JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 7, 2025

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Aug. 7, 2025

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Eric Hansen

3:21

OK, that's got to do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. Sorry about the 2-minute drill style at the end. We'll be back next Wednesday at noon fET or another round of chat.

3:20

Hi Tom and thanks, and I love the new digs, new teammates and love the choice I had. ... As far as Angeli, no one asked him to leave.

Tom from Toronto

3:19

Have you noticed how hard it is to get good help? Like a lot of your and Tyler's followers, I hope that the changes in the new set up are working out well for both of you. Change is difficult, and often more so when it's not initially our choice. A quick question about Steve Angeli. Did you ever get the chance to speak with him once he entered the transfer portal, and if so, did he give you any indication whether he was encouraged to leave ND? Nothing really turns on it now. I am just being nosy. As usual, I enjoy your and Tyler's work and look forward to all of your articles. Thank you.

Eric Hansen

3:19

Prolonged playing time with lots of reps, yes. Niche playing time and making real contributions, that'll happen in bursts and spurts this year.

Dave Tons River NJ

3:18

Is Loghan Thomas a year away for serious playing time?

Eric Hansen

3:18

Hi Mike, speaking of Arizona weather, He looked great in the spring, best I've seen of him. There's been very little meat on the bone this preseason in terms of meaningful data when it comes to D-line. Just very, very basic drills when we've been in practice. I am anticipating him playing well. I do think the WRs will be a pleasant surprise. I am not phased by the lack of experience at QB as long as there's talent. If experience were the trump card, Steve Angeli would be starting Aug. 31 in Miami. Keep in mind, since 2009, first-year starting quarterbacks have won more than half of the 16 title games played.

Mike, Phoenix

3:12

Eric, Hope you are enjoying your summer. I haven’t heard anything regarding Jason Oyne. How does he look? IMO, the WR group will be this year’s surprise similar to last years OL. Lots of ND fans seem over confident about beating Miami but starting a QB without experience isn’t what you want to do. What do you say about Game 1? Cheers Go Irish! ☘️

Eric Hansen

3:12

Carr. still.

Bob Rodes

3:12

Manchester, TN Hi Eric. Just a quick one. Carr or Minchey, and why? If you’ve already answered it, I’ll read it later. Thanks for all your insights, and for taking time to share them.

Eric Hansen

3:12

No.

Dan

3:12

Is Vernon ready to contribute?

Eric Hansen

3:11

Hi Bill, we're into lightning-round territory, because I'm out of time and bumping up another assignment. I do like the top of the rotation. I wish I could see them scrimmage in pads. I do think Chris Ash will be more determine to improve the run defense. Yes, the Arizona reference was the heat (but we've been way more humid). And thanks for the kind words.

Bill fromSt Joe, MI

3:09

Hi Eric!!! Do you sense that ND will be better defending the run this year without sacrificing how well they are at pass efficiency defense…in other words how good do you expect our DTs and that rotation to be?Does your reference to Arizona have to do with the heat we’ve been experiencing in Michiana? And best of luck on you and Tyler’s new address!

Eric Hansen

3:09

Things can always change, but that would be my projection, that he is here for a long time.

Patrick from Los Angeles

3:08

Ib your opinion, do you think Marcus Freeman will stay at Notre Dame for a significant period of time or will he be successfully pursued by the NFL. The hope is he will stay for years as he is the best match to the university maybe ever. Thank you for hosting the chats.

Eric Hansen

3:08

Len!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great opening . I like the depth on both lines. Certainly there's numbers. I think the biggest question is about whether the depth on the interior D-line is quality depth. We should know the answer to that before the middle of September if not before. So for people who don't have the recall you do Len, the 2017 starting O-line was McGlinchey, Nelson, Mustipher, Bars, Kraemer. And Hainsey and Kraemer were kind of a tag team. Impossible to beat the left side. But I'd take Wagner over Kraemer and a healthy Jagusah over Bars. Craig and Mustipher are a good battle. I'd give it to 2017 with Q Nelson putting them over the top, but close. 2012 D-line, you're comparing 3-4 vs. 4-3. This one is way, way deeper. So I'm going to go with 2025.

Len from the Jersey Shore

3:00

Hello Eric!!!!!!!!!! Injuries to both lines really hurt in the National Championship game last year. Give us your take on both lines from a depth and upside standpoint across all positions. Then compare the O line to last year and to the Joe Moore winning year. Compare the D line to last year and to the 2012 D line. Thanks for hosting and sharing your insights.

