2026 Fall Camp Thread

Irish#1 · Aug 24, 2026

KPENN said:
He’s quickly rising up my poster power rankings. I’ll take him over the ones that only post when there’s something negative

POY quality my friends.

Jiggafini19Deux · Aug 24, 2026

If Williams is 1 and James is 2, that should be enough. The chatter about Walton and Young gives me a lot of optimism, though.

Dale · Aug 24, 2026

NDdomer2 said:
I was just trying to point out that we should feel good about our group because the staff clearly felt good about it or they would have done something to address.

You could argue they had a glaring hole at CB and didn’t even try to address it last season, for example

Depends how far back in history we wanna go. This was Martin’s first portal class so somewhat a new page turned regardless

Me2SouthBend · Aug 24, 2026

RudyVerse said:
RB is the least of my worries. There’s really no easier position to replace if you’ve recruited well and have some upper class men.

Great RBs rarely return unless they’re 5* sophomores and have no choice.

Does this mean we can’t have a poor RB? Strange take.

Wild Bill · Aug 24, 2026

My biggest concern with the backs is whether they can pass block. I know Williams can - I’m not sure about the guys behind him. I’d only play backs who can be trusted in pass pro. Carr is far more valuable than anything any of them can provide on the ground.

SarasotaJoe · Aug 24, 2026

NDFAN2008 said:
Good thing the only offense with a pulse our defense will face is Miami and maybe BYU. SMU should be okay, everyone else will be dog shit.

Wisconsin will field a stout defense.

NDdomer2 · Aug 24, 2026

Dale said:
You could argue they had a glaring hole at CB and didn’t even try to address it last season, for example

Depends how far back in history we wanna go. This was Martin’s first portal class so somewhat a new page turned regardless

Certainly wouldn't go back to anything Kelly, and looking more towards probably since Hartman when I would say we clearly made a decision on participating in portal.

notredomer23 · Aug 24, 2026

I keep hearing Wisconsin is going to have a strong defense.

In their base 2-4-5 defense, they are starting 7 first year transfers. In the 2 deep, there are 12 first year transfers.

Mason Posa is a stud. The rest of that defense could end up being pretty average. Week 1 with no time gel against the top offense on their schedule should be fun for them.

allenm5333 · Aug 24, 2026

notredomer23 said:
I keep hearing Wisconsin is going to have a strong defense.

In their base 2-4-5 defense, they are starting 7 first year transfers. In the 2 deep, there are 12 first year transfers.

Mason Posa is a stud. The rest of that defense could end up being pretty average. Week 1 with no time gel against the top offense on their schedule should be fun for them.

Irish illustrated pod talked about how the transfers are causing some cohesion problems. Seems more offense oriented but still has to leak over to defense

Crazy Balki · Aug 24, 2026

notredomer23 said:
I keep hearing Wisconsin is going to have a strong defense.

In their base 2-4-5 defense, they are starting 7 first year transfers. In the 2 deep, there are 12 first year transfers.

Mason Posa is a stud. The rest of that defense could end up being pretty average. Week 1 with no time gel against the top offense on their schedule should be fun for them.

I think it generally stems from it being a Fickell squad. He's consistently had really good defenses.

Same with Wisconsin. Consistently stout defenses, but the offense has been a dumpster fire lately.

402puck · Aug 24, 2026

GrangerIrish24 said:
I wonder who’s going number 2….

That's usually the time I'm reading IE, actually

Dale · Aug 24, 2026

I would expect they will have a Top 25 - 50 defense

EDIT: FEI - Defense under Fickell: 23, 32, 36, 26

so maybe more like 20 - 40 most likely

Some Irish Bloke · Aug 24, 2026

SarasotaJoe said:
Wisconsin will field a stout defense.

They were ranked 39th in PPG against last year (21.6), 27th in YPG (323.5). 35th in SP+. So, certainly solid. Stout? Idk. Lot of new players coming into week 1 against ND, though. I agree that Wisconsin and Fickell generally have good defenses, but I'd like to argue "stout."

They gave up 31 to IU, 34 to OSU, 38 to Bama, and 37 to Iowa (!). Outlier holding Oregon to 21, that's pretty solid. All of these teams were ranked top 20 in SP+ and Majority of them were top 15 in Offense SP+ (Bama 36, Iowa 37).

They were outscored 161-28 in those games.

Stout defense against cheap competition. Paper tiger against top 25 opponents.

Dale · Aug 24, 2026

Crazy Balki said:
He's consistently had really good defenses.

I guess if really good = extremely average for a B1G team

Marcus Freeman had really good defense when they were at UC 😉

NDFAN2008 · Aug 24, 2026

I'm glad we play Wisconsin on the road and Michigan State both teams should give us some fits for the first 1.5 quarters then it should be all belt to ass after that .

