Chat Transcript: Playing vs. portal. ND's improvement real? Bowl options.
Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, Vegas/BYU edition.
Some quick programming notes:
► If you haven’t already, check out this week’s Inside ND Sports podcast with our special guest Eric Mac Lain. Lots of great insight from the former Clemson offensive lineman and current college football analyst for the ACC Network and ESPN. He sizes up ND’s upcoming ACC opponents — Syracuse, Clemson and BC — and puts into perspective the 45-32 Irish win over North Carolina. Also some interesting thoughts on conference realignment and Notre Dame’s place in that.
► Inside ND Sports’ recruiting writer Kyle Kelly will be holding a members-only recruiting chat Friday on the Insider Lounge Message Board from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT.
► Not a member yet? There’s no better time to try. Through Saturday you can sign up for an Inside ND Sports subscription and try us free until the end of Notre Dame football’s regular season. Just click here and use promo code SHAMROCK22.
► Finally, after observing the bye week, Tyler James and I will be back on our YouTube show, Monday Night Live, at 7 p.m. EDT. If you can’t catch us live, you can watch anytime during the week, as the show keeps its shelf life going through the entire week leading up to the next game.
Eric Hansen: Now moving on to today's live chat ...
Here are the rules:
Eric Hansen: Also, PLEASE remember to include your name and hometown along with your question(s).
Off we go ...
John from Palmyra, Pa.: With the transfer options, why risk losing the young WRs/LBs by not giving playing time in spot situations? Yes, I understand these kids are thought to be “ND Men,” but if they are adjusted off the field and not playing behind an All-American (which is not the case currently at ND), why not spot duty? As the season goes on, teams are going to isolate our linebackers and throw on us. Mark my words. Might we see it on Saturday? Fingers crossed.
Eric Hansen: John, the no-waiting asepct of the transfer portal does force college coaches to at least consider your premise. When asked about it, Marcus Freeman admitted it's part of the calculus he uses in determining playing time. But it's certainly not the driving force. It can't be. It's one thing to give opportunities to young players to get on the field and live with some growing pains. It's quite another to put them on the field when everyone, including their teammates, know they haven't earned it. Bad, bad, bad for team chemistry and team goals. I actually addressed this concept with D-line coach Al Washington last night and his position group and thought he had a solid approach and response.
I'll save my response to Tobias Merriweather for a question that specifically asks about him. As far as linebackers, Prince Kollie has made headway after an injury (concussion) held him back at the start of the season. Junior Tuihalamaka is a regular on special teams and has seen some spot duty on defense. Who did you have in mind who's not among those two and the four veterans who would put ND in a better position to win games?
Manny from San Pedro, Calif.: Eric!!!!!!!!! Feels like the bye week and a dominating performance against North Carolina has recharged fan interest in this season!!! If the Irish run the table, it assures a NY6 bowl. If they drop one and end up 9-3, where is the likely landing spot for this team?
Eric Hansen: Manny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think if Notre Dame ends up 9-3 and won three out of four against the ranked teams remaining on its schedule (BYU, Syracuse, Clemson and USC), it most likely would end up in the New Year's Six. I wrote about this Sunday (Analysis: Breaking down the post-bye week road ahead for Notre Dame). If the Irish fall short of the New Year's Six, the ACC has restructured its bowl pecking order, so that there are nine bowls that compete as "Tier One" games which Notre Dame could end up in. Those are (in no particular order) the Cheez-It, Sun, Duke's Mayo, Fenway, Pinstripe, Military, ReliaQuest, Holiday or Gator bowls.
Frank from Royse City, Texas: Eric, do you think ND will get Deion Colzie and Tobias Merriweather more involved in this week's game?
Eric Hansen: Frank, after talking to Marcus Freeman Monday, I would have said minimally. After talking to Tommy Rees Tuesday night, I'm slightly more optimistic.
Norris from Singer Island, Fla.: Hi Eric and thanks for all your inside reporting. I understand the importance of identifying your five best offensive linemen, considering the skill set of each, then teaching each their own position, and playing them together as a unit, which will provide better communication, anticipation and cohesion for the end product.Why wouldn’t the same principle apply to the four defensive backs and rover/nickel, instead of all the cross-training and frequent substitutions?
