2026 Fall Camp Thread

[BigErnMcCracken]

I know I have a reputation as a bedwetter (undeserved IMO) but doesn’t anybody else have massive concerns about the receivers? The II guys were talking up Matt Jeffrey of all people lol

Your reputation is most assuredly deserved.

 

[arrowryan]

I think the last two national champions will have had 2 first round picks each when all is said and done

Either way I Faison is probably a Day 2 pick and either OSU has that Day 1 potential. If you’re talking ND natty, one of the two OSU transfers will have to be a big hit.

Yes, Omar Cooper was a back end first round pick. But 60/900 isn’t exactly alpha numbers imo.

 

[greyhammer90]

It's so funny to think that a decade ago our guys were going to a converted summercamp. This looks like Hard Knocks.

 

[calvegas04]

It's so funny to think that a decade ago our guys were going to a converted summercamp. This looks like Hard Knocks.

That was more of a team building thing though. I didn't mind it, I also enjoy this approach as well

 

[IAIrish]

Mylan Graham is just a wild card. Obviously don’t expect him to be a star this year, but he’s likely going to be the go to guy on CJ’s many deep balls.

Beat me to it, Philly. Graham is in for a big season with Carr throwing to him and Denbrock a master at finding slot matchups.

He's 20lbs heavier, but always reminded me of DeVonta Smith with how he moves on the field. The beat saw it on the first day of spring- this cat moves at a different pace from the rest...

 

[irishjim]

That new cafeteria is going to make lives sooooo much easier.

 

[T-Boone]

Is Matt Jeffrey the next Chris Fink. That would be okay - although hopefully he is more of a 5th option rather than 2nd option as Fink seemed to be.

 

[NDPhilly]

The beat is talking about the talent level on defense like they can’t believe their eyes. Just NFL athletes / body types everywhere.

 

[arrowryan]

The beat is talking about the talent level on defense like they can’t believe their eyes. Just NFL athletes / body types everywhere.

I fell victim to this last year. Not saying they’re wrong. Everything points to this defense being extremely good: returning DC, loads of returning production, NFL talent, etc.

I just need to see it against an actual opponent first. Miami and A&M forever changed how I view a practice.

 

[EvilleIrish]

I fell victim to this last year. Not saying they’re wrong. Everything points to this defense being extremely good: returning DC, loads of returning production, NFL talent, etc.

I just need to see it against an actual opponent first. Miami and A&M forever changed how I view a practice.

Never forget the James Rendell love.....

 

[IrishFanForever23]

It's one rep, but it was tough seeing Porter perform in that drill.

I cringed watching that and seeing the reports say he's clearly not even close is depressing.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Never forget the James Rendell love.....

Rendell was a solid player, dummy. Good Lord, man, you are one sour guy.

 

[IAIrish]

Never forget the James Rendell love.....

You should hear what they said about Jasper Scaiffe after 1 practice.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

The II podcast after the first practice was undoubtedly the most enthusiastic and positive I’ve heard from that group. They were absolutely overflowing with excitement. I hope that is a precursor to how well the season will go.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

You should hear what they said about Jasper Scaiffe after 1 practice.

II said Scaife’s worst kick was like Schmidt’s best kick……and that he was substantially better than Rendell out of the gate.

 

[Katzenboyer]

The thing I've read across numerous recaps is that there weren't many dumb mistakes, communication errors, etc.

It seems like the team really is locked in. Really encouraging.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I fell victim to this last year. Not saying they’re wrong. Everything points to this defense being extremely good: returning DC, loads of returning production, NFL talent, etc.

I just need to see it against an actual opponent first. Miami and A&M forever changed how I view a practice.

I mean ND did have NFL bodies all over the field on defense last year. And Miami wasn't a trainwreck; we held a pretty good offense to around 340 yards (if I remember correctly). A&M and the first half of Purdue were trainwrecks, you're not wrong about that.

But it look like they figured it out and pretty much from that point on, they were lockdown. I get the skepticism to start, but if this team is equally/more talented than 2025, and now has comfort with the scheme, we should expect dominance.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I cringed watching that and seeing the reports say he's clearly not even close is depressing.

