With Notre Dame's season debut at College Station now under a week away, it's time to look and see how their offensive group stacks up against Texas A&M's. With a new starting quarterback, a revamped wide receiver group, and new offensive coordinator, Notre Dame's offense will play a lot differently than last year.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Quarterback
Notre Dame - Riley Leonard
The former Duke QB will make his first start for the Fighting Irish against A&M and his former coach, Mike Elko. Last year, Leonard battled an ankle sprain that kept him off the field for most of the season. With that being said, Leonard's stats from the 2023 season were significantly limited, as he threw for 1,102 yards for only three touchdowns and three interceptions. When he was on the field, Leonard showed off his talented arm and his powerful legs that accounted for four more touchdowns. In 2022, Leonard was able to stay on the field for every game where he threw for 2,794 yards and found the end zone 20 times through the air and 11 on the ground. He did all of this while only throwing six interceptions. After a productive summer of rehab, Leonard looks to recapture the spark that made Duke such a formidable opponent over the last few seasons.
Texas A&M - Conner Weigman
Conner Weigman enters his third year at Texas A&M, but it is only his tenth game playing for the Aggies. Coming out of high school, Weigman was ranked as a 5-star prospect by 247 Sports, and was a part of the Aggies' historic 2022 recruiting class which included eight 5-star players. Between the 2022 and 2023 season, Weigman only played in nine games. In 2022, Weigman tallied 73 completions for 896 yards and eight touchdowns, while throwing zero interceptions, an impressive feat for a freshman in the SEC. In his four games in 2023, he threw for 979 yards and eight touchdowns. He only threw two interceptions this past season, speaking further to his ability to take care of the football.
Both quarterbacks have shown sustained periods of success throughout their careers. Weigman had his first two seasons cut short due to injury, but when he was on the field, he was very efficient. Leonard has had a similar history with injuries, but has considerably more experience. This, along with Leonard's complete body of work and ability to create plays with his legs is why I feel Notre Dame has a slight edge at the QB position.
Running Back
Notre Dame - Jeremiyah Love/Jadarian Price
This season, Notre Dame will have to pivot from their incredibly effective RB Audric Estime to Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Both RB's are sophomores, but Love has had more meaningful game experience. Last season, Love carried the ball 71 times for 385 yards and tallied one touchdown on the ground and one through the air. Love offered a change of pace from Estime, as he is more known for his speed, while Estime had the power. As the third RB on the roster last year, Price only received 47 carries, but three of those were touchdowns. Price's biggest moment came in the game against USC where he returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, which essentially ended the game. The combination of speed and power that the Irish have in the backfield will be tough to stop, and provides one of the best complimentary tandems in the country.
Texas A&M - Le'Veon Moss/Amari Daniels
The Aggies were recently hit with the injury bug in the RB room, as Rueben Owens is expected to miss the entire 2024 season. Owens was deemed to be the RB with the most upside this year, but their RB room still looks like it can pose a significant threat to the Notre Dame defense. Le'Veon Moss is a physical runner weighing 215 pounds, and is coming into his third season. In 2022, he managed to find a few carries throughout the year, one of them being a touchdown. The 2023 season featured Moss more prominently, as he carried the ball 96 times for 484 yards and 5 touchdowns. On the other hand, Amari Daniels is coming into his fourth season at A&M, where his playing time has seen an uptick every year he's been on the team. Last season, he had 97 carries for 514 yards and five touchdowns.
Neither team has a premiere starting RB with proven elite production returning this season. Both teams will probably be running by committee, as they both have two quality options to share the load. With that being said, the comparison between the two teams seem to be even at RB. This game will be a good way for both RB rooms to set themselves apart and establish themselves as the new workhorses of their offenses.
