Chat Transcript: Revealing clues in the final Notre Dame spring practices
Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, post-eclipse edition.
Three consecutive days of breathtaking spring weather is the rare phenomenon, and that's happening today.
Some quick programming notes:
► 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 our normal Monday at 7 ET time slot next week after a shift to Tuesday earlier this week. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube.
► Tyler James and I are back in weekly podcast mode. Look for a new episode later this week. On our most recent Inside ND Sports Podcast, Rivals national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. joined us to talk Notre Dame recruiting, including two high-end QB prospects in the 2026 class, whom Garcia has scouted and also have made visits to ND. Those candidates are from Florida: Brady Hart of Cocoa High and Noah Grubbs of Lake Mary High. Garcia, based in Florida, discussed the recent Notre Dame visits for Hart and Grubbs, why the Irish are checking boxes for elite QBs, what makes each of them different, if ND is a contender for 2025 wide receiver Jayvan Boggs, the talent level of Notre Dame's commitments in Florida, if the Irish are resonating at IMG Academy, the potential of 2025 WR commit Jerome Bettis Jr. 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 in the thick of Notre Dame spring football coverage and discussion at WSBT radio season. And Darin Pritchett and I are together this week on 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 remember to include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question(s).
Here are the rules.
Eric Hansen: I'm not going to be super strict today ... mood too good. Except for the not spitting rule. Strictly enforced.
OK, we're off ...
Marie from Atlanta: Hey Eric, I hope you’re having a great week and got a chance to take in the eclipse. With 10 days of spring practice left, what one or two things would you like to see in practice that would make you feel extremely positive about the 2024 season, and what one or two things could you see in practice that would concern you? Loved your articles on Pete Bevacqua, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being a home run how would you rank his hiring by Notre Dame? Changing gears, were you surprised KK Bransford entered the transfer portal? If ND goes to the transfer portal what type of player will they be looking for? Thanks so much for hosting the chat, I know everybody looks forward to Wednesday.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. The first two questions can sort of be combined for me. And they both revolve around offensive line play and the upgrade in wide receiver speed translating into offensive production. The media will have a chance to see both on display Saturday during a media-only viewing full practice. To this point, doing deep evals of either of those areas for us has been a reach, since we haven't seen competitive practice periods (as opposed to drills) since practice 1 on March 7 and no full practices in pads. So the better those two position groups look, the better I feel about Notre Dame's floor and potential in the fall.
Thanks for the compliments on the Pete Bevacqua series. For those who missed it, here are the links:
► His vision for ND's next national title:
https://notredame.rivals.com/news/new-ad-pete-bevacqua-shares-his-vision-for-notre-dame-s-next-national-title
► The front-burner issues:
https://notredame.rivals.com/news/digging-into-the-front-burner-issues-that-greet-notre-dame-ad-pete-bevacqua
► Embracing the chaos of navigating seismic change:
Eric Hansen: Based on first impressions, I'd give the hire a 10. But I am not a big fan of dubbing a "home-run hire" when it comes to administrators, because so much of that is based on a press conference or a single interview. I do like Bevacqua's openness, his ideas, a background that I think makes him a tremendous fit. I'd like to give is a year or two in this role under this crazy changing time we're in to give it a more lasting projection. But again, based on first impressions, what's on his agenda, how he views Notre Dame and his job, I'm VERY impressed.
The last part of your question has to do with KK Bransford, a sophomore guard for the ND women's basketball team, choosing to hit the transfer portal. Based on who's coming back at guard -- Olivia Miles, Emma Risch and Cass Prosper — all rejoining the team with Hannah Hidalgo and Sonia Citron, it was hard to see with her skill set where the minutes were going to come. She was extremely valuable this season with all those players out. So, no I was not surprised. I'm not sure a portal guard is a necessity unless someone else left unexpectedly or that player was willing to be a deep reserve. What might make sense is a frontcourt player, with only Kate Koval coming in, Kylee Watson's injury timeline muddled and lots of roster turnover in the frontcourt after next season.
Related Content
► Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard on the mend, upbeat and eyeing a pivotal summer
► Notebook: Mike Denbrock instills aggressive mindset in Notre Dame's offense
► Drayk Bowen prioritizes nailing down Notre Dame starting linebacker role
► The Heat Index: Focus narrows on Notre Dame's top targets in 2025 class
► Video: Steve Angeli shares on learning new offense, progression this spring
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Rick W: How much of an impact do you think Riley Leonard missing spring ball will impact his connection (or being in sync) with the receivers?
