Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SUMMER 2025 11 UNDER THE DOME Notre Dame finished second in college football last season. Most way-too- early top-25 rankings after the national championship game had the Irish in the Nos. 4-6 range. On3's Andy Staples, however, believes Notre Dame has enough to make it back to college football's biggest stage. He ranked the Irish No. 2 in his post- spring top 25, behind only No. 1 Texas. "The most telling fact about Notre Dame's offseason? Two offensive line- men who started in the national title game immediately hit the transfer portal after the season because they probably wouldn't have starting jobs in 2025," Staples noted. "A great offensive line is the most recession-proof factor in football." The two offensive linemen, of course, are Rocco Spindler (who transferred to Nebraska) and Pat Coogan (who transferred to Indiana). Notre Dame's offensive line of sophomore Anthonie Knapp, senior Billy Schrauth, senior Ashton Craig, junior Charles Jagusah and senior Aamil Wagner, from left to right, should be one of the nation's best. The Irish made the national title game on the strength of their defense a year ago, and they'll need to deal with losing stars like safety Xavier Watts, linebacker Jack Kiser, cornerback Benjamin Morrison, and defensive tackles Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III. Staples, though, thinks Notre Dame can do it. "Can Notre Dame's defense maintain the level at which it played last year? That's the question," Staples noted. "But injuries last season forced younger players like cornerback Leonard Moore to show us that the Fighting Irish have future stars ready to emerge." Staples also predicted a winner in the quarterback competition between junior Kenny Minchey and sophomore CJ Carr. "We think CJ Carr wins the quarterback job, and a bigger arm than the Irish have had in years could unlock a downfield passing game that should comple- ment a punishing run game," Staples added. — Jack Soble Football Post-Spring Injury Report During a spring practice wrap-up news conference April 23, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman provided injury updates on eight players. The following is the latest. Junior defensive lineman Brenan Vernon had MCL surgery after injuring his knee during spring practice April 9. He is expected to return in July. Graduate student defensive end Jordan Botelho, junior defensive end Boubacar Traore, junior linebacker Kahanu Kia and senior offensive lineman Ashton Craig will all be able to participate at full-go for summer workouts. That quartet of Fighting Irish players suffered season-ending knee injuries before October. Botelho injured his right knee on a pass rush against Purdue Sept. 14. Craig injured his left knee on a run-blocking play in the same game. Against Louisville Sept. 28, Traore suffered a knee injury that required season-ending surgery. Kia's torn ACL came before last year's fall camp. He played in last year's Blue- Gold Game and had 12 tackles (6 solo) and 2 stops for loss during the April 20, 2024, intrasquad scrimmage. Freshman defensive lineman Davion Dixon and sophomore offensive lineman Guerby Lambert will work into full training activities during the summer. Dixon sustained a right pectoral injury during winter workouts. Lambert underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum following his spring practice injury. Junior tight end Cooper Flanagan will not be "truly full-go" and "will take more time into fall camp." He's recovering from surgery at the end of last season. Fla- nagan injured his left Achilles against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl Jan. 2. — Kyle Kelly Four Irish Players Enter Transfer Portal In Spring Window Senior quarterback Steve Angeli headlined Notre Dame's transfer portal departures this spring, as a quarterback leaving any school typi- cally does. But in addition to Angeli, only three other players from the 2024 Fighting Irish roster took off in this particular portal window, and only one student-athlete from that trio was on scholarship like Angeli. Sophomore safety Kennedy Urlacher was that other scholarship player to depart. He ended up transferring to Notre Dame rival USC. Long snapper Rino Monteforte accepted a scholarship offer at Cal and kicker Zac Yoakam is headed to Houston. They were both walk-on specialists. It stings to lose Urlacher, a special teams staple in his own right in 2024, but his upward mobility on the defensive depth chart was blocked by a ton of talented players at his position. He'll have a shot for more playing time with the Trojans, and he might be on the field for them a bunch when they travel to South Bend Oct. 18. — Tyler Horka Graduate student vyper Jordan Botelho will be fully back this summer from his ACL tear last September. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER Sophomore safety Kennedy Urlacher entered the transfer portal in April and left Notre Dame for USC. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER Rk. School 1. Texas 2. Notre Dame 3. Clemson 4. Penn State 5. Ohio State 6. Oregon 7. Alabama 8. Georgia 9. Illinois 10. Florida 11. Texas Tech 12. South Carolina 13. Auburn 14. SMU 15. LSU 16. Arizona State 17. Michigan 18. BYU 19. Ole Miss 20. Miami 21. Tennessee 22. Nebraska 23. Iowa State 24. Louisville 25. Iowa POST-SPRING COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 25 (Per On3's Andy Staples) On3's Andy Staple Elevates Notre Dame To No. 2 In His Post-Spring Rankings