2026 Spring Practice Thread

[IRISHbluehen]

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

Correct he enrolls in June because of his reclassification

 

[arrowryan]

Vacation boy is back

 

[2013Irish]

Vacation boy is back

I feel like Sampson gives a hyperbolic take like this every time he sees a practice.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

I feel like Sampson gives a hyperbolic take like this every time he sees a practice.

He's an almost absurdly hyperbolic kind of guy.

 

[NDinNYC]

He's an almost absurdly hyperbolic kind of guy.

Everything [he does] is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire.

 

[hungryhippo]

Everything [he does] is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire.

Look at the homosexuals, Michael!

 

[Ian77]

I feel like Sampson gives a hyperbolic take like this every time he sees a practice.

He's more on the "sunshine pumper" side than the "we're doomed" side, but FWIW, Matt Freeman (who's a lot more even-keeled) echoed those sentiments about the DL.

 

[RudyVerse]

ISD.

Cam Williams has taken a step forward. WRs are fast. Mylan is best route runner. DL looks like trees.

 

[NDFAN2008]

ISD.

Cam Williams has taken a step forward. WRs are fast. Mylan is best route runner. DL looks like trees.

I hope this is the year Williams breaks out he came in as a borderline 5 Star this is year 3 for him?

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

ISD.

Cam Williams has taken a step forward. WRs are fast. Mylan is best route runner. DL looks like trees.

tall and can't move? I told you! - 08

 

[Ian77]

I hope this is the year Williams breaks out he came in as a borderline 5 Star this is year 3 for him?

I think so. He came in with CJ and KVA at the top of their recruiting class.

 

[NDFAN2008]

I think so. He came in with CJ and KVA at the top of their recruiting class.

Would be nice I know Greathouse has 1 more year but I highly doubt he is back after this season. We will lose Faison and Greathouse, need some of the younger guys to step up.

 

[2013Irish]

He's more on the "sunshine pumper" side than the "we're doomed" side, but FWIW, Matt Freeman (who's a lot more even-keeled) echoed those sentiments about the DL.

Interesting. I feel like Sampson is good for a prisoner-of-the-moment doom-and-gloom take. I still remember their episode after Miami (Ohio) 2024 where they basically proclaimed that it was going to be a lost season.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I feel like Sampson gives a hyperbolic take like this every time he sees a practice.

He's an almost absurdly hyperbolic kind of guy.

Am I missing the joke? Sampson is not a sunshine pumper. He basically takes the consensus view on everything, all the time.

If he's saying their is absurd amount of length on the DL, that means "pretty much every respectable coach/insider/commentator with eyes on the program is agreeing that there is absurd amount of length on the DL."

It's the "smart" position, even if it turns out to be wrong.

 

[IrishLax]

This is basically how I feel about WRs:


There is a lot of athleticism and a lot of potential in this group. They could be anything! Even a really productive, NFL caliber WR...

They are replacing two proven veterans. Who here would take Fields + Pauling back for another year in lieu of rolling the dice on the ~8 guys who all combined have much less production than either Fields or Pauling? I don't think many would. I think the vast majority of people would rather go for higher ceiling playmakers. Bring on the mystery box. But I hope we aren't kidding ourselves that the guys they're replacing were quite good when called upon and these are big shoes to fill.

 

[GoldenAura]

I'd be so psyched if Cam Williams finally produces. Fingers crossed.

 

[2013Irish]

I'd be so psyched if Cam Williams finally produces. Fingers crossed.

Maybe he put the ice cream scoop and tiny mic down and got on the jugs machine.

 

[Irish du Nord]

I feel like Sampson gives a hyperbolic take like this every time he sees a practice.

If the team is wearing red

 

[Irish du Nord]

ISD.

Cam Williams has taken a step forward. WRs are fast. Mylan is best route runner. DL looks like trees.

Trees as in huge or trees as in immobile?

 

[GrangerIrish24]

I wasn't positive it was him I saw today, but big Q was at practice today and apparently helped with the o-line. He is a massive human with legs like a wide receiver.

 

[SDIrishFan]

I wasn't positive it was him I saw today, but big Q was at practice today and apparently helped with the o-line. He is a massive human with legs like a wide receiver.

See for yourself.

 

[Irishdawg]

See for yourself.

Love it!!☘️

 

[SDIrishFan]

 

[rtrn2glory]

The physical body type of the WR room compared to 5 years ago is night and day

 

[Crazy Balki]

Am I missing the joke? Sampson is not a sunshine pumper. He basically takes the consensus view on everything, all the time.

If he's saying their is absurd amount of length on the DL, that means "pretty much every respectable coach/insider/commentator with eyes on the program is agreeing that there is absurd amount of length on the DL."

It's the "smart" position, even if it turns out to be wrong.

I think it's length and weight. Both are something ND hasn't really had a lot of, even during their best seasons on the DL in the past decade.

The 2018 line had great length on the edges with Okwara, Kareem, Ade and Hayes, but the interior was fairly light. Tillery was the biggest guy at 6'6 300, then you had 6'1 295 Kurt Hinish manning the nose spot.

In 2020, you again had great length on the edges with Ade, Hayes and Foskey. But you still had the undersized Hinish at nose, plus MTA who was a solid size for a 3T at 6'2 280, but having two guys who average out to around 285 isn't ideal.

In 2024, you had some size with Gabe Rubio when he was healthy at 6'5 315 and Rylie Mills who was 6'5 295. But you had them mixed with 6'1 280 Howard Cross and 6'2 277 Donovan Hinish, and then you lost Mills for the final 3 games of the year. So a lot of times, you had to line up two guys in Cross and Hinish who weighed 280 or less. Not ideal. You also ended up losing one of your longer guys in Traore to injury. So you had decently sized 6'4 Josh Burnham, undersized Loghan Thomas, Junior was 6'2, and true freshman Bryce Young.

This year, you're realistically looking at a 2-deep grouping of 6'4 Traore, 6'6 Young, 6'5 Keeley and somebody like 6'4 Dunham, with some of 6'4 Thomas if he gets his weight up. Meanwhile at tackle, you have the outlier in 6'1 285 Francis Brewu, but outside of that, you have 6'5 300 Onye, 6'5 330 Tionne Gray, 6'3 300 Armel Mukam, 6'3 295 Elijah Hughes and 6'4 300 Chris Burgess. That doesn't even include guys like Sevillano and Dixon, who are only 6'2 but clock in around 315-320.

This is easily the biggest DL unit ND will have fielded in a while.

 

[RudyVerse]

One thing I hope gets coached this summer is our WRs asking for calls. Last couple years watching us and other teams, our guys will not ask for calls no matter how blatant and that's standard practice everywhere else. Don't go full Lebron but letting the refs know you were interfered with is part of the game and nearly always gets you calls later in the game.

 

[T-Boone]

Is Onye 330 now? He was more like 295 last season.
Edit: re read says 300. Sounds better.

 

[T-Boone]

One thing I hope gets coached this summer is our WRs asking for calls. Last couple years watching us and other teams, our guys will not ask for calls no matter how blatant and that's standard practice everywhere else. Don't go full Lebron but letting the refs know you were interfered with is part of the game and nearly always gets you calls later in the game.

Only in big games, such as the Miami game.

 

[calvegas04]

Trees as in huge or trees as in immobile?

Have you ever seen the trees in Lord of the Rings The Two Towers?

 

[MacIrish75]

Pete Sampson: “This roster could compete with the 1985 Chicago Bears.”

Pete Sampson 24 hours later: “This roster could compete with the 1976 Tampa Bay Bucs.”