JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | July 10, 2025

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | July 10, 2025

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Eric Hansen

3:25

OK, that's going to do it for this week's chat. Thanks for all the great questions. Thanks for finding me in our new home at blueandgold,com. I'll be back later in the month with another one of these and then back to weekly mode once camp starts on July 31.

3:24

Hey Tom. New leaders will emerge, and I would lean into Billy Schrauth and Aamil Wagner at the next meeting of the Atlanta ND Club if you believe I can make you look smarter than you already are.

Tom F, Kennesaw, GA

3:23

Good afternoon Eric. I understand the optimism for this year's OL despite the transfers of Coogan and Spindler. My concern is that it seemed that both of them were the inspirational voices for this unit. Is that accurate? If so, then who assumes that role for this year's OL?? I think that energy is important especially in the OL and DL. Your thoughts!!! Go Irish!!!!

Eric Hansen

3:23

Not sure, yet, Charles. There's kind of a range of timelines being thrown out there with our Mike Singer reporting October as maybe the best-case scenario guesstimate. We'll get an official update from Marcus Freeman on July 31. So hold on for three weeks.

ced

3:22

ced walker saginaw michigan aka sagnasty saginaw pride when will charles jagusah be back from his broken arm and who do u see be the starter at left tackle god bless this football team here come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us

Eric Hansen

3:22

Ed, thanks for the feedback! And yes, if we are allowed access to them, I think those would be compelling content. So thanks for the suggestion.

Ed, Sayville NY

3:21

Hi Eric. Great story on Dave Peloquin. I really enjoyed it. I am wondering if you would consider a story on some of the assistants that are supporting the position coaches? It would be interesting to hear about their backgrounds etc. Your mention of Jesse Schmidt brought this to mind.

Eric Hansen

3:21

Manny, the exclamation point OG and who has been coming to the chat as long as anyone I think!!!!!!!! We started the chat with a similar question. If NIL now is coming from third parties and is being regulated by a Clearinghouse, it's not likely to happen there. It would be in the revenue share agreements with the schools if/when that happens. And I think we're still not there yet with no collective bargaining.

Manny from san pedro

3:19

Eric!!!!! Almost time for fall camp!!! So excited! Will ND put provisions in their nil deals to stop players from doing risky activities in the off season?

Eric Hansen

3:19

Tyler, we'll get a better sense of that in early August. But right now at nickel Karson Hobbs and Ben Minich had really impressive springs behind Devonta Smith. At corner, all three of those freshmen, including June arrivals Mark Zackery IV and Dallas Golden, are going to be in the mix. Hobbs could factor into the corner picture as well.

Tyler

3:16

What does the depth at CB look like behind LM, CG, and DS??? Are Cree Thomas and Dallas Golden ready to contribute now? Is Hobbs a contributor in 25?

Eric Hansen

3:16

Hey Mike/Mo, in the lightning round now that we're past three ... so my short answer is, as soon as Malachi Fields is gone, who's the next ascending boundary receiver. Micah Gilbert is the answer now, but Cam Williams could be in that discussion, Jerome Bettis Jr. and Devin Fitzgerald when he arrives.

Mike AKA Mo from Maumee OH

Jumped the gun....fat fingered the "send" button - my question is: where do you see Fitzgerald fit into this incredible jigsaw puzzle of WR talent? Unique skill set that may launch him into the two-deep rotation eventually? I would guess his dad's "coaching him up" won't hurt.

3:14

I watched Devin Fitzgerald's reveal live, and was struck by his humility, poise & preparation of his speech. He was seated between his mom & dad- both who looked like they could have stepped off a commercial for "good-looking parents".

Eric Hansen

3:14

Len!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You won the exclamation point competition this week and the one for compliments too. Congrats. Charlie Weis Era is when these started. Yes, our emails are still the same. We will be getting new ones eventually, but are keeping the old ones for at least the next year or so and will check them regularly. ... The short answer to the culture question is it's everywhere. Marcus Freeman and the staff to the players to the commitment from the administration to being elite in the new business model to facility and salary commitments. The challenge will continue to be maintaining that for all programs in this fast and shifting landscape (ugh, I used that word, sorry). At least Marcus has a plan and a vision for that. Some coaches are just hanging on.

