In the NBC feed post-game, camera following
#NotreDame
’s quarterback to the locker room, Sam Hartman meets Joe Montana near the door, the Irish football alumnus wearing a huge grin.
Quite a moment here, and a cool bond that’s formed this season.
#NotreDame
tight end Kevin Bauman posted this photo of himself & his brother Alex Bauman - who just scored the winning TD in the Cotton Bowl - on Instagram earlier today.
Rylie Mills
Howard Cross
Jack Kiser
Xavier Watts
Mike Denbrock
Mike Brown
Loren Ladow
Riley Leonard
Kris Mitchell
Beaux Collins
RJ Oben
Signed its entire 2024 class, no flips
40-8 Bowl win
A pretty darned productive month of December for
#NotreDame
, I’d say.
Dec. 3: Marcus Freeman named head football coach at Notre Dame
Dec. 10: All-American 2022 offensive lineman Billy Schrauth announces commitment to ND
Dec. 11: All-American 2023 cornerback Justyn Rhett announces commitment to ND (the highest-ranked CB to pledge to ND since 2007)
Posted on IG by Jeremiyah Love (
@jeremiyahlove
) next to fellow true freshman Christian Gray.
These two young guns out of St. Louis bring a whole lots of speed, talent, and playmaking ability to each side of the ball at
#NotreDame
.
Sure will be fun to watch.
Cam Williams: “My hope was…that they picked Notre Dame for more than just a coach. And I think they did.
“To even have this opportunity to be able to attend this university and get in, it’s bigger than anything. I think these kids decided that.”
VIP
Instagram post from Cam Williams who arrived at
#NotreDame
this weekend with over a dozen fellow early-entry freshmen.
That includes Kedren Young and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa shown in this photo from Williams. (cam.will8 on IG)
With Braylon James committed (
#72
) along with Keon Keeley (
#9
), Drayk Bowen (
#53
), and Peyton Bowen (
#62
),
#NotreDame
carries four Top 75 commitments for the first time in over a decade. (Citing Composite rankings).
Probably my favorite story of the cycle....
Karson Hobbs is a special kid. An underrated cornerback, imo. Daniel Hobbs (dad) is a lifelong, diehard
#NotreDame
fan.
They bonded over ND football for years.
Now he's officially South Bend bound.
A proud dad to the highest degree.
Photo from Nolan Ziegler’s mom who attended the All-American Bowl today.
Nolan Ziegler (40) w his very-soon-to-be freshmen teammates Tyson Ford (98) and Niuafe Tuihalamaka (44).
All three enrolling at Notre Dame on Monday. Orientation tomorrow.
Absolutely huge recruiting win for
#NotreDame
heading into its home tilt w/ Ohio State.
If you took DeShone Kizer when he was at
#ND
, but added more arm strength & arm talent in general, more elusiveness in carrying the ball, more ‘It Factor,’ that may be Knight’s potential.
Nolan Ziegler: "I just feel like with coach Kelly gone, if coach Freeman is our head coach, it'll give us a fire, just an edge to have him as our head coach. A new tenacity."
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance for this program to continue building, and it'll give us an edge.”
Marcus Freeman visited Nolan Ziegler at his school & in his home yesterday. Shortly after, news broke that Brian Kelly was leaving South Bend
Ziegler knows who he'd like to see as the next head coach. And he's not alone
He spoke w/ Irish Illustrated. VIP
The father of a current Notre Dame player:
“This is incredible! Notre Dame just locked up one of the best young coaches & recruiters in the game. I know players & parents are both elated & relieved w/ this decision. This hire completely takes the sting out of losing Coach Kelly”
It was decided that Audric Estime wasn’t among the Top 10 running backs in college football.
I get that there are many exciting, productive running backs from coast to coast. But not even in the Top 10?
I dunno….
In Christian Gray and Micah Bell,
#NotreDame
has landed what would be its highest-ranked cornerback and third-highest-ranked cornerback over the last decade (as the rankings stand today).
Less than a year ago,
#NotreDame
hired a WR coach who had been coaching in Texas w/ the Baylor Bears.
At the time, I wondered if Chansi Stuckey would have success in recruiting Texas given his background.
Well, Kaleb Smith marks the third WR commit from Texas this cycle.
When I look back on Notre Dame’s win on Saturday, this pocket maneuvering from Ian Book comes to mind.
Went looking for the replay today. Check out the footwork.
I’m amazed at the amount of elite high school football talent in the state of Georgia.
Interesting numbers I dug up today:
Population:
California - 39.25 million
Georgia - 10.3 million
# of four/five-star recruits in the 2019 class (247 Comp):
California - 36
Georgia - 41
From former Notre Dame edge rusher Julian Okwara’s Instagram….
His NFL teammate & former USC WR Amon Ra St. Brown clearly losing a bet with Okwara.
Okwara IG: julianokwara
If we're looking at the HC situation purely through a recruiting lens, giving Marcus Freeman the gig would be the move that could best contain ND's current class. He's a proven ace recruiter.
