Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, June edition.
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 remain in our normal Monday at 7 ET time slot and will continue on doing so into the offseason, though Tyler James and I will be featuring some guest co-hosts this summer as we rotate on and off to take some vacation time. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube.
Related Content
► Four-star QB Deuce Knight talks Notre Dame, learning from Philip Rivers
► No. 1 OLB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng discusses his ND official visit
► Notre Dame football depth chart projection heading into summer workouts
► Notre Dame WBB gets early-season showdown with Texas in SEC/ACC Challenge
► Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman embraces college football's changing world
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► No Inside ND Sports Podcast this week, with Tyler James on vacation. On the most recent Inside ND Sports Podcast, quarterback trainer Baylin Trujillo joined Tyler James to talk about Notre Dame’s recently committed 2026 QB prospect, Noah Grubbs. Trujillo, a former quarterback at USF and Webber International, discussed his work with Grubbs, where he's made the biggest strides, watching Grubbs handle the recruiting process, what it was like with fellow trainee Brady Hart also being recruited by ND, Trujillo's path as a quarterback trainer, how teaching the position has evolved 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 spinning forward into summer workouts for the Notre Dame football team as the entire roster is back on campus taking classes and working out. 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 …
I know it's been a while, but PLEASE remember to include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question(s). "Guest" doesn't count unless your name really is Guest.
Here are the rules:
Eric Hansen: The "no bare feet" rule has been rescinded for this week.
OK, off we go ...
George from El Segundo, Calif.: HI Eric: hope you and yours remain safe and well. I'm puzzled by ND's QB recruiting. 4 guys already in the room this year, Deuce in '25, and now the new guy in '26. Regardless of how it shakes down, multiple players are destined to leave for lack of playing time. I specifically wonder why the big push to recruit Deuce for 25, when C.J. Carr appears to be the heir apparent to Riley Leonard and, unless something truly unexpected happens, C.J. will have 4 years left after this season. Is there a rhyme or reason to all of this? Aren't we just asking for problems by recruiting all of these highly skilled guys when we know there's only 1 football? I'll hang up and listen to your response!
Eric Hansen: Hi George. Actually, if you don't recruit this way, you're asking for problems. Let's break this down and start with not recruiting a quarterback in a given class or recruiting a QB that can't win games for you, but is just on the roster. In that scenario, you are going to be perennially transfer portal-reliant. And that's a trend head coach Marcus Freeman is determined to end, after the Irish will have a transfer at the top of the QB depth chart for the third time in four years.
Now let's flip it. Lots of people speculated Steve Angeli or Kenny Minchey would leave after spring football. That didn't happen. They feel like they're being developed and have a chance to be the starter in 2025. They've bought into competition making them better. Now one or both may leave in December, but they're here now. I think what Notre Dame is doing is very smart. Let the competition -- and not the star system -- determine who the best QB is. And if someone leaves, they leave. There is a scenario in which CJ Carr could be the starter in 2025 and 2026, for instance and then leave for the NFL. Then Knight or 2026 commit Noah Grubbs is the starter in 2027.
This is how Notre Dame QBs coach Gino Guidugli addressed how to keep everyone happy when asked about it this spring:
Q: In the transfer portal era, holding onto backup quarterbacks has become even more difficult. Do you have to have a plan for that?
"I just try to be as transparent as I can with everybody in the room. I tell this to recruits parents all the time: I want to treat those guys, as a position coach like I’d want a position coach, or a head coach, to treat my son. That’s the lens I see it through and I think those guys trust me in that fact.
"You know, we never have to talk about the depth chart in my room, because if you recruit guys with great character and see the world through a realistic lens, you don’t have to tell them, because they know where they stand. They watch the same film. They get the grades from everybody every practice. They know where they stand. They know what they need to work on. They know what they’re better at than the other guy.
"And I tell them, it’s not you vs. him. It’s you vs. you. He has no effect on what you do with your reps when you’re in there. At the end of the day it’s like golf. It’s them vs. them. You have to go out there, you have to operate, you have to lead, but that guy—they all want to be the starting quarterback—but that guy that’s vying for the job, he has no effect on what you do with your reps, how you prepare, and what kind of energy you bring to practice every day."
