JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | April 9, 2026 | 4/9/2026

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | April 9, 2026

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Eric Hansen

1:13

As to the difference in practices. ... again we've seen only one full one, but more team periods and less individual drills. And looking at the players, just more athleticism throughout the roster. ... We'll get Marcus Freeman after the jersey scrimmage on April 18 and we should get a briefing on the Blue-Gold Game format then. I hope it's more of a true game format that a concocted one.

1:10

You ask some great questions, but sometimes tie my brain in knots, because it doesn't work that way. I am going into the jersey scrimmage with an open mind and a blank slate, looking to be informed, and that's usually what happens. Let me give you an example. Two spring ago, CJ Carr looked good in spring practice as an early enrollee. In the jersey scrimmage, it was like 'Whoa, that's why the coaching staff is so excited.' So it's those kind of lightbulb revelations that you take in. I expect Jordan Faison and Leonard Moore and people like that to shine. But the value of the jersey scrimmage to to peak around the corner at who might be coming next. (more)

1:07

Hi Marie. I love my grandkids more than anything, but there is not enough money or jelly beans on God's Green Earth to coax me to put on a rabbit costume. That being said, I dressed up like an eater and went to Easter brunch. Biggest surprises for me (and remember I have different expectations for certain players than other people have) ... QB Noah Grubbs, WR Jerome Bettis Jr., LB Ko'o Kia, nickel Nick Reddish before his spring ended due to injury. I think people outside looking in would consider Nolan James a surprise, maybe Will Black and Cam Williams but I expected all of those guys to surge and they have. (more)

Marie from Atlanta

with regards to format/ structure ? Freeman always says question everything, is there something you can see that he questioned within the last year and implemented a change in spring practice to address that something? Any updates on the format for the blue gold game? Thanks so much for hosting and the chat and for all the great insights.

12:59

Hi Eric, I hope you had a fantastic Easter and got to have lots of fun with your grandkids while they were hunting eggs. Did you dress up like the Easter bunny? As we are a little bit past halfway of the spring football season, which players have surprised you the most? Who are the candidates that you think are most likely to really show out in the jersey scrimmage? What have you seen this spring season that’s different from past Football spring seasons, either wi

Eric Hansen

12:58

Hi John. We've got a few WBB questions today, and I'll get to them all but hold them to later in the chat. Let me knock this one off. Season tickets are already on sale. The link for more info is HERE. And here is a link where you can get on an email list when packages and single-game tickets become available: HERE. Thanks for the compliments, by the way.

John Spalding, Hobart

12:54

Along with your great football work, I really enjoy your WBB work! Do you know roughly when tickets and packages will be sold for WBB next season. I only made 2 games this year, but I am retiring and hope to make many more next year. Thank you!

Eric Hansen

12:54

Hi Ryan. We didn't get to see Leonard Moore in the full practice we took in because of a minor injury, but he is back now and looking great in drills. We'll see more of him in the April 18 closed scrimmage. I expect another All-American season from the junior.

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

12:49

Good afternoon Eric how has Leonard Moore looked during spring practice GO IRISH ☘️☘️🏈🏈

Eric Hansen

12:48

There is sentiment growing about changing the rule if the growing momentum about wholesale football calendar changes continues to pick up. There are a lot of coaches that would like them in August rather than the spring. And yes, I think Marcus Freeman would be open to considering that.

12:47

DI teams are prohibited by NCAA rules from having a scrimmage against another school. Here is a link to a story of Syracuse and Colorado being denied an appeal of the rule last spring, which should help explain the thinking: LINK

Michael from Chicago

12:40

Can you please remind/enlighten me on what the rule/logic is preventing college teams from having a scrimmage against another college. Is it purely the NCAA or do the schools not want it either (putting tape out, potential injuries and/or tampering, etc.?) If ND could do you think they would?

Eric Hansen

12:40

Having said that, the early returns are good. The intel I've heard about Grubbs in particular is very encouraging. Long way to go, but an encouraging first 7 practices.

12:39

Aloha Manny!!!! Are you in Hawaii today? Or am I? In any event, I wish I was. ... but to your question. It's more important this spring that freshman Noah Grubbs and redshirt freshman Blake Hebert BOTH continue to make progress than it is for one of them to create separation from the other. That process can happen in fall camp after Teddy Jarrard has arrived. On Wednesday, we saw them throw, but the periods we saw had no defenders, so it was like watching someone play HORSE in basketball. We'll get a full scrimmage a week from Saturday and I'll have the eye test to pair with QBs coach Gino Guidulgi's evaluation. (more)

Manny from San Pedro

12:35

Aloha Eric!!!!! How is the backup qb battle looking?

