cj carr ranked as top returning qb in college football
Fighting Irish starting quarterback, CJ Carr, is the betting favorite to win the Heisman trophy according to FanDuel, and was recently picked by ESPN analyst Bill Connelly as the top ranked returning quarterback in the country.
The ESPN ranking is based on "stats, trends and recent performances." That equation led to Connelly placing Carr as the nation's top quarterback, ahead of Ohio State sophomore Julian Sayin. Carr will be Marcus Freeman’s first returning starter at the position and the success of the Fighting Irish rest on what many expect to be an impressive season.
Connelly’s Take:
"He sort of looked like a redshirt freshman against Miami in Week 1 of last season, but that was about it. He fell just short of leading a comeback win against the Hurricanes, then pretty much torched all other opposition. Sure, he had a spectacular run game at his disposal -- Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price combined for 2,046 yards and 29 touchdowns (and are both gone now) -- but Notre Dame ranked first nationally in third-and-long success rate (7 or more yards to go). When Carr had to make a throw, he did so.
"Carr isn't exactly your modern dual-threat guy; he doesn't scramble much, and he's not a threat to punish defenses for turning their backs on the QB in man coverage. But he also doesn't take sacks, both because of quick decision-making and the fact that he might have the best offensive line in the country protecting him. He's accurate, he has a big arm, and by the end of 2025 he was one of the most reliable passers in the sport.
"While three of last year's four main wideouts are gone, the return of Jordan Faison, plus 2024 playoff hero Jaden Greathouse (back from an injury redshirt) will help, as will the addition of two recent blue-chippers from Ohio State (Mylan Graham, Quincy Porter). Carr should have most of what he needs, and even if the run game regresses a bit, there's no reason to think he won't continue to come through on third down." - Connelly
Carr earned second team Freshman All-American honors last season after passing for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing just under 67-percent of his passes. He ranked second in all of college football with a 9.4 yards per attempt average and ranked fifth with a passer rating of 168.06, and his passer rating set a new Notre Dame record, shattering the mark that was previously tied by Jimmy Clausen in 2009. Carr also ranked 4th in the country with a 14.1 per completion average.
Notre dame offer ‘27 ath brennen lacey
The Fighting Irish continue to search for explosive playmakers and they recently offered 2027 6-1 187-pound ATH Brennen Lacey of Frisco (Texas) Frisco, who posted 812 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns in 9 games. Lacey was more than excited to get the call from Irish running back coach Je’Juan Seider.
“It’s not even a feeling man,” Lacey told Lucky Lefty. “I’m just blessed. I’ve always dreamed about playing for Notre Dame. I’ve been talking to Coach Seider lately, but when he called and gave me the offer, I couldn’t believe it.”
Lacey is unranked right now, but has picked up offers from Notre Dame and Ohio State in the last 24 hours. He already has three spring visits lined up, but the Fighting Irish will definitely be getting his fourth.
“Yes, I’m going to be visiting them,” Lacey said. “Right now I’m visiting Oklahoma State, TCU and Western Kentucky. I’m going to finalize things this week and I can’t wait to get there.”
The Irish staff loves his big play capability and versatility as a pass-catcher. His film shows a great athlete that is just beginning to scratch the surface as a running back after starting at wide receiver as a sophomore. The Fighting Irish just produced a Heisman finalist running back (Jeremiyah Love) that was viewed as a great athlete coming out of high school and Lacey has been one of his biggest fans.
“They like my big play capability,” Lacey shared. “I’m very versatile and I feel like I’m very elusive and efficient. I watch Jeremiyah Love a lot. I study Saquon, Jeremiyah, and a few others. But, him (Jeremiyah) and Ashton Jeanty were my number ones.”
5-STAR KADEN HENDERSON SET TO VISIT NOTRE DAME
2027 5-star 6-2 215-pound linebacker Kaden Henderson of Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit visited South Bend back in November and it lived up to everything for the top ranked linebacker in the 2027 class according to 247 Sports. He always heard about the Notre Dame tradition and academics, but he was still unsure of what to expect when he arrived. He previously spoke about it with Lucky Lefty.
“I always heard it was different. The moment I got there and stepped in the facility it made me feel like home. Everyone was really nice and welcoming. It didn’t feel like an act.
“The atmosphere and fans were incredible. I’m from Florida, but I have to admit that watching the game in the snow was pretty cool. I love how the style of defense and how fast and aggressive the linebackers play. That’s how I play now and how I want to play in college.”
One of the best moments of his visit were the two impactful conversations he had with head coach Marcus Freeman and former linebackers coach Max Bullough. Unfortunately, Max Bullough is no longer with the Irish program, but new linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary was heavily recruiting Henderson at Michigan and had a similar relationship. During the period of transition between coaches, Marcus Freeman took the bull by the horn with Henderson’s recruitment and is one of the main reasons he has scheduled a second visit to South Bend on April 18th.
“Coach Freeman told me that there’s no place like ND and that I’m already a perfect fit and that I’m built for Notre Dame from religious and academic aspects. The way he breaks it down, makes it clear for me to see it, and see myself there.”
Now, The Irish have a better idea of who they will competing against for the 24th best player in the country according to 247 Sports as he released his top 5 schools which included Notre Dame along with Miami, Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Alabama. He’s also locked in his official visit for June 19th.
jeremiyah love and jadarian price make all-combine team
Notre Dame standouts Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were the best running back duo in 2025, and the pair went into the 2026 NFL Draft cycle mocked to be the first two backs selected according to most industry experts. They both lived up to the expectations of NFL scout and coaches in Indianapolis.
Love and Price both had outstanding performances, and they were recognized by NFL.com as two of the standouts. NFL.com released its All-Combine team, and the Notre Dame stars were the two backs listed on the ranking.
Love kicked things off with an elite performance in the 40-yard dash. Despite checking in at 212 pounds, Love had a blazing time, posting a 4.36 in his first run and a 4.37 time in his second run. His official 4.36 time was the second best at running back and continued to separate himself as the best back in the draft. In fact, Love's performance helped him continue to put himself in the debate as the best overall player in the draft.
The 40-yard dash was the only testing aspect of Love's performance, but he did participate in the on-field position drills. Love was also a standout there, showing explosiveness, impressive route running skills and he caught the ball extremely well. Love certainly impressed NFL teams with his performance, which comes after an elite 2025 season in which he won the Doak Walker Award, was a unanimous All-American season and rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Price also had a strong testing performance, running a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash. Love also had a 35-inch vertical jump and a 10'4" broad jump. Price's 10'4" broad jump was tied for the third best among the running backs. His 21 reps on the bench press was also impressive.
As good as his testing numbers were, Price was even better during the on-field drills. He was incredibly smooth and efficient with his footwork going through the bag drills, which are meant to replicate making cuts with the ball in his hands. Price also showed himself to be a good route runner and he caught the ball extremely well. While Love showed off his pass catching skills at Notre Dame, Price didn't get as much of a chance to do so, hauling in just 15 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns in his career.
notre dame offers explosive 2028 wide receiver
2028 5-11 165-pound wide receiver Jeramy Laster Jr. of Hendersonville (Tenn.) Beech was recently offered by the Fighting Irish and the magnitude of the offer from a program like Notre Dame was not overlooked.
“Man it feels unreal,” Laster Jr. told IB. “Notre Dame is a really prestigious program and it feels great to be on their radar. Coach (Mike) Brown and I have been talking for weeks, so I knew they kind of liked me. But, when he told me he was offering a scholarship, i couldn’t believe it.”
As a sophomore, Laster Jr. amassed over 1500 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns and holds things down in the classroom as well with a 3.4 GPA. That’s why an offer from the Irish hits a little different.
“I want to great at everything,” Laster Jr. shared. “I’ve been working hard this off-season to ready for spring ball and taking some college level courses. You can’t play sports forever, and I plan to be a success in everything I do. A school like Notre Dame can definitely help.
“I definitely want to visit,” Laster Jr. continued. With spring ball coming up, it makes if difficult to find time. I haven’t picked a date yet, but I am planning on visiting.”
He holds offers from programs like Indiana, Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt amongst others.
‘27 wr dedrick kimbrough sets visit to notre dame
Notre Dame wide receivers coach Mike Brown continues to look for playmakers that can make things happen with the ball in their hands and 2028 6-3 180-pound 4-star wide receiver Dedrick Kimbrough of Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson checks that box. He was recently offered by the Irish and it was a moment that didn’t seem real.
“It felt surreal,” Kimbrough told Lucky Lefty. “That offer just means more because a lot of guys my age don’t pick that up. They take academics and character very seriously, so it showed me that my hard work is paying off.”
Coach Mike Brown and Coach Kenny Sanders have been building a good relationship with the talented pass-catcher, who is coming off an impressive sophomore season that saw him amass 686 yards with 46 receptions and 5 touchdowns. If that’s not impressive enough, his 4.1 GPA is evidence of the hard work he speaks of and is a big reason for his excitement to visit South Bend.
“I’ll be there April 11th,” Kimbrough shared. “I’ve been talking to Coach Brown and Coach Sanders a lot. I can’t wait to talk some ball with them when I get on campus. I’m excited to see what Notre Dame is all about.”
He ranks 98th nationally according to 247 Sports and holds offers from schools like Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M and Tennessee.
‘27 rb wayne shanks jr. sets visit to notre dame
Running back Coach Ja’Juan Seider recently visited 2027 running back Wayne Shanks Jr. Houston (Texas) Kincaid as the Fighting Irish staff continues to check out elite talent across the country. Shanks Jr. built a great relationship with Notre Dame during the season and it felt good to catch up.
