Chat Transcript: Are offseason player restrictions ahead for college football and Notre Dame?

Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, the first one under the Blue & Gold banner!

Some quick programming notes:

► On July 1, Tyler James and I made the move to the On3 network and blueandgold.com and joined some amazing teammates. I believe this will be a great move for us and for our subscribers. I’m thrilled to tell you that the chats will continue under our new banner. We’ll still be intermittent through July, but weekly once training camp starts in three weeks and then throughout the football season.

Our partnership with WSBT-TV, our YouTube content and my radio work with WSBT 960 will all continue. As far as Blue & Gold, I encourage you to take a test drive — a seven-day trial for a $1 for all our great content and that around the expanded On3 Network.

► If you missed the last episode of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, what are you doing with your life? Seriously, the show keeps its shelf life long after the live presentation, so you can catch up now or later on our YouTube channel. We’ll be back next week, Monday at 7 p.m. ET, for another presentation of Football Never Sleeps with a special guest host. And check out some great shows on the Blue & Gold YouTube channel as well.

► The Inside ND Sports Podcast returns next Tuesday and with a special guest from the Notre Dame women’s basketball team. More details to come. We’re offering it in a couple of different formats — our traditional podcast feed and as a video on YouTube. 

► Finally at WSBT Sports Radio 960, we’re rolling through a newsy Notre Dame offseason. Darin Pritchett and I were off this week due to Darin’s vacation. We’ll be back next Wednesday and Thursday on Weekday SportsBeat (960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com). The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. You can download all episodes as podcasts.

As far as this week’s chat …

Please include your name and hometown along with your question(s).

Here are the rules:

Eric Hansen: I’ve rescinded the no-drinking rule for a few months now, with no regrets. Let’s keep that rolling.

And off we go ,,,

Mike AKA Mo from Maumee, Ohio: I know you can’t wrap these kids in bubble wrap during the off-season, but do you see ND football placing specific restrictions on “could-be-dangerous” recreational activities? The Charles Jagusah incident is as heartbreaking as it was (in hindsight) preventable. I pray he didn’t buy the UTV with NIL $$.

Eric Hansen: Hi Mike. I imagine we’ll get a chance to talk to Charles Jagusah after training camp has started. He’s always been a stand-up guy. So we can get the details on the record at that time. As to restrictions … Mike Singer and I talked about this on The Notre Dame Football Show on YouTube on Wednesday night. I think a college coach can ask his players to restrict certain activities, but contractually that’s probably not a reality unless/until there’s collective bargaining for players. Then it could be. And then where do you draw the line? Is pickup basketball considered risky, for instance? Those are all discussions that will be ongoing as the college sports model continues to evolve at a blistering pace.

Kevin from Muskegon, Mich.: Looking glass half empty with Jagusah being out for perhaps 4/5 months, will the team really miss that much of a step considering how last year’s team went through a gauntlet of injuries and made their run? Losing the transfers along the line looks worse now, but I feel like this might be the best team overall since 1993 when they had 4 picks in the first two rounds. I was born in ‘93 so I only have anecdotes and archival footage. Thanks for the chats. First time question but I always check up.

Eric Hansen: Hi Kevin. Thanks from moving for lurking to asking, though both are welcome. And a strong debut by you … I don’t think the transfers hurt, because of the overall talent level on the team. And that talent level from ascending players like Guerby Lambert, Sullivan Absher, Styles Prescod and Will Black — as well as Jagusah and the four healthy projected starters — are why some of those transfers made a lot of sense. What they’ll miss in Jagusah is a player who in a very small sample size showed the potential to be an eventual All-American. What they have to fill his spot are players with high ceilings, but perhaps need more time to get to that point, a little less experience and not expected to reach the same high ceiling even in time. But the timing of this gives O-line coach Joe Rudolph time to sort through the options, find one and then hone the chemistry for the Aug. 31 season opener at Miami.

Kevin from Calgary: Eric! Congrats on the new gig! You’ve come a long way from being the best on the ND beat in your days at SBT. It seems the Irish are on an unprecedented recruiting run. Do you think this past weekend’s trio of commitments put us over the top, or should fans still have concerns about our wide receiver group?

