Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1491978
12 MARCH 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME ✦ BY THE NUMBERS +1400 Odds for Notre Dame to win the 2023 college football national championship, per BetOnline. That ranks fifth nationally, behind only two-time defend- ing national champion Georgia (+300), Alabama (+375), Ohio State (+600) and Michigan (+1200). 11.5 Wa s N o t re D a m e 's average ranking in the "way too early" top 25 lists for the 2023 football season from 10 media outlets at the conclusion of the 2022 season in January. The Fighting Irish's highest rank- ing was No. 7 by Bleacher Report, while their lowest was No. 14 by both ESPN and Pro Foot- ball Focus. They were also slotted No. 10 by CBS Sports, No. 11 by The Athletic and Sports Illustrated, and No. 12 by Action Network, Athlon Sports, FOX Sports and Yahoo! Sports. 2 Fighting Irish women's basketball play- ers — SKYLAR DIGGINS-SMITH at No. 15 and Arike Ogunbawale at No. 25 — were included on ESPN's list of the top 25 most valuable college basketball players (men and women pre- NIL) since 2000. ESPN's criteria included a combination of each player's achievements and popularity in college, plus their current social media followings and post- collegiate endorsements were used to estimate their brand power during their respective time as Division I college basketball stars. Rk. Player, Pos., School (Years) 1. Sabrina Ionescu, G, Oregon (2016-20) 2. Zion Williamson, F, Duke (2018-19) 3. Candace Parker, F, Tennessee (2004-08) 4. Kevin Durant, F, Texas (2006-07) 5. Trae Young, G, Oklahoma (2017-18) 6. Diana Taurasi, G, Connecticut (2001-04) 7. Brittney Griner, C, Baylor (2009-13) 8. Maya Moore, G/F, Connecticut (2007-11) 9. Stephen Curry, G, Davidson (2006-09) 10. Jimmer Fredette, G, BYU (2007-11) 11. Carmelo Anthony, F, Syracuse (2002-03) 12. Sue Bird, PG, Connecticut (1999-2002) 13. Tyler Hansbrough, F, North Carolina (2005-09) 14. John Wall, G, Kentucky (2009-10) 15. Skylar Diggins-Smith, G, Notre Dame (2009-13) 16. Anthony Davis, F, Kentucky (2011-12) 17. Jay Williams, G, Duke (1999-2002) 18. Breanna Stewart, F, Connecticut (2012-16) 19. A'ja Wilson, F, South Carolina (2014-18) 20. Nneka Ogwumike, F, Stanford (2008-12) Chiney Ogwumike, F, Stanford (2010-14) 21. Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma (2007-09) 22. Elena Delle Donne, F, Delaware (2009-13) 23. J.J. Redick, G, Duke (2002-06) 24. Kelsey Plum, G, Washington (2013-17) 25. Arike Ogunbowale, G, Notre Dame (2015-19) 3 Notre Dame players were included among ESPN's top 100 college football players for the 2022 college football season: junior tight end MICHAEL MAYER at No. 11, sophomore left tackle Joe Alt at No. 19 and senior defensive end Isaiah Foskey at No. 35. The Fighting Irish were one of just three schools that placed three players in the top 35, joining national champion Georgia (4) and College Football Playoff semifinalist Ohio State (4). Mayer (No. 9) and Alt (No. 11) were also among three Irish players, along with freshman cornerback Benjamin Morrison (No. 85), to make Pro Football Focus' list of the 101 best players in col- lege football in 2022. The Irish joined Ala- bama and Ohio State as the only schools to place two players among the top 11. [Sam] Hartman can stabilize things for [Marcus] Freeman heading into his second season at the helm. Great coaches build a culture of competition that is required to win at the highest level, and Hartman's presence will raise the bar for [Tyler] Buchner and the rest of the quarterbacks on the Notre Dame roster. "We know Hartman's upside. We've seen it for the last five seasons. We also know that Buchner's ceiling is high as well. However, his floor is significantly lower than that of Hartman. The two quarterbacks will push each other during this offseason, which will trickle down to the rest of the roster. Great teams have players who fight for their jobs atop the depth chart as hard in the offseason as they do in the regular season. Hart- man's transfer will set that tone." — Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports on Hartman joining the Fighting Irish With or without [Sam] Hartman, Notre Dame does not have as many dudes as Georgia, Ohio State and Alabama. But nor does anyone else — includ- ing TCU, which got into the College Football Playoff this season and in fact won a game. Key detail, though: It did not get matched up with one of those three in the semifinal. So, basically Notre Dame needs to be seeded in the exact right spot to face Michigan. Or Clemson. Or perhaps a Big 12 or Pac-12 team. The exciting thing about Hartman's arrival is that the Irish may finally have the vertical passing attack to be more aggressive against an elite foe in a Playoff or New Year's Six bowl scenario." — Stewart Mandel of The Athletic on Notre Dame's ability to win a game in the College Football Playoff Notre Dame has a long record of producing NFL- caliber offensive linemen, and Alt is next on the list. The 6-foot-7, 317-pound tackle was dominant in 2022 and has the length, power and balance to be an ideal left tackle in the pros. He has the tape and potential of a top-10 pick after allowing pressure on less than 1 percent of his 387 pass-block snaps this past season." — ESPN analyst Matt Miller on tabbing Notre Dame rising junior left tackle Joe Alt a 2024 NFL Draft prospect to watch Foskey is the player here who I think has the best chance to change some minds. As Dane [Bru- gler] noted, he has top-50 potential, possibly even top-30 if the right defensive coach falls in love with him. He's one of the freakiest guys here: 6-5, 266, can win off the edge with his hand in the dirt or play standing up and covering. "I think Foskey could hang athleti- cally in the stack as a linebacker, if a coaching staff taught him. There are [Dallas Cowboys star] Micah Parsons- like traits there, but we need to see him show them all of the time." — Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic on Notre Dame defensive end Isaiah Foskey's po- tential to move up NFL Draft boards with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND