Latest news with #NotreDame
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
This fact shows that Notre Dame's 2026 class is one of the best in recent memory
Not to lost in the shuffle of Notre Dame offensive tackle commit Grayson McKeogh making a huge rise in Rivals latest 2026 rankings update, the class as a whole will go down as one of the best in recent memory. Currently with twenty-six verbals, the Irish placed six of them inside Rivals top-50: edge Rodney Dunham, McKeogh, edge Ebenezer Ewetade, tight end Ian Premer, cornerback Khary Adams and safety Joey O'Brien. On3's Mike Singer pointed out that last year's class signed just one player in that range, and two in the 2024 group. It can't be understated how much of a difference head coach Marcus Freeman has made on the recruiting trail, as he has elevated it to a level that hasn't been seen often in South Bend. It's not just the lead guy either, cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens, running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider and others have played a huge part in Notre Dame recent recruiting success. There is still plenty of work to do, but this class is shaping up to be a cornerstone of the program for years to come.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Notre Dame is not among the highest top-10 spenders in college football
Notre Dame was tied for 17th on this that for whatever it's worth. College football has made a huge evolution over the past few years with the adaptation of Name, Image and Likeness, with more teams opening up the pocketbooks for players, something that Notre Dame has been a bit reluctant to do. Yes, many of the Irish players have NIL deals, and are getting paid a good amount to play in South Bend, but according to a survey done by On3's Pete Nakos (subscription required), Notre Dame is not near the top of the biggest spenders list in the sport. The highest was Texas, followed by Texas Tech (who has gotten more than a few commitment from players that previously wouldn't have considered them), Ohio State, Oregon and Texas A&M. The Irish are on the list, but tied for No. 17, meaning they don't spend nearly as much as some of the other schools across the country. Multiple teams in the top-10 didn't even make the College Football Playoff last year, like Texas Tech, the Aggies, Miami, USC, Michigan and Auburn. It goes to show you that Notre Dame isn't just throwing around NIL funds, they're recruiting players who they believe will utilize everything that the program has to offer, which is clearly more in future earnings than in the present.
USA Today
8 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame signee P Caden Crowell snubbed by MLB Draft, ready to start his Irish career
Time to work. Notre Dame baseball saw just two of its players getting drafted by an MLB team, pitcher Rory Fox and shortstop Estevan Moreno, but others had the potential to hear their names getting called. One of them was Indiana pitcher Caden Crowell, as the 6-foot, 4-inch and 200-pound lefty thought that he might get picked, but ultimately didn't. The MLB's loss is the Irish's gain, as the top in-state pitcher and No. 159 overall prospect nationally according to will soon start his career in South Bend. Crowell went to social media to share his excitement, and while not getting picked surely was bittersweet, he'll get to work on his craft over the next three years and be eligible to get picked once again. He was dominant this past season, with a 0.25 ERA and 97 strikeouts in just 55 innings. If he's able to replicate his senior season success with Notre Dame, there is do doubt that he'll be hearing his named called during the 2028 MLB Draft.
Miami Herald
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
SS Georgia: QB Stockton, Smart lead Bulldogs through unfamiliar youth movement
Georgia coach Kirby Smart transitions from one of his most experienced rosters to a full-blown youth movement as he begins Year 10 with the Bulldogs. "Our team is going to be comprised of 54 percent first- and second-year players. Very big change for us," Smart said at SEC Media Days in Atlanta on Tuesday. From Smart's vantage point, he has new names and faces, but the same standard and belief he brought to the Bulldogs from Alabama a decade ago. He said the program mantra in recruiting and the "strained" landscape of college football has been prioritizing relationships "over transactions." That could mean finding an all-in freshman who fits the program over replacing a first-round pick with a high-dollar transfer. It also gives Smart an unfamiliar baseline, going from "one of the most veteran teams I've been a part of" to the 2025 version where follow the leader might be a bit more literal than previous seasons. "What do you get with that? You get youthful exuberance. We've had practices that have been spirited," Smart said. "We had a great spring practice that we talked about the words fire, passion and energy. I think the biggest thing that separates college football teams today is complacency among players versus fire, passion and energy among players. So we've tried to highlight those traits as much as possible with our players. "Our players need to bring juice and energy each and every day. If they don't, they'll be confronted by the players that do. And if the players continue to do that, we'll have a successful season and a successful football team." Smart is starting the season with a new QB1, albeit a familiar one, in Gunner Stockton. The quarterback jumped into the fray in the SEC Championship when Carson Beck was injured and then started the Sugar Bowl, a 23-10 loss to Notre Dame. Already this offseason Smart has defended Stockton's potential with talk show host Paul Finebaum while taking multiple opportunities to remind his QB where he needs to be by the final Saturday in August. Smart said he learned all he needed to know about Stockton being ready by watching him prepare. The line coaches commonly share about preparing like the starter is Stockton's modus operandi since he arrived in Athens. "Gunner is a kid that leads from the front. Gunner is a winner," Smart said. "He comes from an athletic family background, his dad played at Georgia Southern, and he's the kind of kid you want at the front of the line, and he leads from the front. So I appreciate what Gunner does. He's going to be a big part of our program this year in leadership and doing that with the offensive players. He's already begun to do that in his leadership groups that he runs right now." His sophomore quarterback is the embodiment of what Smart said the Bulldogs are trying to build around and a message to players and opponents of the complacency Georgia hopes to avoid. "You can say what you want, but there's people more in college football today, especially in the SEC, that are comfortable with where they are," Smart said, listing examples from his coaching past from Julio Jones and Mark Ingram at Alabama to Georgia pupils such as linebackers Roquan Smith and Nolan Smith. "(Thinking) 'This is a pretty good life. I'm earning 200K a year. I'm very comfortable.' "You don't reach your goals being comfortable. You don't attain great success -- none of those people I mentioned before were ever comfortable. They were aiming at something. They had a goal. They wanted to go achieve it. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Notre Dame pitcher Tore Indomenico transferring to Illinois
Committed @IlliniBaseball It's been a wild offseason for Notre Dame's baseball program after missing out on the NCAA Tournament. Like most other schools in the current college athletics landscape, the Fighting Irish have both lost and added players via the transfer portal. ND has also lost talent to the Major League Baseball Draft, including pitcher Rory Fox and shortstop Estevan Moreno. As the Irish continue to reshape their roster looking ahead to 2026, former pitcher Tore Indomenico has found a new home. The left-handed Chicago native, who did not see action this past season, has decided to continue his career at Illinois, which is somewhat closer to home for him. Indomenico, whose arsenal includes a fastball, slider and changeup, will have three years of eligibility remaining in Champaign. 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