Eric Hansen: Hi Kevin and thanks!! I think the 2026 wide receiver haul of Kaydon Finley, Devin Fitzgerald, Brayden Robinson, Bubba Frazier and Dylan Faison is a significant stride in the right direction … quantity, quality and speed. As far as the WR group ND will put on the field this year? Jaden Greathouse is a great place to start, but the early reviews of Virginia transfer Malachi Fields and the revised reviews of a healthy version of Wisconsin transfer Will Pauling are very good signs of a positional upgrade for 2025.

Stephen from New Orleans: Marcus Freeman is going into his fourth year as head coach and has both improved the program and molded it into his own image with help from Swarbrick and Bevacqua. In your opinion, are there still any improvement opportunities for Notre Dame football to be sustainable at the high level the program is at?

Eric Hansen: Hi Stephen. I hope I’m interpreting your question correctly. From an X’s/O’s and player personnel standpoint, the next steps are to continue to upgrade the wide receiver and interior defensive line position groups and evolve the offense, including fitting it to a QB (likely) with a very different skill set than Riley Leonard’s.

The bigger challenge is dealing with the morphing big picture, and I think that’s where Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame appear to be well-positioned. How to navigate the new college football world in the rev-share era. I believe the hiring of Mike Martin and his NFL experience is going to prove to be a seismic addition over time. The new game isn’t necessarily about who has the most money to spend (legally). It’s who spends it the smartest. And that Marcus Freeman can deliver a message in this world that education still matters, and that it resonates with recruits and their parents, is huge.

2581/Tony from Lexington, Ky.: Eric — As I’m sure many others will also say, I’m so glad that you are continuing your chats in this new forum! They will enhance the site considerably! My question: Now that Charles Jagusah will miss at least some of the 2025 season, who do you predict will comprise the starting offensive line when ND opens the season at Miami? And by mid-season, do you think that Will Black might be starting? I know those are tough questions when Fall camp hasn’t even started, but we participate in your chats to garner your wisdom ! Go Irish ! ☘🏈☘

Eric Hansen: Hi Tony and thank you! For me, until/unless something I see in practice moves me off this point, I’d believe it will be from RT to LT — Aamil Wagner, Sullivan Absher, Ashton Craig, Billy Schrauth, Anthonie Knapp. Because Knapp was a three-star prospect and because he doesn’t have freakish size, we tend to discount his sustainability as a starter. But his footwork, technique, ability to learn quickly and his maturing physicality all play well for him. If Charles Jagusah returns in, say, October, then that lessens the chances someone like Will Black would move into the starting lineup. Black has impressed this summer, no doubt, But keep in mind, in the 53 season since freshman eligibility was permanently restored by the NCAA, just 11 Notre Dame offensive lineman have started at least one game as a freshman. Only four have done so at LT and only two — Joe Alt and Knapp made more than one start there as a freshman LT.

Black projects as a future starter in these early impressions — his size, his motor, his athleticism. But unless injuries open the door, I think the future won’t arrive this season. Now being in the two-deeps, that could happen.

Matt from LA: It looks like receivers recruiting may have finally turned a corner! I have a question about numbers that I hope doesn’t require too much of a crystal ball to answer. Do you think taking 5 receiver recruits is a sign that ND is going to be making any position changes (like Scrap to DB) or anticipating transfers? Or are they just taking as many good players as they can at a thin position and figuring out the numbers later?

Eric Hansen: Hi Matt. Usually math questions make my head hurt, but this one does not, so congrats/thanks. Keep in mind the scholarship limit of 85 is now a roster limit of 105. ND will look to go with a baseline of 95 scholarship players with some flexibility to compensate the other 10 in other ways. So 95 vs. 85, essentially. So positional numbers also grow. ND has 11 WRs in 2025 with only two with expiring eligibility (Malachi Fields and Will Pauling).

Let’s say, theoretically, that Jaden Greathouse has a great year and comes out early. That leaves you with eight returnees if no one transfers and five newcomers. So 13 for 2026. I think 12-13 is about the right number. But I also think you have to be realistic about who might transfer from your roster. If there were more than anticipated outgoing, ND could go back to the portal. But the way the Irish recruited in this cycle, they may not have to do that next offseason.

