Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546639
16 SEPT. 26, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY ERIC HANSEN L uke Talich measures his progress these days in decibels — Notre Da m e d e fe n s ive co o rd i n a to r Chris Ash's decibels. "I think he's on my ass more than anyone, honestly," the Irish senior safety and former walk-on said after a recent practice. "I think it's a testament to the player you are if he's chewing you [out], because he believes in you. He wants you to be great. That's just the way he is. He's an old-school type of coach. He likes to yell. He likes to get after it a little bit, but I love him for it. "That's kind of how I was raised with my dad. I got my butt chewed quite a bit when I was growing up. I'm pretty used to it, and it helps me. I learn that way." And what that learning has produced over the past three-plus years is some- thing to shout about for the 6-foot-4, 222-pound native of Cody, Wyo., who quite literally chose hard — embody- ing one of Marcus Freeman's defining mantras about the Notre Dame football experience. That experience had him in the start- ing lineup for a second straight game, with preseason All-American Brauntae Johnson sidelined with a foot injury, when Notre Dame resumed its rivalry with Michigan State Sept. 19 at Notre Dame Stadium. Next up is another rival the Irish used to clash with on an annual basis, Purdue. Kickoff at Ross-Ade Sta- dium Sept. 26 in West Lafayette, Ind., is 2 p.m. EDT. The game will be streamed exclusively on Peacock. Talich headed into the Michigan State game with 8 tackles, fourth-best on the team, with 1 of those a tackle for loss. He also had a forced fumble. As a reserve in 2025, Talich was one of Notre Dame's highest-rated defenders, collecting 25 tackles (1 for loss), 3 interceptions and 3 passes broken up. CHOOSING THE BUMPIER ROAD Talich didn't have to choose the hard route to Notre Dame. He had scholarship offers from then- Power Five/Pac-12 programs Oregon State, Washington State and Utah, along with nearby Colorado State and home- state Wyoming, where his father, Jim, starred and his brother, Nic, was playing at the time. And this wasn't some lightly recruited athlete hoping Notre Dame could un- lock something nobody else had seen. Talich was a four-event champion in Wyoming's 2023 state track and field CHOOSE HARD Notre Dame safety Luke Talich picked the tough road — and never stopped choosing it Talich, a former preferred walk-on who turned down scholarships from other schools to attend Notre Dame, has grown into one of the Irish defense's most trusted and versatile players. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER