Notre Dame Preparing for Challenges of First Road Game

No. 7 Notre Dame will hit the road for the first time this season and the trip to Wake Forest will be a little different. 

This trip will essentially have none of that, as the Irish will be in and out as quickly as possible. 

"We play at Noon," stated Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly. "Obviously, if it's a later start, maybe you consider going the day of the game. You're trying to avoid as much contact outside 'your bubble' as possible. We'll do everything as if this is a home game for Friday." 

Kelly has usually wanted to get his team into town early so his players can have Friday night meetings and then spend time with their family at the team hotel. 

"We'll do all of our meetings, our practice, our post-meetings that we usually do at the hotel will be done here," explained Kelly. "We'll eat here and we'll simply board the plane, fly and get in there in the evening, get off the plane and go to bed to lessen the contact in the hotel. 

"Our guys will be in individual rooms and wake up in the morning, throw on a superman cape and go beat Wake Forest."

Speaking of superman capes, sophomore defensive end Isaiah Foskey has turned heads in the first two games of 2020. The California native hasn't played perfect, but the freak athlete has quickly shown he belongs and probably needs a few more snaps. 

Foskey has recorded four tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, four QB hurries and one breakup. 

And yes, Foskey has impressed Kelly. 

"He's a guy that makes plays," stated Kelly. "He's a playmaker, whether he's playing the defensive end position or containing a surprise fake punt - he just is a playmaker. He uses his athletic ability. He's detailed, smart and he executes at a high level. You take all the athleticism he has - it's no good unless you know what you're doing and you do it the right way. He does that. 

"Again, good for him. He takes his role serious and you can see that with the way he plays." 

On offense, Notre Dame is patiently waiting for a superhero to help bolster the passing game. 

Junior receiver Braden Lenzy could be that guy as he's getting healthy from a hamstring injury. 

Lenzy missed the season opener, but returned last Saturday and recorded three catches for 34 yards. 

Notre Dame didn't test South Florida with his speed, which you could very well see this week at Wake Forest. 

"He's got great speed and he's still a guy that you have to respect because we've seen what he can do with that kind of speed," said Kelly. "Again, he's going to have to continue to stay on the field, stay healthy, so he can build that consistency with Ian, in terms of where he's going to be, in terms of running routes and being part of our offense. 

"He's getting healthy. I think this will be a great week for him to kind of continue to build on that relationship with Ian (Book).”