Patrick from Fort Wayne, Ind.: Good afternoon Eric. I think the number one topic for a summer chat is the scholarship numbers. How many players are on scholarship? How many players will leave ND before the first game of the season? Will there be any other players added?
Eric Hansen: Hi Patrick. At this moment, there are 88 players on the Notre Dame summer roster. I expect Notre Dame to be at 85 this month. The NCAA max is 85, and Notre Dame doesn't have to be at that number until fall-semester classes start in late August. So, I expect three medical retirements. I do not expect any other players to be added to the roster.
Chris from South Bend: It seems like every year a freshman who arrives in summer surprises outsiders and makes a big impact in the fall. Who do you think will be this summer’s surprise?
Eric Hansen: Hi Chris. There aren't a lot of later-arriving freshmen this summer -- just eight, with 15 having enrolled back in January. So to review, here are the 8: OT Guerby Lambert, WR Logan Saldate, LB Bodie Kahoun, LB Teddy Rezac, S Brauntae Johnson, S Taebron Bennie-Powell, CB Karson Hobbs and CB Leonard Moore. Lambert and Johnson are pretty highly rated recruits, so that eliminates them. Based on talent AND opportunity, I'll bet on Hobbs as the summer surprise. Aussie punter James Rendell is technically a recruit, but not a typical freshman at age 24, so I excluded him.
Matt from Austin: Hi Eric, great to have you back. I hope all is well in your world. No shoes today due to 100 degrees in the ATX. A couple of quick ones. If ND wins the opener against A&M, what are the chances we run the table? The schedule looks pretty favorable in my opinion. Secondly, if we land Owusu-Boateng, will we have the premier linebacking corp in the nation in two years? Thank you Eric.
Eric Hansen: Hi Matt, and great to be back. We'll do the next chat in early July. And I'm ahead of you on the "no bare feet" rule. It's supposed to get 89 here today. "But it's a dry heat." Wait, no it isn't. ... To your questions. I think expecting an 11-1 season from this team is realistic, if healthy, so a 12-0 run isn't a stretch. But Florida State and USC in November are going to be tough. Even if those teams aren't impressive in September, they'll likely be at their best late in the season. There's potential for other prickly matchups after the A&M game and before November. Louisville, maybe Georgia Tech.
As far as linebacker recruiting, development is also key and Notre Dame — with Al Golden and Max Bullough — earn high marks there as well. But let's just look at LB rankings. Rivals has been ranking players since the 2002 cycle. From 2002 to 2021, Notre Dame recruited a total of two linebackers who were top 50 overall players in their class and a third, in Daelin Hayes, who was classified as a linebacker but who ND recruited as a DE. The two? Manti Te'o and Jaylon Smith. In the 2022-24 cycles, they stacked three — Jaylen Sneed, Drayk Bowen and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. Notre Dame is now the perceived leader for 2025 LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (No. 28), which would give them four top 50s on the same roster. And they also lead for Madden Faraimo (No. 57) and have commitments from No. 72 Anthony Sacca and Ko'o Kia, the latter from Hawaii and way underrated in my opinion. Given the other talent at that position, I'm very optimistic of how strong that position group will be this year and in years ahead.
Charlie from Texas: Do you believe B. Morrison will be ready to start August 31st against A & M. I listen to Marcus Freeman's comments about the timetable for Morrison's return and I am not so certain. I think reading between the " tea leaves ", he will not be ready. What are you hearing "if anything "?
Eric Hansen: Hi Charlie. Timetables can shift when it comes to injury, either for the good or the not so good. But I think Marcus Freeman is sincere when he projects mid-August as a timeline for Morrison to be 100 percent and able to do some football-related activity earlier. And he has a plan in case that gets protracted. Ben Morrison may be the best CB in football, but Christian Gray and Jaden Mickey could start for a lot of FBS teams.
Roger from Munster, Ind.: Hi Eric. Do you get the sense that Jerome Bettis Jr. may be used on the defensive side of the ball rather then WR? He pops on film much more as a physical, rangy sort of rover /SS rather than a pass catcher (in my humble opinion) so just curious what the sense is closer to the program or if coaches have added any color to their projections for the young man. All the best and I appreciate all you do.