To be fair, we should have immediately tempered expectations once "patellar tendon" was thrown out with Porter in the spring.

 

[Rocketman84]

I think when you look at the nadir of Notre Dame receivers... the situation we saw from 2022-2024, specifically... those guys from past teams would not even sniff the lineup relative to these WRs. No offense to Rico Flores, Chris Tyree, Jayden Thomas, Kris Mitchell, etc etc but those guys are not even in the two deep on this team.

I am skeptical of Porter because I have heard nothing encouraging and I think his knee was more fucked up than people thought.

Everyone else I am optimistic about. I think Graham and Faison will both be top tier guys. Then you have a bunch of young dudes who probably have NFL style upside, plus veterans like Gilbert and Williams who might show something. Hand to god I think Bettis Jr. is probably more talented than Rico Flores and he's like our 9th WR on the depth chart right now.

I agree with 90% of that but this...

 

[Rocketman84]

Beat me to it, Philly. Graham is in for a big season with Carr throwing to him and Denbrock a master at finding slot matchups.

He's 20lbs heavier, but always reminded me of DeVonta Smith with how he moves on the field. The beat saw it on the first day of spring- this cat moves at a different pace from the rest...

Frazier does as well

 

[NDPhilly]

I fell victim to this last year. Not saying they’re wrong. Everything points to this defense being extremely good: returning DC, loads of returning production, NFL talent, etc.

I just need to see it against an actual opponent first. Miami and A&M forever changed how I view a practice.

I think it’s undeniable this is the most talent-rich defense in the last 30 years. And last year the defense played like a borderline top 5 unit after week 2, and really wasnt that bad against a Miami team that went to the title game (Held them to 3.5 ypc and 6.8 y/a in the air).

If 2026 isnt a top 3 unit in the country we are underperforming.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Rendell was a solid player, dummy. Good Lord, man, you are one sour guy.

He was 109th in punting in 2024....dummy. Information has never been easier to find.

 

[Dale]

The first two games last year were plagued by injuries and starting players that shouldn’t have been.

The advantage of this year, is Tae Johnson isn’t going to be on the bench regardless. They’ve also sured up depth at CB in the event of injury. We also already know potentially our backup nickel is better than last years backup nickel.

So you can believe what you want from the beat, but their are some objective truths as to why 2026 is different than WK 1 2025.

 

[Irish Norseman]

He was 109th in punting in 2024....dummy. Information has never been easier to find.

I don’t have a dog in the fight but I can’t stand by this. The dude had ZERO touchbacks on punts and placed half of his punts inside the 20 yd line. Context matters. Do better.

 

[Wild Bill]

Stop arguing about the punter lads. We're not puntin.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Re: the defense. We're forgetting stuff again. Marcus came out after the second loss and said that the staff cost us. We, the staff, he said, were not intensely enough on the job. We, the staff, were letting things go in practice. Example specifically cited: DBs and LBs were not being challenged in detail with the characteristics (ex. speed on breaks) of specific opponents (Coach BKs famous "attention-to-detail" was not there on the defensive coaching side. Do we not remember how much we were griping about Ash?) Marcus said that he was (in kinder, but not much kinder, words) laying the hammer down on moment-by-moment attitudes in practice. Subtle comments came later as the season progressed about the team playing differently and the players liking the new way/schemes more.

Bottomline: it wasn't just the first two opponents who were different. We changed. I think that Freeman got on Ash and his crew about detail and intensity.

 

[tirishman505]

An impression I had in the first two games which i don't see talked about much: it took the captains awhile to step up. Bowen and Shuler in particular looked tentative and played below what they were capable of. Stepping in Watts' and Kiser's shoes couldn't have been easy, and it felt like that they were overwhelmed a bit. I don't expect that to repeat this year.

 

[Silentkaw]

What time is practice today. I know the media has limited viewing today.

 

[Kingbish01]

My bold prediction is Williams is going to have us all forgetting about the loss of Love and Price very quick.

 

[greyhammer90]

My bold prediction is Williams is going to have us all forgetting about the loss of Love and Price very quick.

That is bold I'll give you that.