Len from the Jersey Shore

3:03

Hello Eric!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My best wishes to you and Tyler that this new venture works out well for the both of you. I will admit I was wondering if your chats would continue. It has been so long for me participating in these chats that I cannot recall when I first started following them. I would miss your comments and thoughts as well as the questions from many participants. First are yours's and Tyler's emails the same? Or do you have new ones? We all want ND to at least repeat last year and be a playoff participant. However there is great difficulty in maintaining the high level of performance needed in order to repeat the successful achievement of last season. Why would you feel the culture and leadership is ready for this challenge? What do they lack and need to be aware of? I am assuming the coaching and talent will be more than adequate to make the playoff and that leadership, culture and injuries will determine how the season goes.

Eric Hansen

3:03

Mr. Matt, love your multi-part questions that stay under the 17-part limit. 1. Yikes. Really high. Big impact. Eventual All-American. Not sure this year, but big surge ahead. 2. Yes, especially with all the reps he took at WR in the spring. 3. Difference between a multi-player shift and a player going in motion. If he's in motion and not set when the ball is snapped, there can only be one (unless the officials have a poor Vision plan at work). 4. Just did a story on 10 of them on both sides of the ball. To qualify, you could NOT be on the 25 most important players ballot I had to turn in. So let me give you two .. Jared Dawson and my 2025 football crush (platonic, of course) Tae Johnson. 5. The Bush Push game is No. 1 ... ND at Oklahoma in 2012 for the whole atmosphere and lasting historical significance.

Matt (KC)

2:56

Mr. Hansen, love the chats, can't wait for the season. I return with my fast five if you are so gracious as to have answers. 1. What is the ceiling for Kyngstonn Villamu-Asa this season, meaning what impact do we expect? 2. Will we see Mr. Love involved in the receiving game more this season? 3. My dumb I never played football question...I always thought you could only have one man in motion at a time but I will see many plays where two or three players switch sides (TEs) for instance at the same time, how is that legal? 4. Who is a wild card on defense that will be a household name by the end of the year? 5. Fun question, best college football game you have ever seen live (doesn't have to be an ND game)?

Eric Hansen

2:56

Hi Franz. Offensive line has traditionally been a position where the players understand the developmental curve. Perhaps that starts to change in the NIL and Rev Share eras, but it's still a reality. It's also a position group where there's little rotation when injuries are not a factor, because playing five-as-one is so important. But yes, having developmental players with longer growth curves is not a deterrent. The only time it was problematic recently was when Joe Alt and Blake Fisher both came out as juniors. They are the only ND O-linemen since the NFL opened its doors to underclassmen in 1989 to come out as true juniors and they did it together. Had either come back, Anthonie Knapp wouldn't have been a starter last season, for instance. And yes, I do think Aamil Wagner is better than a lot of people realize.

franz from Niles,MI

2:44

In retrospect it seems like getting two developmental offensive tackle prospects in this class was genius. True soph Knapp projected at left tackle, soph Lambert and freshman Black projected as reserves (are you freaking kidding me?). Surprising soph Styles Prescod and several tackle types in last years class with bright futures waiting in the wings. It makes sense to get some guys that need some time to percolate and why they seemed to only kick the tires on a few more precocious true tackle prospects this year. Do you think that was the focus for OT all along? I only hope that fans are patient with all the Joe Alt comparisons. He was an outlier not just in his final size, but the speed in which his body changed. I see these two more like Amil Wagner where it will be a constant challenge to keep enough bisquits in their basket. Speaking of which, how spoiled are we when the top rated returning OT in college seems a bit under appreciated by the fanbase?

Eric Hansen

2:44

Hi John. Tyler James talked about this some on our Football Never Sleeps show on Monday night if you're looking for more. But if ND gets Reddish and Golden, there's not another apparent target. Could they add more, sure, but not likely unless there was a decommitment in the class or a run of imminent departures via the transfer portal at a particular position group. ND will keep its eyes open, no doubt.

John from Champaign

2:41

Hi Eric! Besides Golden and Reddish are there any other recruiting options? The TE from Iowa looks like he is going to ISU. Linebacker— we have just two? Poach a DL from a loaded USC group? That would be some nice karma after losing our recruiting coordinator. A beat down of USC might make that possible!

Eric Hansen

2:41

Hi Jeremy. Chris Ash is VERY guarded about that, and with some good reason. There's a tactical advantage to being a blind date on Aug, 31. We do know how the defensive ends are cast and play is different. I suspect more attention will be given to improving run defense, which means playing with a loaded box more (but not to the extreme). My sense is that the rover position will have another evolution away from the Elko/Lea concept, that safeties will find some untraditional roles and that pass rush will be optimized. Ash wanted to leave a lot of what Golden built in place, and I think he'll be true to a lot of that. But he does have his own tweaks.

