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Chat Transcript: NFL Draft aftermath, ND's recruiting dynamics in NIL Era

Notre Dame wide receiver Btaden Lenzy (0) chats with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees during the Blue-Gold Game on April 23.
Notre Dame wide receiver Btaden Lenzy (0) chats with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees during the Blue-Gold Game on April 23. (Matt Cashore USA TODAY Sports Network)

Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, post-NFL Draft/pre-the Sky is Falling edition. Just kidding about that last part ... kind of.

Lots of NIL and portal questions today among others. I do not, as of yet, have an NIL deal. Please remember to include your NAME and HOMETOWN with your question.

Let's go.

Andrew Barlow from Austin, Texas: Does the two-pick outcome of the 2022 NFL draft support the narrative that the '21 Irish overachieved with limited talent (ie. great coaching job), recruited poorly in 2016/17, didn't recruit their own roster well for retention, didn't develop the talent they had, fell prey to the transfer portal or all of the above?

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Eric Hansen: Andrew, I agree there are a lot of layers here, including some you didn't suggest. ... Let's start with recruiting. The 2017 class was not a standout class in total. That's the one ND struggled to hold together during and just after a 4-8 season, with all the rumors about Brian Kelly's future and then a mass turnover of assistant coaches in December. Notre Dame lost six players to poaching in that class — most ever in the Kelly Era. Typically, the poached players have ended up busts or very average at the poaching school more often than not. This group was loaded. Three have been drafted (Paulsen Adebo, Elijah Hicks, Pete Werner). Two will still be playing in 2022 (Robert Beal at Georgia and Jordan Pouncey at Florida ,having transferred from Texas). One — Donovan Jeter (Michigan) — just went undrafted.

Four players from that 2017 class were drafted in previous years. ... Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Aaron Banks, Robert Hainsey and Cole Kmet. ... If you remember, ND had to scramble to fill out the class, flipping several players and adding six right at the end of the cycle. One of those was JOK, but he was a three-star prospect then. ... I think one of the layers people are missing is what a great job Marcus Freeman did at recruiting his own roster once BK left and Marcus was elevated from DC. You've got six players (not counting transfer Blake Grupe) taking advantage of the COVID exemption extra year. Then you have Jarrett Patterson and Isiah Foskey who came back and would have been day 2 picks. The Sporting News projects each of them as first-rounders next year (Brandon Joseph and Michael Mayer, too).

So there were only 10 players who were even in the draft pool. Next cycle, there will be 41 draft-eligible (most will come back), but 16 will have expiring eligibility or in position to take the COVID exemption. There will be roughly 17 in play to get drafted or make a camp as an undrafted player. Depending on who comes out, the number of drafted players could be anywhere from eight to maybe 12. ND was coming off its highest three-year total of draftees (21) since 1993-95 (24), so I'd look at this draft as an outlier more than anything else.

David from D.C.: Thanks for the chat, Eric. When a football player is suspended, either by the university or by the team, and the media learns about it through sources, what is the protocol for reporting this? I read that Kevin Austin was suspended three or four times during his time with Notre Dame, but I only recall hearing about one of these contemporaneously, when he sat due to academic issues. Are reporters limited in what they can report, for privacy reasons or otherwise?

Eric Hansen: David, thanks for the question. The quick answer is yes, but not everyone plays by the same rules. Let's start with Kevin Austin. If he was really suspended three or four times, then it must have been some kind of double-secret probation. He played in all but two games as a freshman (and may have been in the doghouse for those two late in the season if I remember right). He was suspended for the entirety of his sophomore season in 2019. Played in two games in 2020 between his first foot fracture and his second. And then played in every game in 2021. Played every spring that there was spring ball, to my recollection, when healthy.