Offensive Line
Notre Dame
Notre Dame has always been known for their exceptional offensive lines throughout the years, being deemed by many as "O-Line U." This season, the offensive line is easily the team's biggest question mark. This mainly comes from Notre Dame losing both starting tackles, Joe Alt and Blake Fisher, to the NFL draft. Then, just a few weeks ago, the offensive line saw another setback when starting left tackle, Charles Jagusah, tore his pec in fall camp. Notre Dame's starting offensive line was just announced, as the game in College Station quickly approaches. The starting lineup for the group will feature Anthonie Knapp at left tackle, Sam Pendleton at left guard, Ashton Craig at center, Billy Schrauth at right guard, and Aamil Wagner at right tackle. Despite a staggering lack of experience, the raw talent that this group possesses needs to carry them through their first game. They only have six combined starts as a group, but it's the group that has earned the job. Notre Dame could lean toward a more experienced lineup, but it should be a sign that the times are changing and the best players will see the field. This group is one that is very athletic and fits well with Mike Denbrock's style of play.
Texas A&M
Texas A&M also has their fair share of questions about their upcoming offensive line. This position group has been a cause for concern over the last few years, but the A&M faithful seem to be cautiously optimistic about this group. A&M's offensive line will also be inexperienced at some positions, but has the talent and size that could grow into a solid unit over the course of the season. Weigman has not been able to get through a full season due to the injuries that he has has suffered under center, so it will be crucial that A&M finds an offensive line that can keep him upright for a full season.
Well, this is a particularly hard one to grade, as both units are very inexperienced and are the biggest question mark for both teams. The history of Notre Dame offensive lines combined with the talent that the young guys have is why I feel slightly better about their group than Texas A&M's. Notre Dame usually excels at this position, so there is some faith that the success will continue into this year. These two units are something to look for when the two teams clash. They may be the deciding factor in a close game.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Notre Dame
Notre Dame's wide receiver group is extremely deep, talented, and experienced this season. Kris Mitchell is an explosive player from Florida International University. He'll give this group the ability throw the ball deep and create plays after the catch. Beaux Collins comes to Notre Dame from Clemson, and along with Jayden Thomas, they will be bring physical wide receiver play and jump ball threats in the red zone. Jaden Greathouse is a true sophomore who showed a lot of promise as a freshman. Greathouse is a smooth route runner with a great set of hands in the slot. Additionally, multi sport athlete Jordan Faison proved to be a reliable option in the slot last season, as he and Greathouse will work in tandem to frustrate the Aggies. KK Smith and freshmen wide receivers Cam WIlliams, Micah Gilbert, and Logan Saldate will provide the Irish with depth at the position that has been sorrily lacked for some time. Tight end Mitchell Evans is also back this year after an ACL tear that kept him out of the back half of the 2023 season. Mitchell Evans broke out last year as Sam Hartman's favorite weapon. This season, Mitchell Evans is easily one of the nation's best tight ends, so expect him to be featured early and often.
Texas A&M
Texas A&M also brings an experienced and talented wide receiver group into this season. Jahdae Walker was the Aggies' most productive target last year with 590 yards, and with Weigman back in the lineup, he may have an even better 2024 season. Noah Thomas is another returning player that has incredible size, standing at 6'6". He matches that with good speed, making him someone to watch for sure. Last season, A&M's first game featured three touchdowns by Thomas, something Notre Dame would want to avoid. Moose Muhammad III is another Aggie weapon that is maybe their most athletic player and has a flair for spectacular catches. He may be on the lookout for a breakout year this season. 5-star freshman and freak athlete Terry Bussey will also likely see action, so it will be important for a very talented Notre Dame secondary to keep things tightened up. At tight end, A&M still needs some questions answered. A&M may look to a committee style approach, using multiple players for different roles. One player to watch in this group would be Tre Watson, the 6'5" senior by way of Fresno State.
The receiving groups on both teams seem to be pretty comparable. They both have a lot of experience, size, and speed, which will be an asset to both teams throughout the season. Notre Dame may have more depth, but it remains to be seen how much action they'll see. To me, the two groups are even. Where I see Notre Dame having the advantage is at tight end. Mitchell Evans is a bona fide go-to target who is proven to be one of the best in the country.
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