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Yahoo
a day ago
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Notre Dame football position preview: Questions abound at tight end
SOUTH BEND—For five straight seasons, Notre Dame football's leading receiver has been a tight end. From 2020-22 it was consensus All-America Michael Mayer leading the way, including a tie with wideout Javon McKinley as a freshman. The past two years, Mitchell Evans topped the list, although with far more modest totals than Mayer posted. Now that Evans is in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers, the five-year streak could be in jeopardy. In 2019 Chase Claypool outpaced tight end Cole Kmet in catches (66-43). Eli Raridon enters his senior year with 16 career catches and a block-first reputation. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock is on record predicting 'a huge season' for Raridon this fall, but that will require instant chemistry with a first-time starting quarterback to be determined. Holdovers Kevin Bauman and Jack Larsen return, but promising junior Cooper Flanagan could miss the bulk of the regular season as he recovers from a torn left Achilles suffered in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. 'More like Superman:' What Notre Dame football greats say about Jeremiyah Love Flanagan has five catches through two seasons but consistently earned playing time last year with his blocking prowess. That leaves Arkansas transfer Ty Washington and four-star freshman James Flanigan as potential wildcards. Like Raridon, Washington was mostly counted on to block during his three seasons at Arkansas. Denbrock tried to recruit him to Cincinnati out of high school, so the connection is there, but Washington has just 14 catches for 212 yards and four scores in his career. Flanigan, the son of former Irish defensive tackle Jim Flanigan, is a freak athlete who also starred in hockey and track and field during his Wisconsin prep career. The younger Flanigan, who also played defense, piled up 21 sacks and 26 touchdown grabs over his final three seasons. 'I wouldn't discount young James Flanigan,' Denbrock told reporters this summer. 'He's got size, he's got power and he's a mature kid for his age.' Depth chart 9 | TE | Eli Raridon | 6-7, 251 | Sr. (1L)-& 84 | TE | Kevin Bauman | 6-5, 253 | Gr. Sr. (1L) 85 | TE | Jack Larsen | 6-3, 250 | R-Fr. (4L) 7 | TE | Ty Washington | 6-4, 247 | Tr.-R-Jr. (2L) 88 | TE | James Flanigan | 6-6, 237 | Fr. (4L) 87 | TE | Cooper Flanagan | 6-6, 258 | Jr. (3L)-Inj. &: Denotes remaining eligibility years Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Previewing Eli Raridon and Notre Dame football tight end position group
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
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Find out when Notre Dame football will start its fall camp for the 2025 season
As we are heading towards the end of July, we know Notre Dame football is right around the corner when fall camps starts. Typically teams have about a month from when they report to begin really preparing for the season and when the opener is, which is exactly the case for the Irish. They'll start camp this coming Thursday, July 31st, with the first game being played against Miami on the road on Aug. 31st according to On3. There is plenty of hype surrounding the Notre Dame program at the moment, fresh off an impressive run to the College Football Playoff championship game, followed up by arguably the best recruiting class ever in the 2026 cycle. Head coach Marcus Freeman is also getting plenty of national attention, and big things are expected from this team once again as the season rapidly approaches. Notre Dame does have more than a few questions surrounding its team, but many of the other tops teams are also facing the same issue. The Irish should enjoy another successful regular season, one that propels them once against into the CFP. 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 Mike on X: @MikeFChen This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame football's fall camp set to start later this week
Yahoo
20-07-2025
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Notre Dame football offers top-50 2027 Mississippi defensive end
There isn't much room left in Notre Dame football's 2026 recruiting class, with twenty-six commitments, they can start to look ahead to the 2027 cycle. They already have two commits, just one being a position player, but the Irish have sent out plenty of offers to some of the best prospects in the country. One of them was offered on Saturday evening in Mississippi edge rusher Derwin Fields. The 6-foot, 5-inch and 220-pounder is ranked by the 247Sports Composite as the nation's No. 45 overall prospect, just outside the 5-star range. Notre Dame now joins teams like Alabama, Florida, LSU, Florida State and others in offering Fields, who should end up being able to play virtually anywhere he'd like. It does look like its going to be tough to pull him away from SEC-country, but the Irish have put their hat in the ring. If Fields is able to make it up to South Bend during the season, it would be a great sign for Notre Dame to continue to be in the mix for his commitment. Time will tell if that happens, but for now, the Irish are clearly interested in him joining their 2027 class. 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 Mike on X: @MikeFChen This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame football offers top-50 2027 Mississippi DE Derwin Fields