So let's address your question in a general sense. There are times the university will announce a suspension and other times it will not. There are also times when the kid himself will announce it. Alizé Mack did that when he had to sit out. Sometimes it's a relative. Dexter Williams' mother told me about his suspension and was candid about it. The VERY BEST scenario always is to have someone put their name to it. If you use an unnamed source, you better be right. Remember when someone had reported Jordan Botelho was going to be suspended for the entire 2021 season? And he was not.

So the overriding principles are accuracy and fairness. And you keep working to get things on the record, even if it happens after the fact. Remember, there are times the head coach is hamstrung from commenting because of privacy rules. If you've got multiple sources you can trust, then you can report it without attribution, but the nature of the suspension cannot always be reported unless the suspended player cooperates. I hope this doesn't come off as a word salad.

Arkansas State transfer kicker Blake Grupe (99) struggled with accuracey in the Blue-Gold Game/
Arkansas State transfer kicker Blake Grupe (99) struggled with accuracey in the Blue-Gold Game/ (Jeff Douglas, Inside ND Sports)

Tom from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric, always enjoy talking to you in these Chats!!! You are the best without a doubt. Two questions, #1 even before the poor showing in the spring game, I have been very worried about our kicking game, namely field goals/extra points. With the schedule we have and many close, high-anxiety games on tap this season, please tell me that you have seen something that won't come back to bite us in the close games??? #2 Even though the TE's beyond Michael Mayer don't have much experience, I think they are still pretty good. If the WRs continue to be so-so, do you see Tommy Rees using more two-tight end sets?? If so, who do you think the second TE will be? Thanks again for all you do for us ND fans. Go Irish!!!!

Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. Thanks for the kind words and the great questions. For question one, the best piece of encouragement I can give you is that it's not unusual for kickers to struggle in the spring in this climate, when their routine and rhythm is disrupted. Blake Grupe does have a long track record, while Josh Bryan is unproven, but both will be able to get around their private kicking coaches this May and into the summer and that can do wonders. Also Zac Yoakam is coming in as a walk-on in June to compete. Question 2 is, yes, ND can run more multiple-tight end sets and also move Michael Mayer around the formation. Mitchell Evans and Kevin Bauman each made strong bids this spring to be tight end No. 2. I'm going to have a story later this week on freshman Eli Raridon, and he's way ahead of schedule in recovering from a torn ACL playing basketball. He might be an option if he's fully recovered in August. Let's also see if ND gets WR help from the portal. Then Tommy Rees has lots of options for personnel groups.

Jim Tal from Valley Center, Calif.: Hi Eric, thanks so much for doing these informative chats. Regardless of how their pro careers may turn out, isn't it a fact that Kyren Williams and Kevin Austin would have significantly improved their draft stock had they come back to ND and delivered productive seasons in 2022? And if neither goes on to make an impact in the pros, won't both of them be viewed as two players who miscalculated by not returning for a final season? Going in the fifth round and being undrafted were clearly disappointing results that neither one expected. Thanks again.

Eric Hansen: Hi Jim. A definite yes with Kevin Austin. Should have come back. He still can make this work and have an NFL career. Kyren Williams, I don't think that was a mistake. He had family circumstances that he wanted to address that maybe NIL couldn't do. Running backs have limited "tread on the tires" and short careers. The knock on him wasn't a lack of experience or production. It was his speed and his size, which aren't likely to change. I believe 14 backs went ahead of him. Twelve of them were 210 pounds or more. Kyren is 194. The NFL prefers the bigger backs. Again, he can make it work as a late-round draft pick, plus he went to the team he dreamed about playing for (Rams) growing up.

Brian from Ashburn, Va.: Even though Tyler Buchner has not been officially named the starter, do you think he will get together with some of the skill players and work on routes and timing on their own time over the summer?

Eric Hansen: Absolutely. There are many players-only practice sessions and extra throwing sessions. And I would expect Drew Pyne to do the same thing. Remember, having a capable No. 2 QB is going to be very important.

