Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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18 APRIL 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 16. LB JAYLEN SNEED Sneed struggled with consistency, particularly early in the year, and there was a time it seemed like he'd be a dis- tant fifth wheel in the linebacker room. However, when the switch flipped on for the versatile defender, he was a valuable chess piece for Notre Dame. Sneed was great when it counted most: In Week 1 at Texas A&M (3 defen- sive stops) and throughout the CFP run (6 quarterback pressures across the three wins). He had the pressure that forced Christian Gray's last-minute intercep- tion against Penn State, sending the Irish to the national championship. Ranking Sneed over Bowen was a mistake, but he still earned a spot on this list. 15. WR JORDAN FAISON Faison exceeded 2 receptions in a game only once throughout the regular season, but he turned his game up a notch in the College Football Playoff. Throughout the first two rounds, he led Notre Dame with 11 receptions for 135 yards. By all accounts — specifically Irish of- fensive coordinator Mike Denbrock's — Faison was set for an excellent year if the nagging ankle injury he suffered in Week 1 at Texas A&M didn't hold him back. He gave the offense much-needed speed and quickness, and he'll enter 2025 as the projected starter at field receiver. 14. WR JADEN GREATHOUSE Talk about underwhelming seasons that became anything but in the CFP: How about Greathouse, who posted a combined total of 13 receptions for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Orange Bowl and national championship? He was unstoppable in the second half of both games. This ranking seemed too high until Jan. 9, but it wound up being too low (although the coaching staff believed his breakout was only a matter of time). Greathouse finished the season with a team-leading 592 receiving yards, and the way his ex-teammates talked about him at the NFL Scouting Combine, he could play himself into an early draft decision next year. 13. RB JADARIAN PRICE As the No. 2 running back who did not play on third downs or in short yardage, Price was probably ranked too high. How- ever, when the Irish needed an explosive play, they usually turned to No. 24. Price's electric 47-yard touchdown run in Week 1 sparked Notre Dame's win over Texas A&M. His 36-yarder to the house after Jeremiyah Love went down was huge when the Irish defeated USC. And his hard-earned 10 carries for 37 yards in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia — again, with Love hurt — helped close that game out, too. 12. CB CHRISTIAN GRAY Among Notre Dame players who logged at least 10 coverage snaps, Gray ranked 17th in Pro Football Focus coverage grade. He was often flamed by the masses for his inability to consistently cover oppos- ing wideouts, given he was a season-long starter at field corner for the Irish. That said, he had two of the most important defensive plays of the Notre Dame season; his pick six that clinched the regular-season finale at USC, and his interception that set up a game- winning field goal against Penn State in the Orange Bowl. At his best, Gray is a difference-maker. 11. WR KRIS MITCHELL Turns out the competition Notre Dame plays is on another level from what Florida International lines up against every year. In his last season at FIU, Mitchell had 1,118 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. In his final season of collegiate eligibility at Notre Dame, he went for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mitchell caught only 22 of his 37 tar- gets (59.5 percent) in 2024, the worst mark of anyone on the team who was targeted at least 10 times. 10. DE RJ OBEN Things never really clicked for the Duke transfer in his one year at Notre Dame. A season-long starter, Oben recorded only 2 tackles for loss and 1 sack. Six Notre Dame players had more quarterback hurries than him, including three defensive tackles and his backup at strong-side defensive end, true freshman Bryce Young. Oben bulldozed his way into the Georgia backfield for a sack-fumble that changed the game in a Notre Dame victory in the Sugar Bowl, though, a play for which he'll long be remembered. 9. DT RYLIE MILLS Mills' college career was cut short when he was injured in the first round of the College Football Playoff, but he had a nice run in getting there — he led Notre Dame with 8.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. Even with missing the final three games of the Irish's playoff run, those numbers still stood as team highs at the end of a 16-game season. Mills also led all Irish players with a Pro Football Focus pass rush grade of 83.1. Always a "tweener" in South Bend, Mills played his best football over the last two seasons as a pass rush focused defensive tackle. 8. RB JEREMIYAH LOVE Love, like Xavier Watts a year ago, was the guy everyone at Notre Dame was talking about as a breakout star. He fulfilled those expectations, and then some. Love averaged 6.9 yards per carry and scored 19 total touchdowns, a num- ber that would have been higher if his quarterback didn't double as a goal-line running back. Love was incredible as a run-blocker for that quarterback, and he also caught Jaden Greathouse posted a combined total of 13 receptions for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Orange Bowl and national championship. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER