2026 Spring Practice Thread

[IRISHbluehen]

This is fascinating, could be an avenue for Onye if hes denied. Don't really know what that would mean for regaining his eligibility though.

 

[AnothaOne]

The starting line should really be:
LT Will Black
LG Anthonie Knapp
C Ashton Craig/Joe Otting
RG Charles Jagusah
RT Guerby Lambert
However, I'm not confident that Rudolph moves Knapp. If the line underperforms/struggles against good competition then Rudolph should be fired. It's too talented of a room.

 

[dankgesang]

The starting line should really be:
LT Will Black
LG Anthonie Knapp
C Ashton Craig/Joe Otting
RG Charles Jagusah
RT Guerby Lambert
However, I'm not confident that Rudolph moves Knapp. If the line underperforms/struggles against good competition then Rudolph should be fired. It's too talented of a room.

 

[Rocketman84]

The starting line should really be:
LT Will Black
LG Anthonie Knapp
C Ashton Craig/Joe Otting
RG Charles Jagusah
RT Guerby Lambert
However, I'm not confident that Rudolph moves Knapp. If the line underperforms/struggles against good competition then Rudolph should be fired. It's too talented of a room.

💯

 

[irishnd31]

The starting line should really be:
LT Will Black
LG Anthonie Knapp
C Ashton Craig/Joe Otting
RG Charles Jagusah
RT Guerby Lambert
However, I'm not confident that Rudolph moves Knapp. If the line underperforms/struggles against good competition then Rudolph should be fired. It's too talented of a room.

Let this be remembered as the very first Rudolph firing post. 7 months before he even coaches in his first ND game. Love Thee IE.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

The starting line should really be:
LT Will Black
LG Anthonie Knapp
C Ashton Craig/Joe Otting
RG Charles Jagusah
RT Guerby Lambert
However, I'm not confident that Rudolph moves Knapp. If the line underperforms/struggles against good competition then Rudolph should be fired. It's too talented of a room.

Interesting first post.

Since we're just throwing out starting line-ups without being at practice or knowing positional strengths:
LT: Will Black/Augustine
LG: Charles Jagusah
C: Craig/Otting
RG: Guerby Lambert
RT: Anthonie Knapp

I don't hate the idea of Guerby being a tackle but I like the idea of two experienced offensive linemen together on the right and Jagusah being on the side of the new tackle. And I hope we see a couple of additional guys push for snaps. I can't guess who since we haven't heard much info volunteered.

Rudolph should not be fired. He's recruiting well and he's been doing a really good job despite losing a number of starters the past two years. We've been down 2-3 starters for most of the year in 24 and 25. Here's hoping we can see a consistent starting 5 for all of 26/27.

 

[stlnd01]

Yeah I dunno why we're firing Rudolph today. He's a good coach.

I don't know enough about the intricacies of OL play, but Lambert looks like a guy who was born to play tackle, while it feels like Knapp's best chance of making it at the next level would be inside. Which is why I would tend to think that AnothaOne's lineup is the best lineup we could put out there.

But, clearly the staff trusts Knapp and if they feel like having him at tackle gives us the best chance to win all the games, OK. He doesn't suck either.

 

[PolishDomer]

The starting line should really be:
LT Will Black
LG Anthonie Knapp
C Ashton Craig/Joe Otting
RG Charles Jagusah
RT Guerby Lambert
However, I'm not confident that Rudolph moves Knapp. If the line underperforms/struggles against good competition then Rudolph should be fired. It's too talented of a room.

Im very curious...seems we have a lot of OL depth..how about moving 2 of these guys to DT?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Again, Knapp was more than solid after the Miami game. The grades and stats bare that out regardless of the average eyeball test not doing that for some. I don't understand why you move him from LOT and replace him with a freshman who played garbage time in two November blowouts and once on special teams.

If Freeman, Denbrock and Rudolph determine that's the best move for next year, so be it, but I have a difficult time sitting here myself asking for that move as a fan. They see these guys every day. I'll patiently await what it all looks like for Wisconsin.

 

[stpeteirish]

Gee other guy moving Knapp. And the sun came up again today.
What‘s different is this guy wants to fire Rudolph if he doesn’t and we “underperform”.
Upping the ante

 

[PolishDomer]

Fire Rudolph? For what? The OL has performed well...Jagusah has had bizarre luck with his injuries and there has been no recent discussion on his recovery...im concerned that his injury was very severe...