Eric Hansen: Hi Norris, chemistry and communication are important in every position group. I think offensive line is in a unique spot in that regard, though. As far as subbing out DBs, there are some coaches who will do less of that. But think about it, the DBs are doing a lot more running play after play than the offensive linemen are. It makes sense to keep them (the DBs) fresh. There are also players involved in specific defensive packages. Kyle Hamilton, for instance, was outstanding as a true freshman in ND's dime package. If Brian Kelly had only played the starters, the Irish would have missed out on Hamilton's significant contributions. Why cross-train? It's to build depth. It can be overdone, but it has paid off for ND in the past.
Randy W from Jonesborough, Tenn.: Hi Eric. Something I read in another of your articles caught my attention: “The Irish have only seven scholarship wide receivers on the roster, …” Only seven? So how many scholarship athletes are optimum for other positions? The limit is 85 scholarships per team per year, I thought. So there must be some weighting scheme that ND uses and tweaks as needed??? I realize that I am probably missing something fairly basic here, but how does ND distribute scholarships to the offense and/or defense positions? (I know you’ll be kind to this old newbie because your the greatest, most kind … blah, blah, - just kidding you really do deserve the kudos you get).
Eric Hansen: Hi Randy. My colleague, Tyler James, will appreciate the "blah, blah, blah" line. He thinks you all are WAY too nice to me. ND does have a loose goal for numbers at each position, which can vary with how much experience and how healthy that particular position group has coming back. Also, if there's a five-star prospect who wants in at the end of a recruiting cycle, you make room for him — even if you're full at that position. We asked wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey during fall camp what would be his ideal number at the position group. His answer was 10. And had Avery Davis stayed healthy and ND not lost two vaunted WR prospects at the 11th hour in the last recruiting cycle when Brian Kelly bolted for LSU, the Irish would be at 10 this year.
Given the likelihood that four WRs will leave the roster after this season and ND is looking to sign four in December, adding at least two via transfer seems like a must goal for the offseason.
For a look at the positional breakdown for this year, check out our scholarship chart. We continue to list Avery Davis — even though he won't play this year — because he is still a captain.
Tim Thompson from Nantucket, R.I.: Despite the fact that he is currently third on QB depth chart now, in his second year, I continue to wonder why Ron Powlus lll is on the squad, or more specifically what his expectations have been since signing. He obviously has the overall skills to play at this level or FCS. Was his plan to get a foundation at ND and then transfer all along? Has he ever been taken seriously as competing for playing time?
Eric Hansen: Hi Tim. We actually had a shot to interview Ron Powlus III in August, but it was also at the same time that Tyler Buchner, Drew Pyne and Steve Angeli were available. So in prioritizing reader interest, we weren't able to get to Powlus. So to be completely candid, I'm unsure of what his aspirations and expectations look like. He grew up around the program, and maybe his love for Notre Dame and his value for that kind of education outweighed increasing his chances of playing time elsewhere. Poewlus was injured his first season, but in the practices we saw in August, he did not look grossly out of place. Still, I would not anticipate he'll rise higher on the depth chart during his career than where he is now.
Jim Tal from Valley Center, Calif.: Greetings Eric and a sincere shoutout for all the dedicated work you do to keep your appreciative readers up to date with the state of the Irish. If ND is to have a successful rest of the season, it's imperative that the play of the linebacking corps — which has been rather subpar to this point — takes a significant step forward. In your opinion, for that to happen, what exactly needs to take place and who needs to dramatically step up their game? Also, is there any possibility that one of the younger 'backers could force his way into the rotation and help change the dynamic of this up to now, disappointing group? Many thanks.
Eric Hansen: Hi Jim, and thanks for the kind words. I was critical of the linebacker play, as you are, but I felt they took a step forward in the UNC game against an elite offense. There's still plenty of room for improvement. I keep waiting for Marist Liufau to evolve into a breakout player. I have not given up on that notion, and perhaps the bye week will be a catalyst for that. I think Prince Kollie ascending is a good thing for that group. ND plays so much nickel, which pushes Jack Kiser inside, I'm not sure we've seen him at his best, and yet he's having a good year. He leads ND in tackles with 26 and he's only averaging 36 snaps a game. JD Bertrand, even without the targeting penalties, must improve. Clear and simple.
Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric. I hope you’re having a great week and getting excited for going to Vegas. What three things could the Irish do this weekend that would make you think they have a legitimate chance to run the table? Changing gears, how much of the quarterback room shambles do you think Rees is responsible for? No 2023 QB, a 2024 QB they want to re-classify, who by all accounts doesn’t really seem to want to do that. In the meantime, 2024 QB recruiting is being hurt. Additionally, if I remember correctly, Notre Dame could’ve had J.J. McCarthy. Identifying talent is a huge part of the job. I’m pretty sure anyone could’ve seen Dante Moore was going to be great, but as for Rees, do you think he has the chops to identify talent and recruit really well at QB? The Dante Moore recruitment demonstrated a really bad misread of the situation. As always, thanks for your great insights. Have a great time in Vegas.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie, and thanks. ... To your first question, for me to think that ND has a chance to run the table based on the BYU game, here are the three factors: 1) Dominating performances on both lines of scrimmage. 2) Another step forward by QB Drew Pyne, against a better defense than he faced on Sept. 24. 3) The Irish defense being stout on third downs and forcing turnovers. That still doesn't guarantee it, but it gives the Irish a shot at it. ... OK, let's get to your QB questions. I think shambles is a strong word, but ND' s situation should have been better than this, even with bad luck. ... Let's let the 2023 recruiting cycle play out. I think getting a '23 QB and keeping CJ Carr in the 2024 class is the preferred scenario.
Even though ND isn't letting much info out about its new QB targets, I think the Irish have a better than 50 percent chance of landing/flipping a 2023 QB. ... I think Tommy Rees' evaluative eye and ambition in going after elite QBs has improved. He identified Jackson Arnold and Christopher Vizzina, for instance, long before they were coveted, highly rated prospects. Tactically, though, the 2023 cycle was a mess. And you could argue 2022 was close to being the same and at the very least could have been better. Rees did land an outstanding QB for 2024, so there's that.
Shane from White Deer, Texas: Hey Eric, hope all is well with you. Is it just me, or does it seem like the old adage “on any given Saturday” seems to be becoming more than just a platitude? It seems like that gap that used to separate the upper-tier teams and the mid- to lower-tier teams has closed more so than ever before? Could it be attributed to teams using the transfer portal, or teams taking ‘advantage”of NIL? Or maybe it’s some combinations of these or other factors? Can you buy into this, or am I going down a rabbit hole? Thanks.
Eric Hansen: Hi Shane. Well, if it were all about NIL and teams allegedly leveraging it in improper ways — and I said allegedly — Texas A&M would be the No. 1 team in the country ... and yet the Aggies are a team that's, so far. fallen well short of expectations. Now, with the transfer portal, yes, that allows teams with mass attrition to reload quicker and to fill critical needs. So, yes that would be a factor in all the surprise outcomes and teams we've been seeing. But the very, very top-tier teams still look very familiar.
Bobby Kull from Dakota Dunes, S.D.: There has been major recruiting going on in the Midwest for the Irish this past season, but I real think our Iowa recruitment specialist can do better in the state. We have a junior at Sioux City Bishop Heelan named (Isaiah) Favors, who is tearing up the record books in Class 3A. He has great speed and superb catching skills. The Irish have tapped Bishop Heelan High School in the past years, but it has been dormant for quite some years. We can go back to Mike Courey, who was a recruit in 1975, and even prior to that Ray Lemek, who was team captain for the Irish in 1955 from Bishop Heelan. Let's get back into Iowa recruiting and get on the radar!!!!!! Kudos to the Platoon Players.
Eric Hansen: Hi Bobby. Notre Dame did pull TE Eli Raridon out of Iowa in the last recruiting cycle and was a finalist for safety Xavier Nwankpa, so I think the coaching staff is paying attention to the state.
