Notre Dame opens Fall camp on July 31, brimming with optimism for the 2024 season. The Fighting Irish, however, still have numerous questions to address regarding their talented offensive unit ahead of their season opener against Texas A&M on Aug. 31.
The Fighting Irish have not won a national title in 36 seasons. But with this year’s expanded 12-playoff format, a seemingly deep Notre Dame squad should be in contention for a run at a national championship in 2024.
Turnover on Offense
Notre Dame’s Fall camp will be crucial in revealing the direction the Irish are headed, especially with several new additions. It is undeniable that the Irish have endured key losses from last year’s 10-3 team. The offense lost a pair of offensive tackles to the NFL Draft in Joe Alt (San Diego Chargers) and Blake Fisher (Houston Texans). Also departed is record-setting rusher Audric Estime, who was drafted by the Denver Broncos. Veteran quarterback Sam Hartman is gone, giving way to another transfer signal-caller Riley Leonard.
Even with the losses, Notre Dame is expected to field a deep and talented unit on offense. The Irish roster remains strong thanks to Marcus Freeman’s effective recruiting and his management of incoming transfers.
Wide Receivers
The Irish’s wide receiver room could be vastly improved this season for new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and first-year receivers coach Mike Brown. Under Denbrock, the Irish offense is likely to shift away from Notre Dame’s recent emphasis on running the ball between the tackles. It was highly effective with Estime carrying the load. That approach will change this year behind a dual-threat quarterback with a bevy of wideout weapons to target.
Opening the offense will play to Leonard’s strengths. His receivers are led by returnees Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison. Complementing the pair with experience in the program are transfers Beaux Collins, Kris Mitchell, and Jayden Harrison. Deion Colzie is healthy again after being slowed by injuries. The group also includes former quarterback Tyler Buchner and freshmen Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, and Logan Saldate. Toss in a healthy Mitchell Evans at tight end and the Irish should have a formidable passing attack.
Running Backs
With Estime in the NFL and third-down specialist Gi’Bran Payne sidelined for the season by a torn ACL suffered in the Blue-Gold Game, the Irish will need to redefine the backfield. Jadarian Price is likely to shoulder the main responsibility along with Jeremiyah Love.
Price played in all 13 games a season ago as a contributor on offense and special teams. He finished the season with 272 rushing yards, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Price recorded his first 100-yard game in the Sun Bowl victory over Oregon State. Like Price, Love played in all 13 games a year ago. He finished second on the team with 385 rushing yards, averaging 5.4 yards a carry. Love, who worked with the wideouts in spring practices, scored a rushing touchdown in 2023 and his season-long carry was 36 yards. He also caught eight receptions for 77 receiving yards. In addition to his ball-toting load, Love could play a key role as a pass-catcher in Denbrock’s offense this year.
Sixth-year player Devyn Ford is returning for his second season after transferring from Penn State. Freshman Aneyas Williams has flashed promise, and Kedren Young is expected to be healthy after a hamstring injury slowed him in the spring.
Offensive Line
A season ago, Notre Dame was dominant in the trenches. The Irish lost a combined 60 career starts with the departures of Alt and Fisher, and the transfer of center Zeke Correll. The latter left for NC State as a grad transfer.
Charles Jagusah is a redshirt freshman and the likely starter at left tackle. Jagusah played in two games last year and started in the Sun Bowl. Graduate student Tosh Baker is a projected starter at right tackle. He appeared in 11 games for the Irish last season and made a pair of starts. Center Ashton Craig and right guard Billy Schrauth—both strong run blockers—bring some experience back. They both started the final three games of last season. Left guard Pat Coogan is the most experienced of the group. He started in all 13 games a season ago. The new group will have a lot to prove this season.
Fall Camp Key for New Quarterback Riley Leonard
Leonard, a transfer from Duke, missed the final month of Spring practice because a stress fracture in his right ankle required a second surgical procedure. Every snap in August will be important for Leonard as he grows more accustomed to the offense. Having set himself up for success on a bigger stage, Leonard remains a question mark because of his nagging injury. If he is healthy and able to start under center, Leonard will face his former Duke head coach Mike Elko in the season opener. Elko is in his first year as coach of the Aggies in College Station.
In 2023, Leonard started in all seven games he played in for Elko and the Blue Devils before getting injured in the game against Notre Dame. He connected on 95 of 165 pass attempts for 1,102 yards (57.5 percent completion rate) and three touchdowns. He rushed 58 times for 352 yards and four touchdowns. In 2022, Leonard was the recipient of the Duke Football Carmen Falcone Team Most Valuable Player and Offensive MVP Awards. Leonard provided Sports Illustrated with an encouraging recent update on his health ahead of fall camp.
“Healthy, healthy, healthy,” Leonard said on SI.com. “I can’t stress that enough. I’m very healthy. If you were walking around in my body, you wouldn’t even know you had any injuries in the first place. I’m feeling good. There’s no limitations to work out-wise that I’m doing. So, I feel good.”
Takeaways
With a manageable schedule, Notre Dame is primed for a competitive run at the 12-team playoff. If the Irish can get through August’s Fall camp healthy, the onus will be on a new wave of offensive players to fill the voids left by key departures. With a blend of youth and experience, the Irish offense faces a critical month of offseason development. The ultimate question coming out of fall camp will be, can the new faces provide the spark to power Notre Dame into contention? Time will tell.