Eric Hansen

12:35

So the players who are projected to be drafted are Love, Price, Fields, Raridon, Aamil and Schrauth. So let's set them aside and look at the others. I think Will Pauling and DeVonta Smith helped themselves out a lot at Pro Day. I have a hard time seeing Dawson and Rubio not making at least a practice squad. I would give Stroman, Rendell and Botelho a fighting chance to do the same. The wild card is Junior Tuihalamaka. He does not have great measurables, but his intangibles are off the charts. I wouldn't bet against him.

12:29

Yes, the portal helps, and now the 85-scholarship limit is gone. So finances are part of it. But having the right culture helps the most underappreciated part of roster management -- retaining your key players. And Marcus has done a great job of working with the administration -- not confronting them -- about finding ways to evolve with the new sports model without compromising Notre Dame's academic mission. (more)

12:26

I think BK recruited depth primarily for injury insurance, but it was a very good player development program. Players got better, they got drafted. They got to the CFP twice. Marcus took it to another level. He recruited depth not just for emergencies, but to flex it in deeper player rotations. Player evaluation is off the charts. Development comes from hiring great assistants and having a culture where non-starters have a role and real value. (more)

12:23

Tom!!!!!!!! Bringing the punctuation today! I know I am going to get some tomatoes thrown at me for saying this, but I think it started in the later Brian Kelly years. But it's become an artform and a science under Marcus Freeman. BK really got into the science of roster management after the 2016 season. Prior to that, ND often had less than the cap of 85 scholarship players in most years going in, because it was hard to predict transfers and other roster exits. So BK began to have more transparent conversations with players to at least maximize the 85, Also, a little roster churn was not looked upon as a bad thing for the first time. (more)

Tom F, Kennesaw, GA

12:19

Hi Eric!!!!!! I hope all is well in your world. IYO, when did ND's depth start to really build to the point now that it is a real strength??? Obviously, the portal has helped, but it seems they have done a great job evaluating and developing players. What is that process like? What do you think has led to MF's higher level of confidence??? Who do you think, of someone drafted in Round 6/7 or UFA, has the best chance to stick with a team in the NFL????? Thanks for everything you do behind the scenes to keep us so well informed. Hope we can continue the Chats well into the off-season. Go Irish!!!!

Eric Hansen

12:17

Now to the freshman defensive lineman, there are there are four of them. three of whom are participating in spring drills: ends Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewetade and interior DL Elijah Golden. DT Tiki Hola is out this spring with an injury. Of those four, I think Dunham is putting himself in position to get in the rotation. I like the potential of all four down the road, but he's the one with the clearest path to playing time, the most physically and mentally ready and arguably the most talented. I'd keep an eye on him.

12:12

Hi Phillip. Let's start with Brenan Vernon. You've got to love his persistence and resilience, but if he breaks out this season, it would be one of the great comeback stories in ND history. He just hasn't found traction for playing time, logging 8 snaps in his first three years om campus. And zero last season. What I can say about him in a good light is the 6-5, 300-pound redshirt junior has been a good teammate and helped out last year in practices on the scout team O-line when numbers were thin. I do not see him making a move up the depth chart this spring. (more)

Phillip from Napoleon

12:07

Do you think any of the Freshman DL will see significant playing time this coming season? Will Brenan Vernon break out this season?

Eric Hansen

Off we go ...

Drinking, spitting, and bare feet are in play because of good behavior in past chats.

Here are the rules:

12:06

12:05

As far as this week's chat ... PLEASE include your name and hometown along with your question(s).

► The Third & Gold Podcast is available at all places where you find podcasts, as well as our YouTube Channel. On our most recent episode, we caught up with former Notre Dame wide receiver and author Matt Shelton. Our next podcast will drop late next week.

12:04

► If you missed the last episode of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, what are you doing with your life? Seriously, the show keeps its shelf life long after the live presentation, so you can catch up now or later on our YouTube channel. We’ll be back next week, Monday at 7 p.m. ET, for another presentation of Football Never Sleeps with Tyler James co-hosting with me. And check out some great shows on the Blue & Gold YouTube channel as well, including the live Notre Dame Football Show, on Wednesday nights.

► On July 1, Tyler James and I made the move to the On3 network and blueandgold.com and joined some amazing teammates. It’s proven to be a great move for us and, I believe, for our subscribers as well. And if you’re a potential first-time subscriber, we have a great deal — 50% off your first year with an annual subscription. With that, you get all of our premium content, plus all the value you get from a national team of writers and content creators, as well as access to every team site in the On3 network and a full year of The Athletic. Check it out at: https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/.

12:03

First, some quick programming notes:

12:01

Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat as we reach the halfway point of Irish spring practice.

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