Jeremy From Goshen, IN

2:38

Can you speak to the defensive schematic changes that Chris Ash will be implementing? It will be hard to top the job Al Golden did.

Eric Hansen

2:37

Hello there Ryan!! Thanks for going the extra mile with punctuation versatility. At least you and I can appreciate it without taking advantage of the "no drinking" rule. ... I think it's very reasonable to expect this offense to be more dynamic, more consistent, more adept at being able to beat you in different ways than the 2024 version. Now going back to 2015 or other years, I need to see some August football before we're sipping out of the same Kool Aid pitcher. Kind of like 2024, though, it's not necessarily all about what the ceiling will be, but how soon the offense is moving definitively in that direction. And that starts with the new QB. So, I will give you a note that you are not certifiably crazy, at least not when it comes to your football assessments.

Ryan in Los Angeles

2:30

Hi Eric!! I tried out other punctuation for the greeting but nothing quite captures the mood of your chats. Not even semicolons! My question: More experienced O-line (even without Jagusah at the start, possibly) + more accurate QB in CJ Carr + Malachi Fields and a more experienced, talented WR corps overall + Jeremiah Love still on the team... How is this offense not going to be the best since 2015? Better than 2015? Is that a crazy thing to project at this point? I know we won't have Riley Leonard bailing ND out with his legs but sure seems like this is going to be an extremely potent offense?

Eric Hansen

2:29

To your other question, let's make this easy and take the bottom five in the class, according to the On3 Industry rankings. So 21-25 at this moment are DT Tiki Hola, WR Devin Fitzgerald, TE Preston Fryzel, WR Dylan Faison and OT Charlie Thom. If THAT'S the bottom of your class, good night. Wow. Of those five Thom is super intriguing, because he's such an unknown and has traits that would lead you to believe he'll surprise at some point. But if I had to bet on someone really playing about that star rating, I'd probably lean into Fitsgerald first and Hola second. Thanks for the compliments, by the way.

2:24

Hi Tom. Tyler James just had a piece today on that very topic of legacy recruits. And to be fair to Brian Kelly, he had a number of them during his run at ND as well. What is really impressive about what Marcus Freeman is doing in THIS new college football model is ... his message that education still matters, as I mentioned earlier, still resonate. His message of Choose Hard resonates. And the belief that ND will develop there sons into NFL prospects while preparing for life after football, too. Finally, there seems to be wanting their sons to be coached by Marcus Freeman as part of that formula as well. ... all positives. (more)

Tom F, Kennesaw, GA

2:11

Hi Eric. What a career ride you have been on the past couple of years!!! Very happy for you that you have been able to find venues that allow you to use the wonderful skills that you have developed over the years and that bring insight and enjoyment to us fans!!! Thank you and continued success. Oh, I guess I should come up with some question now. What is your take on the number of players who are sons of former NFL players who are coming to ND? My take is that their families have experienced the importance of a good education and personal development after their playing days are over and ND offers the best opportunity for success on AND off the field. Right now, there are several committed players who have low 4-star or even 3-star rankings that I think will be much higher after they play their Senior year, especially some of the OL. Who would you think would be in that category? I like players who have played TE and then grow into an OL. Thanks for keeping us informed wherever you may be. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

2:11

H Matt. I think it's easier to project what Mike Mickens options might be than which one he could take. The way he recruits, the way he coaches, the way he carries himself and the way he pushes himself to take on more responsibility is only going to add to his options. Now what would be his most important priority? Notre Dame can pay him what he's worth. They can give him a fancier title. But if he wants to be a Power Conference coordinator, he'll either have to wait at ND for at least another season or go elsewhere. And yet that's what happens in elite programs. Other programs and NFL teams want your coaches. And you have to be prepared to find great replacements, just as Marcus Freeman did in replacing Deland McCullough with Ja'Juan Seider, for example, this past offseason.

Matt in Augusta NJ

2:05

What happens with Mike Mickens at the end of the year? I worry he will want a D-coordinator job and could leave. His recruiting is top notch and the secondary has been great. Maybe a Co-defensive coordinator position with Ash could work, as it did at OSU? I just don't want to lose him. We heard whispers last year about him leaving when he didn't get the D-coordinator job. Texas was interested if i am not mistaken, but not as a D-coordinator, only secondary coach.

