Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544783
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SUMMER 2026 13 UNDER THE DOME "It's very special. I have the opportunity to re- ally set a new standard for running backs. We've already had Saquon [Barkley], we've had Bijan [Robinson], we've had Ashton Jeanty, and now you have me. It is my job and it's my duty to make sure that when I step foot in Arizona that I do what I got to do to represent the backs and represent Arizona in the right way." — Jeremiyah Love (selected No. 3 overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2026 NFL Draft), after becoming the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 overall to the New York Giants in 2018 "Ourselves. That would be a one-word answer. I think there's nothing in the way of this team besides ourselves. We just have to put our heads down and work. We have a long way to go, and it's going to be a long season." — Notre Dame junior running back Aneyas Williams on the biggest chal- lenge facing Notre Dame in 2026 "One of four teams we project as a CFP semifinal- ist this fall, consider me convinced this will be Notre Dame's best team under Marcus Freeman. Even without Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, the Fighting Irish's two-deep is far superior to at least 11 of their regular-season opponents, with Miami on Nov. 7 in South Bend being the lone squad wor- thy of being in the argument." — Brad Crawford of CBS Sports on Notre Dame's best-case scenario for the 2026 season being a 12-0 regular-season finish "It's unfair to compare a college freshman to an NFL All-Pro, but it's impossible not to mention former Irish safety Kyle Hamilton when discussing O'Brien's trajectory in South Bend. They share an uncommon blend of physical and mental traits at safety. O'Brien will be difficult to keep off the field. …He has elite ball-hawking instincts and impres- sive range. O'Brien's rare size-speed combination makes him a particularly intriguing prospect who can match up in man-to-man over quicker slots and slide down into the box and take on blocks, similar to a linebacker. He has the scheme versatil- ity to make an immediate impact in Chris Ash's defense, which has consistently leaned on versa- tile, intelligent safeties who can handle multiple responsibilities at all levels of the defense and hold up physically versus the run." — Billy Tucker of ESPN on tabbing incoming freshman safety Joey O'Brien Notre Dame's top newcomer in 2026 "Keeley struggled to find a consistent role at Alabama after entering as one of the top recruits in the nation. But after bulking up to 275 pounds and recording sacks in two of his three final games with the Tide, Keeley steps into an intriguing spot at Notre Dame. The junior projects behind Bryce Young and Boubacar Traore at defensive end, but the Fighting Irish should rotate him into the lineup plenty. During the recruiting process, he wowed scouts with his first step. If the Fighting Irish can harness it, he's a potential breakout player." — Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports on Notre Dame defensive end Keon Keeley being among 10 under- the-radar college football players who could sky- rocket up draft boards this season "Coach Niele Ivey will have a practically brand- new roster centered around superstar Hannah Hidalgo after multiple players graduated and KK Bransford entered the transfer portal. Hidalgo is strong enough to help any team succeed, but the Fighting Irish are also loading up with an incoming freshman class that features four top-30 players. Notre Dame also added Princeton's leading scorer, Madison St. Rose, from the transfer portal." — Isa- bel Gonzalez of CBS Sports on ranking Notre Dame No. 21 in in her way-too-early women's basketball top-25 rankings for the 2026-27 season PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS Irish On Social Media THEY SAID IT THEY SAID IT "Our goal isn't to be No. 1 in the beginning of April. It's to be the last team standing come Memo- rial Day. We know our end goal. … Our best lacrosse has to hap- pen in May." — Notre Dame senior goaltender Thomas Ricciardelli after the Irish knocked off No. 1 North Carolina 10-5 April 11