Tom from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric, hope you have a great time in Vegas. Are you going to put any $$$ on the Cardinals?? What is the health status of our safeties for this week? What is it the freshman TE's are showing that have the coaches and media singing their praises? I see the BYU game as a pivotal game for the season between going 8-4 and possibly only 6-6. Certainly Clemson and USC are going to be challenges, and Syracuse could be very tough up there. What are your thoughts on this and what do the Irish have to improve to go 9-3??? Thanks and as always Go Irish!!!!!!!!!! (the extra excl. are for Manny's return)
Eric Hansen: Tom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (my salute to Manny). I've never been a big gambler. I'm just wired different. We have a casino five minutes from my house, and I'll I've ever done there is go to dinner. So no money on the St. Louis Cardinals. I'm just going to enjoy them. ... Marcus Freeman said on Monday that the expectations were that both Ramon Henderson and DJ Brown were expected to practice this week. I'll make sure to ask about them on Thursday's Zoom with Marcus. ... Eli Raridon and Holden Staes have different body types and skill sets. Both show signs of growing into complete tight ends. Raridon's run blocking has been phenomenal so far. ... I agree with you about BYU being critical/pivotal. When ND started 1-2 and had a new QB, I felt I needed to see how the UNC and BYU games played out before I recalibrated by 10-2 prediction. When looking at whether a team has a chance to improve, there are five statistical metrics that are the most telling: Rush offense, rush defense, pass efficiency, total defense and turnover margin. ND is 65th, 68th, 76th, 53rd and 119th, respectively. Not impressive, but trending up. Those numbers need to trend up each week, no matter the opponent. Playoff teams tend to be top 25 or 30 in four of the five if not all five.
John from Phoenix: Hi Eric, and thanks for all the insight you provide. In your opinion who is responsible for the extremely low numbers of skilled offensive players this year? You already covered the lack of WR depth, but ND's RB depth is even worse. Was there a team in the country other than ND that had two healthy RBs on opening day? Is this a Rees/Kelly recruiting issue? Playing time/transfer issue? Or a mix of both?
Eric Hansen: Hi John. I think it was an injury issue. Did you see any footage of Jadarian Price in the spring? He's electric. Had he been healthy, ND would almost have too much depth. I think five scholarship running backs is a pretty robust number.
Bob from Loganville, Ga.: Eric, great article on tracking the ND transfers. Have been a ND fan since the mid-to-late '70s, when my brothers would bet chores on the outcome of the game. As a youngster watching the Sunday replay after church, which I thought was live, I was always a step behind until my Dad let me in on the secret.
Curious to your thoughts on the run game this weekend with BYU’s run defense around 80th in the country. Of course, many fans think the run game will be a cakewalk, since we did everything right against a horrible NC run defense that still clocks in around 120th in the nation. Seems many are pointing to the BYU/Utah State game as a precursor without taking into consideration BYU was playing on four days rest.
Eric Hansen: Bob. glad you liked the transfer story. And thanks for sharing yours about your dad. ... First I'll point out Utah State played with the same amount of rest AND played with its backup QB. I do think both USU and Wyoming exposed some things in the BYU defense that Tommy Rees could exploit, especially in the run game. ... Jaren Hall, BYU's QB, is going to be a handful, but North Carolina's QB, Drake Maye, is better. I anticipate a close game that the Irish will win.
Michael from Atlanta: Hi Eric. What is the current status of Peyton Bowen's commitment? We keep seeing other sites saying he will go elsewhere. Thoughts?
Eric Hansen: Hi Michael. Four-star safety Peyton Bowen has pretty much treated his verbal commitment as a place-holder since he pledged to ND on Jan. 1. Nothing would surprise me, but that fact Oklahoma and Texas A&M have also had early-season issues won't hurt ND. He has committed to visiting ND for the Nov. 5 Clemson game. If he actually makes the visit and enjoys it, I think that's a very good sign for Notre Dame down the stretch. But again, I'm not sure he knows yet where he's ultimately headed.