Eric Hansen

1:59

Jeff! I was going to ignore your question until you dropped a Ron Burgundy reference. Now I HAVE TO! I'm going to disappoint you on the Virginia game reference. It has been explained to me and I have written about it, but can't find it quickly, so I will email it to you when I get a chance. ... Yes, Marty Biagi does have a posse, and Jesse Schmitt is a name to know there ... not just with innovation but coaching, recruiting, all kinds of contributions. ... I think really good special teams coaches find ways to use them throughout the year when the occasion calls for it. And for some of the reasons you mentioned, the dynamics of pulling it off are a little different at different points. But when you looked at ND last season, there was constant evolution in concept and execution. And James Rendell, when interviewed in the spring, is more than willing to be part of the fakery.

Jeff from Phoenix

1:52

Hey Eric! Thanks for keeping the chats rolling with the new site. Just counting down the days here in Phoenix ahead of Miami. I want to ask about the trickeration schemes of the Biagi special teams in 2024 and in the upcoming season. First, and I hope the statute of limitations hasnt run out on this subject, but has the 'illegal formation' rule that nullified the TD vs Virginia last year been clarified? Next, for 2025, does Biagi have an assistant/analyst to help him come up with and research the rules on new ideas? Finally, are trick plays better early in the season (i.e. versus Miami or Texas A&M) when the opponent doesnt have recent film on you, or do you wait a few games so you can see weaknesses of the opponent to exploit? It seems with Rendell having a year under his belt as punter he could be more involved in the chicanery. Thanks, and in the words of Ron Burgundy, stay classy!

Eric Hansen

1:51

What would mine be?*^$#? I'm tempted to put Kaydon Finley in the top three because of positional need and quality. But if I were taking that out of it, my top three would be: 1) S Joey O'Brien, 2) DE Rodney Dunham, 3. CB Khari Adams. But there's a lot to like. As far as Hola and Golden, perhaps the rankings are more of a reflection of potential over production, but I can see with both why the Irish coaches covet them and why so many other schools do as well.

1:48

Hi Matt!! Loving the new job and new teammates and the firehose is now just a really aggressive water fountain, so that's a big help. ... To your questions and remaining requested punctuation ... since you didn't give me a timeline as to when to draw the line with additions, I suppose you want the top three players in the class in my opinion. I would ask Mike Singer, Kyle Kelly or Tyler James. Let's start with what the On3 (collective) industry rankings would say ... 1) DE Rodney Dunham, 2) S Joey O'Brien, 3) TE Ian Premer. (more)

Matt from Muscatine

1:41

Hi Eric! I hope the transition and new job are going well. Thank you for continuing these!!! I have three questions. 1. It only seems a little while ago that there were concerns about recruiting for the 2026 class. Can you comment on who you think the top three additions have been and on who will continue to rise in the rankings? 2. What is the best part of your new job and how have or haven’t your job responsibilities changed? 3. The coaching staff really seems to like Tiki Hola and Elijah Golden, but they are currently high three/low four star players. What do the coaches and recruiting staff see/like that maybe their rankings don’t reflect? Also, given the “punctuation game” that goes on in these chats, I’m hoping you can work in a colon and an ellipse in your response! Thank you!

Eric Hansen

1:40

Hi KelleyGuy09, what's your hometown? Asking for myself. ... The rankings update, I'm told, are done. It's a technology challenge that's the hold-up as part of the integration of Rivals and On3. It is being prioritized ... so soon is my best answer.

KelleyGuy09

1:37

When is the Rivals/On3 player rankings update going to finally happen? Asking for a friend.

Eric Hansen

1:35

As far as position groups, I think Marcus Freeman (barring injury) has to feel pretty good about linebackers, DBs, defensive ends (especially when Jordan Botelho returns), running backs and offensive line. Interior D-liner and WRs were the two groups going into spring with the most questions, and they are trending in the right direction. O-line could be the best in the country, but Jagusah's injury has to be dealt with. There's quarterback talent but not experience. Special teams will come to light in August. That's when those pieces typically come together or not. So all in all, a pretty good place to be in July. Biggest trap game? I'll go with Nov. 15 at Pitt, right after playing Navy.

1:29

Hi Marie. Great week here and thanks for elevating the chat, per usual. ... I shared my projected Miami O-line starters a little earlier, but let's get to your other questions. I'll have another summer update in a week or so and did one earlier on our message board, but one I can share here who would be a surprise to a lot of Notre Dame fans would be Arkansas transfer tight end Ty Washington. I mentioned him in my roster wildcards story earlier this week, in part because of his early impression this summer and in part because there's a wide open lane beyond Eli Raridon for someone to grab that No. 2 TE spot. (more)

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