Eric Hansen: Hi Rick. I wrote about this yesterday and will follow up here. The timing and chemistry with the receivers IS the big issue. He can still learn the offense. He's still able to do some drills and will be able to do even more when he's cleared to job next week. But he and the coaching staff knows that the summer will be critical in forging that chemistry and timing. Quite honestly some of the other QBs are in the same place with Mitchell Evans and Kevin Bauman being out this spring, Jayden Thomas so far being limited by injury and Jordan Faison limited by lacrosse duty, and Beaux Collins and Logan Saldate not arriving until spring. The good news is he expects to be unrestricted in his activity soon after spring ball ends, which gives him a jump on the summer.
Kevin from Calgary: Eric, love the chats, especially in the off-season. Is it just me, or is ND hitting a lot more home runs in recruiting than in the past? It seems to be every time an Irish target announces his commitment he picks Notre Dame which wasn't always the case in years past. Are the coaches just doing better at targeting the right players and not chasing guys who don't want to play in South Bend, or was the previous regime just bad at finishing?
Eric Hansen: Hi Kevin. Notre Dame is way out in front in terms of volume. Their 19 commits are seven more than the 12 that Syracuse has, which is second-most nationally. Only 10 teams, including ND, have more than nine. I'm not sure we can call them home runs, but the Irish are doing a great job of evaluating, figuring out fit and then selling that fit. They need to finish the cycle out strong, but I think under Chad Bowden's and Marcus Freeman's leadership, recruiting is in a very good place right now. And that includes transfer portal recruiting as well.
Tim from Vancouver, Wash.: Hello Eric. Really appreciate you and Tyler, . 1 question about 2 players, do you believe Faison and Kyngstonn (LB) will make the 2 deep rotations this season? I would enjoy seeing both of them getting a lot of playing time. Thanks.
Eric Hansen: Thank you, Tim. I do think both are on a trajectory to be in the two-deeps and I think both of those positions will have some rotation. Let's start with Jordan Faison, who's been absolutely on fire for the No. 1-ranked Notre Dame men's lacrosse team. I did a story on him recently about how he's balancing the two sports. I see him and Jaden Greathouse being a nice complement at the slot receiver position. They bring very different strengths to the position. Jordan will also be in the mix to be the main punt returner, though a handful of other options are getting lots of work this spring.
Here's a link to the Faison story: Jordan Faison finally convinced his Notre Dame 2-sport dream isn't surreal ... With Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, he came in physically ready to compete. What has impressed his coaches and teammates has been how he's been able to keep up with all the mental stuff being thrown at him. I still see Drayk Bowen with an inside track to start, but KVA will see playing time.
Tom from Kennesaw, GA: Hi Eric, Hope that you are doing well and that the weather is manageable. A couple of big picture questions: looking at the Championships that South Carolina and UConn just won I think that they both use similar approaches to their Programs. Both teams lost a lot of players from their 2023 Championship teams but managed to assemble another winning team. Do you think that Marcus Freeman is using a similar approach to recruiting hard and using the Portal to fill gaps?? Also, will this lead to the Irish going beyond just making the playoffs but soon being able to challenge for a Championship?? Saturday's scrimmage is a big day for everyone because it will be our first look at the 2024 team in game-like situations. I remember that second and third team players often used a great scrimmage to catapult them into a position to contribute in games. Please shine your crystal ball and give us 2 players on offense and 2 on defense that might make that leap this weekend or this spring. Go Irish!!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. Yes, I think Notre Dame is dedicated to building its roster through great high school scouting and recruiting ... and strong retention. But there are going to be gaps, and teams no longer have to hold their breath because of youth or holes at a certain position. So ND will continue to fill those holes via the transfer portal. ... To your projection question, most of those upwardly mobile players have already established their ascent ... including Adon Shuler at safety for instance. So let me give you some I feel very good about who maybe haven't made the climb yet ... Offense WR Micah Gilbert and TE Cooper Flanagan. Defense: LB Jaiden Ausberry and DE Boubacar Traore.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric, was there a picture posted with you in your eclipse glasses? If so, I missed it. Had to be pretty spectacular in South Bend. Can you give us an update on injured players and including, more importantly, those players with restrictions or not 100%. Bauman, Evans, Spindler, Raridon, Morrison, Leonard and anyone I missed.