IrishFanForever23 · Aug 24, 2026

allenm5333 said:
Irish illustrated pod talked about how the transfers are causing some cohesion problems. Seems more offense oriented but still has to leak over to defense

Cohesion issues on the ND side or Wisky side?

allenm5333 · Aug 24, 2026

IrishFanForever23 said:
Cohesion issues on the ND side or Wisky side?

Wisky. Sorry. They had a massive influx of transfers.

irish4ever · Aug 24, 2026

Some Irish Bloke said:
They were ranked 39th in PPG against last year (21.6), 27th in YPG (323.5). 35th in SP+. So, certainly solid. Stout? Idk. Lot of new players coming into week 1 against ND, though. I agree that Wisconsin and Fickell generally have good defenses, but I'd like to argue "stout."

They gave up 31 to IU, 34 to OSU, 38 to Bama, and 37 to Iowa (!). Outlier holding Oregon to 21, that's pretty solid. All of these teams were ranked top 20 in SP+ and Majority of them were top 15 in Offense SP+ (Bama 36, Iowa 37).

They were outscored 161-28 in those games.

Stout defense against cheap competition. Paper tiger against top 25 opponents.

We need Ryan Roberts take on this though.

calvegas04 · Aug 24, 2026

NDFAN2008 said:
I'm glad we play Wisconsin on the road and Michigan State both teams should give us some fits for the first 1.5 quarters then it should be all belt to ass after that .

Please let's not use that term. I only think of that coke head on the miami sidelines when hearing it.

Dale · Aug 24, 2026

Mukam is first off the bus even with Gray:

Irish du Nord · Aug 24, 2026

calvegas04 said:
Please let's not use that term. I only think of that coke head on the miami sidelines when hearing it.

You're going to have to be more specific on this one...

Crazy Balki · Aug 24, 2026

calvegas04 said:
Please let's not use that term. I only think of that coke head on the miami sidelines when hearing it.

do-you-have-any-idea-how-little-that-narrows-it-down-blight.gif

Dale · Aug 24, 2026

Hansen expects Grubbs to be the initial QB2. Jarrard just doesn’t have aa extensive playbook to be called upon as of today.

Also expects Craig, Otting and Absher to play to start

- haven’t we done this every year under Rudolph now if so? This may be the only way it makes sense to have Otting take RG snaps.

https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/news/irish-intel-inside-notre-dames-qb2-race-five-more-answers-shaping-nds-title-ambitions/

allenm5333 · Aug 24, 2026

Dale said:
Hansen expects Grubbs to be the initial QB2. Jarrard just doesn’t have aa extensive playbook to be called upon as of today.

Also expects Craig, Otting and Absher to play to start

- haven’t we done this every year under Rudolph now if so? This may be the only way it makes sense to have Otting take RG snaps.

https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/news/irish-intel-inside-notre-dames-qb2-race-five-more-answers-shaping-nds-title-ambitions/

I am a little confused with your wording of the OL here

Rizzophil · Aug 24, 2026

I think he means that they will all play

Dale · Aug 24, 2026

allenm5333 said:
I am a little confused with your wording of the OL here

All 3 will play to start the season.

Haven’t we done this (rotation at OG) to start each season? Rotating at RG is the only way repping Otting at RG might make sense

Rocketman84 · Aug 24, 2026

Chino Cherokee said:
Number One Defensive Player in College.
L. Moore/Simmons

Number One Quarterback in College.
D. Moore/Chambliss/Carr/Manning

Number One Offense in College. Texas

Number One Defense in College. ND

Number One Head Coach in College. Smart/Cignetti/Lanning/MF

There, I said it!

allenm5333 · Aug 24, 2026

Dale said:
All 3 will play to start the season.

Haven’t we done this (rotation at OG) to start each season? Rotating at RG is the only way repping Otting at RG might make sense

Last year we did. Year before I think we started multiple guys at the guard positions (Pendleton, Billy, Rocci, and Coogan).

so the rotation could be Otting and Craig v. Craig and Sully?

Old Man Mike · Aug 24, 2026

Could Coach Rudolph mean that the three rotations are:
1. Otting (C) // Abshur (RG);
2. Otting (C) // Craig (RG);
3. Craig (C) // Abshur (RG).

Otting NOT playing RG, and Abshur NOT playing C?

I have difficulty with Rudolph/Freeman NOT playing Craig because he is the Natural Leader. So, my "rotation #1" would not exist, unless Craig was hurt.

allenm5333 · Aug 24, 2026

Old Man Mike said:
Could Coach Rudolph mean that the three rotations are:
1. Otting (C) // Abshur (RG);
2. Otting (C) // Craig (RG);
3. Craig (C) // Abshur (RG).

Otting NOT playing RG, and Abshur NOT playing C?

I have difficulty with Rudolph/Freeman NOT playing Craig because he is the Natural Leader. So, my "rotation #1" would not exist, unless Craig was hurt.

This is where i stand. If healthy, Craig is in the best 5. I think week 3 ol will tell us more than the week 1 ol as they could want to ease Craig back in. I do hate rushing centers though

2026 Fall Camp Thread

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