Can Second Year Coach Marcus Freeman lead his new proven quarterback and company to the College Football Playoffs?
A new general is in town for the Fighting Irish as Sam Hartman looks to get Notre Dame Football back in the double-digit win column after a rocky 2022 season.
Notre Dame saw some setbacks last season after the departure of Head Coach Brian Kelly to LSU as new HC Marcus Freeman became acclimated with running the Irish.
2022 Recap: Notre Dame Football
2022 Record: 9-4
The Marcus Freeman era in South Bend did not start as planned to say the least. After a disappointing 2021 Bowl loss to Oklahoma State in collapsing fashion, 2022 did not start off any better.
The Season started off with two losses in a row. One, which you might have expected with Ohio State (21-10), but the following week was UPSET at home vs. Marshall (26-21). This started the Freeman era off as 0-3 as the Irish Head Coach.
Notre Dame got back on track with a close win over Cal (24-17) and against UNC and BYU until the next blemish came against Stanford AGAIN at home. (16-14).
With College Football Playoffs already out of the picture, Media across College Football began to ask the question if he was already in the hot seat. His team then quickly shut down the naysayers with some dominating wins especially at home against Clemson (35-14)
The Irish finished the season strong winning the last 6 of 7 games including a Gator Bowl win against a TOUGH South Carolina squad..
They Finished the season 9-4 with the fourth loss coming at the hands of USC (38-27) as Lincoln Riley was pushing for a College Football Playoff Berth and cementing the Heisman Trophy in the lap of Quarterback Caleb Williams.
How Will Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame Coaching Staff Look in 2023?
Marcus Freeman is entering 2nd year after Brian Kelly goes to LSU. Kelly was coming off a run of seven double-digit win seasons in his last eight with a few College Football playoff appearances. Can Freeman get to this type of performance for Notre Dame? Can he clear the bar and win a National Championship?
Seems like Notre Dame is going to have a good amount of patience with him as he settles into his new role. Expectations at a place like South Bend, Indiana are relatively straightforward: Win. Although expectations are always high at Notre Dame, and arguably higher this season, Freeman isn’t the new face on the block any longer. That belongs to the new Offensive Coordinator for Notre Dame after the departure of a former Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees to Alabama.
New Offensive Coordinator in South Bend
Marcus Freeman elected to hire in-house, promoting tight ends coach Gerad Parker to the position.
“I’m not hiring Parker to run Tommy’s offense or anybody else’s. I’m hiring Parker to implement his offense,”
NOtre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman
Parker comes to South Bend after spending the 2020 and 2021 seasons at West Virginia as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
2023 Offense:
New Quarterback in Town
Sam Hartman the new guy under center and could be a missing puzzle piece for Freeman and company to make that next step in the process. Sam transfers from Wake Forest and had a great career for the Deacons.
Notre Dame Fans should be VERY excited for this addition as No Quarterback to dress for the Irish since Brady Quinn (2003-06) set the Notre Dame passing record book ablaze have the Irish had a quarterback as statistically accomplished as Sam Hartman.
Hartman recorded 12,967 passing yards and 110 touchdowns while under center for Wake.
Is Notre Dame Offense poised for a breakout?
“He’s everything that’s been written about him. “He’s been in the lights and has made a lot of throws under duress. He’s mature. He can handle success and failure.”
Notre Dame New O.C. Gerad Parker
Adding a veteran QB could be a brand-new OC’s dream of a program’s nightmare this coming season. I’m leaning towards it being a successful relationship.
Running Game and Its Importance in 2023
The running game will look a bit different as well for Notre Dame, but still should be a solid group of guys.
The departure of Logan Diggs after spring practice was not ideal for the team but Audric Estime is back after leading the Irish on the ground with 920 yards and 11 TDs. Estime averaged almost six yards per carry and will look to build another successful campaign behind a stellar offensive line.
If the Irish want to return to the double-digit win column in 2023 and quickly remove any concerns over new OC Parker, the run game MUST get going.
Last season, Notre Dame was 7-0 when running for more than 150 yards, and 2-4 when it didn’t. Even more, since 2017, The Fighting Irish are 48-1 (one loss to Stanford in 2017) when rushing over 150 yards or more in a game. The importance of this running back crew led by Estime is not talked about nearly enough but easily could make or break Notre Dame’s season.
Receiving Core: Who Will Step Up in 2023?
If you read any publication regarding Notre Dame over the past year, you will most likely find a spot discussing the concern of the wide receiver core, and here is no different. The Irish have yet to find a “breakout” star at the position with hopes that will change this season, especially with Hartman throwing the football.
The Spring game this season did give us some potential suitors to arguably the biggest question this season for Notre Dame and that revolves around Tobias Merriweather.
Merriweather has really impressed this spring and has given scouts and coaches plenty to be excited about after the Blue and Gold game. Count on him taking a big step forward in 2023, and possibly a number 1 target for Sam Hartman.