Jerry from Dallas: Jerry from Dallas: Eric, what are your thoughts if Merriweather does not see much action in the BYU game? What is it that the coaches are not seeing from him in practice that is keeping him from seeing the field? Do you have any concerns that he will not eventually be the player that we were expecting? Many thanks for taking these questions and providing us with your insight.
Eric Hansen: Hi Jerry. Thank you. This is what Tommy Rees said when I asked him about Tobias Merriweather Tuesday night:
"I think for any young player, how important it is that all parts of the game plan are prepared for, because your number could be called at any point. We’ve had plays the last two weeks that are specifically tagged for him. We didn’t get to them in Cal, because the game flow wasn’t exactly dictating what his strengths were. We didn’t get to them against Carolina, because again the game flow, we were in a rhythm, we were rolling. It just didn’t happen, right? And so, it’s not anything specific to Tobias as much as it is we’re building in opportunities each week. He’s shown to continue to build trust. He’s practicing at a higher level. All those things he needs to do as a young player to earn that time is happening. And I think he’s going to continue to progress as the season goes on and have those opportunities to make some plays for us."
Now back to me ... I have no concerns about Tobias long term. He's smart. He's fast. He's athletic. Very grounded kid from a family who gets it. I like his future.
Carl from Round Rock, Texas: I have a foolish question that's probably been explained before. Why does the ND right guard always point with his left arm just before the ball is snapped on every play. Why isn't this motion considered an illegal-motion penalty?
Eric Hansen: Hi Carl. I used my phone-a-friend lifeline to Tyler James, who studies that stuff closer than I do. Here's his answer:
That's how Notre Dame does its silent count. Josh Lugg looks back at Drew Pyne, who lifts his knee when he's ready for the snap. Then Lugg waves to let Zeke Correll know that he can snap the ball when he's ready. Here's a clip for an example.
Eric Hansen: This is very common across football, not something specific to ND. It's not a false start, because Lugg isn't simulating the start of a play. That's a generally accepted motion that's not an indicator of a player getting out of his stance.
David from New York: Seems like Tommy finally had a strong game plan with concepts that built off one another. Questions: Why did it take so long to get this right at a game plan/play-calling level? What personnel changes helped/hurt? And what do you need to see this week to feel like we've built on that UNC performance.
Eric Hansen: More than anything, really good offensive line play helped. When ND can run the ball, it opens up everything else in the playbook. Certainly, Drew Pyne playing at a higher level helped as well. And North Carolina's defense cooperated. ... What do I need to see that makes it sustainable. Really more of the same of what we saw against North Carolina as well as a surge from the wide receiver group.
Jay from Granger, Ind.: Is CJ Carr trending toward coming next year? If not, do we have anything in the works that you are hearing who could flip.
Eric Hansen: Jay, that's the preference — that he would come in 2024, not 2023 — for all parties involved and the one I think will ultimately happen. I know ND has some 2023 options. When those players confirm upcoming visits, we'll be able to share those names.
Sean from Portland, Ore.: Excited to be in Vegas this weekend for the game. Both teams seem to be talented but not consistently performing well. I'm taking the Irish, though. What's your pick? And what ND-related stuff is there to do in Vegas leading up to the game?
Eric Hansen: Hi Sean. Hope you have a great time. My pick is Notre Dame 27, BYU 21. ... Here are some links that should be helpful:
https://experiencesandevents.nd.edu/gameday/on-campus-events/
https://und.com/shamrockseries/
Jeff from Phoenix: Good morning, Eric. So from your knowledge, has Marcus Freeman remained consistent with the recruiting policy that a verbal commit that has an official visit to another school is no longer considered an ND commit? Is this policy unique among major programs? Do you think its a hindrance to recruiting, particularly for the "out" years (i.e. 2024)? Thank you.
Eric Hansen: Jeff, that remains the policy. I don't think it's unique, nor is it universal. But it fits ND's situation. If most schools lose a recruit at the 11th hour, it's easy to pick someone up from the transfer portal. For ND, the portal pickings are much slimmer because of credits often not cleanly transferring. So getting a hard count in roster management is extra critical for the Irish. Consider there are three scholarship transfers on the ND roster (and a notable walk-on transfer in Jon Sot), while there are 29 former Irish playing elsewhere. ... I don't understand your last question. I don't know what "out" years are. If you mean are 2024 kids held to the same standard about official as the 2023 kids, the 2024 kids are not ABLE to take official visits yet. They won't be until the spring.