Tim from Harborcreek, Pa: Are the Irish really getting difference makers at wide receiver or just hoping they are ?

Eric Hansen: I think Kaydon Finley is a player that already fits the difference-maker category. The other four have traits that lead you to believe they’ll also become that kind of player. Colleague Tyler James ranked those five WR recruits in a story recently and did film studies of all five of them, also on our site. Check them out and see for yourself.

Ryan from Frankfort, Ill.: Good afternoon Eric what do you think about the Commitments of Kaydon Finley Devin Fitzgerald and Brayden Robinson i like all three of the Commitments GO IRISH ☘️☘️☘️☘️🏈🏈🏈🏈

Eric Hansen: Hi Ryan. I’m in the same camp as you when it comes to those three. What a holiday weekend for Marcus Freeman and the Irish.

Bo Johnson from Michiana: Will you have any access to fall camp or is it just held to interviews after practice?

Eric Hansen: Hi Bo. We will have access to one full practice … actually the first day and then some partials (stretching and the first few practice periods) all within the first two weeks of camp.

Robb from Colorado: I have read a couple of publications preseason ranking of the team WR’s with both having them in Top 10-15 in the country. I am a bit skeptical of that, but wondered what you think? I am excited about the potential of the group, just not sure it will be Top 10 at least partially due to a new QB and such a strong running game.

Eric Hansen: Hi Robb. I have not yet gotten to the perusing point of the summer where I’ve looked at positional rankings, and there are different ways to measure them. And you kind of combined several within your questions. Rating someone’s passing game by quality is different than rating it by quantity and that’s different than ranking the wide receivers, irrespective of their QB and running game. So let’s just do that one … independently rating the WR group. If ND’s top six are Malachi Fields, Jaden Greathouse, Will Pauling, Jordan Faison, Micah Gilbert and a wild card (Elijah Burress, Cam Williams, KK Smith), I would feel good about that group being ranked high. Top 10-15 seems too high, but I do feel this group is more dynamic and explosive than last year’s group.

Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric, I hope you are having a great week and that  the new gig is going well. With Jagusah out indefinitely, what is your best guess for the starting O lline for the Miami game?  Have you heard any Intel over the summer on some players that are surprising in a very positive way either incoming freshman or others on the team? Can you share who those players might be? Which position groups do you currently feel our national championship caliber level? Which, our playoff caliber level, and which still have work to do? Finally, which game do you think  is the biggest trap game this season. Thanks so much for hosting the chat!

Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. Great week here and thanks for elevating the chat, per usual. … I shared my projected Miami O-line starters a little earlier, but let’s get to your other questions. I’ll have another summer update in a week or so and did one earlier on our message board, but one I can share here who would be a surprise to a lot of Notre Dame fans would be Arkansas transfer tight end Ty Washington. I mentioned him in my roster wildcards story earlier this week, in part because of his early impression this summer and in part because there’s a wide open lane beyond Eli Raridon for someone to grab that No. 2 TE spot.

As far as position groups, I think Marcus Freeman (barring injury) has to feel pretty good about linebackers, DBs, defensive ends (especially when Jordan Botelho returns), running backs and offensive line. Interior D-line and WRs were the two groups going into spring with the most questions, and they are trending in the right direction. O-line could be the best in the country, but Charles Jagusah’s injury has to be dealt with. There’s quarterback talent but not experience. Special teams will come to light in August. That’s when those pieces typically come together or not. So all in all, a pretty good place to be in July. Biggest trap game? I’ll go with Nov. 15 at Pitt, right after playing Navy.

KelleyGuy09: When is the Rivals/On3 player rankings update going to finally happen? Asking for a friend.

Eric Hansen: Hi KelleyGuy09, what’s your hometown? Asking for myself. … The rankings update, I’m told, is done. It’s a technology challenge that’s the hold-up as part of the integration of Rivals and On3. It is being prioritized … so, soon is my best answer.

