Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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12 SEPT. 21, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Notre Dame sophomore wide receiver Jordan Faison did not appear on the Fighting Irish's Week 3 depth chart, but he also didn't appear on the injury report prior to the Purdue game. Head coach Marcus Freeman confirmed that Faison only needed to sit out one game with the ankle sprain he suffered against Texas A&M. Faison will rejoin the mix with graduate student Kris Mitchell and fellow sophomore KK Smith at field receiver. Faison had 2 catches for 12 yards against A&M before going down, and Mitchell had 4 catches for 44 yards in his first two Notre Dame games. Smith had yet to make a reception in his Irish career. On the other side of the ball, there could be a deeper depth issue at a certain spot along the defensive line. Junior defensive end Joshua Burnham, who played 53 snaps against North- ern Illinois and made 4 tackles including 1 for a loss, was listed as question- able going into the Purdue game with an ankle sprain. He'd become Notre Dame's top option at strong-side defensive end with Duke transfer RJ Oben struggling to adjust to his new surroundings and subsequently only playing 11 snaps against the Huskies. Given Oben's issues, freshman Bryce Young could get some looks at strong- side defensive end if the Burnham issue flares up further and sidelines him for any extended period of time. "We expect Bryce to have some opportunities to help us," Freeman said. "Bryce is a guy that's continuously gotten better over the course of his time here. He could be ready to go at any moment." Freeman is still not giving up on Oben, though, either. "RJ's had a really good week of practice," Freeman said Sept. 12. "That's what we've needed him to do, be healthy and have a great week of practice." — Tyler Horka Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock is helping Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman in the aftermath of the 28.5-point underdog Huskies' upset of the Fighting Irish in South Bend during Week 2. No, seriously. That's actually happening. Hammock told the "Pardon My Take" podcast he's been in con- tact with Freeman about what NIU saw on film that allowed the Huskies to go into Notre Dame Stadium and exit with a shocking 16-14 victory. Here's what Hammock said on the matter on PMT. "He has taken me up on it," Hammock said. "We've talked on the phone a couple times, exchanged text messages. It was my first time meeting him. Obviously, I have a lot of respect for him as a head coach. I want him to do well, for obvious reasons. Just because we competed doesn't mean we can't help each other or try to assist each other to make each other better. "Sometimes when you become a head coach, you don't have many people you can really rely upon because nobody is going through what you're going through. I don't understand what he's going through, but I have an idea of some of the things he's going through. And if I can help him and help him achieve the type of things he wants to achieve, that's what it's about. Paying it forward. "They're never going to play us again, we will never be a com- mon opponent, and I want to see him win the national champion- ship. He's at a program that can win the national championship." PMT's Big Cat told Hammock there is the possibility of NIU and the Irish squaring off in the College Football Playoff. Never say never. You never know. "We'll go over that bridge when it happens," Hammock said with a smile. — Tyler Horka NORTHERN ILLINOIS COACH THOMAS HAMMOCK REACHES OUT TO HELP MARCUS FREEMAN ONE INJURY HEALS, ANOTHER POPS UP FOR NOTRE DAME Junior defensive end Joshua Burnham was injured at the end of what might have been the best game of his career versus NIU. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER Freeman has spoken to Hammock to learn how the Huskies were able to upset his Irish. PHOTOS BY MICHAEL MILLER