“It was good to catch up,” Shanks Jr. told Lucky Lefty. “With the season, conversations slowed. I have a great relationship with Coach Seider and Coach (Jourdan) Blake. They like my versatility and ability to do a lot of things on the field. We talked about that, life, track season and getting back on campus.
“I’ll be back there in March most likely,” Shanks Jr. shared. ”I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of the coaches and seeing how the players practice.”
He holds offers from programs like Nebraska, Florida, Houston, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Ole Miss amongst others. However, that list of schools will be cut down in the near future.
“I’m blessed to have a lot of schools coming to see me right now,” Shanks Jr. said. “i’m looking forward to talking to more coaches and seeing some campuses I haven’t seen. I’m going to put out my top 5 list around the beginning of next month.”
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound state champion rushed for 1,787 yards and 24 touchdowns, and hauled in 26 receptions for 352 yards and 6 touchdowns. He’s also a talent on the track as he runs the 100, 200 and 400 meters, while also competing in the discus and shot put.
“I’m working really hard on my speed. I want to breat 10.5 and continue to get stronger for my fields events.
He recently cut his list of suitors to eight remaining programs and the Fighting Irish were included along with Miami, Kansas, Arizona, Duke, Cal, Arkansas and Tulane. Now, he is ready to take spring visits to those programs to gather more information for a summer decision, and Notre Dame will be hosting him in late March.
“I’m coming close to finalizing,” Shanks Jr. explained. “I don’t know if it’s going to be one or two days, but I’ll be up there March 20th or 21st. I’m looking forward to talking more with Coach Seider and seeing practice. I saw what the running backs did at the combine, and how they consistently run the ball. I want to see how they go about things in practice, because it works.”
2028 TE theo schott shines at camp and set visit to notre dame
2028 6-4 210-pound tight end Theo Schott of Zionsville (Ind.) Zionsville was recently offered by the Fighting Irish and it was a special moment for a local kid that he and his family will never forget.
“It was an amazing feeling,” Schott told Lucky Lefty. “Coach (Harris) Bivin visited and we have been talking consistently, but I still didn’t expect it to happen. It’s a dream come true for a local kid like me. I was speechless.”
He was in Indianapolis over the weekend for the Nike Opening camp, where things couldn’t have gone any better for the unranked talent as he was viewed as one of the top performers.
“It went great,” Schott said. “I had something to prove. I thought my one on ones went very well and it was a fun time competing with some of the best players in the country.”
He will now focus on gathering information during some spring visits and the Fighting Irish will get another chance to impress him as he makes the short trip to South Bend on April 11th.
“I’ll be there for practice on April 11th,” Schott shared. “I look forward to meeting the coaches in person and having some good conversations. it will be fun to watch the team scrimmage and see how they roll. They always have good tight ends, so I’m going to definitely watch them.”
As a sophomore, Schott posted 26 receptions for 305 yards and 3 touchdowns, and currently holds offers from schools like Alabama, Indiana, Georgia, Oregon, Florida, and Texas Tech.
legendary notre dame coach lou holtz passes away (nd release)
Legendary Notre Dame head coach, Lou Holtz, passed away earlier today and the University of Notre Dame issued the following release:
Lou Holtz, the legendary college football coach who led the University of Notre Dame to the 1988 National Championship, has passed away at the age of 89.
One of the most affable coaches of his generation, Holtz won 249 games as a collegiate head coach with 100 of those victories earned at Notre Dame from 1986 through 1996. He led the Irish to the 1988 National Championship with a 12-0 record capped by a victory over West Virginia in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl. The ’88 title season began a 64-9-1 (.871) run for Holtz at Notre Dame that included a 23-game win streak, back-to-back 12-win seasons for the first time in school history and a program record nine consecutive bowl game appearances.
“Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather,” said University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.
“Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime. In the years since leaving the head football coach position, Lou, together with his beloved wife, Beth, supported Notre Dame in innumerable ways, among them making possible the refurbishment of four residence hall chapels and the construction of the Beth and Lou Holtz Grand Reading Room on the first floor of Hesburgh Library — tangible signs of their great love for their Catholic faith and the mission of Our Lady’s University. Whenever Notre Dame called to ask for his help, Lou answered with his characteristic generosity, and he will be sorely missed. The prayers of the entire Notre Dame community are with his family and many friends in this time of sorrow. May he rest in the peace and love of Christ.”
Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and instituted several traditions at Notre Dame that carry on to this day. The famous “Play Like A Champion” sign in the football locker room, which Fighting Irish players continue to honor on the way out to the playing field, was first displayed during the Holtz era. Holtz also removed names from the back of the football jerseys to emphasize the team dynamic, a tradition that is still followed today during all regular-season games.