Matt from Muscatine, Iowa: Hi Eric! I hope the transition and new job are going well. Thank you for continuing these!!! I have three questions. 1. It only seems a little while ago that there were concerns about recruiting for the 2026 class. Can you comment on who you think the top three additions have been and on who will continue to rise in the rankings? 2. What is the best part of your new job and how have or haven’t your job responsibilities changed? 3. The coaching staff really seems to like Tiki Hola and Elijah Golden, but they are currently high three/low four star players. What do the coaches and recruiting staff see/like that maybe their rankings don’t reflect? Also, given the “punctuation game” that goes on in these chats, I’m hoping you can work in a colon and an ellipse in your response! Thank you!

Eric Hansen: Hi Matt!! Loving the new job and new teammates and the firehose is now just a really aggressive water fountain, so that’s a big help. … To your questions and remaining requested punctuation. … Since you didn’t give me a timeline as to when to draw the line with additions, I suppose you want the top three players in the class in my opinion. I would ask Mike Singer, Kyle Kelly or Tyler James. Let’s start with what the On3 (collective) industry rankings would say … 1) DE Rodney Dunham, 2) S Joey O’Brien, 3) TE Ian Premer.

What would mine be?*^$#? I’m tempted to put Kaydon Finley in the top three because of positional need and quality. But if I were taking that out of it, my top three would be: 1) S Joey O’Brien, 2) DE Rodney Dunham, 3. CB Khary Adams. But there’s a lot to like. As far as Tiki Hola and Elijah Golden, perhaps the rankings are more of a reflection of potential over production, but I can see with both why the Irish coaches covet them and why so many other schools do as well.

Jeff from Phoenix: Hey Eric! Thanks for keeping the chats rolling with the new site. Just counting down the days here in Phoenix ahead of Miami. I want to ask about the trickeration schemes of the Marty Biagi special teams in 2024 and in the upcoming season. First, and I hope the statute of limitations hasn’t run out on this subject, but has the ‘illegal formation’ rule that nullified the TD vs Virginia last year been clarified? Next, for 2025, does Biagi have an assistant/analyst to help him come up with and research the rules on new ideas? Finally, are trick plays better early in the season (i.e. versus Miami or Texas A&M) when the opponent doesn’t have recent film on you, or do you wait a few games so you can see weaknesses of the opponent to exploit?  It seems with Rendell having a year under his belt as punter he could be more involved in the chicanery.  Thanks, and in the words of Ron Burgundy, stay classy!

Eric Hansen: Jeff! I was going to ignore your question until you dropped a Ron Burgundy reference. Now I HAVE TO! I’m going to disappoint you on the Virginia game reference. It has been explained to me and I have written about it, but can’t find it quickly, so I will email it to you when I get a chance. … Yes, Marty Biagi does have a posse, and Jesse Schmitt is a name to know there … not just with innovation but coaching, recruiting, all kinds of contributions. … I think really good special teams coaches find ways to use them throughout the year when the occasion calls for it. And for some of the reasons you mentioned, the dynamics of pulling it off are a little different at different points. But when you looked at ND last season, there was constant evolution in concept and execution. And James Rendell, when interviewed in the spring, is more than willing to be part of the fakery.

Matt from Augusta, N.J.: What happens with Mike Mickens at the end of the year? I worry he will want a D-coordinator job and could leave. His recruiting is top notch and the secondary has been great.  Maybe a Co-defensive coordinator position with Ash could work, as it did at OSU?  I just don’t want to lose him. We heard whispers last year about him leaving when he didn’t get the D-coordinator job.  Texas was interested if I am not mistaken, but not as a D-coordinator, only a secondary coach.

Eric Hansen: H Matt. I think it’s easier to project what Mike Mickens options might be than which one he could take. The way he recruits, the way he coaches, the way he carries himself and the way he pushes himself to take on more responsibility is only going to add to his options. Now what would be his most important priority? Notre Dame can pay him what he’s worth. They can give him a fancier title. But if he wants to be a Power Conference coordinator, he’ll either have to wait at ND for at least another season or go elsewhere. And yet that’s what happens in elite programs. Other programs and NFL teams want your coaches. And you have to be prepared to find great replacements, just as Marcus Freeman did in replacing Deland McCullough with Ja’Juan Seider, for example, this past offseason.

