Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1528584
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM NOV. 9, 2024 11 UNDER THE DOME "It's going to be a different dynamic that I don't think the women's game has ever seen. They're both so dynamic in general, and the way that they play is just explosive. They're so creative. Both are visionaries on the court, but they can also score and they're great managing and reading defenses. I think it's going to be magical." — Notre Dame women's basketball head coach Niele Ivey on her backcourt duo of Olivia Miles and Hannah Hidalgo (via On3) "After winning the Nagurski Trophy in 2023, given to the best defensive player in college foot- ball, Watts has been even better as a senior. He is the only safety in America with top-15 PFF grades both in coverage and as a run defender. Watts has drastically improved as a tackler while remain- ing a ball-hawk, already having picked off [three] passes this year." — Max Chadwick on tabbing Notre Dame graduate student safety Xavier Watts as a Pro Football Focus Midseason All-American "After appearing in two games last year, the 6-4, 310-pound North Carolina native has started every game this season at left guard and hasn't allowed a sack in 360 snaps." — Manny Navarro on tabbing guard Sam Pendleton as Notre Dame's lone repre- sentative on The Athletic's Midseason Freshman All-America team "Matt Allocco is another connector for Micah Shrewsberry's team. The 6-foot-4 senior is com- fortable moving the ball or knocking down shots. He brings a winning pedigree (70-21 in college) and will provide a veteran presence beside Markus Bur- ton, someone who complements his game and is able to take some pressure off his duties." — On3 national basketball recruiting analyst Jamie Shaw on tabbing Notre Dame guard Matt Allocco one of 21 impact transfers in the ACC "Here's the thing to keep in mind when you talk about Notre Dame. They have a really outstanding win to open the season that is only looking better as this season goes along. They went to Texas A&M and won that game. So that, if Texas A&M con- tinues to win, will go onto Notre Dame's résumé going forward. "I agree, Northern Illinois is one of the worst losses of the season. But they do have Navy, they have Army, they would hope that USC would start to look a little better. But Notre Dame, I wouldn't be worried if they continue to win out." — ESPN college football analyst Joey Galloway "It might seem paradoxical — what in college football isn't these days? — that Notre Dame is growing up and getting younger at the same time. The Irish lose an All-America cornerback and re- place him with a freshman who barely misses a beat. A future NFL running back embraces life as a lead blocker for a quarterback who can't quite seem to put Notre Dame's passing game together. The Irish already start freshmen at left tackle and cornerback. They probably should start one at defensive end, too. "There might not be a classically great team in Notre Dame's locker room, at least in the sense that the season feels like it has a ceiling. All these injuries do count. But the Irish are still very good. … Freeman talks about getting Notre Dame to play to its full potential. It's becoming clear what the full potential of this team is. The Irish are more than good enough to make the College Football Playoff, probably good enough to make some noise in it but perhaps no longer loaded for a run to mid- January." — Pete Sampson of The Athletic "He's been playing defensive back for us on the scout team, doing a really nice job. He's poaching crossing routes and all kinds of stuff. He under- stands coverages. He knows concepts. He sees the deep post. He's like, 'I'm probably supposed to take that, but I'm going to rob the over or what- ever.' He's a football guy. He's never not going to be involved however he can be involved. And I think there's good news where that's concerned as far as him getting back in the mix here soon." — Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock on freshman quarterback CJ Carr, who suffered an injury in practice and was dealing with elbow soreness Irish On Social Media PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER THEY SAID IT THEY SAID IT "I think realizing that basketball wasn't everything for me was the hardest part. Be- fore hurting myself, I ate, slept and breathed basketball. It was everything. It was what defined me — it was my identity. I think having to take time away to develop myself and understand that I had parts of me to fill that basketball once did, that was the hardest part. It was just learning myself all over again." — Notre Dame graduate student guard Olivia Miles on missing last season while rehabbing a knee injury (via On3)