Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1526111
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 7, 2024 11 UNDER THE DOME "I think he brings a different element. He's got a different approach to it and a great discipline of the guys. I think the guys believe in him, and there is no phoniness about him. … He's what the Notre Dame head coach should look like." — Notre Dame legend Joe Montana on current Irish head coach Marcus Freeman in "The Irish Are Home," a short documen- tary released by the school on YouTube this summer "He is going to be in that exact same offense that Jayden Daniels was in over those past two seasons during his time at LSU, and we saw how he was able to catapult his draft stock into being the No. 2 overall pick. So Riley Leonard of Notre Dame is one name to keep an eye on that a year from now, we could be looking at as a potential early-round pick." — ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid "The Irish's hoss in the middle graded out as the best returning defensive lineman (edge or inte- rior) in college football in 2023, per PFF, essentially playing as well as eventual Round 1 pick Byron Murphy of Texas. Cross isn't the biggest dude (6-1, 288 pounds), but he plays very similarly to former Georgia and NFL All-Pro Geno Atkins — a super dis- ruptive and explosive interior rusher (39 pressures last season) and a valuable run defender." —Jesse Simonton on ranking Notre Dame graduate student defensive tackle Howard Cross III No. 14 on On3's list of the 25 most impactful players of the 2024 college football season (Cross' teammate, junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison, came in at No. 15) "Replacing Joe Alt, the best O-lineman in the NFL Draft, was a big enough challenge. Now it appears Knapp will try and handle replacing the guy [Charles Jagusah] who was replacing the guy [Alt]. Facing a Mike Elko defense in a very loud place like Texas A&M's Kyle Field in the opener is a really tough ask, if Knapp is indeed the starting left tackle. But if the Irish can hold up there, Knapp develops over the course of the season and the position doesn't undermine their offense, Notre Dame has the talent to be a Playoff team." — Bruce Feldman of The Athletic on tabbing Notre Dame freshman left tackle Anthonie Knapp one of 10 college football players (besides the QBs) who may decide the College Football Playoff race "Although Jack Kiser is a mainstay for the Irish defense, there is a lot of youth and inexperience behind him, opening the door for Viliamu-Asa. Technically he is an inside player, but he has edge pressure skills and could see the field in a multi- tude of roles for Notre Dame. He's tough, explosive and really productive as a tackler. Don't be sur- prised if he emerges as an impact player." — ESPN analyst Tom Luginbill on including Notre Dame linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa on his preseason true freshman All-America squad "A team that, the more I study the season, the more I watch film, the more that I get ready? I'm like, 'You know what? This team is going to be really good.' The more I look at it, folks, the more I'm just convinced that Notre Dame is going to be really strong. "… I know people are going to roll their eyes — 'Oh, Notre Dame! They're always so hyped!' Okay — I'm just saying. They feel a lot like Washington from last year. They just do. Washington? Last year at this point, I'd put them fifth. I should have had the courage to put Notre Dame in fifth but I didn't. Watch out for Notre Dame!" — FOX Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt "I'm going back to the Irish. Eleven projected 2025 NFL Draft picks. The only teams that have more are Ohio State and Georgia. This team is loaded. "… They have to win four straight games to win the national title, but it also doesn't risk losing in a conference championship game either. There is that pro-side to the Irish independence. In addition to the talent, Riley Leonard, the defense, the coaching staff? These guys have pieces in place for a really special season." — ESPN's Heather Dinich on tabbing Notre Dame her national championship contender outside the top six of the preseason Associated Press poll "Notre Dame football has been built [and bud- geted] to make the CFP with a roster that's one of the oldest in college football. It's not a perfect roster and staff, but the Irish arguably haven't entered a season with expectations this high in nearly 20 years." — Pete Sampson of The Athletic "Notre Dame has steadily improved each year under Marcus Freeman, and now it has a dynamic quarterback in Riley Leonard. As long as the Irish's shorthanded offensive line can hold up, they have a shot." — Will Backus of CBS Sports on including the Irish in "Tier 4: The dark horses" among his College Football Playoff contenders, along with Oklahoma State, Tennessee and Miami TOP TWEETS PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER THEY SAID IT THEY SAID IT "This might be a stretch, but Leonard Moore will be better than I will be here. He's a special kid." — Notre Dame junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison on freshman cornerback Leonard Moore