Aaron from Washington, D.C.: Hi Eric. Thank you for taking the time today and always giving us great insights. It seems that there's been a significant increase in optimism since the North Carolina game. The Irish are favored against BYU and the vibe is very positive. I'm somewhat surprised that one good game has so dramatically changed the narrative after three fairly poor performances. Do you think the Irish have truly "turned it around"? Is it warranted to be favored against BYU? I'll be the first one to say that I want to win by 30 on Saturday night, but it seems that we're jumping the gun a little bit. Drew Pyne and the receivers still need to improve, and the defense gave up a good chunk of points to North Carolina. I would appreciate your read on how you would assess the team right now in terms of improvement and if they've "turned a corner" in the way we all hope they have.
Eric Hansen: I wouldn't say "turned the corner" — and Marcus Freeman wouldn't either. What I wrote after the UNC win was that ND did take a significant step forward, and that the BYU game would likely inform us as to how big a step. I think it is important to note that UNC waxed Virginia Tech this past Saturday, 41-10, amassing a 527-273 advantage in total yards. Va. Tech isn't a very capable offense, but neither was ND coming into the UNC game. The Irish put up 576 total yards, tied for the 10th most in a game since 2010. And Va. Tech's defense has been playing at a higher level than ND's. Marcus Freeman in every press conference emphasizes how much his team needs to improve each week, and I'm in agreement.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hi Eric from a very rainy Jersey Shore. When are you heading to Vegas? Hope you have some good food and win some money. Last week when I asked about contested balls, I was thinking Finke vs Michigan. I agree with you that the idea is to find an open reciver and not throw up a 50:50 ball. But sometimes it’s needed and becomes a big part of a game. For this week ND has shown improvements in many areas. Units are playing better and more in sync with each other. Coaching has evolved, ironing out some details and fundamentals with the players. There is a long way to go to be a championship-caliber team, but they have recently shown the right trajectory. BYU will challenge that progress. What is most likely to happen this week from a positive and negative standpoint? An even stronger ND running game? More growth at QB and WR? A mixup on the O-line as BYU comes from many angles? A mix-up in the secondary for a big play? Your thoughts.
Eric Hansen: Hi Len. Based on the matchups, I'll say most likely positive development is the evolution of the offensive line. Most likely struggle could be BYU's deep passing game against the ND defense.
James from Bonita Springs, Fla.: Survived Ian.
Eric Hansen: Glad you did. When I was editing the transcript last week, I was noting all of the questions from Florida and hoping you all were safe. Thanks for letting me know.
Kevin from Sleepy Eye, Minn.: ERIC!!!!! I've been too busy coaching high schoolers to enter questions but always following. How would you rate the leadership on this current team? How does it compare to years past? Losing Buchner's and Davis' voices on the field hurting us? Go Irish!!
Eric Hansen: Kevin!!!! There must be a sale on exclamation points today!!! I think one thing Brian Kelly did well from 2017 on, was identifying leaders and building a culture of leaders — and director of football performance Matt Balis has a lot more to do with that than one might think. I like the captains on this team, and they'll continually be tested this season. So I'll defer the comparisons to the end of the season. Avery Davis is actually still serving as a captain and has a voice. They miss his play. I think Drew Pyne's done a pretty good job of leading in Tyler Buchner's absence.
Joey G from Philadelphia, Pa: Hi Eric. I know that there’s been talk of Freeman looking to the portal for a QB to come in and compete for the starting QB job next season. I’ve been watching Jackson Arnold shooting up the Rivals rankings. Is there any interest from Notre Dame on possibly flipping him? Or are they content with an injury-prone Tyler Buchner for next season?
Eric Hansen: Joey, the Irish would love to flip Jackson Arnold. He probably would have committed to the Irish around Jan. 1 if he had been given the green light to do so. I think he's pretty happy with his situation with Oklahoma at this point.
