-cycle span. Cheers!
Scubavt from Jamestown, Tenn., Will Mitchell Evans be ready to play this fall?
Eric Hansen: That is what he has been telling everyone who asks, and that has been the expectation all along. We'll get a look at him moving around on Wednesday, but a resounding yes is expected.
Joe from Lutherville, Md.: Hi Eric. I need your picks for some crucial awards. Who is the best interview on the team? Who is the funniest? And which player (or coach) blew you away with personality that you didn't expect. Thanks!
Eric Hansen: Joe. I will try to do this best going off the top of my head. I am just getting to know some of these guys and haven't interviewed all of them. Having said that, I'd put Morrison, Watts and Schrauth at the top of the best interviews for different reasons. I'd say Mitchell Evans and Christian Gray make me laugh the most. And personality of a coach or player I didn't expect ... probably Gino Guidugli among coaches. And among players ... Charles Jagusah.
Denny from Bullard, Texas: I will be at the A&M game this year with my three “kids” that are all Aggie graduates. As my retirement gift from them is all expenses paid to the home and home games in 2024 and 2025 in South Bend. So an Irish win would be sweet as well as save me from a lot of razzing! I see this game as two teams with strong defenses and great QB’s and inexperienced but talented offensive lines. Kyle field will be a tough venue in August. So my question is what do you think will be the main factor for the Irish to pull out a win?
Eric Hansen: Denny, wait a minute. Your kids GIVE you stuff and don't ASK for money? What universe do you live in and how can I get there? Kidding ... sort of. I think Notre Dame will be the more complete team on the field that night. Texas A&M has some aspects of that team that are really good, especially it's defensive line, but I think ND is better and deeper in most places, enough to win a close game in a tough road environment.
Ced Walker from Saginaw, Mich. aka sagnasty Saginaw pride: What positions concern you the most going to training camp July 31 and any new recruits at wr for the 2025 class do u think Dallas golden can play wr here come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us
Eric Hansen: Hi Ced. Notre Dame has some time to recalibrate and reset its board after losing Derek Meadows, Dylan Robinson and Tanook Hines last week. ND has two WR commits in Jerome Bettis Jr. and Elijah Burress, and wants two more. They're still going to pursue Meadows, despite his commitment to LSU. We'll push out names as the offers go out. But since official visits won't resume until the season gets underway, there's not a huge rush to extend offers until then. ... Yes, 2025 CB commit Dallas Golden would be a very good WR, I believe, at the college level, or a safety. The Irish like him at CB for now. Freshman safety Tae Johnson could also play WR down the road if it came to it, but with the transfer portal and renewed efforts with high school recruiting, I think those players will likely stay on defense.
Dave from Pa.: My question is about scheduling and ND’s approach moving forward. In today’s landscape where TV rights money is critical, wouldn’t it be best to load the schedule with the 12 toughest games we can schedule? If you keep the Navy game as a destination, your ACC tie ins (which should have a couple of manageable wins each year, but still name brands mostly), USC…then load up the remaining slots with Marquee matchps (think Michigan, OSU, PSU, Bama, Georgia, Texas, OKlahoma, etc). The talking heads are already forecasting that a 3 loss team with one of the toughest schedules in America can get into the playoff. ND would have prime time content to drive TV rights value, they can sell recruits on playing the best competition in the country in every major market, and in most years if you go 3-3 or better in monster match ups, you still have a shot to get in with a schedule featuring 11 power conference teams and Navy? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Eric Hansen: Hi Dave. Let me preface this with, I may be misunderstanding your question. I don't think ANY team wants to load up on the 12 best teams it can schedule. But you want a schedule to be strong enough to get you to the playoff. The rhythm in a schedule also matters, so does the number of home games. Notre Dame, like most Power 4 schools, wants to play seven home games (or six and a Shamrock Series offsite home game). To make the math work, you're going to have to schedule a couple of teams that don't require a trip to their stadium as part of the deal. So you're going to end up with a couple of Group of 5 teams on your schedule that will take a paycheck over a return game. You also can't peak to a crescendo every week, so you wouldn't want 10 other really killer games. You need to spread them out. Yes, a 9-3 team MAY make it into the playoff, but not universally so. Notre Dame should be able to make it on at 10-2 most years, but this could be a year where 11-1 is the bar, because of the overall (lack of) strength of schedule and the rhythm of the schedule, where those toughest games fall.
Lorne from Reno, Nev.: Hello, Eric, and thanks as always for the chat. I was shocked that Al Golden was not hired away this off-season. What in the Wide Wide World of Sports is everybody thinking? I am thrilled to have him back for another year, and based on how the defense looks, I would think he will have suitors after the season. Won't he?
Eric Hansen: Al Golden signed a three-year contract extension. That doesn't mean he'll be here for all three, but it's tougher to tempt him during those three. He loves what he's doing here and has a great present and future, it appears, at ND. And ND is willing and able to financially compensate elite coordinators. So it would take an exceptional situation for him to opt for something else in the near future.
Tom from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric. Thanks for taking the time to get all of us through the off-season to camp finally ready to open. A couple of questions: Will ND take new height/weight numbers when camp opens? If so, will you see these numbers so that we can see who has made progress since spring ball? Who do you hope to see take big steps in this area? Being here in the Atlanta area, I am a little curious as to why so many people think the GT game will be a "trap game". Can you please shed some light on that thinking. Have a great camp and as always GO IRISH!!!!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. Yes, ND will have revised numbers either at the start of camp or very early on. And I think the guy everyone is keeping tabs on is right tackle Aamil Wagner, who's lack of mass to this point has been his biggest impediment to moving up the depth chart. I don't think it will be anymore, but we will see. I'm curious where young defensive ends Bryce Young and Boubacar Traore show up with strength/weight gains as that will help them too ... and curious where freshman RB Kedren Young will be with his size, as I see him as a possible third-down specialist. ... I am one of those who considers Ga Tech a trap game. Not saying they'll beat the Irish or scare them but they have potential to make it interesting, based on how good their offense was last year and is expected to be this year. In a big turnover game, that could be a factor.
The Yellow Jackets played Georgia very tough at the end of the year (lost 31-23), then romped over UCF in their bowl game. BUT, they really need to improve their defense if they're going to be more than a .500-ish team this season.
Eric Hansen: OK, that's going to do it for this week. Thanks for all the great questions. Because we have practice viewing and interviews Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week. I'll set the next chat for Saturday, Aug. 3 at noon ET. Thanks for chatting and/or lurking.
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