Tom F from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric.  What a career ride you have been on the past couple of years!!!  Very happy for you that you have been able to find venues that allow you to use the wonderful skills that you have developed over the years and that bring insight and enjoyment to us fans!!!  Thank you and continued success.  Oh, I guess I should come up with some question now.  What is your take on the number of players who are sons of former NFL players who are coming to ND?  My take is that their families have experienced the importance of a good education and personal development after their playing days are over and ND offers the best opportunity for success on AND off the field.  Right now, there are several committed players who have low 4-star or even 3-star rankings that I think will be much higher after they play their Senior year, especially some of the OL.  Who would you think would be in that category? I like players who have played TE and then grow into an OL. Thanks for keeping us informed wherever you may be. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. Tyler James just had a piece today on that very topic of legacy recruits. And to be fair to Brian Kelly, he had a number of them during his run at ND as well. What is really impressive about what Marcus Freeman is doing in THIS new college football model is … his message that education still matters, as I mentioned earlier, still resonate. His message of “Choose Hard’ resonates. And the belief that ND will develop their sons into NFL prospects while preparing for life after football, too. Finally, there seems to be wanting their sons to be coached by Freeman as part of that formula as well. … all positives.

To your other question, let’s make this easy and take the bottom five in the class, according to the On3 Industry rankings. So 21-25 at this moment are DT Tiki Hola, WR Devin Fitzgerald, TE Preston Fryzel, WR Dylan Faison and OT Charlie Thom. If THAT’S the bottom of your class, good night. Wow. Of those five Thom is super intriguing, because he’s such an unknown and has traits that would lead you to believe he’ll surprise at some point. But if I had to bet on someone really playing above that star rating, I’d probably lean into Fitsgerald first and Hola second. Thanks for the compliments, by the way.

Ryan in Los Angeles: Hi Eric!! I tried out other punctuation for the greeting but nothing quite captures the mood of your chats. Not even semicolons! My question: More experienced O-line (even without Jagusah at the start, possibly) + more accurate QB in CJ Carr + Malachi Fields and a more experienced, talented WR corps overall + Jeremiah Love still on the team… How is this offense not going to be the best since 2015? Better than 2015? Is that a crazy thing to project at this point? I know we won’t have Riley Leonard bailing ND out with his legs but sure seems like this is going to be an extremely potent offense?

Eric Hansen: Hello there Ryan!! Thanks for going the extra mile with punctuation versatility. At least you and I can appreciate it without taking advantage of the “no drinking” rule. … I think it’s very reasonable to expect this offense to be more dynamic, more consistent, more adept at being able to beat you in different ways than the 2024 version. Now going back to 2015 or other years, I need to see some August football before we’re sipping out of the same Kool Aid pitcher. Kind of like 2024, though, it’s not necessarily all about what the ceiling will be, but how soon the offense is moving definitively in that direction. And that starts with the new QB. So, I will give you a note that you are not certifiably crazy, at least not when it comes to your football assessments.

Jeremy from Goshen, Ind.: Can you speak to the defensive schematic changes that Chris Ash will be implementing? It will be hard to top the job Al Golden did.

Eric Hansen: Hi Jeremy. Chris Ash is VERY guarded about that, and with some good reason. There’s a tactical advantage to being a blind date on Aug. 31. We do know how the defensive ends are cast and play is different. I suspect more attention will be given to improving run defense, which means playing with a loaded box more (but not to the extreme). My sense is that the rover position will have another evolution away from the Mike Elko/Clark Lea concept, that safeties will find some untraditional roles and that pass rush will be optimized. Ash wanted to leave a lot of what Al Golden built in place, and I think he’ll be true to a lot of that. But he does have his own tweaks.

John from Champaign, Ill.: Hi Eric! Besides Golden and Reddish are there any other recruiting options? The TE from Iowa looks like he is going to ISU. Linebacker— we have just two? Poach a DL from a loaded USC group?  That would be some nice karma after losing our recruiting coordinator. A beat down of USC might make that possible!

