While Notre Dame got plenty of contributions from the 2024 recruiting class, the Fighting Irish are expecting to see even more players see the field next season. These are the next breakout candidates heading into their sophomore season.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
During Notre Dame's run to the National Championship, the Irish got many key performances from their true freshman.
Leonard Moore filled in seamlessly for the second half of the season when All-American cornerback Benjamin Morrison had season-ending hip surgery. Moore replaced Morrison and earned Freshman All-American honors for the Fighting Irish.
Anthonie Knapp was thrust into the spotlight for the entirety of the year after projected starting LT Charles Jagusah had a regular season-ending pectoral injury. The Irish also got key contributions from RB Aneyas Williams, LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, and DE Bryce Young. These players matured quickly during Notre Dame’s lengthy postseason run, and were forced to develop due to injuries at key positions.
Yet, even while Notre Dame has received a significant impact from the class of 2024, there are still many stars that spent last year developing and adjusting to college football, that will surely make an impact in the 2025 season. Let's break down some candidates who are destined to make an impact during their sophomore season.
CJ Carr
It is almost impossible to have this discussion without mentioning CJ Carr's name. Carr, the highly touted quarterback prospect from Saline, Mich., will compete in an open quarterback battle with Steve Angeli and Kenny Minchey.
Many are already penciling in Carr as the Irish's starting quarterback in Coral Gables next year, yet it should be an extremely fierce QB competition throughout spring and summer camp.
Out of the three, Carr provides the highest upside for the Fighting Irish. His accuracy and mobility in the pocket are the strengths of his game, alongside his high IQ. With Carr being an early enrollee during Notre Dame's bowl week game in 2023, he has had plenty of time to work with quarterbacks' coach Gino Guidugli.
Whether or not Carr earns the starting spot, his number might be called upon at any point in the season. Marcus Freeman was adamant about not taking a transfer portal quarterback in this cycle because of the belief he has in the QB room: much of that faith has been placed within the arm of CJ Carr.
Micah Gilbert
Even with the Irish bringing in Malachi Fields and Will Pauling from the transfer portal, Micah Gilbert has a chance to take a giant step forward this year for Notre Dame.
An interesting note is that Fields will not enroll at Notre Dame until the summer, which leaves a hole on the outside that Gilbert will attempt to fill during spring ball.
Gilbert has shown flashes of greatness during his time in South Bend. He was the leading receiver in the 2024 Blue vs Gold game, in which he had five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
Gilbert also saw playing time this season during the final moments of the games against Purdue, Stanford, and Navy. If Gilbert can establish himself as a reliable option for any of the quarterbacks, the sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., can make an impact in a young receiver room.
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Loghan Thomas
Loghan Thomas might be an exception on this list because the freshman saw playing time in almost every game, yet he wasn't given enough snaps along the defensive line to show his true potential.
Even though Bryce Young was the freshman DE who received the most snaps, Thomas proved that he could play from the time he enrolled at Notre Dame.
He played in 15 games while netting seven tackles and 1.5 sacks. Thomas' speed is his greatest attribute, and he displayed that during the Louisville game last year. While Notre Dame is returning Boubacar Traore and Jordan Botelho from injury, Thomas' athletic ability is tough to keep off the field.
With more snaps, Thomas can easily be a viable pass-rushing option for the Fighting Irish.
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