JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | January 15, 2026

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | January 15, 2026

Eric Hansen

3:51

I went 50 extra minutes and there's some great questions still in the portal, so maybe we can re-up those for next week? I do have to roll. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back next Wednesday to do it all over again.

3:50

Hi Lorne, not to my knowledge, but it is not something that would be on my radar.

Lorne

3:49

Lorne from Reno. Thank you, as always, for the chats. As usual, your takes on the portal (and those of your colleagues) have been spot on. Hey, I finally figured out why it was so important to give 5 slots in the 12-team playoff to the SEC. The proof is in the pudding: the conference bowl record v. P4 teams this year (other than games against itself) was 1-7, including an impressive 0-4 against the mighty ACC. Oh well. I assume you know the "local ... reporter" to whom CMF referred in his statement. While I see no point in "outing" him/her, has there been any sort of apology from that media outlet or the reporter?

Eric Hansen

3:49

Hi Roger, wow thanks for that great preamble. Do I owe you money? To your questions ... ND now has 8, as DT Tionne Gray committed after you submitted your question. I don't think there's anything untoward regarding the kicker. Sometimes there are clerical errors, for lack of a better term. We'll get to the bottom of it and report it. Best get I mentioned in Marie's question is Quincy Porter. But I like this class a lot. You could make a case for the kicker. Best that they didn't get, I'd have to study the list more. Best of Freeman's presser? His take on the change in admissions on the transfer portal. Lots of interesting stuff.

Roger from Peoria

3:43

Good day Eric!! Of course, any day with a Live Chat is a GOOD DAY!! So last week when the Irish take in the Portal was a big fat ZERO and Irish fans were full of angst, you shared your wisdom, probably talked a few folks off the proverbial ledge, and said you still expected from 6 to 8 meaningful Irish catches. We are at 7 but there seems to be some question whether the Purdue kicker came through the Portal. Can you clear up that uncertainty? Now knowing the players, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 the best, where do you rate the Irish take? And, who is your best get? And, who is the best one that the Irish sought but did not get? Finally, what was the best you heard in Freeman's news conference yesterday?' As always thanks for all you do for Irish fans and, GO IRISH!!!!

Eric Hansen

3:43

Jack. I did not feel he ducked it. I think if they could have found the right fit, it would have been the best option. But they could not find the right bland of talent, experience and someone willing to be No. 2 if there's no injury. And if the experienced guy can't beat out who is already on your roster, than why bring him in. It was just a tough need to fill. And thank you for being here. I appreciate you.

Jack, Strongsville, Oh

3:41

Hi Eric. I watched the press conference yesterday. MF seemed to duck your question regarding obtaining a back up qb in the transfer portal. He said we need to develop the freshmen. For a team that is going all in in 2026 is this a good strategy in your opinion. An injury to CJ Carr for any length of time could result in one or two losses and we know after 2025 there is no margin for error. Second question. How do you see the IU-Miami game going? Thanks as always for these chars.

Eric Hansen

3:41

Manny!!!!!!!!!!!!! The new reality of football is everyone is basically on a one-year contract. So anything is possible. But the most likely scenario is that they stay and develop, because of why they committed to play at Notre Dame in the first place coming out of the transfer portal.

Manny from San Pedro

3:39

Eric!!!!!!!!! What a turn around in the transfer portal!!! With the WR’s from OSU. Are they viewed as multiple year guys or do we anticipate them transferring again next year with us having so much young talent at that position

Eric Hansen

3:39

Eric, I understand the culture shock for free agency in essence, and how that might play in team dynamics. But ND recruits players that are competitors. Players who thrive on competition, not run away from it. Competition makes you better if you look at it from that lens. That's what happened with Adon Shuler a couple of years ago when they brought in a grad transfer safety, Rod Heard II, and last year with Tae Johnson when they brought in grad transfer Jalen Stroman.

Eric, Bristol

3:34

Hello, Eric. It's been quite a week for ND content, eh? The current portal landscape of instant free agency is still difficult to adjust to for this fan. If I put myself in the place of a developing reserve player hoping to get my chance next year, I can only imagine how deflating it might be when accomplished portal players are added to my position group. Knowing that Freeman mentioned an emphasis on keeping current players, do you have a sense for how ND sells developing players on staying rather than jumping into the portal after accomplished new additions are announced?

Eric Hansen

3:33

Bill, I am running your question because of the humbling compliment that preceded it. If you want to give it another try, please do, but we're close to the end. I think there are some missing words or I am not reading YOUR body language correctly.

Bill from St Joe, MI

3:32

Eric, you had great questions for Coach Freeman yesterday. My question is who would you most attribute ND’s l relaxation”

Eric Hansen

3:31

This might just be a one-year thing with him. But if you asked me which sports he has a more promising future with, I'd roll with football 100%.

