Latest news with #ND
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
On ESPN's First Take, Marcus Freeman says this group benefitted the most from ND's CFP run
Notre Dame's magical run to the College Football Playoff national championship game last season is paying dividends in a variety of ways, including on the recruiting trail. Marcus Freeman's squad is well-positioned to make another run at the CFP, and ND's national brand has been even more elevated because of last year's success. Freeman and six Fighting Irish players are in New York City this week for the program's version of media day, and he appeared on ESPN's First Take on Thursday. Freeman was asked which position group benefitted the most following last season's run to the national title game, and he mentioned offensive line coach Joe Rudolph's unit. "I think as you look at our offensive line, we probably ended up starting nine to 10 guys throughout the year," Freeman said. "Just through injuries, through different situations. As we go to 2025, you've got a group that all have game experience—starting big-game experience." Entering the new season, ND has several offensive linemen who have started games, including redshirt junior Ashton Craig, redshirt sophomore Charles Jagusah, sophomore Anthonie Knapp, redshirt junior Billy Schrauth and redshirt junior Aamil Wagner. While Jagusah is expected to miss the start of the season, Freeman knows he can rely on his depth until Jagusah is 100 percent healthy again. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Dave on X: Miller_Dave
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame legacy target Cooper Witten ranks No. 15 overall in the initial 2027 Rivals300
Seemingly on a daily basis, Notre Dame is making national headlines because of the number of legacy recruits that are either committed or being sought by the football program. One of those Fighting Irish targets made news Wednesday when linebacker Cooper Witten placed No. 15 in his class with four-stars in the initial 2027 Rivals300. The son of former Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders star Jason Witten, is an ND target who competed in the program's Irish Invasion event this summer. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Liberty Christian (Argyle, TX) product has been clocked at a 10.91-second 100 meters, and his elite closing speed and football instincts make him one of the premiere defenders in his class. Outside of Notre Dame, Witten has offers from major powers such as Alabama, Michigan, Texas and his father's alma mater, Tennessee. He had 45 tackles, five interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and seven receiving scores on offense during his sophomore season. In its 2026 class, ND holds commitments from linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. as well as wide receivers Devin Fitzgerald and Kaydon Finley, all three of whom are sons of former NFL standouts. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Dave on X: Miller_Dave
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Khary Adams feels 'at home' with Notre Dame
Notre Dame beat out Michigan, Penn State and Oregon for elite cornerback Khary Adams on June 20 ☘️He spoke with @BGInews about picking the Irish ⤵️'After comparing Penn State and Notre Dame, I just felt more comfortable and at home with ND.'Read: Like top safety prospect Joey O'Brien, Khary Adams just feels like Notre Dame is different. The star cornerback, who like O'Brien committed to the Fighting Irish, recently doubled down on his pledge to ND. He said he is "locked in" with the Irish, as both he and O'Brien want to join forces in the same secondary in South Bend. Along with safety Ayden Pouncey, the 2026 DB haul has been quite impressive. After comparing Notre Dame and Penn State, Adams noted that in his decision-making process he "felt more comfortable and at home with ND." A lot of recruits in the 2026 class must feel the same exact way. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Dave on X: Miller_Dave
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Athlon Sports ranks Notre Dame defensive line as one of the best nationally
If Notre Dame has to rely a little more on its defense this season as it tries to get back to the College Football Playoff national championship game, that might not be such a bad thing. The defensive line for the Fighting Irish should be stout, and it has been ranked as one of the best units in college football ahead of the 2025 season. Advertisement After lauding ND's secondary, Athlon Sports ranked the ND defensive line as sixth-best in the country. This is a unit that dealt with several significant injuries throughout last season but still managed to play solid football all year, so it is expected to take the next step this fall under the tutelage of line coach Al Washington. While Jordan Botelho will be sidelined to start the season due to a pectoral injury, this is still a talented and deep unit. Both Gabriel Rubio and Jason Onye are healthy again at tackle, and the Irish brought in Jared Dawson from Louisville to rotate in as well. Meanwhile, Bryce Young leads a deep group on the outside. Once Boubacar Traore gets completely healthy, he should be a pass-rushing force off the edge. There may not be a returning player that has off the chart stats, but there is proven depth with a lot of high upside for several players. Washington has a deep rotation, which should serve the ND defense well in 2025 as Marcus Freeman and Co. look to pick up right where they left off from last season starting with the opener at Miami. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Advertisement Follow Dave on X: Miller_Dave This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Athlon Sports ranks Notre Dame's defensive line No. 6 in the country
South China Morning Post
02-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
2 men and mum jailed for up to 16 years after Hong Kong girls sexually assaulted
A Hong Kong court has handed down jail sentences of up to 16 years to two men for sexually exploiting two girls when the defendants separately had a relationship with the victims' mother six to eight years ago. The High Court on Wednesday also sentenced the mother to four years for child cruelty, including locking the girls in a pitch-black bathroom for hours, and hindering a police investigation after the crimes came to light in April 2023. The two male defendants, former computer technician Quan Zhiming, 53, and retired security guard Li Kam-fai, 71, were slammed for their 'serious breach of trust' by assaulting the two minors on 18 occasions between 2017 and 2019. Quan, from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in mainland China, was given the heaviest sentence of 16 years for four counts of unlawful sex with a girl under 13 and six of indecent assault. Li was jailed for four years on eight counts of indecent assault. The 49-year-old mother, only identified in court by her initials ND, was jailed on seven counts of child cruelty and one of perverting the course of justice.