Eric Hansen: Hey Len. I did not have the foresight to buy the special glasses, so I neither wore any, nor looked directly at the sun. I did admire the sun. We got to 77 degrees on Monday, so I was more impressed with that from the sun than its ability to play hide and seek for a few minutes. OK, so the guys who were out for spring and remain out are TE Kevin Bauman, TE Mitchell Evans, DT Armel Mukam, DE Loghan Thomas, DE Aiden Gobaira. Then, CB Ben Morrison joined them with arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Then Tuesday, it was WR Jayden Harrison joining them with his right foot in a protective boot.
Riley Leonard is doing limited reps and will do even more next week. Rocco Spindler has practiced every session we've been in. Eli Raridon was very active in the most recent practice after being somewhat limited. I think that's it. Hope you enjoyed the eclipse.
Ced Walker from Saginaw Mich. aka sagnasty: Saginaw pride I noticed notre dame head football coach marcus freeman doing more work with the linebackers and safeties do u think this will be a concern with communication because of our depth 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. Marcus Freeman moves around a lot at practice. In some of the viewing windows he's been in, he has been with the DBs quite a bit, in part to get Marty Biagi established in helping Mike Mickens coach the two position groups, in part because there are some new GAs and analysts just getting started and because it's the position group on defense with the most questions, even with a star player returning. That's not to say there isn't the potential for strong answers. But Marcus will move around and help and give input where he's needed.
John from Sacramento, Calif.: Love your and Tylers’ dedication. Manifesto; “Ouch”. So much I can remember. It wasn’t all glory. Lots of stomach being ripped out. Front 7 on “ D”. Deep, fast an athletic. Gamers. “O” line. They’re not really THAT young. Most are true juniors or better. So which “O” linemen have the guttural satisfaction just to “HIT” and dominate. Not considering technique. That’s is established, or not. Most are true Juniors, by now. Just to win the down. Determination, quickness, physicality, and endurance. I’ve noticed our lineman have struggled with lighter and faster “ D” lineman for many years. Lack of depth of opposition saved many games as they tired for a full game. So,
Eric Hansen: John, the space bar gets me too sometimes in this chat software, the only thing that bugs me about it. Otherwise, I love it. And it looked like it might have cut off the end of your second attempt. But I think I got enough of it to give you an answer. So you're looking for the guys who are butt-kickers on the offensive line, regardless of technique .. and some of these guys do have good technique. But my impressions ... Billy Schrauth is the king of this category. Rocco Spindler and Pat Coogan are brawlers too. Charles Jagusah was a state champion wrestler, whose pain threshold is so high he thought his torn PCL and ACL injuries in 2022 were a pulled hamstring. Sam Pendleton has that vibe. I anticipate Guerby Lambert will too.
Andre from Miami: Happy Wednesday Eric, thanks for the chat as always. In the “entirely too early to ask” question of the day, who do you tab as a surprise breakout player or players on either side of the ball??
Eric Hansen: Andre, it's never too early. Except maybe at 6 a.m. I've been asked this question in various forms and a lot of guys have emerged. So we're looking at this point at TRUE surprises. Guys who haven't climbed the depth chart yet but may in August. I'm going to go with someone I named earlier, freshman WR Micah Gilbert. His teammates on both sides of the ball keep bringing him up. On defense. I'm going to go with Rod Heard II, who enrolls in June after finishing his degree work at Northwestern. He's a safety, and if he is better than what we've seen of Adon Shuler his spring and what Luke Talich can turn into, then he'll be a very, very good safety.
Ryan from Mars Pa: Good Afternoon Eric how has Drayk Bowen looked and when the season starts Who will Be The leading Tackle since JD Bertrand is going to the NFL I’m thinking Kizer or watts GO IRISH ☘️☘️🏈🏈
Eric Hansen: Hi Ryan. Drayk Bowen looks physical, in position and fast. He's as good as advertised as is freshman Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa at the middle linebacker position. And that time share is why I am not going to pick Bowen to lead the team in tackles. Jack Kiser has piled them up in the past few years while playing limited snaps. I think with a larger role, he'll rise to the top.
