Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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14 NOV. 16, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TYLER HORKA T he play that probably most sig- naled to Notre Dame coaches that Jordan Faison was back and con- tributing mightily to the Fight- ing Irish's cause wasn't any one of his 4 catches for 52 yards, both game-highs, against Navy. The play wasn't a special teams game changer or a touchdown of any kind, either. It was an away-from-the-ball block in the end zone on third-and-2 from the Navy 4-yard line. Sophomore tailback Jeremiyah Love picked up 3 yards to give Notre Dame first-and-goal. All he needed was some interior blocking to get what he was after. What if Love bounced outside, though? Faison couldn't be so sure he wouldn't. So he took matters into his own hands. And he took a Navy cornerback to the turf. Literally. Straddling the 5-yard line, Faison broke off the line of scrimmage at the snap, feigned like he was running a route with a stutter step then immediately en- gaged in a physical entanglement with the corner. It ended with the Midship- men's number on the back of his jersey planted firmly into the checkerboard end zone at MetLife Stadium, Faison's arms driving the defender's torso into the ground from a legal position. Faison hadn't made any of his catches in the game yet. But when he ultimately did, including a 17-yard gain on fourth- and-7 on a drive that resulted in a Notre Dame touchdown, he completed an- other well-rounded performance. That's what Faison does, even when the stat sheet doesn't show it. "The biggest thing with him is what he puts on film in practice and in the game is a guy that does exactly what he's asked to do and really performs at a high level," Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said. "The way you run routes, just because you don't make the catch or get the ball doesn't mean you weren't doing 100 percent what we're asking you to do." Faison is a symbol for Notre Dame's entire wide receiver corps in those terms. It's one that, like last year and the year before, has not produced gaudy numbers in 2024. Through eight games, Clemson transfer Beaux Collins paced the group with 28 catches for 359 yards. No wideout had caught more than 2 touchdown passes at that time, Collins and Florida International transfer Kris Mitchell being the only ones to even ac- quire that many. The in-your-face blocks like the one Faison executed against Navy are aplenty, though. There is so much the average eye does not see during the course of one play, one series, one game that the Notre Dame wide receivers are doing to aid in the effort of Irish victories. "A lot of stuff that people don't re- ally realize is like the decoy routes that I have," Mitchell said. "I get other people open. And the pick routes that I run, the blocking, the running man off, getting them out of the play so that J-Love and [Jaden Greathouse] and guys can make explosive plays." Those are all things Notre Dame of- fensive coordinator Mike Denbrock de- signed and incorporated into the Irish offense. Mitchell knew that would be the case coming in, too. He had more than a hunch he was not going to go for 64 catches, 1,118 yards and 6 touchdowns like he did as a senior at FIU last fall. It was a thorough understanding, rather. He knew exactly what he was signing up for — winning football. In four years at FIU, Mitchell expe- rienced nine wins. In one year at Notre Dame, the Irish won seven of their first eight games. Mitchell still had some in- dividual moments of success in all the team glory — 13 catches for 125 yards and 2 scores. But more W's and fewer L's was always what he was setting out for upon entering the transfer portal. "Just being a part of a winning pro- gram, a winning culture, it feels great to be here," Mitchell said. "Yes, I would like more touches, more catches, but it's like, bro, we're winning. It's not like we're losing and I'm not touching the ball." That mentality is a coach's dream. Denbrock spoke on the way Mitchell and Faison in particular have mastered carrying out unsung endeavors. "Those guys do so many things with- DOING IT ALL Notre Dame's wide receiver corps is not prolific on the stat sheet, but the Irish wideouts still make a difference Graduate student wide receiver Kris Mitchell had just 13 catches for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns during Notre Dame's 7-1 start, but he has contributed in other ways such as running decoy routes and blocking for the Irish's potent rushing attack. PHOTO BY MATT RUDOLPH