2026 Spring Practice Thread

allenm5333 · Sunday at 8:42 AM

arrowryan said:
Elston was a good coach, but idk about Mickens level. Mickens was basically elite at everything and now has Notre Dame considered a prime destination for DB recruits. I’m really interested to see how many Notre Dame DB’s, coached/recruited by Mickens, succeed in the NFL.

Mickens recruited and developed his @$$ off. Elston was a really good developer. He left us with some poor depth

SeekNDestroy · Sunday at 9:05 AM

allenm5333 said:
Mickens recruited and developed his @$$ off. Elston was a really good developer. He left us with some poor depth

Yeah, I always felt like he wasn’t that good of a recruiter. That great ‘16 DL class was all Gilmore.

allenm5333 · Sunday at 9:39 AM

SeekNDestroy said:
Yeah, I always felt like he wasn’t that good of a recruiter. That great ‘16 DL class was all Gilmore.

and he left for Michigan. Skew him forever

Irish du Nord · Sunday at 10:06 AM

GoldenToTheGrave said:
2020 DL was dirty and deep. Mike Elston was a tremendous DL coach, between what he did here and at Michigan he's in the conversation of Mickens level position coaches.

I’d say maybe Hiestand but not Mickens

irishandy · Sunday at 10:08 AM

Mickens>Elston 100%. Mickens landed more big time recruits than Elston, not only developed them, but helped them get to the NFL, and also changed the CB position.

Luckylucci · Sunday at 3:39 PM

Big Elston fan here, he was a very good DL coach. Better than Washington, IMO. But, Mickens is in a tier above that.

RudyVerse · Sunday at 4:45 PM

Every program in the country would take Mickens. Probably 90% would take Elston.

Rocketman84 · Sunday at 5:43 PM

SeekNDestroy said:
I thought they wanted Mullins to gain weight to play DT?

He'd be better at the DE but it looks that way

allenm5333 · Sunday at 5:46 PM

Rocketman84 said:
He'd be better at the DE but it looks that way

Can we just probably be honest about Mulllins?

SeekNDestroy · Sunday at 5:51 PM

Rocketman84 said:
He'd be better at the DE but it looks that way

Serious question. I’m curious why you think the coaches are wrong about the move inside.

SeekNDestroy · Sunday at 5:52 PM

allenm5333 said:
Can we just probably be honest about Mulllins?

That the coaches think he can play?

Rocketman84 · Sunday at 5:54 PM

SeekNDestroy said:
Serious question. I’m curious why you think the coaches are wrong about the move inside.

Wrong? I don't think their necessarily wrong, but his skill set and tape say he's more skilled on the edge.

I believe he is one of those guys who has the capability to be able to do both if needed.

calvegas04 · Sunday at 5:55 PM

Just a kid

SeekNDestroy · Sunday at 5:58 PM

Rocketman84 said:
Wrong? I don't think their necessarily wrong, but his skill set and tape say he's more skilled on the edge.

I believe he is one of those guys who has the capability to be able to do both if needed.

Do you think he’ll be more of a pass rushing/passing downs type player?

RudyVerse · Sunday at 6:15 PM

Guessing mid year they had Mullins get body ready for DT before they realized we’d make it rain in portal for DT.

allenm5333 · Sunday at 6:26 PM

RudyVerse said:
Guessing mid year they had Mullins get body ready for DT before they realized we’d make it rain in portal for DT.

Mullins is more of a BK level take than what we are currently getting. He was a kid we took before smashing it with the title run, NIL, and transfers.

Islandboi · Sunday at 6:31 PM

When you're in a relationship. There's an expectation. Bars.

IrishInOntario · Sunday at 6:54 PM

allenm5333 said:
Mullins is more of a BK level take than what we are currently getting. He was a kid we took before smashing it with the title run, NIL, and transfers.

Totally agree on Mullins. Good football player. Bit of a tweener, but a guy who can definitely help ND as a depth / rotational guy.

That said, in the Portal era and with the way Freeman is recruiting, he should realistically never make it into ND's 2-deep. If we assume the 5-deep over the next 2 years...

2026
Brewu-Onye
Hughes-Gray
Mukam-Burgess
Golden-Mullins?
Dixon-Sevillano

2027
Brewu-Gray
Mukam-Burgess
Golden-Dixon
Hola-Mullins
Parks-Folorusho

Without any transfer portal additions and assuming we don't see a litany of transfers at the DL position, I just don't see a place for for Mullins to get into the 2-deep. Hell, the 3-deep seems like a stretch as highly talented players develop around him.

Good problem to have.

allenm5333 · Sunday at 7:05 PM

IrishInOntario said:
Totally agree on Mullins. Good football player. Bit of a tweener, but a guy who can definitely help ND as a depth / rotational guy.

That said, in the Portal era and with the way Freeman is recruiting, he should realistically never make it into ND's 2-deep. If we assume the 5-deep over the next 2 years...

2026
Brewu-Onye
Hughes-Gray
Mukam-Burgess
Golden-Mullins?
Dixon-Sevillano

2027
Brewu-Gray
Mukam-Burgess
Golden-Dixon
Hola-Mullins
Parks-Folorusho

Without any transfer portal additions and assuming we don't see a litany of transfers at the DL position, I just don't see a place for for Mullins to get into the 2-deep. Hell, the 3-deep seems like a stretch as highly talented players develop around him.

Good problem to have.

Correct. Even if he is the 6th best DT, do you play him over a young guy who has a higher ceiling and will be needed the following year? Probably not

NDPhilly · Sunday at 7:13 PM

I think Mullins can grow into a solid rotational 3-4 DE or DT on passing downs. As we’ve seen, guys get hurt. We’ve seen guys that are a lot less physically gifted contribute meaningful snaps.

Rocketman84 · Sunday at 8:10 PM

NDPhilly said:
I think Mullins can grow into a solid rotational 3-4 DE or DT on passing downs. As we’ve seen, guys get hurt. We’ve seen guys that are a lot less physically gifted contribute meaningful snaps.

I concur

Rocketman84 · Sunday at 8:13 PM

SeekNDestroy said:
Do you think he’ll be more of a pass rushing/passing downs type player?

He can be utilized as a DT or 3-4 Edge on passing downs.

The Backer · Sunday at 11:09 PM

Remember when we were pooping our pants about DT and DL in general? Pepperidge farm remembers.

MacIrish75 · Monday at 5:11 PM

The Backer said:
Remember when we were pooping our pants about DT and DL in general? Pepperidge farm remembers.

New nickname for the DL room:

Partridge Farm

GrangerIrish24 · Monday at 6:17 PM

MacIrish75 said:
New nickname for the DL room:

Partridge Farm

Rizzophil · Monday at 7:11 PM

Any insights on the early camp best performers ?

RudyVerse · Monday at 7:34 PM

Rodney Durham (freshman DE), Tae, Miles Graham, Knapp at guard have stood out. I’m sure there are others but those 4 have been called out.

I’m irrationally high on Mylan and think he’ll be WR #1.

allenm5333 · Monday at 7:38 PM

RudyVerse said:
Rodney Durham (freshman DE), Tae, Miles Graham, Knapp at guard have stood out. I’m sure there are others but those 4 have been called out.

I’m irrationally high on Miles and think he’ll be WR #1.

Any news on Mylan Graham?

Dale · Monday at 7:39 PM

They haven’t put pads on yet

T-Boone · Monday at 8:24 PM

I thought Teddy Jarrard was in this years class. Maybe he is but isn't enrolled yet or some such.

2026 Spring Practice Thread

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