Jeff from Phoenix: May the fourth be with you, Eric! Nerd alert. So ... when Marcus Freeman was hired as head coach, he acknowledged that installing the third defensive coordinator and scheme in three years could be frustrating to his team and result in some learning fatigue. So he indicated that changes to the defense would not be revolutionary but rather complementary to the last strategy. With spring practice completed, have Marcus Freeman and Al Golden met that objective? I haven’t detected frustration with the players, but what have you heard? Maybe they were more adaptable than MF anticipated? Your thoughts? Thanks.

Eric Hansen: Haha. For some reason I get way more into Cinco de Mayo than the May 4th Star Wars stuff. ... Could it be because there might be a TACO BAR? ... Jeff, I remember Marcus Freeman saying that and watched that very closely. While the defensive structure wasn't revolutionary, there is a signicant amount of change — bnot as much from Clark Lea to Freeman, but still significant. I think what eliminated or at least mitigated the frustration is because it was taught so well. Al Golden is a master teacher and adding James Lauinaitias as a grad assistant was a brilliant move along with having Brian Mason work part-time with the rovers/snipers when he wasn't coaching special teams.

John from Palmyra, Pa.: You missed my question last week or the week before regarding NIL (and specifically with Dante Moore). I want to believe in what separates Notre Dame from other football factories, and what makes it special. However, I don’t walk around with my head in the sand, either. One could assume that Notre Dame has not been paying for players over the last 30 years, given that the talent gap has been exposed over and over again on the national stage. What gives with this current class? I want to believe it’s the Freeman effect, as well as Notre Dame being on the cusp of being relevant once again. Players definitely want to play with other great players, and win at the highest level. I get that, but are these kids signing because they’re being paid?

Eric Hansen: John, please don't take it personally if I miss a question of yours going forward. Usually, it's sheer volume and not the quality of the question. ... John, I'm not sure if you're asking does ND have the No. 2 class nationally at the moment because they're paying kids illegally or if they've incorporated an effective NIL strategy into the recruiting pitch. Or neither. I think if NIL did not exist, ND would be in contention for a top five class because of Marcus Freeman's personal involvement in recruiting and the standard he sets and the example he sets for his entire staff. Since NIL DOES exist, I believe it's a combination of the Freeman effect, as you call it, and the effective way he and the staff have gone about explaining the NIL options that will exist for them at ND.

Frank from Royse City, Texas: Eric, can Powlus go to school free because of his dad working at ND? If so, doesn’t it make sense to open up a scholarship for someone that can help the team? Also, ND has a scholarship fair-catch expert. Again the scholarship can be used better!

Eric Hansen: Frank, to my understanding, there is that kind of scholarship flexibility when it comes to Ron Powlus III. As far as the worthiness of a walk-on earning a scholarship, I trust the coaching staff to assess those situations based on what those players bring to the program. I'm not about to question that.

Lorne from Reno, Nev. While many people thought Kevin Austin would benefit from another year in college, I'm sure most people were surprised that he wasn't drafted, especially given the emphasis on WRs in the NFL and in the draft. Have you heard of any latent concerns that affected his status (health issues like the JOK thing, etc.)? I know he was a little rusty this year — which likely wouldn't have been the case with another full season in college — but "undrafted" seems inexplicable.

Eric Hansen: Lorne, a lot of people — including Austin — were shocked, especially in light of his elite testing numbers. His medicals, his 2019 suspension and his inconsistencies in 2021 apparently all added up to too much risk for a draft pick. It wouldn't surprise me if he made a roster this fall.

Sophomore Jayden Thomas surged toward the end of spring, including during the April 23 Blue-Gold Game.
Sophomore Jayden Thomas surged toward the end of spring, including during the April 23 Blue-Gold Game. (Jeff Douglas, Inside ND Sports)

Bobby fromCleveland, Ohio: Hi Eric! Calm my nerves about the Irish'wide receiver squad. All of the fifth-year seniors (Davis, Lenzy, and Wilkins Jr.) seem to have injury histories and haven't shown a lot of production. Davis is still coming back from his ACL surgery and Wilkins recently broke his foot. Behind them are the three soon-to-be-sophomores, only one of whom played significant minutes. Will Jayden Thomas or Deion Colzie emerge? Will Tobias Merriweather, the only incoming freshman, be forced on the field? Are there any hopes of getting a WR in the transfer portal?

Eric Hansen: Bobby, simmer down now. I believe Notre Dame will be able to find a match in the portal his month. Not easy, as I've mentioned many times, with undergrads. Jayden Thomas did surge this spring. I think Deion Colzie will this summer. And Lorenzo Styles will be WR No. 1. I'm not sure how Tobias Merriweather will fit, but he's confident and running track to get ready. Braden Lenzy had a really good spring, but yes those three all have injuries histories. So ask me again in a month. And if you're still on edge, maybe we can discuss it over a beverage.

Hugh Jaynus, Brown Gap TN: With Logan Diggs sidelined by injury presumably for 3-6 months, what are the odds that Gi'Bran Payne breaks into the rotation this year? Along that same vein, would/should/could Jadarian Price do some slot work to bolster the passing game or all simply too early to tell?

Eric Hansen: Hugh, you are in luck. I have a story I posted this morning on Gi'Bran and his college readiness. IF he's healthy he will be able to help, it seems. He's up to 210 and running track at Cincinnati La Salle this spring. Yes, I think both Chris Tyree and Jadarian Price could help bolster the slot receiver position doing double duty.

Jeff from Fort Wayne: I hope all is well with you. If you could warm it up just a bit, maybe it would feel more like spring. I haven’t heard of any names being put in the transfer portal, and I believe they are over the 85 limit right now. If no one transfers, do you think they will force someone out? Also, do they still look for a receiver in the portal?

Eric Hansen: Jeff. Thanks. All good here, and the good weather is coming. Notre Dame did its exit interviews last week, I believe, before the assistant coaches hit the road. If players wanted to transfer without waiting or waivers, they had to let their compliance offices know by Sunday. There was some expected administrative lag, but we should know who and how many very soon. According to our handy dandy scholarship chart, Notre Dame is at 86. Even if it stayed there (and I don't expect it to), ND does have some wiggle-room scenarios to be able to get to 85 before fall classes start (the deadline to do so). I do think ND should and well look for a receiver or receivers in the portal.

Mary Louise from Youngstown, Ohio: Now that the NFL Draft has concluded, do you think Kevin Austin would have been better served staying at Notre Dame for one more season?

Eric Hansen: Mary Louise. I thought that before the draft. He did not ask my opinion, however.

Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric. I hope you are having a great week. Do you think he fact that only two ND players were drafted will have an effect on recruiting? Since Dante Moore has not yet committed, and there is not a great backup plan if he goes elsewhere, if you are ND and Julian Sayin is ready to commit, do you take him,t even thought CJ Carr is probably preferred? Also, suspend reality momentarily, you have just been named Mark Emmert's replacement what would you propose immediately and over the next 1-2 years to get pay for play under control? I fear this may be the beginning of the end for college football as we know it. Thanks for hosting the chat and the great insights.

Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. I hope YOU are having a great week. For the most part, no. The exception is if you're a WR considering Ohio State and ND, and Ohio State has two receivers and a transfer go back to back to back in the first round ... and the best receiver may still be on the Buckeyes' roster (Jaxon Smith-Njigba). ... and ND's best wide receiver went undrafted. Other than that. ND had nine players drafted in 2021 and will have another large draft class next year. ... To your QB question, I think the 2024s won't commit (at least not en masse) until some more of the 2023 dominoes fall. Since ND leads for CJ Carr and he seems like the preferred option. I'd wait on Carr. ... To your NCAA question, college football can't wait until Mark Emmert stops drawing a paycheck for having his thumb up his .... ear. There needs to be urgency now. SI's Ross Dellenger wrote about this the other day. University administrators have put together a task force to address proposed limits of NIL soon. The issue is the state laws which some collectives perceive as protecting them, which would mean national legislation is needed and/or some fierce court battles.

