Chat Transcript: Dishing on Notre Dame's recruiting methodology, momentum
Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat — Freezing Rain edition — brought to you by J&R Solutions.
Due to overwhelming demand, we’re going to continue the chats on a weekly basis through winter workouts and into spring football. After moving to Tuesday for this week, we’re able to slide back into our normal Wednesday at noon ET time slot beginning next week.
► 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’re back in a Monday at 7 ET time slot after some deviations the past few weeks to work around the holidays and the national championship game. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube.
► This week’s Inside ND Sports Podcast will drop on Thursday. On our most recent edition, former Notre Dame wide receiver Robby Toma (2009-12) joined Tyler James and me. Toma played at Punahou before Notre Dame and remains involved with the Punahou School football program as a volunteer assistant coach. Toma discussed recent Irish linebacker commit Ko'o Kia, expectations for brother Kahanu Kia (who recently returned to ND from a two-year Mormon Mission), the pride he takes in the Punahou School pipeline to Notre Dame, why Hawaii products have gravitated toward ND despite obstacles, the job special teams coordinator Marty Biagi is doing in maintaining Hawaii connections, what's left for ND defensive end Jordan Botelho, his experience with offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, Manti Te'o being embraced in recent years 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 rolling into a busy football offseason at WSBT radio season, and Darin Pritchett and I are together this week Wednesday and Thursday on Weekday SportsBeat (960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com). 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(s).
Here are the rules:
Eric Hansen: Off we go ...
Marie from Atlanta: hi Eric, I hope you’re having a great week. Can you tell us what you know about how the junior weekend went? The wide receiver recruiting board has gotten much bigger recently, do you think this is because Mike Brown is looking for different qualities than Chancey Stucky was looking for? or do you think this is purely a depth/numbers issue? Finally, what do you think Swarbrick will do after he retires? Do you think he will stay involved in college football in some way? As always, thanks for hosting the chats, particularly in the off-season when we’re all looking for anything Notre Dame football.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. Thank you for being a part of these chats and keeping me on my toes with your questions. ... I think the standard impression every program tries to depict after recruiting events like this is wild success, but in this case the progress the Irish coaching staff was able to make with some top 2025 targets and a top 2026 QB recruit was truly significant. That includes moving from a long shot for elite linebacker recruit Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng to becoming a legit contender for the nation's No. 20 player and No. 1 linebacker in the 2025 class. (He's the half brother of former Irish All-American Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah). The fact that 11 of the 14 committed Irish players in that class came to South Bend on a bone-chilling cold weekend to help recruit — on their own dime — speaks volumes. Tyler James and I went into great detail on our latest Football Never Sleeps YouTube Show if you want more depth.
To your wide receivers question, I don't think it's so much that Mike Brown is looking for different traits as former ND receivers coach Chansi Stuckey as it is Mike had relationships with some WRs while recruiting at Cincinnati and Wisconsin that he'd like to capitalize on. I'm sure there are some new OC Mike Denbrock likes as well. As far as Jack Swarbrick and what he'll do after retiring, I have not had the chance to ask him about that, so I don't want to speak for him. But given his connections and the respect he has in the college football community, I would think there would be lots of opportunities for him to impact that game if that's what he chose to do.
Matt from Austin: Hello Eric, thank you as always for hosting these chats. I saw yesterday that prized quarterback recruit Deuce Knight wrote on X that he was "blessed to be "re-offered" by Alabama." Lately, he appeared to be a strong recruiter for the 2025 class. What are your thoughts on such a post? It may be rather benign, but if he is not considering Alabama, why bother? I cannot imagine that Coach Freeman and the rest of the staff would be too pleased to see it. Thanks again Eric.
Eric Hansen: Hi Matt. It's pretty standard for most kids to acknowledge an offer in that kind of templated fashion. I really don't see the harm in it. Deuce Knight's presence on social media in interacting with uncommitted Notre Dame recruiting targets and his interactions with recruits on his visits to ND speak pretty clearly to where his heart and mind are at.
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► Trail Tracks: Notre Dame football coaches hit road for contact period, 1/23
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Jim from Wheaton, Ill.: Eric, Thanks for all of the incredible insights and information to those of us starving for updates! When will the twelfth game for 2024 be finalized and announced, and what is the holdup? Are the Irish worried about weakening their strength of schedule if they contract with certain schools? Thanks!
Eric Hansen: Hi Jim. I would expect the 12th game with Army to be announced within the next chat or two, so I am counting down the days until this is no longer in doubt for anyone. I understand your curiosity. Notre Dame likes to do things with its own sense of timing. The strength of schedule issue is not a holdup.
Denis from Niagara Falls, Canada: Hey Eric. I haven't heard a word regarding the contract extension of Al Golden. With all the vacancies at both the NFL and college level, what should be my level of concern of losing golden? Low, Medium, High, Off the chart (which I am currently at) ? Thanks very much.
Eric Hansen: Hi Denis. If you think concern will help the situation, I'd put it at medium. Al Golden is recruiting like he'll never leave and yet he will be coveted by some NFL teams and the NFL coaching carousel is still spinning. I think it's safe to rule out a college job. The way I'd look at it, it's good to have coaches that are good enough that they're in demand.
Jules from Joliet, Ill.: Thanks for all of your great work on these chats and videos/Podcasts. When Harry Hiestand returned as OL coach he has Chris Watt as an assistant. I assumed that Watt was being groomed as Harry’s replacement. Is he still with the team?
Eric Hansen: Hi Jules, and thanks. Former Irish offensive guard Chris Watt still may end up the offensive line coach at Notre Dame sometime down the road. He's still very early into his coaching career, having played in the NFL first. He is currently the assistant offensive line coach for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, working under O-line coach Tony Sparano Jr. This is Chris' fourth year of coaching overall, two as an ND grad assistant (2020 and 2022) and one as the O-line coach at Tulane (2021). I know Harry Hiestand thinks very highly of Watts and his coaching future.
Tom from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric, I'm happy to see that ND football will have a Super Bowl Champion this year!! Of all the ND players still in the playoffs, who do you think will have the biggest most positive impact for their team?? Lots of good options. How much does the appearance of so many key players, so deep into the Playoffs, have on recruits?? Finally, have you and the grandkids built any snowmen yet this year? Saw a sign in a grocery store for carrots that said "Snowman noses $1.00 a bag." My daughter still remembers a huge snowman we built almost 40 years ago. Be well and Go Irish!!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. As you point out, lots of good choices, but I'm going to go with Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton. There's no question it impacts recruits, and you can see that in how far Notre Dame football leans into that in its social media accounts. ... To your snowman question, they have not yet built one here. Even though we live fairly close, they've gotten way more snow than we have and haven't been able to get down here. But I'm sure they have multiple ones in their yard. Their dad was doing some snowplowing and rescuing Amazon delivery drivers last night.
Don from Scottsdale, Ariz.: Eric, Hope there's been a warming trend. A rare rainy day in Phoenix. Might have to ditch work, start a fire and read a book! CFB is now year round. Besides recruiting what has your interest this time of the year?
Eric Hansen: Hi Don. If you start a fire and you want to be like Buffalo Bills fans, the fire is supposed to be on a table and then you jump into the fire and break the table. If you decide to do that, I want pictures! ... So, over the first couple of Fridays in February, we have a chance to interview new director of football performance Loren Landow as well as all 15 early enrolled freshmen, the six of the eight transfers who are in school this semester and returning defender Kahanu Kia. I would imagine we'll get to chat with new OC Mike Denbrock sooner than later as well. I also like to tackle some of the topics in depth that I can't get to during the season. I've got a few NIL ideas I plan to get to for instance. And I like to do deep analyses as well.
It's also a good time to try to sit down with the athletic director. I've got some other things in the works I'd rather not tip off my competition about. And then I'm covering women's basketball pretty regularly and will dip my toe into baseball and men's lacrosse, which actually start playing games in less than a month.
Ced Walker from Saginaw, Mich.: notre dame junior day went very well last weekend who do u see committing to notre dame 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. No commitments just yet, but plenty of momentum. Remember Notre Dame already has 14 commitments in the 2025 class and the 2024 cycle hasn't officially come to a close yet. No one else has more than nine. Most teams have five or fewer. So, this is a good place for the Irish to be.
Marty from San Antonio, Texas: Hello Eric. I am concerned about the dynamics at linebacker. Notre Dame doesn’t seem to have the speed and physicality at this level to make game changing or game saving plays. Do you see us improving in this area through development of the current roster or with incoming recruits?
