Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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52 NOV. 23, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TODD D. BURLAGE C am Hart probably didn't realize it, but he had an inside track to landing with the Los Angeles Char- gers about two months before the 2024 NFL Draft took place. A cornerback for five years at Notre Dame from 2019-23, Hart played his final three seasons there under Irish defensive backs coach Chris O'Leary. So, when O'Leary left Notre Dame in February to take the same position with the Chargers, Hart had a be- hind-the-scenes fighter on his side to bring him to Los Angeles. The Chargers needed to bolster their talent and depth in the defen- sive secondary, and O'Leary believed Hart was the perfect fit. Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said that O'Leary "pounded the table" in a push to draft Hart, and Minter listened. "They played a lot of man [cov- erage] at Notre Dame," Minter said, "and [Hart] always just wanted to cover the best guy, get up and press, play with that mentality. If you can have that, and match it with the skill set he has, he's got a chance to be a great player." Hart didn't waste any time proving O'Leary to be a genius for the pre-draft referral, and Minter to be equally smart for taking the advice and choosing Hart in the fifth round last April. A rookie playing one of the toughest positions on the field, Hart was asked to bide his time on special teams through the first four games this season, even if he personally felt ready for a larger role. "I know [Hart] wanted to play more than he was," Minter said. "But he kept playing, kept working, kept working in practice. Then when his opportunity was called, he was ready." Through focus and commitment, Hart eventually earned a starting spot against the Broncos in Week 6. Since then, the Baltimore native has started, improved and excelled in every game. Lanky, fast, smart, ath- letic, instinctive, and 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, Hart brings the whole pack- age to his position. "Always be ready," Hart said. "Do your thing on special teams, and when your opportunity comes, make sure you're ready." Making a first career start on the road in a hostile environment could be daunting for any rookie, especially at the cornerback position. But Hart said he felt completely confident and comfortable in Denver. "Just doing the prep we do every week, whether I know I'm starting or not, I feel like anybody would be ready," said Hart, who played all 55 defensive snaps against the Broncos. "Practice is hard, we grind. If we do that in practice, the game is going to be a lot easier." More recently, in a 27-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 10, Hart put on a coverage clinic with the NFL's top scoring defense. He was targeted 9 times and allowed 5 receptions for 41 yards (4.6 yards per attempt). He also broke up a pass and made 4 tackles, helping the Chargers improve to 6-3 on the season and 4-1 since Hart became a starter. A solid player but not spectacular at Notre Dame, Hart played in parts of five seasons and finished his college career with 91 tack- les in 47 games. The three- year starter also added 17 passes broken up, 2 inter- ceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. And now, he's taking his game to a level many NFL scouts, general managers and coaches didn't realize pre-draft that Hart could, save for O'Leary. "The coaches had a lot of faith in me, and I had a lot of faith in myself," Hart added. "So, I wasn't too nervous." ✦ Chargers Rookie Cam Hart Making Quick Strides I R I S H I N T H E P R O S FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS Kevin Austin Jr. (Played at Notre Dame from 2018-21), WR, New Orleans Saints, NFL Making his season debut after being elevated to the active roster from the Saints' practice squad, Austin recorded 2 receptions for 36 yards in a 20-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons Nov. 10. Undrafted in 2022, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product has bounced between the CFL and NFL during his three professional seasons. Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Washington Commanders, NFL The journeyman defensive lineman enjoyed one of the best games of his career in a 28-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Nov. 10, recording a season-high 8 tackles with 5 defensive stops. The Indianapolis native also added a tackle for loss and a quarterback pressure for an 89.9 PFF defense grade. Marist Liufau (2019-23), LB, Dallas Cowboys, NFL The Cowboys' rookie recorded a season-high 5 tackles and a quarterback pressure in a 34-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles Nov. 10. The Kalihi, Hawaii, native also added a fumble recovery, the first of his career. Through nine games, the third-round draft pick had 20 tackles and 2 passes defended. Since joining the starting lineup for the Chargers' 23-16 win over the Broncos in Week 6, Hart has made 23 tackles and broken up a pair of passes. PHOTO BY TY NOWELL/LOS ANGELES CHARGERS