Eric Hansen: Roger. I appreciate you jumping in the question queue today, and with a really good one. I think your observation about Jerome Bettis Jr., a 2025 WR commit, projecting well as a safety is an astute one. Like Micah Gilbert in the 2024 class, Bettis is starting to ascend as a WR later in his high school career. I think his first opportunity will be one that will let him try to prove himself on offense. Then there can be a reassessment based on how that goes, what the WR numbers look like and whether there is a need at safety at that point. The boundary receiver position could lose three players after the season — Beaux Collins for sure, and maybe seniors Jayden Thomas and Deion Colzie, so there could be an opportunity there for Bettis in 2025.
Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric, I hope you had a fantastic vacation and that you are enjoying the start of summer. Of the new freshmen that just arrived, who are you the most excited to see, and who do you think will have the biggest opportunity to make a meaningful contribution in the fall? Of the three transfer receivers, who do you think will have the biggest impact this year? On a scale of one to 10, how worried are you about the Ivan Taylor situation? Finally, if you had to pick one trap game in the fall, which would it be? As always, thanks so much for the insights and hosting the chat.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. Vacation was great (with more to come later). Glad to be back this week. Thanks. Of the new arrivals, eager to see all of them, but most curious about how Guerby Lambert looks at tackle, because I think he can be elite in time. I think the two corners, Karson Hobbs and Leonard Moore, have the greatest opportunity to earn playing time, based on numbers at CB. I could see Brauntae Johnson getting on the field if he can learn the nickel and back up Jordan Clark. My wild card is Logan Saldate. Slot receiver is stacked, and yet I like his game a lot.
Of the three transfer receivers, Jayden Harrison's biggest impact will likely be as a kick returner. So that narrows it to Kris Mitchell and Beaux Collins. Collins is at a much more crowded position (boundary) and yet the coaching staff is optimistic about his ability to rise in that situation. Mitchell has a clear path to playing time and the elite speed to be a big-impact player. As much as I'm intrigued by Collins, I'll lean toward Mitchell. ... As far as a concern that S commit Ivan Taylor is taking other visits, I'll put that as a 4 on the concern scale. We have a story on our site from our Alabama site that recaps his visit there. ... Trap game? I want to say the Georgia Tech game in October, but am opting for Virginia at home after FSU instead.
Jim G from Wheaton, Ill.: Greetings, Eric!! Thanks for giving us our regular "fix" through these chats- it is greatly appreciated! Are we seeing expanded offers to "new" 2025 WRs recently because the Irish knew that Talyn Taylor wasn't going to come to Notre Dame, and are they getting a similar vibe about Derek Meadows? Those two were clearly high priorities and ranked among the best receivers nationally, and now we are looking at several other recruits that we hadn't heard much about previously, and who aren't nearly as highly-regarded by comparison. Thanks!
Eric Hansen: Hi Jim. It's always good to have contingency plans in place. I think expanding the board was a result of Talyn Taylor trending toward Georgia, where he recently committed, and Shaun Terry decommitting. There are two 2025 WR prospects on visits to Notre Dame as we speak, Dylan Robinson and JonAnthony Hall, and two more uncommitted 2025s who will visit this weekend, Derek Meadows and Tanook Hines. I think the best-case scenario is getting Hines and Meadows, but I like Hall a lot. The Irish would like to add two to Elijah Burress and Jerome Bettis Jr.
Pogo from Springfield, Mo.: Keep waiting for you to prove you are not the a superhero of sports journalism, but so far there is not a shred of evidence. So, I trust you to give evidence that the running back room is...or is not...as strong as last year without Estime. Lot of speed and shiftiness, but who blows up the gut for 2-8 much needed yards? Any evidence of use of a fullback or H-back. I always love the shovel pass to the TE too. Just a bit concerned with the loss of a good RB for the season and looking for you to buoy my spirits!