Consider not only the 2022 class but the high-end 2023 defensive commits....
#NotreDame
coaches Al Golden & Mike Mickens connecting w/ linebacker Jaiden Ausberry today in Louisiana.
The four-star recruit will enroll in South Bend next month.
I don’t pay much attention to uniforms and I sometimes cringe at the drama around certain alternative unis etc.
But I have to say these
#NotreDame
uniforms are really, really sharp.
📸 via Justin Thurman on IG ( just1nt_ )
What a story….
Fresh out of high school, shows up in June as a lacrosse player planning to play some receiver as a walk-on with no star rankings.
Fast forward to the bowl game, Jordan Faison cruised past 100 receiving yards a while ago, and now he punched in a touchdown.
#NotreDame
RB commit Dylan Edwards is a rocket out of the backfield.
After scoring on a 27-yard TD untouched, he notched this 73-yard score.
@dylan_edwards02
Clip via live stream from Derby on NFHS. LINK:
The foundation of Notre Dame's 2023 defensive class is set, all five commits ranked in the Top 150.
Top 50 recruits in edge rusher Keon Keeley and linebacker Drayk Bowen, defensive lineman Brenan Vernon, and defensive backs Justyn Rhett and Adon Shuler rounding out that group.
Linebackers who have committed to
#NotreDame
since Marcus Freeman arrived:
Jaylen Sneed
Josh Burnham
Niuafe Tuihalamaka
Nolan Ziegler
Drayk Bowen
Jaiden Ausberry
Preston Zinter
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa
Bodie Kahoun
Teddy Rezac
Burnham/Tuihalamaka moved to the edge, but still….
Jaden Greathouse was a fantastic red zone receiver at Westlake. And here he is showing those skills in
#NotreDame
’s spring camp, Kenny Minchey throwing the ball.
Via Greathouse’s IG ()
Two weeks in a row,
#NotreDame
cornerback Cam Hart has done a great job of forcing a turnover on the perimeter, punching or ripping the ball loose. (Both replays shown below)
He recovered the first one. The second one was scooped up and returned for a TD by teammate Xavier Watts
Yep, Michael Mayer is going to do just fine at
#NotreDame
.
Here he is with some serious physicality early in the Kentucky 5A state championship.
@MMayer1001
Jaiden Ausberry:
“We're the highest-rated class in Notre Dame history…Also, we're coach Freeman's first full class. I think we're really special. I think we're coming in with a lot of good players on both sides of the ball, and I think we're really going to change Notre Dame.”
I spoke w/ Jaiden Ausberry following his in-home visit yesterday.
“The staff he's brought in, it's amazing. Young staff, good guys, really good at recruiting. And they just know how to connect with the players on and off the field.”
Story: (VIP)
What an experience for these recruits….
They head up to
#NotreDame
for a game day recruiting visit, and the next thing they know, they’re talking with Joe Montana on the field at Notre Dame Stadium.
That’s “I’m gonna tell my grandkids about this one day ” stuff right there.
Marcus Freeman has lured the following linebacker recruits since taking office in South Bend roughly nine months ago:
Drayk Bowen (
#28
overall)
Jaylen Sneed (
#32
overall)
Joshua Burnham (
#117
overall)
Niuafe Tuihalamaka (
#128
overall)
Nolan Ziegler (
#288
overall)
Huge.
#NotreDame
is already returning standout veterans in defensive tackles Rylie Mills & Howard Cross, linebacker Jack Kiser, and star cornerback Ben Morrison.
Returning 1st Team All-American safety Xavier Watts really amplifies the returning talent in the
#NotreDame
defense
A long list of
#NotreDame
's 2022 commits on campus in South Bend this weekend.
Very cool this group was able to get together this weekend and attend the basketball win over Kentucky.
I seem to watch, re-watch & re-re-watch the season opener excessively every year. But Marist Liufau sure keeps it interesting.
We saw flashes of this in the past. This time, though, he managed to sustain that super-hostile, flying-around-the-field mode through all 4 quarters.
Cooper Flanagan has been an outstanding blocker as a true freshman who didn’t enroll early.
Really nice to see him get his first college touchdown. He’s going to be a good one for the Fighting Irish.
He already is.
After committing to
#NotreDame
lacrosse as a junior, Jordan Faison turned heads on the football field as a senior, picking up an offer from Iowa.
Now he’s set to play lacrosse & football in South Bend.
@Jordan6Faison
Story: (FREE)
“I hate to say that Manti and I started anything. But the pipeline from Hawaii to Notre Dame is very special and not just from Punahou but all the local kids.”
From Te’o & Toma to the Kia bros last weekend:
The Ties That Bind Punahou &
#NotreDame
VIP
I can’t say I ever expected to see a
#NotreDame
recruiting class headlined by a Top 75 QB from Mississippi & a quality 4-star edge rusher from Alabama.
Just got off the phone w/ May, an outstanding prospect and an excellent young guy. Stay tuned for that reporting today.
Per the final 2024 ranking update via 247Sports:
#NotreDame
finished w/ three Top 50 signees for the first time in over a decade.