Len from the Jersey Shore: Hi Eric, Kudos to your comment last week on the “shortness of my question." Two comments and then your thoughts after these two recent revelations. Georgia had 15 NFL draft picks with five defenders going in the first round. ND obviously is short of that level of talent. Pitt Biletnikoff winner and sophomore WR Jordan Addison is rumored to be heading to USC in the transfer portal for off-the-chart NIL money. How does ND handle the talent gap ,especially in this Wild West transfer portal NIL environment?

Eric Hansen: There are more Jordan Addison questions and will tease those out next ... I think the perhaps oversimplified answer is to continue with Marcus Freeman's plan/vision, which is working while being competitive in the NIL space. AND hope that the task force I mentioned in the last question actually has some teeth and can affect change effectively and quickly.

Kevin from Sleepy Eye, Minn.: Eric!! (I miss Manny:) Would we purse Jordan Addison?

Eric Hansen: I miss Manny from San Pedro as well. Not sure he knows how to find me here. ... So let's look at Jordan Addison in its entirety. He was the No. 82 receiver in the 2020 class the cycle in which the Irish took Jordan Johnson, Xavier Watts and Jay Brunelle. Johnson (UCF) and Brunelle (Yale) left ND before their sophomore seasons. Watts was converted to a safety. The Irish recruited Addison to play cornerback. The good news is he initially was an academic fit, but undergrad transfers are often not fits. In Pete Thamel's ESPN article, it was stated that Addison was open to all suitors, including a return to Pitt. Most still think he'll end up at USC and that an NIL deal will be the driving force.

Louis from Lansing: With Dante Moore trending away from ND more and more every day, what is their next move? They missed the boat with Christopher Vizzina, and I don't see any other elite options. Same with corner and Christian Gray. The two problem positions (in my opinion) for the Irish, and they have zero answers in the 2023 class so far. Thanks!

Eric Hansen: Louis. You and I perceive what's happening in the 2023 class very differently. In the post-Holtz Era (1997-present), I have not seen an Irish class start this strong and have the promise of carrying that momentum throughout the cycle. Now none of the previous ones had the NIL monster in the room, either. Dante Moore and Christian Gray are taking visits. I still think they're more likely than not to end up at ND. If the Irish lose out on Moore, there aren't many easy/attractive options other than trying to flip a QB in someone else's class. I think ND has multiple attractive cornerback options beyond Gray, although having him in the class is a priority. Let's wait til July 4 before we consider edging out onto the ledge.

Joey G. from Philadelphia, Pa.: Hi Eric, Hope all is well! In the last 50 years of the NFL Draft ND hasn’t produced many first-round draft picks at the wide receiver or cornerback position. I believe it’s less than 10 combined. Why is it ND WRs & CBs seem to always be ND’s weakest position group year in and year out? And it seems this trend will continue for the foreseeable future. Is it recruiting or coaching that has failed to deliver first-round NFL talent at these positions?

Eric Hansen: Let's look at more recent history first. I think with wide receivers, there have been peaks and valleys with recruiting but retention and player development under deposed WR coach Del Alexander was lacking. That's my opinion. I think former cornerbacks coach Todd Lyght was a very good developer of talent but fell short as a recruiter — which is still puzzling if you've ever met Todd. I don't agree that the trend will continue for the foreseeable future. Chansi Stuckey has already landed a top 100 WR in Braylon James, probably leads for two more in Jaden Greathouse and Rodney Gallagher and has more in play beyond those three. As for as corners, Jaden Mickey was a nice pickup in the 2022 cycle and Jayden Bellamy shows early promise too. There are still some promising prospects showing mutual interest in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

Overall Notre Dame produced 10 first-round draft picks in the 12-year Kelly Era after producing just 2 in the 12 years that preceded it. That's progress. The position breakdown of those 10: 2 WRs, 2 safeties, 1 DT, 4 O-linemen, 1 tight end.


Isaiah Foskey (7) and Tyler Buchner (12) are two critical pieces in Notre Dame's 2022 playoff aspirations.
Isaiah Foskey (7) and Tyler Buchner (12) are two critical pieces in Notre Dame's 2022 playoff aspirations. (Jeff Douglas, Inside ND Sports)

Kevin Singleton: What are your thoughts on Tyler Buchner right now? Do you think we will win because of him or do you just think we will win while he is our quarterback (him not necessarily being a reason why)?

Eric Hansen: If Notre Dame makes the playoff in 2022, Tyler Buchner will be one of the reasons why. They won't make it in spite of him if he does not play well, even with a pretty strong roster overall.

Pete Cuozzo ND ‘82 from Naples, Fla.: Hi Eric. I thought ND’s/Marcus Feeeman’s idea to bring back nearly 300 football alums to the Blue-Gold Game was brilliant. No better way IMO to showcase “4-for-40“ than that. Beyond some of the alums attending practices, what other ways do you think we can leverage that treasure trove of talent, networking and mentorship in the future both for recruiting purposes as well as for the current players? The weekend of June 10 comes to mind as another great opportunity, but not sure if there are NCAA restrictions in terms of official visits, etc.? Thanks … as always!

Eric Hansen: You mentioned networking and mentoring, and there was all kinds of that going on Blue-Gold weekend. Several of the recruits mentioned it to our Kyle Kelly in their post-visit interviews. It was a game-changer for some. I reached out with a email-a-friend lifeline to see if something on a smaller scale could be in the works for the June 10 recruit-a-palooza weekend. I don't have an answer yet as to whether something structured is in place, albeit on a smaller scale. The ND Football Fantasy Camp directly precedes that weekend, so maybe the alums who come for that could be persuaded to stick around. ... As long as they are on campus, they can interact with recruits, per NCAA rules.

Ced Walker from Saginaw, Mich.: Great friends with Tory Jackson. Will running back Logan Diggs be ready for summer workouts and fall camp? The golden standard rally. We are ND. Go Irish. Love thee Notre Dame, our mother, pray for us

Eric Hansen: Ced, every recovery is different, but based on past labrum surgeries with recent ND players Logan Diggs will not be back for summer workouts. For August training camp? That would be on the most optimistic end of the recovery timeline.

Jose from Albuquerque, N.M.: An all-portal question! Do the Irish have any shot at Jordan Addison from Pitt? We need playmakers at wide receiver, and he's arguably the best in the country. If we don't have a shot, why not (this goes to a previous question you answered of mine regarding NIL)? If we can't outbid USC, what are we doing incorrectly? Let's not pretend that's not the issue at play. He's a first-round pick wherever he plays this season. So why transfer, unless you want a bidding war? I know the "old guard" of ND fans will argue this isn't the meaning of college athletics. While I agree with them, I also don't care. I want the Irish to win a national championship. Your thoughts?

Eric Hansen: Jose, I answered the first part of your question, but wanted to address your thoughts and concerns beyond the first part. To repeat, the majority of UNDERCLASS transfers won't be a fit for ND because of transferring-credits issues. That was the case before NIL and remains the case now. Notre Dame is on equal footing with grad transfers. ... Players have all kinds or reasons for entering the portal -- playing time, geography, player development and yes NIL. Brandon Joseph transferred to ND because he felt it would enhance his chances of becoming a first-round NFL Draft pick.