Eric Hansen: Pogo, with that kind of intro, I can surmise one of two things -- you're either having a beer or I need to buy you one! Audric Estimé did big things for ND last year as did Kyren Williams before him and so on. ND is recruiting very well at that position. I think Jeremiyah Love is the next really good one at that position. Not only does he have breakaway speed, he's more robust physically now and able to break tackles. I really like what Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams bring as well, both over 200 pounds. I think the wild card is 6-0, 229-pound freshman Kedren Young. He has a chance to be that short-yardage back, and yet he's got some giddy-up as well. ND at times will use their tight ends as blocking backs. The traditional fullback will not return. How the blocking might be in front of them is a bigger concern than who's in the RB room.
Kagan from Angola, Ind.: Hello Eric, I was wondering what your thoughts were on some of the national media like Joe Klatt and Colin Cowherd saying that USC should back out of it's annual game with the Irish? To me this would be detrimental to the history of CFB, but I also understand why they would with the B1G expansion and the slate of teams they will play in their own conference year in and year out. My second question is do you think this is what ultimately pushes Notre Dame to join a conference? Once FSU and Clemson leave the ACC could the B1G and SEC just say hey we aren't gonna schedule you anymore unless you are going to join? That would leave us with a weak B12 and whatever is left of the ACC to schedule which would be detrimental to out playoff hopes. Thank you for the great insight and as always Go Irish!
Eric Hansen: Hi Kagan. Thanks for your questions. I don't get too wound up about what national pundits are talking about in June. Their job is to come up with provocative topics, and they don't have any power in determining whether USC and Notre Dame continue to play or not. Let me start with what Pete Bevacqua told me about playing USC and Stanford when I had a 1-on-1 with him this spring:
“What I will say about both of those series — the Notre Dame-Southern Cal game is one of the great matchups in the history of sports,” Bevacqua said. “It’s fundamentally important to us that we continue that rivalry, and we know that USC feels the same way.
“We also want to continue the Stanford rivalry. It’s had a great history of its own, and universities like Notre Dame and Stanford, we need to play each other. It's great to play each other. It’s important to play each other. Two top-ranked academic universities that also happen to put a real emphasis on athletics.
“Again, the exact times and locations and when that will happen, that could vary over the course of the next decade, but we start with the principle that we absolutely want to continue to play Southern Cal every year. We want to continue to play Stanford every year. And we don’t think they agree — we know they agree.”
Eric Hansen: Let me boil down the "is Notre Dame ever going to join a conference?" conversation to very clear factors. There are three that would prompt ND to consider giving up football independence. 1) A blocked path to play for the national title. The 12-team and proposed 14-team playoff both provide a clear path. 2) A non-competitive media rights deal. Notre Dame's recent extension with NBC, combined with its ACC money, per Bevacqua, puts ND in the same financial stratosphere with the Big Ten and SEC schools. 3) ND doesn't have a place to house its basketball and Olympic Sports teams.
So, maybe that's the most concerning stress point at the moment, but we need to see it play out. When the Big East imploded (before reinventing itself without football), the Irish found the ACC and the five-game football agreement. But if the ACC goes away, that doesn't mean another conference wouldn't take ND on similar terms. That was the case last time.
Don from LA: Following up on the QB question earlier. If CJ does look like the heir-apparent to Riley, and if Steve and Kenny decide to grab a starting position elsewhere, (I know a big hypothetical) ND goes into 2025 with CJ and Deuce at QB. Is it portal time for the backup or does our LAX star Tyler Buchner have another year to be our backup?
Eric Hansen: Hi Don. Assuming both of them left, you would at least need three on scholarship. So yes, a portal backup or Tyler Buchner. Because he had a medical redshirt year in 2022, Buchner does retain football eligibility in 2025, whether it be at ND or somewhere else ... and it sounds like he wants to stay at ND for football and lacrosse until he is done with college. Marcus Freeman did not want to reintroduce Buchner to the QB room for 2024, but '25 might be a different story given your scenario.
Matt from Salem, Ore.: In ’23 and ’24, TE U, got the #17 TE in each class. In ’25, the #10 TE right now. With a loaded class of ’26 for TE, do you think ND can get one or two of the top five tight ends?
