Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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made massive strides while he looks to secure a starting gig for good. Asked in late May who he believes will break out this season, the first player Freeman mentioned was Schrauth. The comparisons offensive line coach Joe Rudolph and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock made in spring practice, Free- man explained, were impossible to ig- nore. Schrauth might be turning into the fearsome, road-grading guard the Irish always thought he could be. 21. LB DRAYK BOWEN If Bowen is capable of manning the middle of a defense like JD Bertrand was, Notre Dame will be just fine at linebacker. If he's not, and the Irish must turn to freshman Kyngstonn Vil- iamu-Asa, the team might be in some trouble. That's not to say Vil- iamu-Asa is not go- ing to do well in his first collegiate sea- son. It would be worri- some for depth purposes and overall develop- ment, though, if the sophomore couldn't carry his end of the bargain over the true freshman. There is a lot being asked of Bowen in his second sea- son at Notre Dame. That's why he nearly cracked the top 20 in this countdown. 22. S JORDAN CLARK The nickel position has become so important in Golden's Notre Dame de- fense that Clark might be a victim of being undervalued here. Nevertheless, the Arizona State transfer was always going to be worthy of one of these top 25 spots. He's the heir to TaRiq Bracy and Thomas Harper, two nickel corners who transformed the Irish defense with their play in the slot in the last few seasons. Clark might be the most athletic nickel corner Notre Dame has had of late, so he really has a chance to make what was already a stout Irish passing defense last year — Golden's group led the nation in passing efficiency defense — even better. 23. S ROD HEARD II Heard played more football in 2023 than any Notre Dame player on defense. His 853 defensive snaps at Northwest- ern would have been tops on the Fight- ing Irish roster. Notre Dame recruited him to play safety; he primarily played nickel cor- ner for the Wildcats. Still, the Irish are not particularly proven or all too deep at the position they are asking him to play. There is a lot on the sixth-year veteran's shoulders. 24. WR JAYDEN THOMAS Thomas has more receptions and re- ceiving yards than any other returning Notre Dame wide receiver. Granted, there are only four of those in addition to him- self. But over the course of the last two seasons, Thomas has averaged 23 catches, 335.5 yards and 2.5 touchdowns. That was with being hampered by a hamstring in- jury for most of last year, too. Are his statistics gaudy? No. But is he a team leader, especially within his own unit? Is he looked up to by his po- sition mates and looked fondly upon by those who have been in South Bend with him for four years? Is it possible we haven't seen the best of Thomas in a Notre Dame uniform? Yes, yes and yes. 25. OG PAT COOGAN Coogan was the only Notre Dame of- fensive lineman to start all 13 games in 2023. He's a staple of the unit up front for the Fighting Irish, and that could remain the case in 2024. Coogan, Billy Schrauth and Rocco Spindler are the three best options Notre Dame has to fill two guard spots. Coogan might have to fend off Spindler for one of them. There are 22 starting spots on offense and defense combined on any given football roster. There are 25 spots in this countdown. So even though Coogan did not receive a vote from three of the five panelists, it's not too surprising he garnered enough points to appear in the countdown considering he might will his way to being a full-time starter again. ✦ Entering his fourth season at Notre Dame, senior wide receiver Jayden Thomas is still under a media micro- scope and is expected to produce in a big way for the Fighting Irish. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM PRESEASON 2024 25