JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | April 23, 2026

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | April 23, 2026

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Eric Hansen

1:12

Hey Ryan. Yes all 25 are eligible to play, and those who are healthy win definitely see action. It's the perfect setting to get a look at them. Of the two you asked about, both have had strong springs. Devin Fitzgerald had a really good scrimmage last Saturday. I had a chance to interview him early in spring. Love his personality and how humble and hard-working he is. Ayden Pouncey intrigues me as much as any freshman on the team. Super talented. Just not sure where he fits, but he'll fit somewhere.

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

1:03

Good afternoon Eric how Has Devin Fitzgerald and Ayden Pouncey looked during spring practice also will the freshman that are currently with the team be able to play on Saturday GO IRISH ☘️☘️☘️🏈🏈🏈

Eric Hansen

1:03

Hey Jack, thank you for being here and asking a really strong question. Yes, I do think it rubs off and vice versa. I think Cooper Flanagan is a badass, plain and simple. And he has a sidekick who's developing into one in James Flanigan. We haven't seen Quincy Porter yet so I can't speak to his blocking prowess. We know Jordan Faison is an able blocker. Malachi Fields was the best among WRs last year, but this group is a bit of an unknown. But when you are splitting hairs when it comes to who's in and out of the receiving rotation, you better be able to run block, because all those cats can run and catch the ball.

Jack, Strongsville, Oh

12:57

Hi Eric. In your column after the jersey scrimmage and on FNS you spoke about the physicality of Notre Dame's offensive line. Is that trait/characteristic transferrable to the running backs and receivers for down field blocking? It sends a message to other teams with that type of toughness from all players. Thanks for your work.

Eric Hansen

12:56

Hi Nick. I assume you are asking me to project those numbers for Saturday's Blue-Gold Game, so that's how I am going to answer this question. Some of it depends on how the refs call a sack. I've seen some Blue-Gold Games where breathing within 3 feet of the QB is called a sack and others where the defender actually has to touch (gently) the QB where it would be likely to end up a sack. The advantage for the offensive line is this won't be mix and match and they will have pretty good chemistry. But I still will go with sacks over ints. My brain does not work well on the over/under question. It's never something that would cross my mind, but I'll play along and say 6 sacks and 2 picks.

Guest

12:52

Nick from Springfield, do you think the defense will have more sacks or interceptions, or will there be a tie? Also, could you give us an over/ under on both? Have a wonderful day and thank you!

Eric Hansen

12:49

Hi Ced. I think it depends on what you consider playing ... as in key rotational guys or guys who get in when the score is 45-3. I think you picked three wildcards who will all look different, as in better, in August than they do now, and not that they're slacking now. Let's say the rotation goes six deep. if healthy, Jordan Faison, Jaden Greathouse, Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter are all givens. So you have 10 guys competing for two spots. I think Micah Gilbert is the most likely of those 10 to be in that rotation and then it gets fuzzy. Cam Williams has surged. The three freshmen you mentioned. Elijah Burress, Logan Saldate. The list gets pretty long. So even if they are not playing a lot, I think all three of the guys you mentioned have bright futures. My sense is that Frazier is the one who plays the most in 2026 from that group.

ced

12:44

ced walker Saginaw Michigan aka sagnasty Saginaw pride God Bless This Football Teamvhere come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us

do u see bubba Frazier , Devin Fitzgerald and kay finely playing as true freshmen

Eric Hansen

12:44

I think what he is adjusting to right now is the speed of the defenses, especially Notre Dame's defense. I would imagine in high school he could go east-and-west forever and eventually get to the corner and cut up field. In college, sometimes he extends the east-west thing too long and gets stuck for no gain or a loss. So that will be the next step in his evolution. There's a lot to like here. As far as the post Love/Price Era, those guys are special and there is going to be a drop-off in the home run types of plays. But I think this group is going to be very productive and susprisingly so in short yardage.

12:41

Hey Ed. I love being called versatile! Let me start with how Jonaz Walton is wired. He's the kind of kid you want to call up the parents and tell them what a good job they did with him. He's got the maturity, the smarts, the ambition and the self-accountability to be special. Then let's talk about the physical traits. He has track speed and he has some thickness to his build. He at times shows a great ability to make one cut and then outrun defenders as he breaks into the open. (more)

Ed, Sayville NY

12:38

Hey Eric, what do you hear -what do you say? From what I have read it seems Jonaz Walton looked good in the jersey scrimmage. What traits does he exhibit that we hope to see in the coming year(s)? Can you also opine on what expectations are realistic for the running backs in the post J Love/J Price era? Might there be more involvement as potential receivers in the passing game to take advantage of Aneyas Williams versatility? Thanks for your versatility as you field our questions!

Eric Hansen

12:37

Hi Jeff. Jevaughn Codlin is, by function, a full-time safeties coach, and Notre Dame lists him as such in their online directory. In June of 2024, the NCAA moved toward deregulation. So analysts were allowed to become on-field coaches, essentially uncapping the old maximum of 10 full-time assistant coaches.

Jeff from Fort Wayne

12:31

Excited for Blue Gold game and it sounds like recruiting is picking up. My question is Jevaughn Codlin a full time safeties coach on staff? Did the NCAA ok to have another coach on staff? I don’t remember seeing that they did. What is the number of full time coaches allowed now?

Eric Hansen

12:30

Hi there. We must have been doing a lousy job with our reporting this spring. Lack of boundary receivers? Notre Dame has five of them and then guy who's been running No. 5 for most of the spring has been really impressive, freshman Devin Fitzgerald. You also have Quincy Porter, Micah Gilbert, Cam Williams and Jerome Bettis Jr. Not sure there's a tight end on the country who would express the speed/strength combo you need at that position better than those five.

docpjm

12:27

with so much difficulty trying to get a bruising border receiver, why not use a spare te..there?

Eric Hansen

12:26

I think I can put Leonard Moore and CJ Carr safely in round 1 and I'm willing to bet on Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa even though LBs don't have the position value of some other players. So that gives us three. There are nine others who could evolve into 1s and there are always surprises, but the guys who have that high-end talent and positional value are Mylan Graham, Quincy Porter, Will Black, Charles Jagusah, Guerby Lambert, Brauntae Johnson, Rodney Dunham, Joey O'Brien and either Khary Adams or Ayden Pouncey. So I would pick four from that list and one who's going to rise unexpectedly to get me to 8. Clip and save so we can laugh at this 4-5 years from now .... or be amazed!

12:19

Hi Pat and thanks for starting at the calculus level, but I do think it's a fun question if you frame it as a wild guess and not a prediction. Given the talent level of the program, the developmental model and all the other positive mojo this spring, I think the tendency would be to go too high of a number. If you go back to the peak years of the Holtz Era, it maxed out at nine in the kind of multi-year window we're talking about. ND has had a lot of second-rounders over the years, including in recent years, but you want first-rounders. For me that numbers is going to be between 3 and 12. I'm going to land at 8 and here's my math ... (more)

Pat, Philly

12:12

As always, thanks for the time...While there's a big difference between "could be" and "will be" (especially in 3, 4, 5 years), can you give your best guess at the total number of future first round picks on NDs roster?

Eric Hansen

12:12

Off we go ....

And remember to include your name and hometown along with your question(s). My telepathic powers are more lame than my tech prowess.

12:11

Because we're starting late, I'm going to skip the announcements for now and add them in when I post the transcript. One reminder, we will do a chat next Thursday at noon ET.

Sorry for the delayed start. Some tech hiccups today.

12:10

Welcome to Notre3 Dame Football Live Chat for Thursday, April 23, 2026.

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