Exciting prospects from coast to coast are buying what Marcus Freeman & his staff are selling.
Full update:
#NotreDame
fans will want to watch this.
It’s difficult to sum up all the factors that make ND special in a two-minute video but they’ve done a fantastic job of that here.
A lifelong Irish fan, Daniel Hobbs discussed his son’s commitment to
#NotreDame
.
“I had tears in my eyes…when he put the uniform on for the photoshoot. It was like the greatest thing I've ever seen in my life.”
FREE
@KarsonHobbs
@DanielHraider
Impossible to miss Jeremiyah Love’s significant potential on Saturday.
Guards pulling to the boundary, and Love has the patience first, and then the speed and cutting ability to score.
Since Oklahoma lost its head coach, the Sooners have lost 10 commitments, all 5-star/4-star recruits. Florida has lost 7 commits since Dan Mullen was ousted. And TCU lost more than half its class.
Yet Notre Dame's class has shown solidarity.
Story: VIP
One of the very best offensive line prospects in the 2025 class, in my opinion, tackle Owen Strebig celebrating with
#NotreDame
OL coach Joe Rudolph following a wide-margin win over USC.
A lot of important recruits were on hand for the win tonight.
CJ May didn’t intend to commit when he left Alabama for South Bend this weekend.
“But sometimes some things just feel right…It's something I want to be surrounded (by) and I can always have ties to for the rest of my life.”
FREE
@CJMAY0
@DeuceKnight
SIGNED: Running back Jeremiyah Love…
He’s the highest-ranked running back
#NotreDame
has signed in a decade. Jeremiyah Love has breakneck speed and legitimate receiving skills.
Some top highlights below…
Owen Strebig chose
#NotreDame
over FSU, Miami, USC & Wisconsin.
"I'm using football to help me chase my dreams of getting a Notre Dame degree...That goes further than any one pancake block. I'll be early enrolling, too."
Story: FREE
@OwenStrebig
OL: Aamil Wagner, Joey Tanona, Ty Chan, Billy Schrauth, Ashton Craig
LB: Jaylen Sneed, Joshua Burnham, Niuafe Tuihalamaka, Nolan Ziegler
TE: Eli Raridon, Holden Staes
There’s no question the above three Irish position groups are among the very best nationally (if not THE best)
Riley Leonard in tow after scoring exciting receivers Kris Mitchell & Beaux Collins.
Today, it’s RJ Oben giving
#NotreDame
a crucial Edge w/ size, talent & experience. And now Jack Kiser is set to return, a massive win for ND.
Things are going well for Notre Dame, I’d say.
Three commits ranked in the Top 60 w/ 247Sports.
Jordan Botelho (No. 35 overall), Jordan Johnson (No. 57 overall), Tosh Baker (No. 41 overall)
#NotreDame
is hitting on top-ranked talent like we haven't seen in years.
#IrishBouNDXX
Eli Raridon's dad Scott Raridon said to me after attending the USC game:
“I even pulled Aamil Wagner to the side...I said, ‘I have to tell you, you are the kind of person that should go here.’ He's such a well-spoken, nice kid. Looks you in the eye and has a good conversation."
SIGNED: Cornerback Micah Bell…
A cornerback with truly elite speed out of Houston, Texas, this is the type of prospect
#NotreDame
simply didn’t land in the Kelly era. Micah Bell can run with any receiver.
Some top highlights below….
#NotreDame
WR’s in the NFL Combine the last few years.
Miles Boykin: 6-4, 220. 4.42 sec.
Chase Claypool: 6-3, 238. 4.42 sec.
Kevin Austin: 6-2, 200. 4.37 sec.
Producing big receivers with dynamic athleticism.
Quite a move for the Irish, returning Harry Hiestand to the OL coach role.
The guy who recruited and developed guys like Quenton Nelson, Mike McGlinchey, Tommy Kraemer, Liam Eichenberg, Aaron Banks, Robert Hainsey, and many others.
Did not expect to see that coming - Boubacar Traore coming out of nowhere and sacking Caleb Williams on a key down in
#NotreDame
territory.
Boy, he sure is going to be fun to watch over the next few years.
Another huge development for the Fighting Irish.
Rylie Mills will return next fall, giving
#NotreDame
what should be one of the best interior D-Line duos in the country in tandem with Howard Cross
SIGNED: KYNGSTONN VILIAMU-ASA
Perhaps the most significant recruiting win for
#NotreDame
in years. Possibly the best linebacker to choose the Irish since Jaylon Smith signed a decade ago.
Won’t be surprised if he’s a starter in 2024.
The significance can’t be overstated.
Those who know Notre Dame, no explanation's necessary. Those who don't, no explanation will suffice. -
@CoachLouHoltz88
#24
is coming back in ’24.
Let’s get to work.
Growing up on
#NotreDame
football, 2024 CB Karson Hobbs was in South Bend on Saturday.
“I really felt like that was the greatest college football game I've ever been to. I've never had that much fun at a football game, personally, in my life.”
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