Eric Hansen: Hi John. Tyler James talked about this some on our Football Never Sleeps show on Monday night if you’re looking for more. But if ND gets Nick Reddish and Elijah Golden, there’s not another apparent target. Could they add more, sure, but not likely unless there was a decommitment in the class or a run of imminent departures via the transfer portal at a particular position group. ND will keep its eyes open, no doubt.

Franz from Niles, Mich.: In retrospect it seems like getting two developmental offensive tackle prospects in this class was genius. True soph Knapp projected at left tackle, soph Lambert and freshman Black projected as reserves (are you freaking kidding me?). Surprising soph Styles Prescod and several tackle types in last years class with bright futures waiting in the wings. It makes sense to get some guys that need some time to percolate and why they seemed to only kick the tires on a few more precocious true tackle prospects this year.  Do you think that was the focus for OT all along? I only hope that fans are patient with all the Joe Alt comparisons. He was an outlier not just in his final size, but the speed in which his body changed. I see these two more like Amil Wagner where it will be a constant challenge to keep enough biscuits in their basket. Speaking of which, how spoiled are we when the top rated returning OT in college seems a bit under appreciated by the fanbase?

Eric Hansen: Hi Franz. Offensive line has traditionally been a position where the players understand the developmental curve. Perhaps that starts to change in the NIL and Rev Share eras, but it’s still a reality. It’s also a position group where there’s little rotation when injuries are not a factor, because playing five-as-one is so important. But yes, having developmental players with longer growth curves is not a deterrent. The only time it was problematic recently was when Joe Alt and Blake Fisher both came out as juniors. They are the only ND O-linemen since the NFL opened its doors to underclassmen in 1989 to come out as true juniors and they did it together. Had either come back, Anthonie Knapp wouldn’t have been a starter last season, for instance. And yes, I do think Aamil Wagner is better than a lot of people realize.

Matt from Kansas City: Mr. Hansen, love the chats, can’t wait for the season.  I return with my fast five if you are so gracious as to have answers. 1. What is the ceiling for Kyngstonn Villamu-Asa this season, meaning what impact do we expect? 2. Will we see Mr. Love involved in the receiving game more this season? 3. My dumb I never played football question … I always thought you could only have one man in motion at a time but I will see many plays where two or three players switch sides (TEs) for instance at the same time, how is that legal? 4. Who is a wild card on defense that will be a household name by the end of the year? 5. Fun question, best college football game you have ever seen live (doesn’t have to be an ND game)?

Eric Hansen: Mr. Matt, love your multi-part questions that stay under the 17-part breaking point. 1. Yikes. Really high. Big impact. Eventual All-American. Not sure this year, but a big surge ahead. 2. Yes, especially with all the reps he took at WR in the spring. 3. Difference between a multi-player shift and a player going in motion. If he’s in motion and not set when the ball is snapped, there can only be one (unless the officials have a poor Vision plan at work). 4. Just did a story on 10 of them on both sides of the ball. To qualify, you could NOT be on the 25 most important players ballot I had to turn in. So let me give you two .. Jared Dawson and my 2025 football crush (platonic, of course) Tae Johnson. 5. The Bush Push game is No. 1 … ND at Oklahoma in 2012 for the whole atmosphere and lasting historical significance.

Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My best wishes to you and Tyler that this new venture works out well for the both of you. I will admit I was wondering if your chats would continue.  It has been so long for me participating in these chats that I cannot recall when I first started following them. I would miss your comments and thoughts as well as the questions from many participants. First are yours’s and Tyler’s emails the same? Or do you have new ones? We all want ND to at least repeat last year and be a playoff participant. However there is great difficulty in maintaining the high level of performance needed in order to repeat the successful achievement of last season. Why would you feel the culture and leadership is ready for this challenge?  What do they lack and need to be aware of? I am assuming the coaching and talent will be more than adequate to make the playoff and that leadership, culture and injuries will determine how the season goes.