 

[allenm5333]

The starting line should really be:
LT Will Black
LG Anthonie Knapp
C Ashton Craig/Joe Otting
RG Charles Jagusah
RT Guerby Lambert
However, I'm not confident that Rudolph moves Knapp. If the line underperforms/struggles against good competition then Rudolph should be fired. It's too talented of a room.

can switch right side imo or keep it. But everything else is correct

 

[AnothaOne]

I haven’t argued for Rudolph’s firing before because he’s dealt with numerous injuries and has, understandably, had to move guys around. However, Will Black practicing at Guard is coaching malpractice. He’s a tackle. Guerby’s natural position is at tackle and should be kicked outside. Jagusah has proven that he can be an incredibly effective tackle and even an all American guard but I hear people’s concerns about his injury history. Point is that Knapp has consistently struggled in big games, particularly in pass pro. When you have the talent of Guerby, Black, and Jagusah you should not be continuing to put Knapp on an island at tackle. His strength is run blocking and should be put inside and let one of the more natural tackles play there

 

[Crazy Balki]

I haven’t argued for Rudolph’s firing before because he’s dealt with numerous injuries and has, understandably, had to move guys around. However, Will Black practicing at Guard is coaching malpractice. He’s a tackle. Guerby’s natural position is at tackle and should be kicked outside. Jagusah has proven that he can be an incredibly effective tackle and even an all American guard but I hear people’s concerns about his injury history. Point is that Knapp has consistently struggled in big games, particularly in pass pro. When you have the talent of Guerby, Black, and Jagusah you should not be continuing to put Knapp on an island at tackle. His strength is run blocking and should be put inside and let one of the more natural tackles play there

Knapp has very limited experience inside, despite his size. He had a rough game to start the year, dealing with heat exhaustion while having to square up against Reuben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, but he was very good the rest of the year.

Jagusah will start at guard. I know there's concerns about his injuries, but they were both freak injuries, and not indicative of chronic issues like, if he had multiple knee tears.

Obviously, the staff thinks Knapp is an excellent tackle, and moving him inside isn't in either party's best interest. Black is just an insane overall talent, but if you have Knapp and Lambert at the tackle spots, you get him in, because he's that talented and he can dominate at guard and then bump out to tackle when Knapp and/or Lambert leave.

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

Quarterback (4)

CJ Carr (3)
Blake Hebert (4)
Noah Grubbs (4, EE)
Teddy Jarrard (4, Summer Enrollee)

Runningback (5 - 9)

Aneyas Williams (2)
Kedren Young (3)
Nolan James (4)
Javian Osborne (4, EE)
Jonaz Walton (4, EE)

Wide Receiver (17 - 26)

Jordan Faison (1)
Jaden Greathouse (2)
Alex Whitman (2, PWO)
Mylan Graham (3)
Micah Gilbert (3)
Cam Williams (3)
Logan Saldate (3)
Xavier Southall (3, PWO)
Matt Jeffrey (3, PWO)
Quincy Porter (4)
Jerome Bettis Jr (4)
Elijah Burress (4)
Kaydon Finley (4, EE)
Devin Fitzgerald (4, EE)
Dylan Faison (4, EE)
Brayden Robison (4, EE)
Bubba Frazier (4, EE)

Tight End (7 - 33)

Ty Washington (1)
Cooper Flanagan (2)
Henry Garrity (2, PWO)
Jack Larsen (3)
James Flanigan (4)
Ian Premer (4, Summer Enrollee)
Preston Fryzel (4, EE)

Offensive Lineman (22 - 55)

Ashton Craig (1)
Charles Jagusah (2)
Chris Terek (2)
Sullivan Absher (2)
Joe Otting (2)
Anthonie Knapp (2)
Devan Houstan (2)
Guerby Lambert (3)
Styles Prescod (3)
Peter Jones (3)
Robbie Wollan (3, PWO)
Max Anderson (3, PWO)
Marty Augustine (4)
Will Black (4)
Owen Strebig (4)
Cam Herron (4)
Ben Nichols (4, Summer Enrollee)
Sullivan Garvin (4, EE)
Grayson McKeough (4, EE)
Tyler Merrill (4, EE)
Gregory Patrick (4, Summer Enrollee)
Charlie Thom (4, EE)

Defensive End (8 - 63)

Boubacar Traore (2)
Loghan Thomas (2)
Bryce Young (2)
Keon Keeley (2)
Dom Hulak (4)
Joe Reiff (4)
Rodney Dunham (4, EE)
Ebenezer Ewetade (4, EE)

Defensive Tackle (13 - 76)

Jason Onye (1)
Elijah Hughes (1)
Francis Brewu (2)
Armel Mukam (2)
Brenan Vernon (2)
Cole Mullins (3)
Sean Sevilano (3)
Tionne Gray (3)
Chris Burgess (4)
Davion Dixon (4)
Gordy Sulfsted (4)
Tiki Hola (4, EE)
Elijah Golden (4, EE)

Linebacker (11 - 87)

