With an experienced football team, the Fighting Irish are returning a lot of talent to each position room; however, some positions will be much more key to the overall success of the 2024 season.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
The 2024 Notre Dame roster is built on experience. On the defensive side of the ball, the Fighting Irish return at least two starters from each level and have added transfer portal pieces to replace players who made the jump to the NFL.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Irish have revamped the skill position rooms and brought in a new, up-tempo style with coordinator Mike Denbrock.
While there are many certainties in the Fighting Irish position rooms, X-factors could alter the trajectory of Notre Dame's season.
Will the hiring of Mike Brown lead to on-field success for the Fighting Irish receiving room?
Will Max Bullough rotate multiple young linebackers?
Will Deland McCullough let all five backs get touches?
Mike Brown: Wide Receiving Room
The wide receiving core was the biggest upheaval this past offseason.
Though Mike Brown has faced challenges on the recruiting trail, the former Wisconsin coach is known for his development of wide receivers.
The talent Brown is inheriting in the Notre Dame room is unlike any he's seen before. While these Irish receivers may not have eye-popping box score numbers, Brown has a plethora of options to give new looks to any opposing defense.
Realistically, Notre Dame has nine players that can make an instant impact this year. In a crowded wide receiver room, only so many guys can get touches, yet each player brings their own skillset.
Kris Mitchell will assume the role of the vertical threat that can take the top off defenses with his blazing speed.
Jayden Thomas and Beaux Collins, with their imposing frames, should be dependable options over the middle of the field
Jordan Faison, Jayden Harrison, and Jaden Greathouse will move in-and-out of the slot position because of their versatility.
Then there is Deion Colzie, who arguably has the highest ceiling on the roster. With track star speed and a big-frame, Colzie can be a significant weapon in the red zone.
The last two that can receive snaps are early-enrollee freshmen Cam Williams and Micah Gilbert, who dazzled in limited snaps during the spring.
Overall, the talent is there for coach Brown to work with. At the end of the day, it will come down to how much separation these wide receivers can get, as Notre Dame's offense transforms from a run-heavy identity, whose tight ends are the team's leading receivers.
Max Bullough: Linebacking Core
The linebacking core has been stable for the Fighting Irish over the last three years. Marist Liufau and JD Bertrand have manned the middle of the Notre Dame defense.
While the stability was nice, Notre Dame is now unveiling a more athletic, younger crop of linebackers.
Former five-star Jaylen Sneed is finally getting his turn at a starting role after waiting the past two years.
Drayk Bowen is another projected starter, who might be sharing time with true freshman Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa before the end of the year.
The only familiar face returning to the linebacking room is Jack Kiser, who will provide great communication and leadership to the younger batch of backers.
Max Bullough has done a great job in his limited time with the linebacker room, but his role in integrating younger players with greater potential is exciting.
It is imperative that the linebackers are communicating well in a raucous week one environment. If not, the Notre Dame defense might be in some trouble.
Deland McCullough: Running Back Stable
While the Notre Dame running back room is losing their workhorse in Audric Estime, the future is still bright.
The Irish had two preseason nominees for the Doak Walker Award in Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.
Love and Price will be 1A and 1B in this offense, as Love may also move out to wide receiver in order to switch things up and incorporate different looks.
"Both similar guys as far as twitchy, explosive," said coach McCullough during an early August press conference.
The season-ending injury Gi'Bran Payne endured during the spring game hurts the Fighting Irish, as Payne was Notre Dame's third down back last year.
This injury also moved Devin Ford back to the running back room after a quick change to safety.
The biggest question mark will be how early true freshmen Kedren Young and Aneyas Williams find themselves getting touches.
In such a talented room, it will be exciting who McCullough trusts with most of the touches, and who can earn a bigger role later into the season.
Teddy and the Gipper: A Notre Dame Friendship
'Teddy and the Gipper: A Fighting Irish Friendship,' by Len Clark, Ph.D., with vivid illustrations by Jared Basker, takes you on an unforgettable journey to the heart of Notre Dame, as seen through the incredible bond between Teddy Flynn, his dog, "Snacks," and George Gipp. This isn't just another sports story; it's a unique blend of nostalgia, Indiana history, and community that celebrates the unbreakable connections that shape who we are.
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There is no information in the article that reflects spring ball let alone fall camp. A bot could have written this in January. P.S. It is so dated that it is inacurate.