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?
Just some additions to what Big23head posted and reminders about the All-Star Games:
Note: A lot of numbers are used twice in these games (1 for offense and 1 for defense) All these kids want the same numbers.
Under Armour
Friday (Jan 2) on ESPN2 at 4:00pm EST
Commits:
#7 QB Brandon Wimbush (Black Team)
#24 CB Shaun Crawford (White Team)
#19 K Justin Yoon (White Team)
#17 LB TeVon Coney (Black Team)
Players of Interest:
#8 DB Iman Marshall (White Team)
#2 RB Soso Jamabo (Black Team)
#24 RB Ronald Jones II (White Team)
#6 WR Equanimeous St. Brown (White Team)
#5 RB Nick Brossette (Black Team)
US Army All-American Bowl
Saturday (Jan 3) on NBC at 1:00pm EST
Commits:
#44 LB Josh Barajas (West Team)
#22 LB Asmar Bilal (West Team)
#4 S Nicco Fertitta (West Team)
#66 OL Tristen Hoge (West Team)
#76 OL Jerry Tillery (West Team)
Players of Interest:
#12 RB Jordan Cronkite (East Team)
#5 DE Porter Gustin (West Team)
#8 TE Aliz'e Jones (West Team)
#25 DB John Reid (East Team)
#87 WR Ykili Ross (West Team)
Semper Fidelis
Sunday (Jan 4) on Fox Sports 1 at 9:00pm EST
Commits:
#44 DE Bo Wallace (East Team)
#85 TE Miles Boykin (West Team) - Not playing
#11 DE Micah Drew-Treadway (West Team)
#6 S Prentice McKinney (West Team)
#3 WR CJ Sanders (West Team)
#57 DT Brandon Tiassum (West Team)
Players of Interest:
#3 DB Frank Buncom IV (West Team) - May not be playing
Edited by NDhoosier