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
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Two Notre Dame football stars, Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry, host a youth camp
Notre Dame football's family is all about the community, and over the weekend linebacker's Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry did exactly that. The pair hosted the inaugural Jr. Irish Football Camp in Butler, Indiana, giving some of the local youth some high-level instruction as reported by WANE15's Josh Ayen. It comes after star running back Jeremiyah Love did the same for the South Bend community. Advertisement It's pretty great to see the current players using their platform to show that they aren't just making plays on Saturday, but that they genuinely care about the next wave of college football stars. Notre Dame continues to show that they not only recruit great players, but great young men as well. They all understand what Irish football means to the state, and while they are just about to start fall camp, they still have enough time to host an event like this. While this was the first one, hopefully this is the beginning of an annual tradition where Bowen and Ausberry are giving back to the kids. This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry hosted a youth camp this weekend
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
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Notre Dame football recruiting class built with NFL legacies; Larry Fitzgerald's son is latest
Notre Dame football is bringing a blend of nostalgia and legacy, not just on its roster but with its 2026 recruiting class after landing a commitment from Devin Fitzgerald, son of 11-time Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald becomes the third recruit of the class of a former NFL player. He joins Kaydon Finley, son of Super Bowl-winning tight end Jermichael Finley, and Thomas Davis Jr., son of three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Thomas Davis Sr. And that's not all. The Fighting Irish have several other players who are NFL legacies. Advertisement Elijah Burriss, son of Super Bowl-winning receiver Plaxico Burress, is a 6-foot, 184-pound freshman on Marcus Freeman's 2025 roster. Classmate Jerome Bettis Jr., yes, son of Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis Sr., is also a receiver at 6-1, 208. Sophomore defensive lineman Bryce Young, who is 6-7, 273 pounds, is the son of Hall of Fame defensive lineman Bryant Young. Aside from Young and Davis, a four-star linebacker recruit, the other legacies will all be under the tutelage of wide receivers coach Mike Young. The future of Notre Dame's passing game is bright with CJ Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, just a freshman. Devin Fitzgerald, son of Larry Fitzgerald, commits to Notre Dame football Fitzgerald is a 6-2, 185-pounder out of Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, where his father played his entire 17-year career with the Arizona Cardinals. Fitzgerald was rated a three-star recruit, No. 524 nationally and the No. 82 wide receiver by On3's industry rankings. Advertisement He caught 52 passes for 720 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 13.8 yards per catch as a junior, per MaxPreps. The season before, Fitzgerald caught 15 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Fitzgerald chose Notre Dame over Clemson, Stanford and UCLA. Kaydon Finley, son of Jermichael Finley, commits to Notre Dame football Finley's commitment brings a little more of a big-play ability to the class. He's listed at 6-0.5, 200 pounds and as a junior caught 81 passes for 1,432 yards, a whopping 17.7 yards per catch, and 21 touchdowns, per MaxPreps. Finley was rated a four-star recruit, No. 124 nationally and the No. 18 wide receiver per On3's industry rankings. He chose the Fighting Irish over Texas, his father's alma mater. Notre Dame football 2026 recruiting class Notre Dame has 24 commitments in its 2026 recruiting class, which ranks fourth nationally per On3's industry rankings. Advertisement The highest-rated recruit is edge rusher Rodney Durham, a five-star and No. 14 nationally, from Charlotte Myers Park. He's the lone five-star, and there are 18 four-star recruits in the class. It includes four recruits in the top 61 and 13 recruits in the top 184. Depth chart: What does the Notre Dame two-deep look like heading toward 2025 preseason camp? Notre Dame 2025 football schedule Aug. 31, at Miami, 7:30 p.m. (ABC) Sept. 13, vs. Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m. (NBC) Sept. 20, vs. Purdue, 3:30 p.m. (NBC) Sept. 27, at Arkansas, noon (ABC) Oct. 4, vs. Boise State, 3:30 p.m. (NBC) Oct. 11, vs. NC State, 3:30 p.m. (Peacock) Advertisement Oct. 18, vs. USC, 7:30 p.m. (NBC) Nov. 1, at Boston College, TBA Nov. 8, vs. Navy, 7:30 p.m. (NBC) Nov. 15, at Pittsburgh, TBA Nov. 22, vs. Syracuse, 3:30 p.m. (NBC) Nov. 29, at Stanford, TBA Insider: With USC-Notre Dame football on the brink, Irish greats find the prospect 'disheartening' This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Notre Dame football recruiting: Larry Fitzgerald's son latest of NFL legacies