Some players are legitimately going to look at it that way. If they can be better developed with a better surrounding cast, they stand to make much more financially with their first NFL contract than they would have with an NIL deal. Not everyone has the same agenda. And it's not all about the money. What if a West Coast standout got an NIL deal fo a private jet to bring his family to the games in the Midwest for free? What's that worth? Is there a potential for an arms race for some kids? Absolutely. But ND believes it just needs to be competitive in the NIL space with all it has to offer. It doesn't need to be the highest bidder. The end of the 2023 recruiting cycle will let them/us/you know if that's correct thinking.

Stan from Chester, Va.: Hello Eric. Now that the transfer portal is shut for eligibility in this coming season, have you heard any scuttlebutt about who the Irish might be looking at? Who, among the possibles, do you feel might be the best fit at WR and CB, and is there anyone else who you think may wind up in the Blue and Gold?

Eric Hansen: Hi Stan. ND has already sorted through some. Harrison Wellmann from Johns Hopkins, offered a walk-on entry by ND, chose a full offer from Duke. Arizona State WR Ricky Pearsall told our Tyler James there was initial mutual interest with ND, but it turns out he is not a grad transfer and the match was not there. So the Irish were trimmed from his finalists. UCF's Jaylon Robinson was an apparent fit, but the Irish haven't been able to gain traction with him. Now that the portal deadline has passed, we'll have a pretty good feel in the coming week or so with new options.

Jacob from Hobart, Ind.: Has coach Freeman said anything about uniform changes now that he's in charge? Does the head coach even make those decisions?

Eric Hansen: Jacob, I'm not good with uniform questions. I haven't asked him and he hasn't told me. I do understand the curiosity. Usually, a coach will have a voice in such decisions.

Ron from Delaware: Just joined, and this may have been asked, Eric, but what happens if Dante Moore does not commit (to ND)? It seems the whole success of the class is banking on his joining the Irish. Your thoughts.

Eric Hansen: Ron, justifiably so, I am going to get this question every week, multiple times, until he makes a decision. I still think Notre Dame is his most likely destination and that flipping a QB like ND has done in the past (Brandon Wimbush, Ian Book, Brendon Clark to name a few), would be the backup plan.

Tom from Kennesaw, Ga.: Eric, having grown up in Indianapolis, I am a Colts fan. But living in the Atlanta area, I also follow the Falcons. Was very happy to see Matt Ryan go to the Colts. I also think Indy is a great place for Jack Coan to begin his career. What do expect from Coan with the Colts?? Thanks. Go Irish!!!

Eric Hansen: I think Jack Coan is enough of an asset to make the practice squad. I think that's a good place to start. I'll be honest, I was not impressed when ND landed him, and he absolutely won me over during the course of last season. I'd take a guy like that on my team any day.

Tom from Maryland: Comment: NIL is destroying college football and if substantial changes aren't made soon, it will destroy college football.

Eric Hansen: You are not alone in your thinking. And it's because NIL is being used in ways it wasn't intended. And because of weak, weak leadership from Mark Emmert of the NCAA.

Matt from Kansas City, Mo.: Multi-part, but quick questions. 1. Is our defense national title-contender caliber? 2. What traits do you think coach Hiestand is looking for in choosing our starting guards, as the rest of the line seems set? 3. Have you seen traits in Tyler Buchner that makes you think he can be great, not just man the position? 4. Are our WRs legit NFL-caliber prospects? We are just not very deep? Or is the receiving corps thin on top-caliber talent also? 5. How is Michael Mayer as a blocker or do you think we likely split him wide quite a bit this year?

Eric Hansen: Matt: 1. If the cornerback play improves in August, the defense is playoff-worthy. 2. Physicality, consistency, intelligence (understanding fronts, protections, combo blocks). Unselfishness. 3. Yes. Still must continue his improvement. 4. Lorenzo Styles is an NFL receiver. The rest have to prove that. 5. Mayer does EVERYTHING well. And he'll play all over the place.

Eric Hansen: That's it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll do this later in the month and I'll let you know when via Twitter and our Facebook page.

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