JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | March 26, 2026 | 3/26/2026

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | March 26, 2026

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Eric Hansen

12:50

Tony!!! Let me answer your question generically first and then specifically to Khary Adams. Sometimes these things happen when a player makes a splash at national showcases and camps, also the 7-on-7 circuit, but he is either injured during his high school season, plays on a bad team or plays a position where he stats don't tell the story. Daelin Hayes, a Rivals five-star, ended up coming to Notre Dame with all of about nine high school games in his career. That was due to injuries, to moving to different states and having to sit out because of that. So his high school credentials didn't match is recruiting pedigree. (more)

2581

12:41

Tony from Lexington, KY, via Somerset, PA, also the hometown of the coach of ND's 15-6 and #23-ranked baseball team, Shawn Stiffler.

Glad that you got to see the Irish woman win two games up-close and personal in Columbus, Eric!

But my question, Eric the Great, is about ND football !

Probably the freshman who I am most excited to see play this season is Khary Adams of Baltimore. In the March issue of Blue & Gold Illustrated, in the article "Khary Adams Is An Anomaly", I am stumped by one factoid. The article indicates that last season Khary was a 5-star recruit, a Rivals 1st-team All-American, the #3 cornerback in the nation, and the #23 overall player in the nation. High praise indeed ! But the article also says that he was only all-state HONORABLE MENTION for "Maryland Independent schools". How can that be? I don't understand... Can you educate me?

Eric Hansen

12:39

Tommy Rees and Evan Sharpley have helped out in years past after they were no longer college players. Ian Book would have been a strong alternative, but Carr was the best fit. And the coaching staff would have say in who participates.

12:38

We talked to CJ about this a little bit after practice on Wednesday. His motivation was not really to get in front of scouts. There will be plenty of tape. It was to help his teammates look good, since he already has chemistry with them. One year, after he had been at Florida State for a year, Everett Golson came back to ND's pro day and did not do a good job of prepping for it. One scout even scolded Golson. (more)

12:35

Hi Michael. Since 2017 underclassmen who are not early entries in an upcoming draft CAN participate in the testing or field workouts part of Pro Days, up to 5 per team. When the rule was new, those players would have to sit out a spring practice to make up for the Pro Day. I believe the only stipulation now is that you can't miss class to do it. ... I believe the only ND player in this Pro Day to fit your description was CJ Carr. (more)

Michael from Zorichland

12:24

Hi Eric, can you please help with the stipulations that allow underclassmen like CJ Carr participating in ND's Pro Day? Is it limited to a number of players, class (meaning only Sophomores), and/or other rules? Who picks the players that will participate? Did any other underclassmen participate besides CJ? Thank you for your reply and if you already wrote about this thank you in advance for sharing the link!

Eric Hansen

12:24

Mike Mickens, I think, saved his best moments for when the media was NOT around, both in interviews and when he was talking to the DBs room. So you didn't often get to see what made him such a great coach, but the players would tell you the stories. Aaron Henry is much more comfortable it seems being the same guy whether the cameras and mics are on of off. I enjoyed interviewing him. I probably could give you a better feel for his on-field presence after watching him a little more.

12:21

Brian Jean-Mary at linebackers is a very different personality from Max Bullough. If Red Bull could be distilled into a personality, it's Bullough. Ready to make you run through a wall. Ready to run through a wall himself. All intensity all the time, and yet really smart guy who teaches well. I think BJM has more gears to his personality and tries to use them to fit the moment. I REALLY loved the story he told yesterday about working for Lou Holtz as a grad assistant. Just carries a lot of wisdom and I could see where recruits would like his authenticity. (more)

12:18

Hi Berk. I've at least got to sit in on group interviews with each of them at least once, and Brian Jean-Mary twice. I also made a point of watching them coach during our limited practice window on Wednesday, especially Partridge. I'll start with him. Partridge reminds me of classic O-line coaches in that he kind of creates that all-in, all-together culture. He does it differently that Al Washington. Both effective. Charlie is more tough love, more intense, more non-G-rated in his word choices. Both are demanding, just in different ways. (more)

Berk

12:14

from Memphis. Hey Eric, I hope you are having as great of a spring day as we are here! What a GREAT time to be an ND fan with spring practice in full swing, NFL DRAFT coming up and spring game around the corner. It has been such a LONG time since we as fans have had SO much positive going on around the program (KNOCK ON WOOD). I know you probably haven't been around the new D coaches very long but can you give me a quick difference between the old (ex Washington) vs new (ex Partridge) on all 3? Really how they may be putting their stamp on the position groups. Thanks so much!

Eric Hansen

12:14

Wow Jim, and A for creativity on this one. With so many newcomers, I haven't spoken to everyone, so let me put that caveat out there. But based on who I have spoken with, I'll play the game. 1) Cross country road trip freshman WR Devin Fitzgerald. Super interesting person, funny, engaging, has great stories and probably wouldn't need to use the bathroom every five minutes. 2) Back-alley brawl. Christopher Burgess Jr. ... He's from Chicago and he looks so intimidating I think the other side might end the brawl before it starts by running away. 3) Night on the town. I'd need someone who's old enough to do that, and that's a short list. Sullivan Absher seems like a guy who'd be fun to hang out with. Plus he's big enough that no one would give us trouble. 4. Jury duty. CJ Carr. He'd be relentless in his preparation and detail.

cool

1

Jim From Springfield, IL

12:07

Thanks again for doing these. You get to speak with and get to know the players; so which current player(s) would you pick to have with you on a: 1) cross country road trip, 2) back-alley brawl, 3) night on the town, 4) jury duty. Thanks

Eric Hansen

OK, let's roll.

If you can follow my first couple of suggestions ... about the name/hometown and the math ceiling, all other rules will be rescinded for today. ... except as they apply to me.

12:06

Here are the rules:

Remember my tolerance level for question involving complex math.

12:05

Please include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question(s).

As far as this week's chat ...

12:04

► 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 offensive lineman Trevor Ruhland. The next episode will drop late Thursday afternoon, with special guest Mike Golic Jr.

► 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.

12:03

► 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/.

First, some quick programming notes:

12:02

Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat on an actual spring-like day in South Bend, Ind.

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