2026 Fall Camp Thread

[IrishLax]

Based on what? I’ve never seen Micah Gilbert do anything impressive, whether he caught the ball or not I just don’t see it athletically or physically. He caught the standing touchdown at A&M I guess that Charlie Weis would have caught.

I think the staff has also got to look at what they want out of the boundary. Contested catch guy? Deep threat? Both? What about route running and run blocking? Someone might be "better" overall but do they fit with the other pieces?

The way I see it, we don't know who has good body control, who has good hands, who can separate, who has top end speed, etc. etc. Like you go down the list and we have no clue on any of those guys.

People also generally seem to think that Fitzgerald is going to be a baller and was a huge whiff by recruiting services. So if he's already that dude, does he leapfrog everyone?

WR and OL are probably the two most interesting positions for fall camp.

 

[Dale]

The biggest negative on Gilbert for me is Sanders had him in hell at the Spring game. Of course, there is a chance Jayden Sanders would be a Top 5 CB we face all season

 

[Silentkaw]

The biggest negative on Gilbert for me is Sanders had him in hell at the Spring game. Of course, there is a chance Jayden Sanders would be a Top 5 CB we face all season

I don’t remember if Sanders was covering him the whole time but I’m always confused how people are so critical of Gilbert’s play in the spring game. If Carr was accurate on the deep ball that day he easily has over 100 yards.

 

[IAIrish]

I don’t remember if Sanders was covering him the whole time but I’m always confused how people are so critical of Gilbert’s play in the spring game. If Carr was accurate on the deep ball that day he easily has over 100 yards.

That particular play seems to be the microcosm of Gilbert's time at ND. Plenty of talent, but the lack of awareness and compete to come back and fight for the ball... It's there, but it needs to be unlocked and engaged.

 

[Dale]

I don’t remember if Sanders was covering him the whole time but I’m always confused how people are so critical of Gilbert’s play in the spring game. If Carr was accurate on the deep ball that day he easily has over 100 yards.

That play was not a bad job by Gilbert but most of his day he was getting locked up completely. He also had a free release on a vertical that Sanders never seemed worried he would recover and play the ball, so I don’t take that play as particularly indicative positive or negative of Gilbert.

 

[stlnd01]

Gilbert seems fine to be in the rotation but I'm not sure what we've ever seen to indicate he's a plus player. That's true of most of the WRs after Faison and the much-debated Greathouse.
But the good news is there's enough bodies with enough (apparent) talent that a few guys will likely emerge.

 

[greyhammer90]

I think the staff has also got to look at what they want out of the boundary. Contested catch guy? Deep threat? Both? What about route running and run blocking? Someone might be "better" overall but do they fit with the other pieces?

The way I see it, we don't know who has good body control, who has good hands, who can separate, who has top end speed, etc. etc. Like you go down the list and we have no clue on any of those guys.

People also generally seem to think that Fitzgerald is going to be a baller and was a huge whiff by recruiting services. So if he's already that dude, does he leapfrog everyone?

WR and OL are probably the two most interesting positions for fall camp.

I was listening to Cover 3 podcast the other day and a question was asked "who will be the big breakout WR Freshman this year" and Chip Patterson brought up Fitzgerald out of nowhere. Basically said that he'll get attention because of his name and said he probably won't be a huge breakout this year but ND is excited about his future. I just thought it was interesting because it's not like Chip is particularly knowledgable about ND. For him to be talking to an ND insider about Fitzgerald means that ND insider must've brought Fitzgerald up.

 

[allenm5333]

Co

I was listening to Cover 3 podcast the other day and a question was asked "who will be the big breakout WR Freshman this year" and Chip Patterson brought up Fitzgerald out of nowhere. Basically said that he'll get attention because of his name and said he probably won't be a huge breakout this year but ND is excited about his future. I just thought it was interesting because it's not like Chip is particularly knowledgable about ND. For him to be talking to an ND insider about Fitzgerald means that ND insider must've brought Fitzgerald up.

Cover 3 is a great national/big picture pod. But they are just attracted to the name here

 

[greyhammer90]

Co

Cover 3 is a great national/big picture pod. But they are just attracted to the name here

I'm sure thats why he remembered it, but the point is that based on his comments it sounded like someone at ND had brought him up to Chip. I think that's notable in and of itself.

 

[ozzman]

I'm sure thats why he remembered it, but the point is that based on his comments it sounded like someone at ND had brought him up to Chip. I think that's notable in and of itself.

Remember that Andy and Ari were talking about Fitzgerald in the spring when video of his amazing catch came out.

 

[Wild Bill]

I was listening to Cover 3 podcast the other day and a question was asked "who will be the big breakout WR Freshman this year" and Chip Patterson brought up Fitzgerald out of nowhere. Basically said that he'll get attention because of his name and said he probably won't be a huge breakout this year but ND is excited about his future. I just thought it was interesting because it's not like Chip is particularly knowledgable about ND. For him to be talking to an ND insider about Fitzgerald means that ND insider must've brought Fitzgerald up.

I think O'Malley mentioned Fitz during one of his interviews with the Cover 3 guys, adn that probably caught Chip's attention.

 

[IrishLax]

I was listening to Cover 3 podcast the other day and a question was asked "who will be the big breakout WR Freshman this year" and Chip Patterson brought up Fitzgerald out of nowhere. Basically said that he'll get attention because of his name and said he probably won't be a huge breakout this year but ND is excited about his future. I just thought it was interesting because it's not like Chip is particularly knowledgable about ND. For him to be talking to an ND insider about Fitzgerald means that ND insider must've brought Fitzgerald up.

The way people talk about him reminds me of Leonard Moore where Ben Mo was like "oh yeah he's the real deal, he will be even better than I am" and you have no idea whether it is fake hype or not. Some guys just pop.

What I don't understand is that -- given his name, and everything else -- if he was that good how are you a 3-star? Like shouldn't he have been over-rated if anything?

I guess Joe Alt is another example of having great pedigree + checking all the boxes and still being a 3-star for no reason.

 

[NDPhilly]

I think fitz’s big question ? Is just speed / athleticism. Seems like a sure thing to be a late round draft pick dependable boundary WR at worst, but does he have the athletics to become a day 1 or 2 guy

 

[Rocketman84]

Your point 1 cost us the first two games last year and no one can convince me otherwise. How did they not recognize that Tae Johnson was a budding star and instead played a safety that was clearly better in the box and was just a step too slow

That and the penchant for the playmakers not getting enough touches in "big games"

 

[NDFAN2008]

It was brought up on the Irish Illustrated that Burgess won't be ready for fall camp, any idea what happened?

 

[allenm5333]

It was brought up on the Irish Illustrated that Burgess won't be ready for fall camp, any idea what happened?

Based off this and IB, seems like an injury from workouts

 

[Ricochet]

Based off this and IB, seems like an injury from workouts

I think fitz’s big question ? Is just speed / athleticism. Seems like a sure thing to be a late round draft pick dependable boundary WR at worst, but does he have the athletics to become a day 1 or 2 guy

Before his Senior season the knock on him was the speed and athleticism was just meh! but took a significant jump as a senior hence going from unranked 3 star to 4 star. These next few years we will see how much the S&C jumps his game to go with his route running and hands.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

It was brought up on the Irish Illustrated that Burgess won't be ready for fall camp, any idea what happened?

Reclassified to WR

Sorry, drinking has been going well tonight.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

Top WRs in receiving yards:

1. Faison
2. Graham
3. Greathouse
4. Porter
5. Gilbert
6. Frazier
7. Finley
8. Williams
9. Burress
10. Fitzgerald

 

[PolishDomer]

Top WRs in receiving yards:

1. Faison
2. Graham
3. Greathouse
4. Porter
5. Gilbert
6. Frazier
7. Finley
8. Williams
9. Burress
10. Fitzgerald

11. Burgess-reclassified to Jumbo WR

 

[irishandy]

I am all in for Gilbert to start at boundry- why no love? He will be a junior, if not now, when? Hopefully his high school film will translate to the college field.

Dunham for freak alert- hell yes, I was sold on him after the B&G game.

Premer for freak alert- I think he could be a break out freshman.

44 more days!

 

[PolishDomer]