Fall 2024 Projected Roster

[NumbersGuy0520]

I am so incredibly excited for Faison next year. He’s officially on everyone’s radar and I still think he’s massively slept on.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

You are definitely underrating Josh Adams. He was not just a speed guy, but a really excellent college RB. The holes were there and he exploited them, but he could get short yards too.

I obviously don't recall him the same way you do. He was very good at hitting the holes and making long runs. I thought I remembered him being stuffed a lot in the tighter games/losses that we had. I remember our OL was outstanding at creating holes and the OC was good at generating them with movement and eye candy.

But, I just went and looked up his highlights on youtube and you are absolutely correct. He was a very good running back and ran through contact a lot more than I remembered. Would you take Adams from 2015 over Love or Price? What is your analysis of 2015 vs 2024?

 

[PutuporShutup]

I obviously don't recall him the same way you do. He was very good at hitting the holes and making long runs. I thought I remembered him being stuffed a lot in the tighter games/losses that we had. I remember our OL was outstanding at creating holes and the OC was good at generating them with movement and eye candy.

But, I just went and looked up his highlights on youtube and you are absolutely correct. He was a very good running back and ran through contact a lot more than I remembered. Would you take Adams from 2015 over Love or Price? What is your analysis of 2015 vs 2024?

This.

I thought Adams was one of our worst short yardage backs probably over the last decade.

Adams IMO was great at turning a 10 yard gain into 40+, but he also turned 1-3 yard gains into nothing far too often.

 

[NDpendent]

Is this the most talented team (on paper) that we’ve had since 93?
I know we’ve been stronger in individual positions, but as a whole?

I can't remember a more well rounded team in the past 20 years. There aren't any big holes. There were definitely teams with more top end talent though

 

[irishjim]

Offensive line is my biggest worry for the upcoming season. Really let us down in the losses last year. Linebacker depth would be second mild concern.

 

[GoIrish41]

Offensive line is my biggest worry for the upcoming season. Really let us down in the losses last year. Linebacker depth would be second mild concern.

As to LB depth, we have more depth and athleticism at linebacker than we’ve had in my 50+ years as a fan. Sneed, Ausberry, Bowen, Kinggston would have all started or played significant minutes on every ND team in the last 20+ years and none of them is guaranteed to start next year. Which is to say nothing of Zinter and the rest of the incoming freshmen.

 

[stlnd01]

Offensive line is my biggest worry for the upcoming season. Really let us down in the losses last year. Linebacker depth would be second mild concern.

For all the comparing with 2015, OL is the biggest difference. Three future top 10 draft picks, plus Nick Martin (and Steve Elmer who went pro in something other than sports).
I like our up and coming OLs but not sure we’ve quite got that.

Our defense should be better by 2015’s though, by a lot.

 

[Crazy Balki]

For all the comparing with 2015, OL is the biggest difference. Three future top 10 draft picks, plus Nick Martin (and Steve Elmer who went pro in something other than sports).
I like our up and coming OLs but not sure we’ve quite got that.

Our defense should be better by 2015’s though, by a lot.

Except, we didn't really know what we had in 2 of those 3 future top 10 picks.

McGlinchey's first significant action was in the bowl game against LSU. Nelson redshirted in 2014, so 2015 was his first legit action. Stanley was good for sure. Martin was a good center, but Craig looks like a really good center in his own right. Elmer was a solid guard, but I'd say Coogan was arguably better and he wasn't even that good.

I think there's potential for the OL unit to be on that level. It's not always about raw talent.

Michigan (gag) has won the Joe Moore award twice in the past 3 seasons and Zak Zinter may be the highest drafted guy from any of those groups and he's probably looking at a late 3rd, 4th round pick.

The group needs some physicality, strength and needs to bring the nasty.

Last year, Alt and Fisher were great raw talents, but neither were particularly big hosses with a mean streak. Really, only Spindler and Correll had that from last year's original starting 5, but Correll's mean streak doesn't mean much if he's getting swallowed up by bigger DTs all the time, and Spindler played hurt for much of last year before being shut down for good.

That's why I'm a lot more optimistic about '24. Schrauth, Craig and in his first action, Jagusah, all showed that mean-streak. They're all physically imposing road graders who want to get up field and bust some heads. Having immensely talented, all-around OL is great and all, but at some point, attitude really matters, especially when establishing that culture of physicality. OL sets the tone on offense.

 

[IrishBoognish]

Except, we didn't really know what we had in 2 of those 3 future top 10 picks.

McGlinchey's first significant action was in the bowl game against LSU. Nelson redshirted in 2014, so 2015 was his first legit action. Stanley was good for sure. Martin was a good center, but Craig looks like a really good center in his own right. Elmer was a solid guard, but I'd say Coogan was arguably better and he wasn't even that good.

I think there's potential for the OL unit to be on that level. It's not always about raw talent.

Michigan (gag) has won the Joe Moore award twice in the past 3 seasons and Zak Zinter may be the highest drafted guy from any of those groups and he's probably looking at a late 3rd, 4th round pick.

The group needs some physicality, strength and needs to bring the nasty.

Last year, Alt and Fisher were great raw talents, but neither were particularly big hosses with a mean streak. Really, only Spindler and Correll had that from last year's original starting 5, but Correll's mean streak doesn't mean much if he's getting swallowed up by bigger DTs all the time, and Spindler played hurt for much of last year before being shut down for good.

That's why I'm a lot more optimistic about '24. Schrauth, Craig and in his first action, Jagusah, all showed that mean-streak. They're all physically imposing road graders who want to get up field and bust some heads. Having immensely talented, all-around OL is great and all, but at some point, attitude really matters, especially when establishing that culture of physicality. OL sets the tone on offense.

keep going....


talk to me...

 

[Giddyup]

I can't remember a more well rounded team in the past 20 years. There aren't any big holes. There were definitely teams with more top end talent though

Wide receiver still worries me. Need some more experienced length and star power there. Hopefully that is Mitchell and that Clemson kid.

 

[stpeteirish]

I've got faith the OL, although young, will quickly develop into at least average by ND standards. Which is, of course, way above average by CFB standards.
Craig quickly showing he was better than Correll is a big reason for my optimism. Plenty of four stars recruits plus player development equals a good OL.

 

[notredomer23]

Updated to 86 with the removal of Rubio and @stpeteirish pointing out that Kristofic isn't listed anymore either. I have to assume Talich has a scholarship which has them at 87 but no official word yet.

 

[domer13]

Updated to 86 with the removal of Rubio and @stpeteirish pointing out that Kristofic isn't listed anymore either. I have to assume Talich has a scholarship which has them at 87 but no official word yet.

Have you included Jayden Harrison and Mitch Jeter?

 

[notredomer23]

Have you included Jayden Harrison and Mitch Jeter?

Good call, forgot to add them. Back up to 88.

 

[dublinirish]

Kia back on scholarship i would add him now too to the DL room

 

[notredomer23]

ND is at 89 scholarships with the addition of Luke Talich. They will be at 90 assuming Gabe Rubio returns this summer as is.

Something's gonna give

 

[NDpendent]

ND is at 89 scholarships with the addition of Luke Talich. They will be at 90 assuming Gabe Rubio returns this summer as is.

Something's gonna give

It'll work out, we will see some depth players move out after spring and some medical retirements