Eric Hansen

3:00

I am loving it, and hopefully you are too. Thank you. Here's what CJ Carr recently had to say about Ian Book coming back to Notre Dame to work out and mentor the QBs:

“Ian's been great. He's been in here. I listened to a podcast with him a few weeks ago. And he said Free told him to just come in here and try and mentor us the best he can, which is, I think, exactly what he did. He came in and he threw with us every once in a while. He's in there lifting, getting his work in. But then he was also available for us to ask questions about the Eagles offense, Kansas City, how Patrick Mahomes does his stuff. So, it was a really cool insight. And just the different stops he's made along his journey and being able to learn from his experiences while he was at Notre Dame, I think has been a big pro and hopefully he's continuing to stay around here.”

Robert from Sartell, MINNESOTA

2:53

Eric, hope you are loving ON3. You deserve the best after all of these years of top notched writing and coverage. Question: Do you think Ian Book’s presence will help our QBs mature and perform at a high level? What do you think he brings to the room?

Eric Hansen

2:53

Hi Bo, I believe the count is 25 practices in the month before the season opener. So the start date is determined on the date of the opener, so it wouldn't lead to a 26th practice, if I understood the question correctly.

Bo Johnson

Does the practice count of 20 times include up to the day of the 1st game? Just wondering if ND will have a chance to get extra reps in because of the Sunday game.

2:48

From Michiana.

Eric Hansen

2:48

Jay, I feel like I'd be shortchanging that question doing it off the top of my head. In a two-part Q&A I did with ESPN analyst Greg McElroy earlier in camp, he noted how many more future NFL players this team has than the 2012 team that played Alabama in the title game. So, let me put this in story form before the season and get a strong NFL Draft analyst on the record. Great story idea. Thank you. Jay.

Jay from Granger

2:46

Eric-longtime follower. Appreciate all you do for Notre Dame football coverage. Of the current starters on the roster, how many have 1st round or 2nd round potential in the 2026 NFL draft, assuming they are healthy and productive this season? Additionally, how do CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey project at the next level?

Eric Hansen

2:46

Doug, this is way harder than the NY strip, ribeye, filet question. And part of it is, if you don't have the Texas A&M play happen, does Love even have the chance to make the other two plays? If I take that context/contingency away, then I have the winner. It's the two-yard run against Penn State. If you watch it in slow motion, there's no way he gets into the end zone ... until he does. Never seen anything like that in my more than four decades covering college football. The 98-yard run vs. IU would be No. 2. And for pure causation factor, the A&M run wins, because of what it meant to getting ND to the playoff. But Penn State, my goodness.

Doug from Sunny Florida

2:42

Eric, over the past few months I've viewed hundreds of Jeremiyah Love highlights from 2024 on various social media accounts and they never get old. He is a specimen! Three highlights stick out in my mind and I'd like to know your overall ranking of the three and why based on importance in that specific game, importance to the season, importance to the team regarding his leadership and anything else that you may deem necessary to distinguish one's greater value to the other two. 1) tied 13-13 at Texas A&M late in the game, JLove breaks several tackles for a 21 yard go-ahead touchdown. 2) In the first ever playoff game on a school campus, JLove breaks a 0-0 tie and outruns the IU secondary for a 98 yard touchdown. 3) While playing injured in the 4th quarter against Penn State tied at 10-10, JLove pinballs his way off several defenders for a 2 yard touchdown, stretching the ball over the goal line to take the lead.

Eric Hansen

2:42

Hi Jeremy. I do not, and not sure Marcus Freeman has one. He's intentionally not given himself a deadline. But I do think Aug. 17/18 is the latest I would expect it to happen.

Jeremy From Goshen, IN

2:41

Do you have a timeline for when a QB is announced as the starter for Miami?

Eric Hansen

2:40

Hi Lorne, again if fans were calling plays, this would be a staple. And I'm not against it, but what do you hope to accomplish with those formations? Ideally, you create personnel mismatches and perhaps some confusion on the defense's part. You can run misdirection, but remember only one of them can carry the ball at a time. And what are you willing to give up to run two-back, a wide receiver or a tight end. And how does the defense respond? There's a reason very few teams feature two backs in this era of spread offenses. But I agree it can be an effective complement to the offense, especially as Jeremiyah Love hones his receiving skills. Thanks for the feedback on our new/expanded coverage team. I am absolutely loving it too.