3:30

Happy Thursday to you. Usually we do have this on Wednesdays, but if Thursday is your hump, I'll play along! Mark Zackery didn't come up yesterday, but it's something I'll try to get an answer on before my next chat. I would be shocked if he didn't participate in spring practices, though he may be late to the party. John Carlson and Javin Hunter were able to do both and still have NFL careers. But your point is well taken. There is SO much competition at those cornerback positions. (more)

Michael from Chicago

3:27

Happy hump day Eric! Will Mark Zachery be participating in spring football practices? With the influx of portal additions and freshmen to the secondary it would seem logical for him to be fully involved unless he's all-in on being as much of a full-time two sport athlete as possible. Interesting move that counters Faison's decision (was that mostly NFL based or wear and tear?) Which sport does Zachery have a better chance of making the pros?

Eric Hansen

3:27

Ken, the rumors will NEVER stop. Tha tis my prediction. Choose wisely when it comes to who you listen to.

Ken from Steel City, PA

3:26

Hi Eric, following the tough loss of our Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night and the subsequent Tomlin resignation, Marcus Freeman is once again the subject of NFL rumors. I think the Steelers job is the type of job that would get someone to rethink their options. It is probably one of the five best NFL jobs a person could have from a stability, legacy, and history perspective. HCMF would be a great fit as a man. Selfishly, I would like him to stay and win a championship at ND. Please put my mind at ease that we will still have Freeman come September!

Eric Hansen

3:25

Scott, you wore green so you could hide. You're lean, you're mean and you're not too far in between!

3:24

Scott!!!! I think I'm going to have to do one of those DNA tests, because I think I just found my twin! I am going to screenshot this and frame it. And don't sell yourself short, you're a tremendous slouch! To your questions. I don't think the pass-run ratio will change, but I do think ND will be more efficient and more explosive in the passing game than we've seen in some time. I also think the offensive line will be more physical, which will help the backs. And I think ND has some strong short-yardage options. ND had some big big time backs knocking at the door in the portal and wanted in. They chose to ride with these five young guys, which says something about the quality they thing they have. One last thought. (more)

Scott, Greenville SC

3:18

ERIC!!!!! Excited to talk to you this week! Please let me use a line from Caddyshack, except this is Marcus channeling Bill Murray, "I have to laugh, because I've outfinessed myself! My enemy, my foe is an animal (SEC and BIG10 teams). I have to think like an animal (other teams) and if possible, to look like one (use your imagination - maybe Cignetti or Day). I can honestly say, never concerned about the portal and MF getting the needs covered. I mean come on, he's a Cinderella story about to win the Masters, I'm sorry, the next CFP. As of Tuesday night, ND has six studs that can help ND right away, along with our best recruiting class in years. With all the new WR talent coming in from recruiting and the portal, plus Love and Price gone, do you see ND throwing the ball more next season? Carr has a lot of weapons and that could open running lanes for Williams and James. Also, what do you see as the strongest unit going into the season? Finally, gunga, galunga. So we've got that going for us, which is nice.

Eric Hansen

3:18

Tony!!! Great hanging with you and your better half. Really enjoyed it. When I asked about the possibility of getting to talk to all the new transfers and the new early enrollees, I was told yes at some point before spring. So that could be yet this month or sometime in February, but I believe it will happen. Last year, we did not, because the playoff run compressed the time ahead of spring so much.

2581

3:15

Tony from Lexington, KY, by way of Hacienda's in South Bend ! Great seeing you at ND last week, Eric ! Keep up your awesome work ! Now my question: Might you get the opportunity to sit down with all of ND's recent portal additions for interviews? It has been (thus far) a great portal haul ! Only 7 1/2 months until the start of football season !

Eric Hansen

3:15

I think I hit Mukam hard earlier, and Keeley is SO intriguing. Thanks for the questions and the punctuation!!!!

3:14

Hi Mark. We're going to get a chance to talk to Charlie Partridge sooner than later. What we know already is Charlie and Chris Ash go way back to their playing days at Drake and have been very connected ever since, even when they were not working together. So Charlie will do a great job or implementing what Chris wants while bringing in some fresh ideas from his two season with the Colts and his college stops. It feels like a win-win. So not a reset on the D-line but enhancing the changes they made last season.

Guest

3:10

Mark from T-ville, N.J. Hi Eric, hope all is well with you and all calm in the Bend and surrounding area. Glad to see the chargers against MF were found baseless. Looks like Chris Fleeger was looking for a money grab. Don't understand why Fleeger was heckling Vinny Freeman in the first place unless he was looking for a confrontation? Anyway back to football, looks like D line help is on the way, do you see the play of D line style change with the new Line coach, Charlie Partridge? How big was it for the Irish to retain Armel Mukam? Will he be in the two deep? Glad to see Keon Keeley committed. Thanks again for the Chats!!!!

Eric Hansen

3:01

Gotcha Bo!

Bo from Michiana

3:00

BET!

Eric Hansen

3:00

2) Notre Dame knew what they were doing all along. Not bitten. Mike Singer and I have had consistent reporting on this. And we'll have some good intel pieces soon that look back at the process once the portal is closed. 3) As much as anybody else? No. Enough to be competitive with everybody else? Yes. 4) Had an update on Jagusah a couple of weeks ago, so nothing new since then. Will update that as we get closer to spring. I don't think it's a lock Knapp stays at tackle, but I do think he'll be a starter. 5) It is not only NOT crazy, it's pretty solid logic.