Jaylen Sneed (1)
Drayk Bowen (1)
Jaiden Ausberry (2)
Kyng Viliamu-Asa (2)
Kahuna Kia (2)
Madden Faraimo (3)
Teddy Rezac (3)
Tommy Powlus (3, PWO)
Ko’o Kia (4)
Kobe Clapper (4, EE)
Thomas Davis Jr (4, EE)

Cornerback (9 - 96)

Christian Gray (1)
DJ McKinney (1)
Leonard Moore (2)
Dallas Golden (3)
Mark Zackery (3)
Jayden Sanders (3)
Khary Adams (4, EE)
Chaston Smith (4, EE)
Ayden Pouncey (4, EE)

Safety (7 - 103)

Luke Talich (1)
Adon Shuler (1)
Tae Johnson (3)
Brandon Logan (4)
Ethan Long (4)
Nick Reddish (4, EE)
Joey O’Brien (4, EE)

Special Teams (6 - 109)

K Spencer Porath (2)
K/P Erik Schmidt (3)
K Micah Drescher (4)
P Jasper Scaife (4)
LS Joseph Vinci (2, PWO)
LS Andrew Kros (2, PWO)

*I included walk ons due the 85 scholarship limit no longer mattering. Some remaining eligibility for aforementioned PWOs could be wrong, or unlikely to use a 5th year. They are also grandfathered in a spot over the 105.

I see this has been updated a few times since my previous post. I’ll leave this here again.

Two Notre Dame wide receivers enter transfer portal

Two depth wide receivers for Notre Dame have entered the transfer portal.

sports.yahoo.com

It’s so close to accurate, I cannot help it. No where else predicts Alex Whitman to return. @Dale

The official spring roster should be up in the next few weeks. Unless there’s a surprise medical, a roster of 100 recruited guys and 8 PWO is expected. An additional 5th year PWO or two within the program (DE - Kobi Onyiuke), or a DSA from outside the program is likely in addition.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

It’ll be here fast enough. Summer warps by.

For some. I hate the summer. Crawls for this guy.

Combination of despising the heat and the anticipation of football season.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

For some. I hate the summer. Crawls for this guy.

Combination of despising the heat and the anticipation of football season.

The only people I know that despise summer are the fats.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

The only people I know that despise summer are the fats.

Ever try training for a marathon in the summer? I did last year. It was brutal. Can't walk my Siberian in 90+ heat. Not everyone likes to melt like a popsicle.

Two-a-days were also a bitch in August heat. I'm sure plenty of the players prefer the winter workouts indoors.

Golf is the only summer perk IMO. I even prefer doing that in the Spring/Fall.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

The only people I know that despise summer are the fats.

I'm a trim 6' 200lb machine.... J/K I can't stand being hot. Give me cold like it is in MN right now

 

[JamIrish]

With the influx of talent from the portal/recruiting class.... I thought I'd do a composite talent comparison between the '25 and '26 rosters using 247's composite rankings.

2025 Roster. / 2026. Roster
5*- 2. / 5*- 9
4*- 56. / 4*- 60
3*- 31. / 3*- 27

2025 Roster. 2026 Roster
17 top 100 recruits / 22 top 100 recruits
26 top. 200 recruits. / 35 top 200 recruits
37 top 300 recruits. / 50 top 300 recruits

The 2025 team composite was 912 and ranked 9th this past year...once 247 updates, I expect ND to be in the top 5.

 

[JamIrish]

2026 Roster Composite 5 stars.
Sneed
Black
Dunham
Premer
Adams
O'Brien
Keeley
Porter
Graham

5 star guys by at least one service
Sneed
Jagusah
Lambert
KVA
Bryce Young
Black
Dunham
Premer
Adams
O'Brien
McKeough
Keeley
Graham
Porter

 

[Dale]

 

[Dale]

🚨 Fat guy wearing single digit alert 🚨

Gray, Brewu and Burgess

 

[Dale]

Christian Gray changing back to 29 is innnteresting

 

[KPENN]

Christian Gray changing back to 29 is innnteresting

Trying to confuse Putup(it’s probably not hard)

 

[notredomer23]

more interesting than the numbers is Grayson McKeough is a LB

 

[Dale]

Schmidt listed specifically as a punter:

 

[DomeFieldAdvantage]

They got heights and weights updated on the roster page. A couple of guys appear down on weight, so it could be a kind of cutting portion of the offseason program, but loghan Thomas is at 207lbs.

 

[Dale]

They got heights and weights updated on the roster page. A couple of guys appear down on weight, so it could be a kind of cutting portion of the offseason program, but loghan Thomas is at 207lbs.

Kid is never gonna play unfortunately.

 

[NDMatt91]

They got heights and weights updated on the roster page. A couple of guys appear down on weight, so it could be a kind of cutting portion of the offseason program, but loghan Thomas is at 207lbs.

Not good. He needs to put on 25-ish pounds just to be in the rotation, IMO.