Lorne

2:28

Lorne from Reno. Love the expanded coverage of your new combined entity, and thank you for continuing the chats. It seems that every year we hear in the preseason about more play-action and more two-back sets. If there was ever a time for it, it was last year with a running QB, great RB's and receivers who had difficulty creating space, but the numbers were still low. I don't know if you see enough in practice (especially this early) to get a feel for it, or if the coaches have indicated this will be an increased emphasis, but do you get any sense that this year we'll actually use these tools to take advantage of having arguably the best running team in the country? Is there a reason they haven't been used more? I can't help but get the feeling that this is again something we hear about in the summer but don't see in the fall.

Eric Hansen

2:28

Mullins probably not on STs. Do I see a future starter at any point in the future? Not likely, I'd give Kahoun the best odds, followed by Prescod from that group.

2:26

Hi Pat, thanks for the question and a tough one. Let me start by saying, all but Teddy Rezac and Peter Jones had their 2024 seasons affected by injuries with Kahoun able to contribute some late in the year on special teams. Rezac also saw some special teams duty. They're all playing a numbers game in 2025 beyond special teams. Styles has the clearest path to playing time as he battles to be in that top 10 group of O-line. He's on he cusp. Jones LOOKS the part. But he's got a lot of interior linemen ahead of him, including true freshmen. In another era, Kahoun would be playing. But now, linebacker is loaded, and how much three-linebacker looks ND shows this year is likely going to be less than 50 percent. Taebron Bennie-Powell probably has the steepest climb, now and moving forward to future seasons. Mullins has bounced between inside and out. Maybe inside down the road is the better path. So let's look at special teams, Rezac? Yes, Kahoun? Yes, TBP maybe. Styles and Jones maybe on FG protection. (more)

Pat, Philadelphia

2:15

Thanks for the time. Would appreciate your quick thoughts on some sophomores who don't get a lot of ink due to their place on the depth chart: Bennie-Powell, Jones, Kahoun, Mullins, Prescod and Rezac...1) Barring injuries, are any of them in a position to contribute this year, even on special teams; 2) Do you think any will push in the spring for PT going into their junior years (I know this involves a lot of depth chart speculation on when guys in front may leave for the pros/transfers and who is coming behind them, but maybe broad trajectories just based on how their talent has developed so far)

Eric Hansen

2:13

I think this actually played out last year. Steve Angeli was the guy with the higher floor but Mike Denbrock, Marcus Freeman and Gino Guidugli believed Riley Leonard could get them to a title game, and they were right. And there were bumps in the road, including a loss to Northern Illinois. And that is what I think they should do again. Who's going to get you to a title game and can they do it without playing you out of the playoff picture?

2:11

Jim, thanks for the flattery. It works!! Jim, wow, what a great question and not just because you hit me with the compliments. Let me preface my answer with this. I trust THESE coaches they through 14 spring practices and a good chunk of training camp, they'll do the vetting as to who's No. 1. The clear No. 1. And so, I think to give that QB a short leash in Miami would be the wrong move for that QB and for the team. Now let's plug back into the specific dynamics of your questions ... (more)

Jim from Wheaton, IL

2:06

Eric, these chats are the glue that helps ND fans keep it together, especially during the offseason. Thank you!!! Interested in your perspective on a debate I’ve had with another ND fan- if the QB battle remains incredibly close, should the coaching staff pick the one they think has the higher ceiling this season and stick with him even through game one struggles (even risking a loss because of it), or should they change the QB during that game if the offense is struggling against Miami, to try and avoid a week one loss? Pros and cons to each, but I welcome your thoughts. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

2:05

Hi Jacob. Darnell Ewell, a defensive lineman from Norfolk, Va. He was in the same class as Kurt Hinish and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, who were much better and more lightly regarded in recruiting circles. And I think you're asking me in the second part, who I overlooked, not who I went all in on as an underrated recruit. So there's a couple who fooled me, and one of them is on this team with a chance to be really good this year and that's Jason Onye. I think we all underestimated Anthonie Knapp. And of players past CJ Prosise, as a safety, comes to mind. If you were looking for who I was right about, Xavier Watts is the one I'm most proud of in that department.

Jacob from Huntington Beach

2:00

Who was the one recruit that you thought would have a big impact at ND but never really panned out? And who is someone that was under your radar but had an impactful and successful ND career?

Eric Hansen

2:00

Jack, do you lose us? ... I will double check on this for this particular camp, but Marcus Freeman likes 1s vs. 1s during 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s during camp. So yes, very regularly, but I'll get you more specifics for next chat. And thank you for sounding like my agents ... you're awesome (and hired if you work for free).

Jack, Strongsville,Ohio

1:58

Hi Eric. I found you! During a typical pre season practice schedule how many times will the #1 offense go up against the # 1 defense? Is it only during scrimmages or every day? Thanks as always for your great work and on your new site.

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