Holtz returned to campus during the 2025 football season and presented the colors for the national anthem before the kickoff of the Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M game.
Among the legendary players coached by Holtz at Notre Dame are 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown and College Football Hall of Famers Raghib “Rocket” Ismail, Michael Stonebreaker, Aaron Taylor and Chris Zorich.
Holtz’s lasting legacy at the University of Notre Dame goes beyond his accomplishments and traditions with the football program. Football student-athletes who played for him developed Holtz’s Heroes, a charitable foundation that supports former student-athletes facing financial, physical or mental hardships, provides scholarship aid to deserving youth and serves communities in need through charitable works.
In 2021 the University dedicated the Beth and Lou Holtz Family Grand Reading Room at the Hesburgh Library, made possible by a generous gift to the University by Holtz in memory of his wife, Beth, who passed away on June 30, 2020.
The Holtz family also supported the Rockne Heritage Fund, which underwrites financial aid to Fighting Irish student-athletes, and in 1991 they established the Lou and Beth Holtz Family Scholarship, which assists deserving undergraduate students with financial need. They also served as members of University President Emeritus Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.’s Cavanaugh Council; funded the renovation of the chapels in the Breen-Phillips, Morrissey and St. Edward’s residence halls; and created the Liz Holtz Endowment for Excellence for Lyons Hall to provide an annual operating budget and for future needs and enhancements for residents of the hall.
At the 2011 Commencement ceremonies, Holtz received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Notre Dame.
In 2011-12, the couple was named the University’s first “ambassadors for research” and took a prominent role in increasing awareness of Notre Dame’s research mission. They took a particular interest in cancer research after Beth was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 1997. She recovered after being given a 5 percent chance of survival.
Holtz began his coaching career at William & Mary in 1969, then moved to North Carolina State University for the 1972 season. He won 33 games in four years with the Wolfpack and claimed the 1973 ACC Championship.
He spent one season in the NFL with the New York Jets, then returned to college football at University of Arkansas in 1977. His first season at Arkansas culminated with a 31-6 upset victory over No. 3 University of Oklahoma in the 1978 Orange Bowl. That victory, coupled with Notre Dame’s dominating upset of top-ranked The University of Texas at Austin in the Cotton Bowl, allowed the Fighting Irish to move from fifth to number one after the bowl season and earn the national championship.
Holtz would finish his run at Arkansas 60-21-2 and eventually move to the University of Minnesota in 1984. He won 10 games in two years with the Gophers before accepting the Notre Dame opportunity at the end of the 1985 season.
After his retirement at Notre Dame at the end of the 1996 season, Holtz joined CBS Sports as a game commentator but still had one more coaching run left. In 1999, he took the job at the University of South Carolina and rebuilt the Gamecock program, finishing 0-11 in his first season then 8-5 in year two, which included an upset of Ohio State University in the Outback Bowl. The eight-game turnaround earned him National Coach of the Year honors. Holtz would eventually win 33 games in six years at South Carolina, which included back-to-back Outback Bowl wins in 2000 and 2001.
Born January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, Holtz grew up in East Liverpool, Ohio, and played linebacker at Kent State University. His first coaching opportunity was at the University of Iowa as a graduate assistant in 1960, and then he served at William & Mary, University of Connecticut, South Carolina and Ohio State as an assistant coach. He was a member of the Buckeye coaching staff for the 1968 national championship season.
Holtz is survived by his four children, Luanne, Lou “Skip” Junior, Kevin and Elizabeth, with the latter three all graduating from the University of Notre Dame.
notre dame offers 2027 LB gabriel player
Notre Dame recently offered 2028 6-4 190-pound hybrid LB Gabriel Player of Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie. Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary has been in contact with Player’s coaches recently and extended the offer to a young man that is very aware of what an offer like this means. .
“It feels awesome,” Player told Lucky Lefty. Notre Dame is such a prestigious institution, and I’ve been a fan for a long time. Coach BJ (Brian Jean-Mary) hit my coach up and told him that they were offering me. They have a great program and head coach.”
As a sophomore, the versatile athlete collected 59 tackles, 10 TFLs, 2 sacks and 2 interceptions including 101 yard interception return for a touchdown. He’s focused on becoming faster, stronger and smarter to help his team this off-season. He’s also looking forward to finally seeing what South Bend has to offer.
“I’m definitely going to try,” Player said. “I really want to see the history, tradition and city for myself. Hopefully, I will make my visit plans concrete within the next few weeks.”
He currently holds offers from schools like Alabama, Florida, Miami, Ohio State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Texas and Texas A&M amongst others.