Eric Hansen: Hi Marty. I think your concern might be misplaced, too late or you've violated one of the chat rules ... and not the one about no bare feet. ... Look, ND did not have high-round draft choices as their starters this season, but two of them were ranked by Pro Football Focus in the top 10 of all FBS linebackers. They were part of a defense that finished No. 5 nationally, the second-highest finish by an ND defense in the past 50 seasons.
And Marcus Freeman and staff have recruited players who more display the traits of a future NFL prospect. For three cycles in a row, ND has landed top 50 prospects at that position in Jaylen Sneed, Drayk Bowen and now five-star Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. There's some other very athletic young linebackers, including Jaiden Ausberry and June enrollee Bodie Kahoun. If you had concerns before, I think you won't have them for long.
Eric Hansen: Charleston Bowles will have a story up soon, but key backup defensive lineman Gabe Rubio is not on the Irish spring football roster. He is away from the team attending to a "personal matter" -- per an ND spokesperson. He is not in the transfer portal and COULD rejoin the team in time for the 2024 season. That part is to be determined.
Eric Hansen: Here's Charleston Bowles' story on Gabe Rubio.
Sean from Schaumburg, Ill.: Enjoyed FNS. You guys kept it lite/fun. Very happy you guys mentioned continuity. I think it's crucial--From a coaching standpoint--on both sides of the ball. Denbrock familiarity with Cincy coaches. I remember a story about Denbrock and Juju Smith-Schuster after a game in LA. Juju sought out Denbrock because he had developed such a great rapport with Denbrock and he wanted to show respect/gratitude for the way he recruited him. Very excited to have Denbrock back. BVG ruined a great 2015 team. I don’t think 10-2 gets into the 12-team playoff. I think G Tech is the surprise team next year. 9+ wins for them in 2024. Is O'Malley the guy you nudge to ask Landow how to properly say his name? Go Irish!!
Eric Hansen: Thanks for the feedback, Sean. No Tim O is not someone I'd ask to do that. Love the O'Malley family. His late brother, John, was one of my best friends. ... I agree the schedule sets up too weird to make 10-2 for ND a hard sell as a playoff team.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric! Coach Freeman has done a good job, IMO, navigating what is the reality of recruiting, NIL, transfer portal & facility expectations in today's college football world. As with all Head Coaches, MF must be a CEO of the football program as well as head coach. A position created first by Nick Saban. What resources will MF have as compared to the major programs in the super conferences, the SEC and the BIG 10? Does he have a GM yet? Is this a question better suited for a podcast or for a future article, just let me know? Second question to follow
Eric Hansen: Hi Len. Notre Dame has a GM, though they don't call it that. Butler Benton has been Notre Dame's assistant athletics director/player personnel since last April. He's over the transfer portal, recruiting, etc., and has made an impact. I don't think ND is lacking in infrastructure from a personnel standpoint. There may be other Power 4/5 programs with more bodies, but more isn't always better. What might be helpful is the kinds of experience levels that are filling some of those positions. That's where I might have some questions.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hi Eric, question number 2. Since MF has been head coach he has lost or let go five position coaches. Those 5 being Mike Elston, Tommy Rees, Harry Hiestand , Chansi Stuckey & Gerad Parker. Those five staff positions are now filled with Al Washington, Mike Denbrock, Gino Guidugli , Joe Rudolph and Mike Brown. Both the current holder of the position and the coaches that left have somewhat impressive credentials. Compare them for us. recruiters, team oriented, player oriented, creative genius or whatever you feel is pertinent, and if you Like add Brian Mason and Marty Biagi.
Eric Hansen: Hi Len. There are a lot more on that list. Brian Polian, Del Alexander, John McNulty, Jeff Quinn and James Laurinaitis, who was technically a grad assistant and who coached linebackers. I'm not sure I could do your exercise justice with that many names. But let me focus on the five current coaches you asked about. Mike Denbrock is the most proven recruiter, at Notre Dame and elsewhere. Gino Guidugli is very thorough, leaves no stone unturned and so far has done a great job of getting and keeping the Irish in the mix with top targets. Mike Brown has done a good job at UC and Wisconsin and I think will take it a step up with a Notre Dame logo on his polo shirt.
I think Joe Rudolph has been more aggressive this cycle (2025) having not found his footing and being able to establish his own relationships. Al Washington has stepped up his recruiting significantly in the 2025 cycle and has a strong 2023 season of player development to sell.
Matt from DC: I read that Justin Scott planned to commit to ND but didn’t because of the no official visit policy. Similarly, ND won’t accept officials from recruits committed elsewhere. Are those common rules amongst the big time programs? Does ND need to rethink them if they want to be serious contenders for the top recruits? (Not saying Justin Scott would be Irish with a policy change, just using him as an example)
Eric Hansen: Hi Matt. I can't tell you how common it is. I don't get into the weeds that deep, but I know it's a policy that seems to work well for Notre Dame, and that's what is most important. You're right, how would the outcome have been different had the policy not been in place? Justin Scott still would have ended up at Miami. He had plenty of opportunities to flip to ND and chose not to, even though he stated publicly academics and proximity to his home in Chicago were top priorities.
Had ND not had that policy, there's a chance they would have missed out on signing Sean Sevillano Jr. They want the commitment to mean something, not be a place-holder so a recruit can then go shop for better/other offers. That doesn't mean there will never be decommitments, but it minimizes the chances of that happening in the October-December stretch run.
Skip from Houston: Now that the dust has settled, please discuss responsibility for having only 10 players on the field for the last two plays against Ohio State - thank you.
Eric Hansen: Skip, I don't think anything has changed since Sept. 23. We've hashed and rehashed this to the point of exhaustion. Not sure what you're looking for. It was a mistake that should never be repeated.
Patrick from Los Angeles: It seems many players have lost weight. What do you hear as to the reason? Is it by design or is the new strength coordinator doing an inadequate job? Thank you.
Eric Hansen: Hi Patrick. If you're looking at the new roster and drawing that conclusion, keep in mind those measurements were taken before Loren Landow held his first winter workout. There's some natural weight fluctuation during the season and bowl season that gets corrected during the winter semester. I would imagine the snapshot we get at the start of spring football will look different, and again at the start of summer school.
Denny from Beaverton Ore.: Hi Eric; I asked a question a few months back about the long term viability of the Notre Dame/ USC future scheduling with USC leaving for the Big 10. Did you ever get a chance to ask Jack Swarbrick about that? The sun has come out and the ice has finally melted here in Portland Or. I sure look forward to the weekly chats. Thank You!
Eric Hansen: Hi Denny. I wish I had more control over those requests (and sometimes broken promises). With new AD Pete Bevacqua starting on March 25, that seems like something I should now ask him.
Ryan mars Pa: Good afternoon Eric What do you think about our chance to get Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng when he decides i think we get Him Go IRISH ☘️☘️🏈🏈
Eric Hansen: Hi Ryan. I think there's a long way to go in that recruitment and a lot of work ahead for Notre Dame, but I think they made a strong impression and are in the mix now.
Mike from Rochester, N.Y.: Hi, Eric, excellent YouTube show last night with the focus on recruiting. Who do you see as most likely to fill the left OT slot? Following Joe Alt is going to be just as tough as following a certain coach from Alabama.
Eric Hansen: Thanks, Mike. Unless there's an All-American-caliber OT addition from the transfer portal in May/June, it's really going to come down to three players -- Tosh Baker, Charles Jagusah and Aamil Wagner in my opinion. And I'm betting that Wagner gets it done in the weight room this winter and wins that job. I still like Jagusah to start somewhere, perhaps right tackle. And yes big shoes to fill, but consider the lineage there ... just in recent years ... Zack Martin, Ronnie Stanley, Mike McGlinchey, Liam Eichenberg and then Joe Alt after some shuffling early in the 2021 season.
Lars: Freeman’s decisiveness to move on from Chansi Stuckey, even after the guy had seemingly been hitting home runs on the recruiting front and had restored a barren WR chest within 2 seasons, was very intriguing. And yet, very little has been reported on that breakdown since. Do you have any further insight on what really transpired between Freeman and Stuckey?
Eric Hansen: Lars, I'm not sure what you're looking for beyond what has been reported. Great recruiter and Marcus Freeman felt Chansi fell short on development. In Mike Brown, Marcus Freeman feels he has someone who can excel at both facets.
Eric Hansen: OK, for the first time in a long, long time, I've emptied the question portal. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back on Wednesday next week, at noon, to do it all again.
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