Notre Dame Midweek Rundown: Now Or Never Players, Recruiting Crossroads, Sam Hartman and the Heisman

In this week's Notre Dame Midweek Rundown we discuss veterans who are in a now or never situation, recruiting plus Sam Hartman and the Heisman

This week's Notre Dame Midweek Rundown had some very intriguing topics, at least they were to me! In this week's episode I discuss veteran players who enter vital now or never seasons, Notre Dame being at a bit of a recruiting crossroads, and Sam Hartman and the Heisman Trophy.

I broke the show down into smaller segments, and you can listen to them all below.

There are three players on offense that I believe are entering now or never situations. They would be wide receivers Deion Colzie and Chris Tyree, as well as fifth-year senior guard Andrew Kristofic.

For Tyree it's about making a quick transition into the offense, and how that could not only impact the Irish offense, but whether or not he finally becomes a focal point of the offense, or just stays as a niche player.

For Colzie it's about finally turning his immense talent and potential into production, and what Notre Dame coaches will need to do if he isn't able to take that next step.

For Kristofic, he's been a solid player the last two years, but he'll have talented younger players breathing down his neck. Can he take another step forward in year five, or will he be fighting to hold onto a starting job?

The defensive breakdown included five players that enter a now or never season. I discuss defensive linemen Rylie Mills and Jordan Botelho, linebacker Marist Liufau, safety Ramon Henderson and cornerback Cam Hart.

Mills and Botelho are slated to be starters and they'll be part of the Irish defensive line rotation, but it's now or never for them to become difference makers. This duo could hold the key to Notre Dame putting championship defense on the field.

Liufau is an athletic and long defender that has shown flashes in the past, but he struggled in 2022. Liufau enters the 2023 season as the expected starter at Will linebacker, but if he doesn't improve he could find himself getting passed up by talented younger players.

Henderson has been solid the last season and a half since he moved to safety, and he's flashed impact potential, but it's been just that, flashes. Now a senior, it's time for Henderson to take that jump forward, or for us to accept that jump isn't there. If he doesn't happen now it likely won't happen.

Hart is going to be a starter and he'll be one of the best players on the defense, so him being part of this list is quite different. For Hart it isn't about him getting passed up by other players or being a disappointment, it's about him having one final chance to become a more consistently dominant player, which could allow him to become one of the nation's best corners.

Notre Dame enters a very interesting period on the recruiting trail. The Irish are still popular due to head coach Marcus Freeman, and the 2024 offensive class is tremendous. But can the defensive staff close well enough to be on par with the offense, or even the last two defensive classes? That remains to be seen, but it's a key to Notre Dame truly becoming a powerhouse program.

Building the 2025 class is already beginning, and if Notre Dame wants to really start stacking big time classes on top of each other it needs to thrive there as well. If the staff doesn't have success with the 2025 class over the next five to six months it could fall behind the other top programs.

The final portion of the show was meant to be a bit more fun than deep analysis. I discuss Sam Hartman and the Heisman Trophy. Hartman had Heisman caliber numbers the last two years, but playing at Wake Forest kept him from getting any Heisman love. That will change this year at Notre Dame, but can he match his past production? 

I discuss what Hartman must do statistically and from a big moments standpoint to be a legitimate Heisman contender. I also discuss some players I see as being the top contenders to challenge reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams.

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter