Jaden Greathouse reveals what spring game performance says about Notre Dame's potential

Notre Dame wrapped up spring football practice last week, using the annual spring game to put a nice bow on a period of learning and development. And even in a short period of time, Notre Dame’s potential was evident.

Players saw a ton of good things, even newcomers like receiver Jaden Greathouse.

“It was like music out there,” Greathouse said. “Everybody has to do their job and we all did.”

The Fighting Irish likely have a battle for the starting quarterback job on their hands. While Tyler Buchner returns as the starter, Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman will compete for the job as well.

Both have plenty of college experience at this point, with either capable of leading the team. That gives Notre Dame some healthy options.

Last season, Buchner went 46-of-83 passing for 651 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions. He was injured early in the season and spent most of it on the sidelines.

Hartman, meanwhile, was wildly productive the last two years at Wake Forest. In 2022, Hartman threw for 3,701 yards, with 38 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions.

Greathouse praised the quarterbacks for their work all spring, as much of Notre Dame’s potential will hing on their production.

“Sam and Steve (Angeli) did a great job. It was amazing to be out there with those kind of guys,” Greathouse said. “I have a good relationship with them. Everything’s super fun and light in the locker room so it definitely translates to the football field with the chemistry.”

Notre Dame certainly has some momentum to work with.

After a slow start to the Marcus Freeman era — Notre Dame lost its first two games of the season — the Fighting Irish have won nine of their last 11 games.

There’s momentum in the form of a bowl win over South Carolina and the return of a lot of key players, including Buchner.

Throughout the spring, there was an overriding sense of security from the fact that the Fighting Irish already appeared to have a pretty good handle on most of the things the coaching staff introduced.

Notre Dame’s potential will be realized if the same work ethic from the spring carries over to the rest of the offseason.

“I think it’s a great tribute to the amount of work that we’ve put in throughout the spring, everybody,” Greathouse said. “The defense was lights out today, so super proud of them for that. Like I said, the quarterbacks did amazing.”