It seems like Notre Dame football is at a major crossroads, with significant changes happening after an impressive 14-2 season. Despite the success, it's clear that the program's staff turnover is creating some big challenges for head coach Marcus Freeman. But it also looks like Freeman is working diligently to navigate these changes by bringing in some strong new hires.
Chris Ash replaces Al Golden
The decision to replace Al Golden with Chris Ash seems strategic, especially considering Ash's background with defensive backs and his leadership beside Luke Fickell. Golden's style was clearly popular, so it'll be interesting to see if Ash’s fiery approach can maintain that same level of success. His expertise should complement the strong defensive talent already present, but the transition could still have its bumps.
Ja’Juan Seider is a big get
With the talented trio of Jerimiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and Aneyas Williams at running back, having someone with Seider’s track record will certainly keep that position as a strength. His experience with developing 1,000-yard rushers at Penn State is a major win for the Irish.
A new GM (Mike Martin)
The search for a new General Manager is definitely an intriguing one. The evolving nature of college football’s rules around recruiting, the transfer portal, and NIL demands a savvy, experienced leader. Mike Martin seems like an excellent choice to help navigate this new era, and building out a robust scouting department could help the Irish gain an edge on the competition, especially with such a complex landscape.
Building for Long-Term Success
All in all, Marcus Freeman is making moves to stay ahead of the curve, and while there are inevitable challenges, these hires could help position Notre Dame for continued success. It's exciting to see how these changes will unfold and if they'll pay off in the long run. What do you think of these moves? Does the future of Notre Dame football look bright to you?
OFFENSE
QB: Jimmy Clausen; Dayne Crist; Nate Montana -- possibly Evan Sharpley
RB: Armando Allen; Robert Hughes; James Aldridge; Jonas Gray; Cierre Wood; Theo Riddick
FB: Steve Paskorz; Luke Schimdt
TE: Kyle Rudolph; Mike Ragone; Joseph Fauria; Tyler Eifert; Jake Golic
WR: Golden Tate; Michael Floyd; Duval Kamara; Robby Parris; George West; Deion Walker; John Goodman; Barry Gallup; Roby Toma; Shaquelle Evans
C: Dan Wenger; Braxton Cave; Mike Golic
G: Eric Olsen; Chris Stewart; Trevor Robinson; Chris Watt; Alex Bullard; Andrew Nuss
T: Sam Young; Matt Romine; Taylor Dever; Lane Clelland; Zach Martin -- possibly Paul Duncan
DEFENSE
DT: Ian Williams; Paddy Mullen; Hafis Williams; Brandon Newman; Tyler Stockton
DE: Ethan Johnson; Morrice Richardson; KLM; Sean Cwynar; Emeka Nwankwo
LB/DE: Darius Fleming; Kerry Neal; John Ryan; Kallen Wade
LB: Brian Smith; Toryan Smith; Steve Filer; Anthony McDonald; Dave Posluzny; Mant Te'o, Carlo Calabrese; Dan Fox -- possibly Steve Quinn & Scott Smith
LB/S: Harrison Smith; Zeke Motta
S: Sergio Brown; Dan McCarthy; Leonard Gordon -- possibly Kyle McCarthy & Ray Herring
CB/S: Jamoris Slaughter; EJ Banks
CB: Darrin Walls, Raeshon McNeil; Robert Blanton; Gary Gray -- possibly Mike Anello
K: Brandon Walker; Ryan Burkhardt; Nick Tausch; David Ruffer
P: Eric Maust; Ben Turk
LS: Kevin Brooks; Jordan Cowart
Edited by ND FANATIC