‘27 wr trenton yancey sets visit to notre dame
2027 5-11 190-pound 4-star wide receiver Trenton Yancey of Duncanville (Texas) Duncanville was offered in March 2025 during the “Pot of Gold”, and the Fighting Irish staff has ramped up it’s recruiting efforts for Yancey and were included in his top 10 schools. The other programs included Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Florida State, SMU, TCU, Nebraska and Oregon.
The efforts seem to be yielding dividends as the talented pass-catcher looks forward to making a visit to South Bend.
“I’ve been talking to them more,” Yancey told Lucky Lefty. “I move around a lot to get the ball in my hands and that’s what I like about our conversations. That’s what they like to do and how they see me in the offense. That’s important to me. I’m working on the plans for my visit.”
As a junior, he posted 790 yards on 54 receptions with 9 touchdowns, and 388 yards rushing with 10 touchdowns.
Yancey ranks as the 243rd player in the country and his film shows an electric ability to make big plays once he gets the ball in his hands.
notre dame offers ‘27 LB joakim gouda
Notre Dame recently offered 2027 6-2 225- pound LB Joakim Gouda of Douglasville (GA) South Paulding and this one is a very bold and interesting offer. Gouda released a top 5 schools on February 16th that included Florida, Texas, Georgia, Auburn and Alabama. However, the Irish offer along with a previous relationship with linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary has the peach state prep star making plans.
“I wasn’t expecting the offer,” Gouda told Lucky Lefty. “It feels great, especially with how historic Notre Dame is. They have a great history of developing linebackers.
“I had my top 5 schools,” Gouda continued. “Then I started hearing from Notre Dame and coach BJ (Brian Jean-Mary). He called and gave me the offer and they wanted to get me on campus as soon as possible.”
He talked about finalizing a spring visit after a great conversations with Irish linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, and those plans have been locked in as the 6-3 225-pounder will make the trip to South Bend on March 21st.
“Coach BJ is my guy,” Gouda told IB. “Our relationship is great. We’re locked in for sure.
“I’m coming March 21st,” Gouda continued. “I’m looking forward to everything. I want to learn about the staff and the players. I want to see the campus to.”
As a junior, Gouda collected 100 tackles and 2 sacks in 9 games, and currently ranks 233rd nationally according to 247 Sports.
jeremiyah love and jadarian price make all-combine team
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were two of the stars at the most recent NFL Scouting Combine. Both Love and Price were named to the All-Combine Team by NFL.com. Love highlighted his elite athleticism with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at 212-pounds, while Price showed his speed and technical skill, posting a 4.49-second 40 and 10'4" broad jump.
Jeremiyah Love (RB):
40-Yard Dash: 4.36 seconds (unofficial, NFL.com reported).
Measurement: 6'0", 212 lbs.
Highlights: Demonstrated elite explosiveness, agility, and pass-catching skills during field drills.
Jadarian Price (RB):
40-Yard Dash: 4.49 seconds.
Vertical Jump: 35 inches.
Broad Jump: 10'4".
Bench Press: 21 reps.
Highlights: Impressed with his footwork, route running, and pass-catching, earning a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.76 out of 10
JEREMIYAH LOVE DOMINATES THE NFL COMBINE
It was a big afternoon for one of Notre Dame’s star running backs on Saturday’s NFL combine, as Jeremiyah Love dominated in front of front offices.
The Missouri native ran an impressive 40-yard dash, measured at 6-foot and 212-pounds, and has been compared to some of the top backs that he’ll soon join in the NFL. Love was clearly the top running back, but he could be putting himself in the conversation for the top overall player as well.
Sure the NFL is quarterback heavy with most drafts, but it’s looking like Love has a chance to buck that trend. With such a massive performance at the combine, social media was buzzing. Here are some of the top reactions after Love’s dominating showing.
aaron makes a great first impression during presser
Former Notre Dame defensive backs coach Mike Mickens left some big shoes to fill for anyone that head coach Marcus Freeman would eventually add to the coaching staff. Mickens’ ability to connect with his players in multiple way led to an incredible developmental culture on and off the field that led to success in both areas. New Irish defensive backs coach Aaron Henry first media presser left an impression that he has similar traits that can allow him to transition with good results.
"Are we trying to be a chef, or are we trying to be on the Easy-Bake Oven and make something really, really fast in a microwave?" Henry asked jokingly. " I use that analogy because people see the end result of Devon Witherspoon. They don't know what happened two years prior to that. They don't understand the process, making sure he gained weight so he can finish the season and him being 155 pounds."
"It's a process to help develop in these players, not just from an athletic standpoint," Henry continued. "You can have all the athleticism in the world, but let’s not lose sight of mental health. If you don't have the guidance here, and enough people around you to help you here, I don't care how talented you are."
It's easy to walk into a room that has Leonard Moore, Christian Gray, Adon Shuler, Tae Johnson and a host of other highly talented players and just look at them as football players. But what set Mickens apart was the care and value he put into them as young men. It sounds like Henry echoes that same sentiment, and he leans on a pretty strong influence at home to help him navigate those waters.
"My secret weapon to developing football players is my wife," Henry stated. "You laugh, but I'm serious because my wife is a clinical psychologist. We don't call her Mrs. Henry; we call her Dr. Henry at home. I've been able to talk to her about situations and scenarios, and she'll give me a plan. I have the guys over to my house, and she'll sit down with them for five minutes or have a two-minute conversation and pull me aside and say, ‘Hey, you need to make sure he has this."
According to reports, Henry was on the verge of losing play-calling responsibilities as the defensive coordinator at IIllinois, and once the Notre Dame position came open, he sat down with his wife and Illini head coach Bret Bielema to weigh his options, and ultimately the opportunity to work with his former coach Chris Ash and Marcus Freeman at a place like Notre Dame was too good to pass up.
"We all understand the history at Notre Dame, but the most intriguing thing, for me, I'm always talking about growth and development in my career just as a coach. I had a conversation with my wife; we felt like it was something that was beneficial for us as a family and my career path. Then I talked to Marcus Freeman. I had already obviously knew Chris Ash, but you talk to Marcus Freeman, and it's like, okay, wow. I could see why this dude has had a lot of success at the age he's at, as a play-caller as a head coach. That kind of sealed the deal."
chicago 5-star defensive lineman has notre dame ties
The depth of top level talent coming out of the Chicagoland area has been headlined by names like Quentin Burrell, Tavares Harrington, Trae Taylor and Brayden Parks, but a fast-rising defensive lineman from St. Patrick HS named David Folorunsho is ready to join the aforementioned as elite talent in the 2027 class. The 6-4, 285-pound lineman is a dominant combination of speed and power that allowed him to make a jump from unranked to being ranked 13th in the Rivals 300.
His work ethic has been the key and the Fighting Irish have two direct connections that have participated in his transformation over the last two years. His head coach at St Patrick (Chicago,IL) is former Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski and his trainer is former Notre Dame defensive lineman Kerry Neal.
“He’s just scratching the surface,” Neal told LL. “He doesn’t waste time, he doesn’t waste reps. I knew he had the potential when I started working with him and I’m really happy to see everything is paying off for him. When he told me Notre Dame offered, I knew how much it meant to him.”
Folorunsho has been spending the off-season doing team workout, private workouts and spending time in the boxing ring to improve his footwork, technique and hand speed. These are attributes that allow him to become better on the gridiron.
“The off-season has been going great,” Folorunsho told LL. “I’m just focusing on doing things that can make me better from last season. Team workouts, my private workouts and boxing take up most of my time outside of school.”
The Irish saw Folorunsho during the contact period as director of recruiting Carter Auman and assistant tight ends coach Harris Bivin stopped by his school, and later offered him on Feb. 6. It’s safe to say that he’s been surrounded by the Notre Dame standard and tradition, giving him an awareness that made the offer a pretty big moment in his life. Another big moment will be his chance to meet Marcus Freeman and the rest of the coaching staff during his upcoming spring visit on April 18th
“The offer meant a lot to me and my family,” Folorunsho shared. “We’re big on academics and hard work, and Notre Dame is about that and great football. It was great to have them come to my school and tell me that they liked me and wanted me to visit.
“I’m visiting on April 18th,” Folorunsho continued. “I’m looking forward to meeting Coach (Marcus) Freeman and the rest of the coaches. I always here about Notre Dame from Coach (Zbikowski) and Kerry, and now I can see things for myself.”
2027 wr quentin burrell sets spring and puts notre dame in top 10
After returning from Battle Las Vegas, 2027 Chicago (Ill.) Mt. Carmel 4-Star wide receiver Quentin Burrell got back to off-season training with his Caravan teammates and began to sift through the information that was gathered during the contact period to begin scheduling very important spring visit. Notre Dame will receive one of those visits on April 1st according to the 6-3 195-pound pass catcher.
“The conversations started in Vegas,” Burrell told LL. “Me and my parents started making decisions on the schools we wanted to visit in the spring. I appreciate all of the schools and coaches that reached out and came to see us during the contact period, but the schools that took time to come see me and the family stood out the most.
“I’m going on April 1st,” Burrell continued. “That’s the plan right now. I’m excited to see practice and getting a chance to watch CJ and the wide receivers, and getting a chance to talk to the rest of the coaches.”
Fighting Irish wide receivers coach Mike Brown spent time with Burrell and his family on consecutive days in January, and that made a good impression.
“Coach Brown and Notre Dame have been consistent,” Burrell explained. “I camped there and liked how Coach (Mike) Brown interacted with me and we continued to build our relationship.”
He will now go into the hectic final phase of the process that will see him visit 10 schools during the spring where his plan will help him trim to 5 finalists in May.