Eric Hansen: Len!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You won the exclamation point competition this week and the one for compliments too. Congrats. Charlie Weis Era is when these started. Yes, our emails are still the same. We will be getting new ones eventually, but are keeping the old ones for at least the next year or so and will check them regularly. … The short answer to the culture question is it’s everywhere. Marcus Freeman and the staff to the players to the commitment from the administration to being elite in the new business model to facility and salary commitments. The challenge will continue to be maintaining that for all programs in this fast and shifting landscape (ugh, I used that word, sorry). At least Marcus Freeman has a plan and a vision for that. Some coaches are just hanging on.

Mike AKA Mo from Maumee, Ohio: I watched Devin Fitzgerald’s reveal live, and was struck by his humility, poise & preparation of his speech. He was seated between his mom & dad- both who looked like they could have stepped off a commercial for “good-looking parents”.
Mike AKA Mo from Maumee OH: Jumped the gun….fat fingered the “send” button – my question is: where do you see Fitzgerald fit into this incredible jigsaw  puzzle of WR talent? Unique skill set that may launch him into the two-deep rotation eventually? I would guess his dad’s “coaching him up” won’t hurt.

Eric Hansen: Hey Mike/Mo, in the lightning round now that we’re past three … so my short answer is, as soon as Malachi Fields is gone, who’s the next ascending boundary receiver. Micah Gilbert is the answer now, but Cam Williams could be in that discussion, Jerome Bettis Jr. and Devin Fitzgerald when he arrives.

Tyler: What does the depth at CB look like behind LM, CG, and DS??? Are Cree Thomas and Dallas Golden ready to contribute now? Is Hobbs a contributor in ’25?

Eric Hansen: Tyler, we’ll get a better sense of that in early August. But right now at nickel Karson Hobbs and Ben Minich had really impressive springs behind Devonta Smith. At corner, all three of those freshmen, including June arrivals Mark Zackery IV and Dallas Golden, are going to be in the mix. Hobbs could factor into the corner picture as well.

Manny from San Pedro: Eric!!!!! Almost time for fall camp!!! So excited!  Will ND put provisions in their nil deals to stop players from doing risky activities in the off season?

Eric Hansen: Manny, the exclamation point OG and who has been coming to the chat as long as anyone I think!!!!!!!! We started the chat with a similar question. If NIL now is coming from third parties and is being regulated by a NIL Clearinghouse, it’s not likely to happen there. It would be in the revenue share agreements with the schools if/when that happens. And I think we’re still not there yet with no collective bargaining.

Ed from Sayville, N.Y.: Hi Eric. Great story on Dave Peloquin. I really enjoyed it. I am wondering if you would consider a story on some of the assistants that are supporting the position coaches? It would be interesting to hear about their backgrounds etc. Your mention of Jesse Schmidt brought this to mind.

Eric Hansen: Ed, thanks for the feedback! And yes, if we are allowed access to them, I think those would be compelling content. So thanks for the suggestion.

Ced Walker from saginaw michigan aka sagnasty saginaw pride: When will Charles Jagusah be back from his broken arm and who do u see be the starter at left tackle god bless this football team here come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us

Eric Hansen: Not sure, yet, Charles Jagusah. There’s kind of a range of timelines being thrown out there with our Mike Singer reporting October as maybe the best-case scenario guesstimate. We’ll get an official update from Marcus Freeman on July 31. So hold on for three weeks.

Tom F from Kennesaw, Ga: Good afternoon Eric. I understand the optimism for this year’s OL despite the transfers of Coogan and Spindler. My concern is that it seemed that both of them were the inspirational voices for this unit. Is that accurate? If so, then who assumes that role for this year’s OL?? I think that energy is important especially in the OL and DL. Your thoughts!!! Go Irish!!!!

Eric Hansen: Hey Tom. New leaders will emerge, and I would lean into Billy Schrauth and Aamil Wagner at the next meeting of the Atlanta ND Club if you believe I can make you look smarter than you already are.

Eric Hansen: OK, that’s going to do it for this week’s chat. Thanks for all the great questions. Thanks for finding me in our new home at blueandgold.com. I’ll be back later in the month with another one of these and then back to weekly mode once camp starts on July 31.