Jay Hayes

Analyzing the Fall Camp Depth Chart

August 11, 2016 by BJ Konkle

Fall camp produces the perfect mix for any college football junkie - immeasurable aspirations coupled with unlimited potential. The 2016 Fighting Irish are no exception. Many positional battles follow #NDFB into fall camp and understandably so with the solid depth at all positions. Let's do a quick rundown of what to expect. Depth, baby! Everything this fall will revolve around the exceptional depth that has slowly been built year over year. The coaching staff has recruited exceptionally well ...

HLS Review: The 2016 ND Insider Football Preview

July 23, 2016 by andrewwinn

The South Bend Tribune's 96-page preview of Notre Dame's football team is an invaluable resource for the Irish fan looking to get informed before the 2016 football season kicks off Sept. 4. Mike Vorel wrote the magazine's cover story, "Avoiding A Split Decision," on the quarterback competition between redshirt sophomore DeShone Kizer and redshirt senior Malik Zaire. Vorel interviewed former Texas head coach Mack Brown, former Notre Dame quarterbacks Joe Theismann and Brady Quinn and ESPN's ...

Credit: Gameface Media

Four Irish Footballers Turning 21 During Fall Camp

July 20, 2016 by andrewwinn

Perhaps you've heard of the "beer mile," where participants drink a full-sized beer and then run a quarter mile four times over. It's a competitive event, sure, but not one I'd suggest doing during the hot August heat in South Bend, Ind. Fall camp under Brian Kelly usually opens in the first week of August, which is great if you're not happening to reach legal drinking age soon thereafter. So let's pour one out for senior TE Durham Smythe, junior RB Justin Brent, junior S Drue Tranquill and ...

(Photo: Eddie Burch, Greenville News)

Notre Dame Football’s Most Promising “Rookies”

June 6, 2016 by andrewwinn

The Irish Illustrated staff collectively ranked the top Irish "rookies" based on who they felt would have the best Notre Dame careers. My top 10 list differed from theirs, so let's take a closer look: 1. Brandon Wimbush (II Staff: #2) If you consider the question, you'll notice it's a little tricky. "Who among the three dozen will have the best careers at Notre Dame?" Brandon Wimbush is a quarterback with all the tools: strong arm, fleet of foot and accurate. I'm not certain that ...

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 11: Jarron Jones #94 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes against Jon Heck #71 of the North Carolina Tar Heels at Notre Dame Stadium on October 11, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Blue Gold Game Preview: Defensive Line

April 15, 2016 by chrisavila_01

In our final day of previews, HLS takes a look at quite possibly the strongest aspect of the Notre Dame defense: the defensive line. Defensive line coach Keith Gilmore's defensive front will face a number of challenges due to personnel changes and the development of defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder's scheme, but has a good shot at being more disruptive up front than last year's squad. We’ve seen a blitz work at times for Van Gorder when linebackers and others in the secondary crashed the ...

Morning Roundup: April 3, 2015

April 3, 2015 by andrewwinn

Good morning! I'm here to catch you up on all that has transpired with the Notre Dame football program in the last 24 hours. Here are your headlines: PODCAST Irish Illustrated (F): Irish hit spring stride (50:55) ND Insider: Podcast: ND Insider recruiting update 4-2 (10:42) RECRUITING - OFFERED Bruin Report Online ($): Video: Lucas at The Opening (⭐⭐⭐⭐ AZ RB Chase Lucas) Dawg Post (F): Big get for Dawgs - Price commits (⭐⭐⭐⭐ GA OT E.J. Price) Irish247 (F): Robinson, family ...

Morning Roundup: March 18, 2015

March 18, 2015 by andrewwinn

Good morning! Here are your headlines: FROM OUR SITE Step one: Northeastern VIDEO WatchND: Brian Kelly press conference - March 17, 2015 (42:18) Blue & Gold Illustrated: Video: Kelly previews spring ball (3:03) Irish247: Video: Kelly previews spring practice (3:08) Irish Illustrated: Video: Kelly welcomes QB battle (3:03) Irish Sports Daily: ISD video: Brian Kelly press conference (3:16) PODCAST Blue & Gold Illustrated: The Irish Huddle (28:15) RECRUITING ...

Morning Roundup: March 9, 2015

March 9, 2015 by andrewwinn

Good morning! We're still collecting pledges to purchase the Boda collection and return it to Notre Dame. Read more about this important piece of history and make your pledge here. Here are your headlines: FROM OUR SITE BK era: Scoring offense and defense RECRUITING One Foot Down: OFD opinions: 2016 recruiting top target (Joejuan Williams, Josh King and Rashan Gary) 247 Sports: Six earn invite to The Opening at LA regional (Matt Fink) AL.com: Auburn in good position with RB ...

Enjoy this picture because it's probably the closest we will get to Zaire running the offense.

Morning Roundup: Feb. 25, 2015

February 25, 2015 by andrewwinn

Good morning! Here are your headlines: PODCASTS Irish Sports Talk: DaVaris at NFL Combine & Notre Dame scholarship at 82 - Feb 23 IST153 (46:45) Irish Illustrated: Insider Podcast #166 - Turnover margins (44:55) VIDEO StudentSports: GoPro: Manti Te'o - Hawaii linebacker coach (2:06) WatchND: Tire Wars (0:42) CURRENT TEAM Irish Illustrated: Spring questions: Defensive line (Jarron Jones, Isaac Rochell, Romeo Okwara, Andrew Trumbetti, Grant Blankenship, Jhonny ...

2014 Needs & Wants: Defense

March 18, 2013 by RiverParkSeer

Last week, we looked at the offensive recruiting plan for the 2014 class. This week, we will look at the defensive side of the ball. Again this will be a slim class as most projections have the scholarship number at about fourteen about fourteen scholarships available. With this in mind, even though Notre Dame has offered nearly everyone in the top 50, we have only listed the "Top Targets" below as those believed to have the most interest in Notre Dame. ...