Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM APRIL 2024 21 Dads who went through the recruit- ing process — Ryan Clark played at LSU — are more inclined to see through re- cruiting nonsense as well, Jordan Clark explained. And they tend to see Freeman as genuine. "Oh, 100 percent," Clark said. "You get through the fluff pretty early on." That's one of many ways Notre Dame's NFL legacy newcomers helped them along the way to South Bend. Freshman defensive end Bryce Young, son of Hall of Fame defensive lineman and former Notre Dame star Bryant Young, said he took a while to ask his dad (who was also one of his high school coaches) for help. During his sopho- more year, he came to his father and said, "You gotta break down film. You know this stuff." Bryce and Bryant Young went to work, and the former — who didn't play full- contact football until high school — said it helped with his development. "We definitely went through a lot of film together, watching old tape," Young said. "Watching guys I like to watch in the NFL today, just learning keys, learn- ing pre-snap and all that. That was def- initely beneficial to me." Bryce Young said even though he ended up at his dad's alma mater, Bryant Young let his son make his journey his own. He didn't push him one way or the other as the younger Young's recruit- ment started to heat up, and he believes he's better off for it. "We'd check in after each visit, see how we felt, write down the pros and the cons, weigh out every option," Young said. "But he's definitely let me see it, let me critically think for myself, and I really appreciate him for that." Oben has the unique perspective of his father remaining involved with the game well past his playing career. Ro- man Oben is the NFL's vice president of football development, so he can offer multiple perspectives on what it takes to reach the professional level. "It just shows me the full scope of things," RJ Oben said. "Seeing what it was like at the college level, and being able to go to NFL games when I was a kid. … You're kind of having that expe- rience to see this is what it looks like, where hard work can take you." With an NFL father also comes some degree of pressure. Not just to make it in football, but to be the best version of yourself off the field. That's a Notre Dame value as well, and Clark talked about what it means to him. "My last name and what my father accomplished means a bunch to me, and I really just try to uphold that," Clark said. "I try to do things the right way. It's not necessarily about my quality of play or how good I am or whatever, it's about doing things the right way." Clark struggled when he was younger with growing out of his father's shadow. It can be difficult to be the son of a Pro Bowler, with more people interested in your dad than in you. That served as a chip on Clark's shoulder for a time, but as he grew older, he began to embrace it. "At first, it was definitely something that bothered me a little bit, but I've grown to accept it," Clark said. "I'm just so grateful I have the opportunity to do this for my family." ✦ NOTRE DAME PLAYERS WITH NFL DADS Son, Pos. Father, Pos. NFL Career (Teams) Joe Alt, OT John Alt, OT 13 years (Chiefs) Joe opted to leave Notre Dame early after three stellar seasons and is projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft Jerome Bettis Jr., WR Jerome Bettis, RB 13 years (Rams, Steelers) Jerome Jr. is a 2025 recruit who was reportedly leaning toward the Irish in March Elijah Burress, WR Plaxico Burress, WR 12 years (Steelers, Giants, Jets) Elijah, On3's No. 56 wideout nationally in the class of 2025, committed to Notre Dame Feb. 10 Jordan Clark, DB Ryan Clark, DB 13 years (Giants, Redskins, Steelers) Jordan joined the Irish as a graduate transfer and is projected to start at slot corner in 2024 Howard Cross III, NT Howard Cross II, TE 13 years (Giants) Howard III is sticking around South Bend as a graduate student after earning second-team All-America honors in 2023 James Flanigan, TE Jim Flanigan, DL 10 years (Bears, Packers, 49ers, Eagles) James, On3's No. 8 tight end nationally in the class of 2025, committed to Notre Dame on Oct. 21, 2023 Benjamin Morrison, CB Darryl Morrison, DB 4 years (Redskins) Benjamin enters his junior campaign with the Irish as one of the nation's top cornerbacks RJ Oben, DE Roman Oben, OT 12 years (Giants, Browns, Buccaneers, Chargers) RJ joined Notre Dame as a graduate transfer and is expected to start at defensive end in 2024 Gabriel Rubio, DT Angel Rubio, DE 2 years (Steelers, 49ers, Bengals, Cardinals) Gabriel is away from the team this spring but expected to return for his senior season in the fall Rocco Spindler, OG Marc Spindler, DL 9 years (Lions, Jets) Rocco, who is coming off an injury during his first year as a starter, is competing for a starting job in 2024 Ivan Taylor, DB Ike Taylor, DB 12 years (Steelers) Ivan, On3's No. 12 safety nationally in the class of 2025, committed to the Irish on Dec. 1, 2023 Kennedy Urlacher, S Brian Urlacher, LB 13 years (Bears) Kennedy inked with Irish in the class of 2024 and enrolled this spring Bryce Young, DL Bryant Young, DL 14 years (49ers) Bryce signed with Notre Dame in the class of 2024 and enrolled this spring Freshman safety Kennedy Urlacher is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher, who played 13 years for the Chicago Bears. PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY