Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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12 DECEMBER 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Bryce Boneau — Soccer Following a scoreless first half against Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Nov. 19, the junior midfielder from Keller, Texas, broke through in the third minute of the second half with his fourth goal of the season to launch Notre Dame to a 2-0 home win at Alumni Stadium. Heading into the third round of the NCAA Tournament, Boneau ranked second on the team with 6 assists and was third with 14 points. Olivia Markezich — Cross Country The graduate student from Woodinville, Wash., helped Notre Dame to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships Nov. 18 at Charlottesville, Va., with a career-best third-place indi- vidual finish. Markezich covered the 6K course in 19:10.0 to earn All- America honors, one of the three Irish runners to earn those accolades. The three-time cross country All-American finished 11th in 2021 and eighth in 2022 NCAA Championships. Ben Nguyen — Diving The sophomore from Arlington, Texas, brought home a gold medal in the 1-meter dive with a final score of 352.65 at the IUPUI House of Champions Invite in India- napolis Nov. 16-18. Nguyen led a trio of Irish div- ers who claimed the top three spots in the event on the way to the team title at the IUPUI Natatorium. The four-time USA Junior National qualifier finished sixth on platform at the 2019 Junior Nationals. Phyona Schrader — Volleyball Playing in the final home match of the 2023 Fighting Irish season, the ju- nior setter from Ankeny, Iowa, native recorded a triple-dou- ble with 14 kills, 13 digs and 22 assists in a thrilling 3-2 five- set victory over Wake Forest Nov. 17 at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend. Schrader finished the match with an impres- sive .367 attack percentage in helping the Irish break a nine-match losing streak. TOP TOP OF THE CLASS OF THE CLASS Irish student-athletes excelling on the field and in the classroom ✦ GIMME FIVE In the first quarter of Notre Dame's 45-7 win over Wake Forest Nov. 18, junior running back Audric Estimé reached a significant milestone. Later in that same quarter, he reached another one. Estimé became the 13th running back in program history to surpass 1,000 yards in a single season and the 19th to break 2,000 yards in a career, both in the same quarter against the Demon Deacons. He finished the game with 115 rushing yards, bringing his totals to 1,103 in 2023 and 2,083 in his three years at Notre Dame. Since 2010, Estimé is the fifth Irish player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Kyren Williams is the only one who did it twice, compiling 1,002 yards in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and 1,125 in 2021. In 2017, Josh Adams gained 1,430 yards that year on 206 carries — good for a preposterously high 6.9 yards per carry. Before Adams, C.J. Prosise gained 1,032 yards in 2015 and Cierre Wood gained 1,102 yards in 2011. Through Week 12, Estimé's 2023 campaign was the 14th-best rushing season in Irish history, just ahead of Wood. So often in 2023, when the Notre Dame offense has struggled, Estimé has been the one con- stant. He's projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, should he declare. — Jack Soble CHARTING THE IRISH 2024 RECRUITING RANKINGS Notre Dame, as of Nov. 21, was in position to sign a top-10 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle. If the current rankings hold until the start of the early signing period — otherwise known as National Signing Day — on Dec. 20, the Irish will finish with the ninth-best 2024 recruiting class in the country. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average of the four main recruiting services, the Irish class has one five-star, Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard South wide receiver Cam Williams, who is listed as the No. 8 wide receiver and No. 26 overall player in the nation. The class also features 13 four-star prospects and nine three-stars. Including Williams, potential studs at several offensive positions headline Notre Dame's class. West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial of- fensive tackle Guerby Lambert slots in as the No. 4 offensive tackle in the country, while the four-star running back duo of Lufkin (Texas) High's Kedren Young and Hannibal (Mo.) High's Aneyas Williams should add to an already tal- ented room. None are more important, however, than Saline (Mich.) High quarterback CJ Carr. For a program that hasn't found much luck in recent years, signing the No. 6 quarterback in the On3 Industry Ranking would be huge. Earning a com- mitment from Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa against stiff competition was a big win for the Irish as well. — Jack Soble THE TOP 10 COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2024 RECRUITING CLASSES Rk. School Commits Score 1. Georgia 28 94.405 2. Ohio St. 22 93.730 3. Florida St. 22 92.484 4. Florida 19 92.285 5. Alabama 20 92.265 6. Oregon 24 92.123 7. Texas 20 91.844 8. Oklahoma 27 91.786 9. Notre Dame 23 91.724 10. Texas A&M 20 91.711 Through Nov. 21 per On3 Industry Ranking THE LAST FIVE NOTRE DAME 1,000-YARD RUSHERS Player Year(s) Yards Audric Estimé 2023 1,103* Kyren Williams 2020-21 1,002/1,125 Josh Adams 2017 1,430 C.J. Prosise 2015 1,032 Cierre Wood 2011 1,102 * Through 11 games Estimé is the fifth Fighting Irish ball carrier to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in a season since 2010. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER