JD PicKell: 2022 should not define Marcus Freeman era

It’s been a rough start for Marcus Freeman as Notre Dame head coach. The Fighting Irish fell out of the AP Top 25, took three weeks to get a win, lost their starting quarterback and saw their top-ranked recruit de-commit all within the last six weeks.

But On3’s J.D. PicKell called for patience as Freeman gets settled in as a first-year head coach.

PicKell said Freeman is still getting the roster to where he wants it. After all, a majority of the players on the roster were recruited by former coach Brian Kelly, so Freeman is still working with Kelly’s players. Although Keon Keeley de-committed, Notre Dame still has the nation’s No. 5 recruiting class for the class of 2023, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking — still a strong showing on the trail.

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PicKell said Freeman has proven he can recruit. The roster won’t transform right away, though, which is why year one won’t indicate how the rest of his tenure will go.

“We’re three games into Marcus Freeman’s first year as the head coach of Notre Dame. Whatever happens in 2022 should not be a reflection of the Marcus Freeman era,” PicKell said on On3’s “The Hard Count” this week. “It should not be a forecast for what he’s going to be as the head coach, and I can assure you, it is not a forecast for what he’s going to be as a head coach because remember, none of these guys were recruited by Marcus Freeman as the head coach. Maybe he had a hand in getting them on board, but Marcus Freeman still is using Brian Kelly’s players, which is not a bad thing. I’m just saying this is not a full reflection of who he’s going to bring into the program.

“From what I’ve seen — I know there’s been sort of some rockiness as of late — but Marcus Freeman can recruit. For this past offseason, my guy could do no wrong. Remember that? So, let’s let this thing cook a little bit longer before we say, ‘Hey, the Marcus Freeman era’s a failure.'”

Notre Dame’s stunning home loss to Marshall sent part of the fan base into panic mode and left people wondering how the rest of the season would go. But PicKell said fans can’t overreact to the aftermath. There are multiple factors in play.

“Three games, two brand-new quarterbacks and a first-year head coach?” PicKell said. “We’re better than that. Let’s not be victim to this moment. … Don’t be victim to the moment and the whole Marshall propaganda and all the things that you’re hearing from people with blue checks next to their name that call themselves the media wanting to sell Notre Dame down the river. We’re better than that.”