Adam from Dayton, Ohio: Hello Eric, thank you for being the man, and for these chats! 1.) I think (and I'm not the only one) that it is a myth that ND doesn't play freshmen overall. Can point to Morrison and Mickey this year alone. But, I do think that while it is a myth overall, there is some truth that ND does seem to be particularly hard on freshman or young receivers as far as playing time. Any thought on this matter? Do other teams play young receivers simply because they are recruiting better guys? Alabama freshman Spond (can't think of his first name) comes to mind. 2.) In his press conference, Tommy gave credit to his guys for the performance against North Carolina rather than the weakness of the defense. I'm still skeptical. I don't think other teams are going to give as many easy throws to Pyne/play such soft coverage. What do you expect from the ND offense going forward against defenses that have a pulse/don't just "give" throws to Pyne?
Eric Hansen: Adam, Here's the breakdown of ND's freshman WRs since 2010.
CATCHING ON EARLY
Notre Dame freshman receivers since 2010 with at least two receptions:
Player Recs. Yds TDs Year
Kevin Stepherson 25 462 5 2016
Lorenzo Styles 24 344 1 2021
TJ Jones 23 306 3 2010
Corey Robinson 9 157 1 2013
Will Fuller 6 160 1 2013
Chase Claypool 5 81 0 2016
Kevin Austin Jr. 5 30 0 2018
Deion Colzie 4 67 0 2021
Chris Brown 2 56 0 2012
James Onwualu* 2 34 0 2013
*Onwualu later moved to linebacker.
Eric Hansen: As far as Tommy Rees' comments, I think his offensive players deserve credit for executing the game plan, but did you really think he'd publicly disparage the North Carolina defense? ... The defenses moving forward will be better, but I think it's reasonable to assume the ND offense is improving.
Michael from Elkview, W.Va.: I just want to say I love coach Freeman. Is Notre Dame going to be able to hang on to coach Golden after this season?
Eric Hansen: If Notre Dame's defense improved over the course of the season, his name will come up for some job openings, because of his head coaching experience. Whether Al Golden would entertain that would depend on which jobs.
Joe O'Brien from San Diego: RECRUITING and NIL. When NIL was approved, I was very skeptical unless comprehensive regulations were installed. So far this year we have seen two key commits choose to move on to USC and probably 'BAMA. We have also lost on the "shoo-in" young QB from Detroit to Oregon.There could be more, as ND loses its grip on a very good recruiting season. I am convinced NIL was a major contributor to these losses. Yes, ND has challenges with their very high academic requirements and the issue of South Bend being a cold-weather city. Then,I read of Texas spending $300,000 for a Manning family weekend. Of course, this fails the smell test. How many more of these issues do we not hear about? I suggest many!! We know ND would never spend that kind of money to recruit. May I have your thoughts on whether the NCAA, etc. is doing anything about this issue?
Eric Hansen: The NCAA has instituted stricter guidelines, of which very few people — including me — believe they are willing and able to enforce. Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick has been on record as saying it will likely take an act of Congress to bring some sanity to this issue.
Steve from Hermon, Maine: We heard during the of season about how the special teams is going to be more aggressive in trying to block punts, returning punts and kickoffs. But from what I've seen so far, the returners are hesitant to run (call fair catches when they've had space to run), and punt team not going hard after punts in an effort to block them. Totally against what I thought we'd been told we'd see this year. Can you speak at all to that? Thank you.
Eric Hansen: Hi Steve. I think they have been aggressive, and have rushed some punts. They do have one block. And only 14 schools in the 131-team FBS have more at this point of the seaosn. As far as returns, there was too much fair-catching going on the first couple of weeks, but I think Brandon Joseph has found a comfort zone and is averaging 10 yards a return on eight returns. ND's opponents have only returned five punts.
Eric Hansen: OK, that's going to do it for today. For Inside ND Sports subscribers, recruiting writer Kyle Kelly will have a recruiting chat in the Inside Lounge on Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. As for me, thanks for all the great questions. And we'll be back to do it all over again next Wednesday at noon ET.
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