2:56

Hi Adam, appreciate you too 1) I'm not trying to be flippant here, but if there was some secret body language I should have been picking up, I missed it big time. Didn't sense anything unusual or clandestine. Just my take. Over/under 3 years, I have no idea. I'll take the over. But that's not how life decisions with a wife and six kids work. And a college landscape that's evolving at a speed we've never seen. What I can tell you is Marcus Freeman is happy at Notre Dame. feels supported at Notre Dame and he makes decisions and sees the world differently than a lot of other coaches. I wrote about that here: NFL noise? Marcus Freeman reinforces who he always was and who he could become — at Notre Dame (more)

Adam (Dayton, OH)

2:44

Eric, appreciate you and all you do! Some questions. 1.) I saw that your cohort asked Marcus Freeman a direct NFL question, and though I'm no body language expert, it appeared to make Marcus a little uneasy. Am I reading too much into that/if I put the over/under on Marcus being at ND for three more years, which would you take? 2.) Marcus talked about his conversations with Mike Martin about "running their race" in the portal. How were they so sure there would be quality later portal entries? Back channel talks, or was there a real chance the slow start could have bitten them? 3.) Sorry, I know I touched on roster spending a few chats back, but there was more talk of being "judicious" in spending. Understanding that the goal is to always to be smart with money, are you confident ND is willing to invest as much into their roster as anyone else? 4.) Any updates on Jagusah, and would you expect Knapp to stay at tackle? 5.) Is it crazy to think this is the most talented ND team since 1992/1993?

Eric Hansen

2:43

HI Ced, Miami for sure. Not sure about Michigan State. If the SMU game slides into October, that's another possibility.

ced

2:39

ced walker Saginaw michigan aka sagnasty Saginaw pride very impress with the portal players we signed looking forward to seeing keon keeley mylan graham and Quincy do u think the Miami and Michigan st games will be at night God Bless This Football Team here 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

Eric Hansen

2:38

Jonathan!!!!!!!!!!! I am not in the portal, nor am I entertaining any offers to be an NFL head coach! Still working on the reporting on how he was able to transfer under the radar, so stay tuned. And if you read the portal primer I did with sources, including industry insiders, there were kids who already had an offer and a plane ticket books to certain schools before Christmas. The portal opened Jan. 2. Everybody is playing that game. Until the rules change, it's the norm.

Jonathan in Addison, TX

2:30

Eric!!!!!!! You in the portal too?????? Hope you get your asking price! What’s the story with this Purdue kicker sneaking out of West Lafayette and enrolling at ND without anybody realizing (or at least reporting)? Did the Boilermakers even know they were losing him? How could he be offered a scholly without a tampering violation? Was there a preexisting relationship that enabled the bypass or at least made it easier? In a week of sensational headlines, this trick play really deserves more attention than it seems to have gotten.

Eric Hansen

2:30

Hi Kevin. I answered the first part of your question earlier, but the second part is a banger (new word Jack Soble and Tyler Horka taught me and it's a compliment -- unless they tricked me). It actually will NOT affect how Notre Dame recruits high school kids. As Marcus Freeman said Wednesday, Notre Dame wants to major in high school recruiting. What it changes is how large the pool is that can supplement that high school recruiting. It's like going from a puddle to Lake Michigan. It's a game-changer.

Kevin from Pickerington ohio

2:27

Does the undergraduate status of several portal commits signal a change by the college and a commitment to CMF? And how does it impact the teams strategy towards the recruitment of future HS players?

Eric Hansen

2:27

Hey Crash and thanks for finding the question portal. Next time, please add your hometown. Love the question, so let's dive in. Players of that caliber are going to be contacted and courted whether they're open to it or not. That's where we are with this system. There really is no tampering, unless you reach out to a player not in the portal directly. As far as contact before the portal opens or when it's open and the player is not in it, the loopholes are so wide and plentiful, it's going to be a very rare instance when tampering applies and can be proven.

Crash_Davis_8

2:23

Have you guys heard any rumblings of other programs "tampering" with any of NDs elite players?... i.e. Moore, Carr, Shuler, Traore, etc.

Eric Hansen

2:23

Hi Rob. Let's start with the guys actually on the roster and let's assume Jason Onye is part of that -- not a prediction, just makes the math easier. For me You'd have in the heavy top four playing rotation Onye and Francis Brewu, Elijah Hughes and Tionne Gray. The next tier of guys battling for reps for me is Cole Mullins, Armel Mukam and Christopher Burgess. Mukam becomes a more urgent addition if Onye is denied. The thing I like about him, he knows the system and he has played both interior positions. As far as the guys who didn't end up at ND for whatever reason, the kid from Wake Forest Mateen Ibirogba, who you didn't mention, would have made the biggest impact.

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