2026 Spring Practice Thread

[Rocketman84]

Both Freshman are Top 10 at RB in the nation, no?

Both should've been top 5-6....very legit backs with different skillsets

 

[NDpendent]

We might make it the whole season without allowing a TD

 

[Irishcop]

I just want to see Young in goal line packages. Dude is built like a tank.

 

[Rocketman84]

I just want to see Young in goal line packages. Dude is built like a tank.

Wait til you see Walton, guy is built like a tank but with Corvette wheels.

 

[BilboBaggins]

Wait til you see Walton, guy is built like a tank but with Corvette wheels.

My particular type of autism knows this would be a terrible tank. T-34 would wreck its shit.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Wait til you see Walton, guy is built like a tank but with Corvette wheels.

He’s the Tumbler.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

A 240 pound back will be nice inside the 5 yard line though.

 

[FOTY977]

We might make it the whole season without allowing a TD

Would be a great counter point to the SoS criticism

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Wait til you see Walton, guy is built like a tank but with Corvette wheels.

He reminds me a lot of Jonas Gray, who is one of my all time favorites.

 

[SoIll]

Don't be surprised if Nolan James is RB1.

 

[CousinEddy]

With the news of Gray, what’s the O/U on PPG the D gives up next year?

 

[rtrn2glory]

Defensive depth and competition is going to be ridiculous.. Hopefully everyone gets and stays healthy

 

[notredomer23]

With the news of Gray, what’s the O/U on PPG the D gives up next year?

ND's 2024 scoring defense was 15.5 PPG and I think that is an appropriate number if schedules were the same, but 2026 is softer. Adjusted for that, maybe 13.5?

 

[NDpendent]

ND's 2024 scoring defense was 15.5 PPG and I think that is an appropriate number if schedules were the same, but 2026 is softer. Adjusted for that, maybe 13.5?

This defense will be better the 2024 team and with a much softer schedule. Plus it being Freemans revenge tour... I know this sounds crazy but getting under 10 might actually be possible with this team.

 

[KPENN]

Over 7 months until a ND game

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Would be a great counter point to the SoS criticism

I don't worry about SoS until the games are played. Everyone thought the '24 schedule was going to be a gauntlet with preseason top 10 USC and FSU on the docket, and it turned out to pretty much be cake. You just never know, especially in the portal era.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Jamie at ISD said Vernon will never play at ND. Apparently he’s just not very good.

Slim him down a little, make him a Goal line FB and special teams ace?

At that point, why would team try?

 

[Rocketman84]

He reminds me a lot of Jonas Gray, who is one of my all time favorites.

Funny you say that, I said that after watching his highlights the first time. Gray was a stud who was under-utilized by us and should've started as a Soph, then lit up the NFL in his 3 starts then disappeared. Walton is a little lighter than Gray but both had those squatty, thick lower half and plenty of power matched with sprinter's speed. As fast as Gray was Walton is on another level in the top end speed department.

 

[NDisme]

Don't be surprised if Nolan James is RB1.

Based on the limited time I saw (I know maybe like 5 carriers) I’d still be surprised

 

[WildMan1]

Don't be surprised if Nolan James is RB1.

Leaping Aneyas would be a huge accomplishment.

 

[Rocketman84]

Based on the limited time I saw (I know maybe like 5 carriers) I’d still be surprised

Not a chance, more of a chance he's 3rd guy than 1st

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Funny you say that, I said that after watching his highlights the first time. Gray was a stud who was under-utilized by us and should've started as a Soph, then lit up the NFL in his 3 starts then disappeared. Walton is a little lighter than Gray but both had those squatty, thick lower half and plenty of power matched with sprinter's speed. As fast as Gray was Walton is on another level in the top end speed department.

Gray was big enough that DB's tackling him high in stride wasn't going to work, and he could outrun most linebackers. Didn't particularly great lateral agility but had just enough juke that a safety coming downhill at speed would often take a bad angle. When he went down with the knee injury after finally starting becoming the guy I was absolutely heartbroken for him.

Javian Osbourne is my guy but Walton is someone to keep an eye on for sure.

 

[JamIrish]

Slim him down a little, make him a Goal line FB and special teams ace?

At that point, why would team try?

Not even joking, I would love ND to do this. Georgia and Bama use to line up 300lb DTs by the goalline and have them ram into linebackers.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Not even joking, I would love ND to do this. Georgia and Bama use to line up 300lb DTs by the goalline and have them ram into linebackers.

I wasn't joking at all. Couple that with our goal line/short yardage struggles last year?

 

[Rocketman84]

Gray was big enough that DB's tackling him high in stride wasn't going to work, and he could outrun most linebackers. Didn't particularly great lateral agility but had just enough juke that a safety coming downhill at speed would often take a bad angle. When he went down with the knee injury after finally starting becoming the guy I was absolutely heartbroken for him.

Javian Osbourne is my guy but Walton is someone to keep an eye on for sure.

Absolutely, and Gray could fly he ran a 10.7h as a JR at 213 lbs now we have Walton running around 10.5 FAT at 205-210 lbs. Walton is a shifter version of Gray but both studs. My heart hurt for him when he had a 1000yd season going and was averaging about 7 ypc and 12-13 TDs for that injury to happen. I really think he would've been a 3rd Rd pick after a great combine and changed the trajectory of his Pro career.

 

[JamIrish]

I wasn't joking at all. Couple that with our goal line/short yardage struggles last year?

Just thinking about 1st and goal from the 2, ND in their "Jumbo Shamrock" formation with Gray lined up in front of Young. The Right side has 335 Absher and 340 Lambert, then we pull 335lb Jagusah...330lb Gray comes crashing in...you or I could walked in the endzone!

 

[BeatSC]

Absolutely, and Gray could fly he ran a 10.7h as a JR at 213 lbs now we have Walton running around 10.5 FAT at 205-210 lbs. Walton is a shifter version of Gray but both studs. My heart hurt for him when he had a 1000yd season going and was averaging about 7 ypc and 12-13 TDs for that injury to happen. I really think he would've been a 3rd Rd pick after a great combine and changed the trajectory of his Pro career.

He had that all pro game one week at New England and made the cover of SI but apparently got too big for his britches right after that and subsequently got humbled by Belechik and didn’t do much after that. I still can’t forget the goal line fumble against USF. Should crushing.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

ND's 2024 scoring defense was 15.5 PPG and I think that is an appropriate number if schedules were the same, but 2026 is softer. Adjusted for that, maybe 13.5?

This defense will be better the 2024 team and with a much softer schedule. Plus it being Freemans revenge tour... I know this sounds crazy but getting under 10 might actually be possible with this team.

Remember that we "think" this will be a potent offense. If that's the case and if ND can build large leads, there will be a higher number of snaps for the rotational players for development. There will also probably be less slow, methodical drives, also tilting Time of Possession and giving the other team opportunities to score.

The numbers likely won't tell the full story here.

 

[Rocketman84]

He had that all pro game one week at New England and made the cover of SI but apparently got too big for his britches right after that and subsequently got humbled by Belechik and didn’t do much after that. I still can’t forget the goal line fumble against USF. Should crushing.

He ran for damn near 100yds right before that and after that 200yd game he got the ball ONCE after the bye week.....Befuddling

 

[Rocketman84]

Back where we belong on top of the talent mountain!

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