Eric Hansen: Hi Matt. This is getting into the weeds a little more than I normally get with recruiting, and my phone-a-friend is on vacation, so I'll do my best. Notre Dame has extended five offers so far to tight ends in the 2026 class. They are ranked by position, No. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8. Mike Denbrock is recruiting that position. So, yes I like ND's chances there.
Ryan from Mars, Pa.: Good afternoon Eric Where do you think Donavan Hinish will be on the depth chart come season and who will be the captains my guess captains will Be Cross Leonard Kizer and someone Else GO IRISH 🏈🏈☘️☘️
Eric Hansen: Hi Ryan. Donovan Hinish's production and versatility puts him in this deep rotation at the interior line positions. Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III will be the starters, with next men in Jason Onye and Gabe Rubio. Then it's Hinish. They'll all play. ... Haven't really thought a lot about the captains, because there are so many good candidates and you never know how many they'll name. You mentioned some good candidates. Xavier Watts, Mitchell Evans and Ben Morrison are some others who warrant strong consideration.
Dave Childers: Dave from heat stricken Jacksonville. Middle name is “Omer”. Which makes me D-Omer. Thoughts on NIL funding “preferred walk-on’s with tuition, fees, books, spending money to grow the rosters? Thanks for all the great insights and keeping the light bright in the dead space.
Eric Hansen: Dave, I want proof that your middle name is Omer. If so, I'll get you something better than a Tyler James autograph for your trouble. ... The recent settlements between the NCAA and a handful of litigants is going to shift the pay model beyond NIL. Now, while that isn't finalized yet (a federal judge must still approve it), fewer or no walk-ons and smaller roster sizes appear to be where the new model is pushing. So, it's going the opposite direction from what you're suggesting. There are a lot of coaches who don't want to see that and are pushing back, so buckle up for some lively debate there.
Bill from the Jersey Shore: Good tidings, Eric! Thank you for all the great coverage. It is an exciting time to be Irish! One question from the Texas A&M football game. Do you think it represents a serious advantage that Mike Elko was Riley Leonard's head coach that past few years? That is, he knows Riley very well, strengths and weaknesses. It would seem he'd be in an incredible position to take away the things Riley does well, and force him to do the things he doesn't do so well. To "play left-handed," so to speak.
Eric Hansen: Good tidings to you too, Bill and thanks for the compliment! I do NOT think it's a serious advantage, and I'll tell you why. First, Mike Elko is a good enough defensive mind to be able to study film of a QB he hasn't faced and try to get him to play "left-handed." Second, Riley Leonard will be in a different offense, with a different coordinator and with different personnel around him. Maybe if he were still at Duke and Duke was playing A&M ... There's going to be some blind-date aspects to this matchup, with Mike Denbrock's new offense and a new staff at A&M. Love the question, just don't think it will be a big factor.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello ERIC!!!! I hope you had a nice time off and will enjoy your next days off coming soon. You and Tyler work very hard and deserve these few days away. I looked at last years Texas A & M versus LSU game. I wanted to see how Mike D Offense faired. I was surprised to see that it wasn't until late the Daniels and Nabors hit some big plays and moved the game to the win column. Throughout the game LSU running backs went no where. Daniels had over 100 yards running. I know ND has issues moving the ball on Mikel E Duke team. Will ND be able to open it up deep as LSU did? What QB's besides Leonard pose a real running threat?
Eric Hansen: Len!!!! Another Jersey Shore questioner. When are you guys going to invite me out or hang out with each other? ... And thanks for the kind words... to your questions ... Let's start with your last question about QB running threats on the roster. Riley Leonard and Kenny Minchey are the two best by a good margin. Steve Angeli and CJ Carr and better and more-willing runners than last year’s starting QB, Sam Hartman. As far as opening things up, I do expect this to be a lower-scoring game, given A&M's strengths, given the blind-date aspects that will take a while to tease out, given ND's offensive line evolution and given how good ND's defense is going to be. ... Keep in mind, Texas A&M was a really good defense in 2023. The Aggies were 19th in total D and 13th in rushing defense, so slowing down opponents' run games was something they were constructed to do and did so on a regular basis. Good research on your part.
