Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM OCT. 26, 2024 7 UNDER THE DOME UNDER THE DOME Injuries Make It Defensive End Bryce Young By Todd D. Burlage When Irish freshman Bryce Young arrived at Notre Dame as an early en- rollee in January, he was considered more of a developmental player than a candidate to become an immediate contributor. Because of the physical development demands, defensive line is not typi- cally a position where true freshmen make an immediate impact. Rated as a four-star recruit, a top-60 player in the country, and the No. 8 edge rusher, Young seemed likely to step in and play right away on Irish special teams, and perhaps in some situational defensive roles. But nobody could've expected the quick growth and rotational importance this true fresh- man would bring to the defense so quickly. Partly out of production and development, and partly out of injury necessity, Young was quickly thrust into an expanded role and is already emerg- ing as a valuable and reliable member along the Irish defensive line. Injuries have devastated the Irish defense, especially the line. And Young has been able to step in and keep this unit from missing a beat. In back-to- back wins over Louisville and Stanford, Young recorded 5 total tackles. Expect more of the same, and then some, the rest of this season because Young's role and snap counts will increase. So, while Young may have initially seen his reps grow because of injury necessity, the 6-foot-7, 258-pound rising star is taking full advantage of his bigger role, and showing why he'll become the most important Irish fresh- man on the field the rest of this season. Leonard Moore Could Make Or Break Playoff Run By Jack Soble When Notre Dame lost junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison (hip) for the season, it lost its biggest strength. Morrison and sophomore cornerback Christian Gray helped make the back end of the Irish defense nearly impenetrable. Quarterbacks targeting the two future high-round NFL cover men went 23 of 48 (47.9 percent) for 203 yards (4.2 yards per attempt), 0 touchdowns and 1 interception. The rest of the starting secondary — graduate student nickel back Jordan Clark, graduate student safety Xavier Watts and sophomore safety Adon Shuler — have been outstanding, too. But there's a reason cornerback is considered a premium position. It's the foundation. Without Morrison, that founda- tion could crumble against a strong passing offense. The man tasked with saving it: Freshman corner- back Leonard Moore. Moore has an extremely high ceiling, despite coming in as an industry three-star prospect, and the Irish believe he's going to be a superstar. He's 6-foot-2 with long arms, athleticism and cover skills. In fall camp, Morrison went so far as to say Moore could be better than he is. "He's a special kid, just the way he approaches the game, the way he goes about his business," Morrison said at the time. "I'm biased because I believe I'm giving him some tips and getting him there, but I think he has what it takes." There's little doubt in Notre Dame's mind that Moore is going to be an excellent cornerback. Filling Morrison's shoes right now, though, is a lot to ask of a true freshman. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHO IS NOTRE DAME'S MOST IMPORTANT FRESHMAN THE REST OF THE SEASON? Senior wide receiver Jayden Thomas is the first to admit that the natural production progression he expected upon his arrival to Notre Dame in 2021 never really stayed on script. A four-star recruit out of Pace Academy near Atlanta, and now a three-year Irish rotational regu- lar and frequent starter, Thomas held offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee, among others, but still decided to leave the comforts and climate of the Southeast and come to Notre Dame. Since, Thomas has appeared in all but two of 39 Irish games played since his sophomore season in 2022, but managed only pedestrian production. Through the midway point of the 2024 season, he had 55 career receptions for 761 yards and 6 touchdowns — solid single-season production, but not necessarily great overall marks through 33 career games. The best season for Thomas came as a sophomore in 2022 when the sturdy 6-foot-2, 218-pound receiver tallied 25 receptions for 361 yards with 3 touchdowns, all single-season highs. Staying true to his team, on task, and accepting of his role, Thomas — who holds another year of eligibility in 2025, if he chooses to spend it at Notre Dame — believes his best football days still lie ahead. Blue & Gold Illustrated and other local media recently caught up with Thomas before the Georgia Tech game, and asked him about his four seasons with the Irish, and what he still hopes to accomplish. BGI: You've never quite had the breakout sea- son or moment yet during your career at Notre Dame. How tough has that been? Thomas: "I come from a family who's instilled hard work in me. So, it's just taking one step at a time. You can't really focus on the future or the past, you can only control the present." BGI: Two head coaches and three offensive coordinators; you've seen a lot of changes during your time here. What's that been like? Thomas: "You come to a place like Notre Dame not solely just because of the coach, but the cul- ture, the family, and the brand of football. So, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love it here. I love my brothers here." BGI: What has your time at Notre Dame meant to you? Thomas: "It's meant the world, just being able to go to a prestigious college like this. Notre Dame is something that my parents are definitely proud of me for. They tell me about it all the time. Being able to get a degree here in the near future is something I have always wanted to do." BGI: How do you handle the non-stop chatter about Notre Dame's chances to earn a playoff berth with the new 12-team format? Thomas: "Whether we win a game or lose a game, people are going to say something. So, whether that is winning games and hopefully getting to that point in the near future, that's the only thing we can really control. BGI: What's next for Notre Dame? Thomas: "We've had great teams, great players. But I think it's time for this program to make the next step. We all expect and demand it out of each and every one of us. It's not winning bowl games. It's not culture. It's winning a national championship again." — Todd D. Burlage Five Questions With … SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER JAYDEN THOMAS Through the midway point of the 2024 season, Thomas had 55 career receptions for 761 yards and 6 touchdowns through 33 career games. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER Young Moore