Marcus Freeman calls on young players to step in for NFL Draft departures

Notre Dame will head into their Gator Bowl matchup versus South Carolina without two of their best players, tight end Michael Mayer and defensive end Isaiah Foskey, who both recently declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. With those two players out of the lineup, some younger players will have to step up to the plate in the Irish’s season finale, which head coach Marcus Freeman discussed.

“Yeah, and it’s for multiple guys, and then you have two guys that decided to declare for the NFL Draft and what they’ve done for our program has been tremendous, but it also gives other guys a great opportunity in an increased role,” Freeman said.

Mayer led the Irish in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns this season, while Foskey led the defense in tackles for loss and sacks, both providing a level of production for Notre Dame this season that seems nearly impossible to replace.

“And as I’ve told our coaches and some of our players, you’re not replacing Michal Mayer’s production and Isaiah Foskey’s production with one person, I mean those guys are gonna be future NFL Draft picks. They’re some of the best that have done it here at Notre Dame,” Freeman admitted.

Freeman instead will look at innovative ways to recreate their production, but at the same time will be reliant on some fresher faces come December 30 in TIAA Bank Field.

“But you replace that production though different ways, through multiple people, through schematic changes that you make, but yeah it’s gonna increase the expectations of Holden Staes and of Mitchell Evans and that group of tight ends. And you know Jordan Botelho, and Junior Tuihalamaka, and those guys that are playing viper and it’s definitely gonna increase their roles,” Freeman explained.

All those listed players certainly have some big shoes to fill, but will be encouraged to simply be themselves and do their jobs within the scheme when they line up across from the Gamecocks at the end of the month. Mistake free football from the tight end and viper positions will definitely me a major key for the Irish in the Gator Bowl, as they’ll also potentially get a sneak peak of what the future at those positions looks like next season.

“But they don’t have to be Michael Mayer, they don’t have to be Isiah Foskey, they have to understand that in order for us to replace that production they’re going to have to do their job extremely well,” Freeman said.