“It’s a bit of a relief,” Burrell told IB. “Now it’s the final stretch and narrowing it down again for official visits. Notre Dame has always been one of my top schools, and Coach (Mike) Brown is a cool guy. He’s easy to talk to and I appreciate him coming to see me when he can.
“I’m going to take my visits and get down to five,” Burrell continued. “During the spring visits, I want to know where I am on their board and what their plan for me is going to be. I’m just getting the remaining details to make the final cut.”
The other programs getting spring visits from Burrell include Missouri, Indiana, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arizona State, Vanderbilt and LSU.
“The plan is to go to all my top ten schools,” Burrell shared. “I didn’t have much time in the fall because of my schedule, so I’m going to enjoy the opportunity to see things up close and talk with the coaching staffs.”
Burrell is ranked as the nation’s No. 36 overall player by ESPN, the No. 41 overall player by 247Sports and the No. 43 overall player by Rivals/On3. He graded out as a Top 50 caliber player on the Irish Breakdown board as well.
notre dame hires brian jean-mary as next lb coach
Notre Dame has completed its defensive staff with the announcement that Brian Jean-Mary has officially been hired as the program's Linebacker Coach. Jean-Mary will also be the team's run game coordinator for the defense. Jean-Mary held the same position the last two seasons at Michigan, but he had taken a job at Georgia Tech before Notre Dame had a need at the position.
Jean-Mary replaces Max Bullough, who left this offseason to return to his alma mater - Michigan State - as their co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach. Bullough had held that position for three seasons. Although Bullough is the coach Jean-Mary replaces from last season, he technically replaces Al Washington, who had been moved to linebackers after Bullough departed. Washington recently took a position with the Miami Dolphins.
With Jean-Mary hired the Irish defensive staff has now been completely overhauled. Jean-Mary joins Charlie Partridge (defensive line) and Aaron Henry (secondary), who will now work under Defensive Coordinator Chris Ash, who is now the longest tenured coach on defense. Jean-Mary is the only new hire who has no working history with Ash.
Prior to joining Michigan, Jean-Mary served as the linebackers coach at Tennessee. He served as the linebackers at Michigan in 2020, and the three seasons prior to that he was the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach at South Florida, where he served from 2017-19. He spent three seasons coaching linebackers at Texas (2014-16), where he also served as the Recruiting Coordinator. Jean-Mary spent the 2010-13 seasons at Louisville, where he was the Linebackers Coach and Assistant Head Coach. His first job as a Division I coach was at Georgia Tech, where he coached Linebackers from 2004-09.
Jean-Mary has some indirect ties to Notre Dame. He served as a graduate assistant coach at South Carolina from 2001-02, where he worked under former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz. Holtz, of course, is a legendary former Irish coach who led Notre Dame to its last national championship (1988). He also has a very long history with Charlie Strong, who Jean-Mary worked under at Louisville, Texas and South Florida. Strong, of course, worked at Notre Dame from 1995-98.
Michigan ranked 19th and 29th in scoring defense the last two seasons. The Wolverines also ranked 5th and 19th in rushing defense in the two seasons with Jean-Mary in charge of the run game. The 2023 Tennessee defense ranked 22nd in scoring defense and 21st in rushing defense. The Volunteers also ranked 12th in fewest yards allowed per rush. Tennessee ranked 21st in rush defense and 11th in yards allowed per rush in 2022.
2027 WR Quentin burrell talks recruitment at battle vegas
Some of the most talented high school athletes in the country converged on Las Vegas this weekend to compete in the Battle 7 on 7 series, and 2027 Chicago (Ill.) Mt. Carmel 4-Star WR Quentin Burrell settled in after the first day of pool play.
“It was a good day,” Burrell told LL. “We went 2-1 in pool play and we should’ve been 3-0. Tomorrow is single elimination, so we can play up to 5 more games depending on our seed.”
Burrell is accompanied by his high school teammate, Tavares Harrington, who is also a target of the Fighting Irish in the 2027 recruiting cycle. Both are coming off a busy contact period filled with home and school visits. For a long time, Notre Dame and Michigan were considered leaders in his recruitment, and things have gotten more intense with 5 more offers, coaching changes and visits.
“It was pretty busy,” Burrell shared. “I got five more offers. Whoever showed up in January to see me and my family made the most impact. Some of the coaching changes made me have to look at things for schools that might have been high on my list. I still want to put out my top schools after spring visits.”
Fighting Irish wide receivers coach Mike Brown spent time with Burrell and his family on consecutive days in January, and that made an impression with the talented pass catcher.
“I saw Coach Brown twice,” Burrell explained. “The first time, he really spoke to my dad about things and answered some questions. Our relationship is really good, and he’s been consistent with us from the beginning. Now, I have to figure out when I’m going to visit and get a chance to see practice.”
This off-season is also an opportunity for Burrell to spend time with more time with his 7 on 7 quarterback, Trae Taylor, before he relocates to Millard South in Omaha (Neb.). They’ve been close friends since junior high school and 7 on 7 teammates for the last three years.
“Yea, It’s cool to ball with him,” Burrell said. “We joke with him about chasing him out of the state. We’re all close and it’s we’re going have fun competing and trying to win the whole thing.
Burrell is ranked as the nation’s No. 36 overall player by ESPN, the No. 41 overall player by 247Sports and the No. 43 overall player by Rivals/On3. He graded out as a Top 50 caliber player on the Irish Breakdown board as well. He hold offers from schools like Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Miami, Arizona State, and Ole Miss amongst others.
Notre dame fills needs with eight man transfer class
A slow start in the transfer portal had the Fighting Irish fanbase feeling a little uneasy, but they finished with a flurry to adde eight new signees to the roster, giving them a top 10 class to add to the #1 recruiting class in 2026
Here is what Notre Dame to say in the release.
#7 Francis Brewu, Defensive Tackle
"Brewu played in 25 games for Pittsburgh over the last two seasons, including 13 starts for the Panthers in 2025. He recorded 51 tackles (20 solo), 10 tackles for loss and two and a half sacks during his tenure in Pittsburgh. He was tabbed a 2025 Honorable Mention All-ACC honoree and was named a 2024 PFF Freshman All-American during his freshman campaign. Brewu registered a career-high nine tackles (three solo) and a sack against West Virginia last September."
#3 Mylan Graham, Wide Receiver
"Graham, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, caught six passes for 93 yards this season at Ohio State, averaging 15.5 yards per reception. A former five-star prospect according to 247Sports and On3, Graham played in 13 games for the Buckeyes over the past two seasons, including multiple stints in the College Football Playoff. Graham recorded over 2,000 receiving yards and 21 receiving touchdowns during his career at New Haven High School."
#0 Tionne Gray, Defensive Tackle
"Gray played in 13 games and made three starts for Oregon this past season, totaling 18 tackles (five solo), two tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry. In the College Football Playoff First Round against James Madison, Gray blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt on special teams while also adding two tackles (one solo), shared a tackle for loss and recorded a quarterback hurry on the defensive line. He is a former four-star prospect by ESPN and Rivals and was ranked the No. 9 defensive lineman in the 2024 class by Rivals."
#11 Keon Keeley, Defensive End
"Keeley, a former five-star recruit by ESPN, 247Sports, Rivals and On3, played in 13 games and registered 16 tackles (six solo) for Alabama in 2025. The Tampa, Florida native also added three sacks and a blocked punt. In the first round of the College Football Playoff, Keeley had a career-high four tackles (two solo) and one sack in the road win over eight-seeded Oklahoma. Keeley was the No. 2 overall prospect and the top pass rusher out of high school in 2023 according to On3."
DJ McKinney, Cornerback
"McKinney, a former All-Big 12 cornerback, started in 22 games over the last two seasons at Colorado, posting 97 tackles (71 solo), 14 pass breakups and four interceptions with the Buffaloes. Prior to his time in Boulder, McKinney started his collegiate career at Oklahoma State, playing in 14 games during the 2023 season. He finished the season with 38 tackles (24 solo), seven of them coming against Texas in the Big 12 Championship game. He was tied for the team lead in pass breakups with five and helped the Cowboys to a 10-4 record. Over his collegiate career to-date, McKinney has accumulated 137 tackles (96 solo), four interceptions, 19 pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown."
#35 Spencer Porath, Kicker
"Porath played in 20 games as the place kicker for Purdue over the last two seasons. A 2023 U.S. Army Bowl All-American, Porath converted 15 of 17 field goal attempts last year, including a long of 53 yards. In his two years as a Boilermaker, Porath was a perfect 41-of-41 on extra point attempts. Porath was named the Indiana Mr. Football 2023 position award winner and was ranked the No. 8 kicker in the 2023 class by On3."
#0 Quincy Porter, Wide Receiver
"Porter, a former five-star recruit and a top-four receiver in the 2025 class by 247Sports and On3, played in five games last year for Ohio State. He recorded four receptions for 59 yards, averaging 14.8 yards per reception in 2025. A high school state champion in 2024, Porter also competed in track during his time at Bergen Catholic High School. He was ranked the No.1 player in New Jersey by 247Sports composite rankings."
#12 Jayden Sanders, Cornerback
"Sanders played in all 13 games this past season for Michigan and made two starts. The former four-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports and On3 totaled 23 tackles (16 solo) and a pass breakup during his freshman year with the Wolverines. Sanders logged a career-high eight tackles (five solo) and a pass breakup against Nebraska. At Kilgore High School, Sanders was a first-team All-District defensive back and kick returner."