Matt from Kansas City: Quickfire Five: 1. What is something you have learned so far from the spring that is significant that no one is really talking about or asking about? 2. Sounds like we have pretty good depth right now on the team, what position group (outside of QB) could least sustain a significant injury to a starter? 3. I keep seeing Luke Talich's name out there as a super special teams player and uber athletic and smart, what is his upside for actually playing meaningful snaps at safety? 4. I know you cover ND football, but are there 1-2 things to know or track regarding A&M football right now that might be important for when we open the season, do they have a QB battle or anything like that? 5. Will live game-like tackling reps be more predominant in practice this season? I know the trade off is injury risk and maybe I am wrong, but it seems like our team usually has a higher share of missed tackles than other elite teams over the last few years.
Eric Hansen: Hi Matt. I don't monitor what others are talking about unless it's brought to my attention or I see it on Twitter. And if there's something significant that I'm not reporting? Then shame on me. But in the spirit of your question, there are some things we have limited visual backup on that we've heard about (and will have a chance to see on Saturday). From that standpoint, I'd highlight the rise of players who might impact 2025 more than 2024. Like CJ Carr, like Jaiden Ausberry (though I think he will this year), Luke Talich, Bryce Young, Brenan Vernon, both of the freshman RBs.
Question 2: Offensive tackle. 3. He's fast, he's long, he's put on the needed weight. As soon as he puts all the mental pieces together, it's going to be fun to watch. He and Shuler are really coming on at safety. I see him more as Xavier Watts' eventual replacement perhaps than his sidekick this season. 4. I'm going to a wedding next month that will have scads of Texas A&M fans and media at it. I will give you a better answer then. For now, they did very well in the portal. They are very paranoid about people finding out stuff about their program.
For question 5, that's a good one for me to ask Marcus Freeman heading into fall camp. I've noticed this spring practices have been shorter. Marcus has always brought a good balance to that equation, and I don't sense it will change much. While Loren Landow is new, John Wagle has been leading the sports science side of things for a couple of years now.
Patrick from Fort Wayne, Ind.: Good afternoon Eric, looking for a little levity, tapping your interactions with the current players, which ones are the comedians, old souls, most intense? Of the coaching staff, who is the easiest to talk to?
Eric Hansen: Patrick, I love the question. It's not something that I could answer well without some time and thought. And remember there's been a lot of roster turnover, so I'm just getting to know some of the new guys and some I haven't had a chance to talk to yet. Having said that, I'll try my best given limited sample size and limited brain cells by me. Let's start with the coaching staff question. Lots of great interviews there. In terms of getting the most information I can use in stories ... Mike Denbrock, Marty Biagi, Max Bullough ,,, but all fun to talk to. Old soul as a player ... Ben Morrison, Jadarian Price, Xavier Watts. Comedians? The freshman lineman Peter Jones is pretty funny. So are Mitchell Evans, Christian Gray and Riley Leonard. Intense. Billy Schrauth, Billy Schrauth and Billy Schrauth. Jason Onye talks very fast. He is aware of that, and asked me if he talked TOO fast and I kind of fibbed and said he didn't. Fastest talker since KeiVarae Russell. He is super interesting, though.
Stan in Siberia, Ind.: Do you think transfer portal additions will decline when roster is all Coach Freeman recruits? Is K. Minchey a Freeman recruit or maybe the dividing line?
Eric Hansen: I don't think it will ever decline or go away because there are always going to be positions where your team is thin or too young or you have unexpected departures or injuries. Kenny Minchey is all Freeman. Brian Kelly left in November of 2021. The Irish didn't get serious about Minchey, then a Pitt commitment, until the fall of 2022.
Tom from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric, we often talk about the time it takes for the players to adapt to a new OC and offense. With so many offensive coaches retained by Denbrock, have you ever asked the coaches how well they are adapting and understanding his offense so that they can communicate it to the players?? I would think that would make for some interesting meetings!! Thanks for keeping us up to date on all things Irish Football. Don't stop. Go Irish!!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. Thanks. It hasn't come up perhaps as directly as that, but you can definitely sense there's a great chemistry when having conversations with the offense assistants. I do think it is quite a switch for the players, both conceptually and from a terminology standpoint.
Eric Hansen: OK, that's going to do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back to do it all again next Wednesday at noon ET .... Make sure you sign up for our free email newsletter. You'll get links to all our new content in your email box every day. https://www.getdrip.com/forms/284599664/submissions/new
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