Sean from Schaumburg, Ill.: Mr. Hansen, the warp speed changes coming to college athletics is crazy. I think having a new President and AD is beneficial to get away from the staid/stodgy approach by generations past. I imagine a lot of grumbling from the older BOT members. I was hoping you could expound on your thoughts from FNS last night. What was unsaid by Freeman in the interview was how much Notre Dame was willing to pay. The new football facility being built shows a commitment to the "arms race" of facilities. Title IX is an issue. This isn't an equal sum game. Football/Men's basketball carry the financial load. In my view, the fencing team, track team athletes don't deserve as much as the football team. Sorry. We live in a capitalistic society. Life isn't fair. Also, Florida State is agitating. I don't see them staying in the ACC. Clemson will follow. Maybe, Miami. No point in being in the ACC if that happens. O-line remains a huge concern for TAMU game. There's no working your way into the season by week 3/4. … I forgot to add the 1983 NC State Men's Title winning basketball team suing the NCAA and the $2.8 billion settlement adding to the craziness of an ever-evolving departure/outright abandonment of "amateurism" of college athletics. Thank you, Eric. Be well.
Eric Hansen: Hi Sean, I realize we haven't had a chat in a while and you have a lot on your mind. You made a lot of statements without posing many questions and most of them don't link together. So let me try my best to at least answer the question you did ask. Let me try to simplify this at the risk of being oversimplified. Under the new model, schools will be able to pay players directly, which has nothing to do with NIL. There will be a cap. And teams don't have to spend the entire cap. Notre Dame will spend it. Then on top of that, there will be NIL deals that individual players can make with say car dealerships, etc. And given the Notre Dame branding and exposure, Irish players stand to be in good shape there. So, the point of what we were saying is 1) Marcus Freeman isn't dreading this aspect of the changing model. He's embracing it. 2) So is Notre Dame, and Freeman feels very supported, whether it's facilities, finding middle ground with transfer admissions, etc.
I think you have to get away from the “arms race” mentality and see the Jack and Kathy Shields Family Hall for what it is — a nod to pragmatism. In other words, a much needed facility that will help Notre Dame be better on the field through a new weight room football won't have to share, through recovery facilities, through the latest in sports science, etc. Not because of a slide or a video game system or excess luxury. Functionality is what it's all about.
If there are some follow-up questions you'd like to ask, I'd be happy to answer. Just not sure where to dig in.
Smitty from Tempe Ariz.: Eric - to expand a bit on Marie's question regarding Ivan Taylor's recent Alabama visit ... if this was an "official" visit, then doesn't ND consider him uncommitted? What does that even mean since the commitment isn't binding anyways? For a commitment such as Terry, it looks as if ND is willing to mutually part ways. But for a class gem like Taylor, does he get more leeway? Can't ND recruit backup safety options just in case, while not parting ways with Taylor?
Eric Hansen: Hi Smitty, good question (not that the others aren't). IN GENERAL, that would be the case, that ND would consider him uncommitted. Because Ivan lost his future position coach (Chris O'Leary), because he had been so good and clear in his communications with the staff, because he's still planning to visit this weekend AND because they believe he's worth it, the rule has been somewhat relaxed in his case. And ND does have contingency plans in place in case Taylor does veer off somewhere else. For now, even after his Alabama official visit, he is saying that he is firm in his ND commitment.
Geoff from Orange County, Calif.: Hello Eric, I was on Campus for my wife's 25th reunion when Tyler Buchner's letter was published. It was an informal topic of discussion at some of the dinners and the "refreshment hub." The letter seems to have gone over very well with most of the alums I spoke to. I thought it was very well written and spoke to what a special place Notre Dame is. More directly on the topic of Buchner's return to the football programs, what do you make of him being admitted as a WR? I can get why they wouldn't want to list him as a QB, but it seems like his best use right now would be on the scout team as a QB. Do you think this was just a case of, "Well, we've gotta put him somewhere, and this is best from an optics standpoint," or is it possible he could get into the rotation as a WR?
