Live updates: Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman pre-Georgia Tech press conference
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is set to address reporters for the final time before Saturday’s game vs. Georgia Tech. The Irish take on the Yellow Jackets at 3:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Here are Blue & Gold’s live updates from Freeman’s Thursday Zoom press conference, which begins at noon ET.
**Keep refreshing this page for real-time, written updates from Notre Dame’s Zoom press conference.**
What Freeman is saying
• On Rylie Mills, Freeman said he’s been a “staple” in the center of Notre Dame’s defense. “I’ve always believed you have to be good up the middle to be good defensively,” he said, and he’s improved “tremendously,” from a “raw football player” when the third-year head coach arrived in South Bend to a “great football player” now.
• Freeman said Notre Dame went back and watched all of Georgia Tech backup QB Zach Pryon’s clips from his time with the Yellow Jackets. “We have a plan for each guy,” he said, although Georgia Tech runs many of the similar concepts.
• Asked about Notre Dame playing more man defense than almost anyone, Freeman said the Irish have a lot of confidence in their secondary. “The ability to have change-ups and go off of your tendency is crucial… the ability to play man, but it doesn’t always look the same. Those are the things that have made this defense successful.”
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• Benjamin Morrison is recovering from surgery, but Freeman said once he’s able to be back around the team, “his leadership skills will continue to show.”
• On Jason Onye (personal), Freeman said “Same status that I previously said.” He didn’t really give an update on Onye on Monday, but a Notre Dame spokesperson told Blue & Gold that Onye’s lack of presence on the injury report doesn’t mean he’s playing.
• Leonard Moore and Christian Gray can both play field and boundary cornerback.
• On Gabriel Rubio: “We’ve missed the presence he brings to our defense.” Freeman said he’s doing a much better job of improving on the details, in addition to the motor and energy he’s always played with.
• If Mitch Jeter can’t go this weekend, Freeman said “I’m confident in Zac [Yoakam] and Marcello [Diomede].” He’s not giving away the plan as far as who kicks for the Irish in that event, but it was Yoakam when Jeter went down in Week 7 against Stanford.
