2026 Spring Practice Thread

[allenm5333]

Elston was a good coach, but idk about Mickens level. Mickens was basically elite at everything and now has Notre Dame considered a prime destination for DB recruits. I’m really interested to see how many Notre Dame DB’s, coached/recruited by Mickens, succeed in the NFL.

Mickens recruited and developed his @$$ off. Elston was a really good developer. He left us with some poor depth

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Mickens recruited and developed his @$$ off. Elston was a really good developer. He left us with some poor depth

Yeah, I always felt like he wasn’t that good of a recruiter. That great ‘16 DL class was all Gilmore.

 

[allenm5333]

Yeah, I always felt like he wasn’t that good of a recruiter. That great ‘16 DL class was all Gilmore.

and he left for Michigan. Skew him forever

 

[Irish du Nord]

2020 DL was dirty and deep. Mike Elston was a tremendous DL coach, between what he did here and at Michigan he's in the conversation of Mickens level position coaches.

I’d say maybe Hiestand but not Mickens

 

[irishandy]

Mickens>Elston 100%. Mickens landed more big time recruits than Elston, not only developed them, but helped them get to the NFL, and also changed the CB position.

 

[Luckylucci]

Big Elston fan here, he was a very good DL coach. Better than Washington, IMO. But, Mickens is in a tier above that.

 

[RudyVerse]

Every program in the country would take Mickens. Probably 90% would take Elston.

 

[Rocketman84]

I thought they wanted Mullins to gain weight to play DT?

He'd be better at the DE but it looks that way

 

[allenm5333]

He'd be better at the DE but it looks that way

Can we just probably be honest about Mulllins?

 

[SeekNDestroy]

He'd be better at the DE but it looks that way

Serious question. I’m curious why you think the coaches are wrong about the move inside.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Can we just probably be honest about Mulllins?

That the coaches think he can play?

 

[Rocketman84]

Serious question. I’m curious why you think the coaches are wrong about the move inside.

Wrong? I don't think their necessarily wrong, but his skill set and tape say he's more skilled on the edge.

I believe he is one of those guys who has the capability to be able to do both if needed.

 

[calvegas04]

Just a kid

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Wrong? I don't think their necessarily wrong, but his skill set and tape say he's more skilled on the edge.

I believe he is one of those guys who has the capability to be able to do both if needed.

Do you think he’ll be more of a pass rushing/passing downs type player?

 

[RudyVerse]

Guessing mid year they had Mullins get body ready for DT before they realized we’d make it rain in portal for DT.

 

[allenm5333]

Guessing mid year they had Mullins get body ready for DT before they realized we’d make it rain in portal for DT.

Mullins is more of a BK level take than what we are currently getting. He was a kid we took before smashing it with the title run, NIL, and transfers.

 

[Islandboi]

When you're in a relationship. There's an expectation. Bars.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Mullins is more of a BK level take than what we are currently getting. He was a kid we took before smashing it with the title run, NIL, and transfers.

Totally agree on Mullins. Good football player. Bit of a tweener, but a guy who can definitely help ND as a depth / rotational guy.

That said, in the Portal era and with the way Freeman is recruiting, he should realistically never make it into ND's 2-deep. If we assume the 5-deep over the next 2 years...

2026
Brewu-Onye
Hughes-Gray
Mukam-Burgess
Golden-Mullins?
Dixon-Sevillano

2027
Brewu-Gray
Mukam-Burgess
Golden-Dixon
Hola-Mullins
Parks-Folorusho

Without any transfer portal additions and assuming we don't see a litany of transfers at the DL position, I just don't see a place for for Mullins to get into the 2-deep. Hell, the 3-deep seems like a stretch as highly talented players develop around him.

Good problem to have.

 

[allenm5333]

Totally agree on Mullins. Good football player. Bit of a tweener, but a guy who can definitely help ND as a depth / rotational guy.

That said, in the Portal era and with the way Freeman is recruiting, he should realistically never make it into ND's 2-deep. If we assume the 5-deep over the next 2 years...

2026
Brewu-Onye
Hughes-Gray
Mukam-Burgess
Golden-Mullins?
Dixon-Sevillano

2027
Brewu-Gray
Mukam-Burgess
Golden-Dixon
Hola-Mullins
Parks-Folorusho

Without any transfer portal additions and assuming we don't see a litany of transfers at the DL position, I just don't see a place for for Mullins to get into the 2-deep. Hell, the 3-deep seems like a stretch as highly talented players develop around him.

Good problem to have.

Correct. Even if he is the 6th best DT, do you play him over a young guy who has a higher ceiling and will be needed the following year? Probably not

 

[NDPhilly]

I think Mullins can grow into a solid rotational 3-4 DE or DT on passing downs. As we’ve seen, guys get hurt. We’ve seen guys that are a lot less physically gifted contribute meaningful snaps.