The way Jaden Greathouse finished Notre Dame’s 2024 season wasn’t a surprise to his teammates.
Greathouse, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound wide receiver, caught 13 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns in the final two games of his junior season. His seven catches for 105 yards and one touchdown against Penn State played a pivotal role in Notre Dame’s 27-24 College Football Playoff semifinal victory. His six catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns against Ohio State helped give the Irish a glimmer of hope in a failed comeback attempt in the 34-23 loss in the National Championship Game.
Former Notre Dame wide receiver Beaux Collins, who finished the season with one fewer reception than Greathouse, had high praise for Greathouse when he spoke to reporters Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“He was probably the best physically able receiver we had,” Collins said. “Ball skills, top of the roof. Ability with running after the catch and things like that. It was amazing to see during practice. I was just excited and happy for him. Because I know he’s a guy that was wanting it early on in the season, but he got it when it mattered.”
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Greathouse, who switched to jersey No. 1 last offseason, entered the season with aspirations of being Notre Dame’s top receiver. Thanks to his strong finish in January, he ended up leading the Irish in receiving yards (592) and receiving touchdowns (4). His 42 receptions were one behind tight end Mitchell Evans for the team high.
Evans expects big things out of Greathouse moving forward.
“I was not surprised at all,” Evans said Thursday at the NFL Combine. “I just knew he had that dog in him a little bit. I was honestly kind of waiting for that moment to happen. He showed up in the biggest games of the year. Kudos to him.
“He set himself up for a good year this year. Whoever’s the quarterback this year is gonna build up trust in him in the offseason. He’s only going to skyrocket from here.”
Notre Dame’s wide receiver group only returns one other player who caught at least 30 passes last season: junior-to-be Jordan Faison, who finished with 30 catches for 356 yards and one touchdown. That’s why the Irish brought in a pair of graduate transfer wide receivers for next season: Virginia’s Malachi Fields, who totaled 55 receptions for 808 yards and five touchdowns, and Wisconsin’s Will Pauling, who caught 42 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns.
But Evans and Collins expect some of Notre Dame’s inexperience players to step up as well. Both mentioned sophomore-to-be Micah Gilbert despite him playing in only four games as a redshirt last season and not recording a catch.
“He’s gonna take that next step this year,” Evans said of Gilbert. “I can see the way he practices, the way he runs routes. He’s gonna be a good Notre Dame household name in the next couple years.”
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The 6-2, 208-pound Gilbert was the first name Collins mentioned when asked for young receivers ready to take the next step.
“Micah Gilbert for sure,” Collins said. “He’s a young dude. He’s very athletic, twitchy. He has long speed and things like that. I’m excited to see him. KK Smith, that’s my guy. I feel like he’ll take the next step as well. There was a freshman this year, Logan Saldate. That’s my guy. He’s a California kid as well. I feel like in the long run he’s gonna really help the team.”
The 6-0, 178-pound Smith made his first three career catches for 38 yards last season as a sophomore. The 5-11, 193-pound Saldate played in just one game last year.
As Evans did last season, Notre Dame’s tight end group should continue to positively impact the Irish passing game next season. The focus will be on senior-to-be Eli Raridon (6-7, 250) to fill the starting role after catching 16 passes for 141 yards and three touchdowns the past two seasons.
“He’s gonna pop off,” Evans said. “He’s a stud. He’s just been waiting for his number to be called to be the guy. This year, all the reins are going to be off him. He’s gonna let it loose.
“He’s one of the most athletic dudes I’ve ever seen. I expect a freaky year from him. He’s really athletic. He’s fast. He’s strong. He’s smart. He’s gonna let it loose this year.”
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