Eric Hansen: Hi Geoff. Marcus Freeman talked to the team leaders (and his wife) about whether to let Tyler Buchner back on the team before it actually came to pass. For those who missed my story on Freeman explaining the backstory, you can read that here. Just because he is listed as a WR doesn't mean he won't be able to help elsewhere. He may help signal in plays (yes, that's still a thing even with helmet communication coming this fall). I would expect him to be the scout team QB during Army and Navy weeks. He is willing to help in any way that he can. He is giving up fall lacrosse to do this, though he will play in the spring. I think this is going to end well.
Ced Walker from Saginaw, Mich.: Aka sagnasty saginaw pride … with Summer workouts starting with Loren Landow this week who do you think will be the biggest surprised player of this season & how many true freshmen do u see playing 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. I have been asked this question a lot, and probably have had different answers at different points this offseason. I mentioned the freshman who could surprise earlier as CB Karson Hobbs. As far as the whole roster, there are fewer potential surprises since most of you saw the Blue-Gold Game. So I am digging deep and avoiding more obvious ones like Adon Shuler and Billy Schrauth. I'll go with RB Kedren Young and LB Jaiden Ausberry.
Guest: Do we really think Greathouse is a no 1? I don’t think he has the burst and athleticism to be more than a 2nd WR.
Eric Hansen: Oh Guest, please remember name and hometown next time ... and as punishment, you need to include your 40 time ... unless it's fast. ... I'm not sure how you define No. 1 receiver. The way the NFL does and the way college does it is quite different, because of the difference in where the hash marks are on the field. It really defines at the college level, boundary and field receivers -- for those lining up outside. And Greathouse is a slot/inside guy. So when you say No. 1, are you asking me to project the guy with the most catches? Or the most difficult to defend, which might not be the same receiver?
Here's what Marcus Freeman had to say recently, that Jaden Greathouse was the most improved WR on the roster from the end of last season to the start of summer school. And it looked that way in the practices we saw. He shares the slot position with AT LEAST one other receiver, in Jordan Faison. And they complement each other. Faison has more speed. Greathouse is a really good route runner with a powerful build who's very dangerous in the red zone. So that probably isn't the definition of No. 1 in your book, but I think he'll be very productive for the Irish this season.
Gordo: Does walk-on Alex Whitman find a way to use his size and speed to make a contribution at WR or special teams this year?
Eric Hansen: Hi Gordo. Given that a walk-on did that last year, I think it's a fair question. Alex Whitman is a 6-2, 194-pound sophomore who did not play last year. Given the depth at wide receiver, I don't see there being a path to playing time there in 2024. Maybe on special teams, but there's tons of competition for those spots too.
Guest: Hey Eric - Happy Fathers Day to you and all the ND Dads. (I'm expecting my annual "The Shirt") Thanks for these June chats. Its great to be aboard. Wanted to ask you a hypothetical. If you were a HC or AD at a Power conference how would you prioritize your spending in order to build an elite Natl Champ team? Divorce yourself from some ND constants and tap your experience with covering many programs over the years. (Dabo, Sabon, Day, Smart) How would you rank these priorities: 1) High School Recruiting 2) Facilities 3) Coaches/ Coordinators 4) Portal 5) NIL (inside/ outside funding) 6) Conference 7) Other (Academics/ schedules/Graduation rate) Thanks again for the great work you do.
Eric Hansen: Hi Guest and Happy Father's Day. It's difficult to divorce myself from Notre Dame's situation, because it's not one size fits all. So, I will try to make this as generic as I can. I'd start with No. 3 coaches/coordinators, because great leadership can drive/solve/enhance a lot of the other factors on this list. No. 2. would be High School recruiting, 3. academics and grad rate, 4 Portal, 5. NIL, 6. Facilities, 7. Conference.
Eric Hansen: I want to say thanks to everyone who signed up for our special offer that ended Monday night. And speaking of Father's Day, consider a gift subscription to insideNDsports.com. They come in 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 1-year and multi-year increments to fit any budget. Here's the link to check it out: https://notredame.rivals.com/gifts/purchase
Eric Hansen: OK, seeing no further questions, I want to thank you all for all the great questions today. We'll pick this back up the first week of July with the next chat.
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