Other names to watch for in the receiving core is a promising big target Jayden Thomas, as well as Deion Colzie.
One thing to be excited about with the new look offense is what new OC Parker did with a receiving core while at West Virginia. During the 2021 season, Parker guided WVU wide receivers Winston Wright Jr., and Bryce Ford-Weaton to career-best seasons. Could we see that breakout from Thomas or Merriweather?
The Tight End position will be another beast of an issue to replace as Michael Mayer is off to the Raiders after the NFL Draft. A Key player to look out for is Mitchell Evans.
Evans, a Junior, stepped in for Mayer last season in the Gator Bowl and looked good doing it. He looks to be the team’s probable top option at TE heading into the season.
NFL Caliber Offensive Line
The Offensive Line may very well be the best in the country. Especially from the tackle position. The combination consists of Joe Alt on the left side and Blake Fisher on the right.
Alt is projected to be the first offensive lineman taken off the board in the upcoming NFL Draft. He already plays at a pro level and will only improve upon that this coming season.
Fisher, also an early round favorite will solidify the pass rush to help keep Sam Hartman safe in the pocket.
If these two players remain healthy all season long, look for Hartman to be one of the LEAST sacked Quarterbacks in the Nation.
2023 Defense:
Pass Rushing MUST Improve in 2023
Last year, the Irish allowed 329 yards and 23 Points per game. Will we see improvements as Marcus Freeman set his recruiting and portal focus this year on the defensive side of the football.
The defensive line will immediately be looked at under a magnifying glass once they take on Navy in Dublin as they lost three veterans from last season. One of those players lost was Isaiah Foskey, the school-record holder in sacks.
The team’s Red Zone Defense was not good at all last season as it allowed 32 scores in 34 possessions, ranking near the bottom of All college football (130th).
Howard Cross III has excelled in the past but will need to take a bigger role this season.
Rylie Mills is a big athlete who could make the jump to fill the shows of those departed last season.
Freeman went to the Portal for Defensive Front help and got Javontae Jean-Baptiste from Ohio State. Look to see him make a quick impact on the edge.
Promising Linebacking Core for Notre Dame
Much like the offensive line, if this linebacker core stays healthy, it has the potential to be the best in the country.
JD Bertand returns after leading the team with 82 tackles last season.
Jack Kiser is also a rock-solid starter as he returns as the second leading tackler in 2022 (58 tackles)
A solid rotation with Marist Liufau, Jaylen Sneed and Prince Kollie will help keep the middle of the defense fresh without losing much from the starters. Look for one of these players to really step up as they have the upside to do it.
Strong Secondary in South Bend
The Secondary should also be successful this season for Notre Dame after what we saw last year in 2022.
Benjamin Morrison spotlights the secondary after an outstanding freshman season. Morrison was named a Freshman All-American after his 6 interceptions on the season (2 of them coming against Clemson)
Freeman also added Thomas Harper from Oklahoma State in the Portal to an already experienced and hard-hitting safety crew.
2023 Schedule: Notre Dame Football
Aug. 26 – vs. Navy (Dublin, Ireland)
Sept. 2 – Tennessee State (Notre Dame Stadium)
Sept. 9 – at NC State (Raleigh, N.C.)
Sept. 16 – Central Michigan (Notre Dame Stadium)
Sept. 23 – Ohio State (Notre Dame Stadium)
Sept. 30 – at Duke (Durham, N.C.)
Oct. 7 – at Louisville (Louisville, Ky.)
Oct. 14 – USC (Notre Dame Stadium)
Oct. 21 – Bye
Oct. 28 – Pittsburgh (Notre Dame Stadium
Nov. 4 – at Clemson (Clemson, S.C.)
Nov. 11 – Bye
Nov. 18 – Wake Forest (Notre Dame Stadium)
Nov. 25 – at Stanford (Palo Alto, Calif.)
2023 Predictions: Notre Dame Football
Prediction: 2023 Record: (10-2)
Losses to USC and Clemson
Ceiling 11-1, Floor 8-4
I believe we see incredible improvement from last season from Notre Dame; however, not enough to make the final year of the 4-team College Football Playoff.
The Irish have a ROUGH Schedule and I believe they could be bit multiple times throughout the year. If everything goes according to plan, I think they COULD possibly steal that win against Clemson on the road, as we saw its possible last season as the Tigers lost to South Carolina. If my prediction is correct, both teams that Notre Dame loses to will MOST LIKELY be in the CFP themselves.
In the end, 10-2 is a great season for Marcus Freeman to put on his resume as he continues to climb the recruiting rankings and turn the Irish back into a College Football Powerhouse.
Let us know what you think, give us a comment below with your prediction or thoughts about Notre Dame Football in 2023. Check out the Slasher U YouTube Channel and SlasherSports.com for more Team Previews, subscribe so you don’t miss a single one.
