3 Notre Dame Offensive Observations from 2023 College Football Preview Magazines

Notre Dame finished 2022 with an offensive efficiency rating that barely cracked the top 50 in college football.

Still, Alabama coach Nick Saban saw enough from the Fighting Irish offense over the last few years to hire Tommy Rees away. 

Heading into fall camp, the offensive efficiency and the program’s 2023 season outlook likely rest on head coach Marcus Freeman’s decision to replace Rees by promoting from within. It’s a choice that made it difficult for college football preview magazines to predict how good the Fighting Irish will be. 

“One key factor will be the play-calling on offense,” Athlon’s Luke Easterling wrote, “as Freeman opted to promote from within to replace Tommy Rees, tapping Gerad Parker as his new coordinator on that side of the ball. Parker could prove to be the right man for the job, but there’s an uncomfortable level of uncertainty for such a high-profile job.”

It’s important to remember that these college football preview magazines are far from infallible. With a relatively small staff, the publications produce 100s of pages covering major storylines, key transfers and all 133 FBS programs — all on a tight deadline.

For instance, Athlon Sports’ magazine went to print before the departure of former Notre Dame running back Logan Diggs, so he’s still included on the Fighting Irish two-deep.

Yet these publications still carry significance inside the college football ecosystem.  Fans, analysts and television personalities nationwide formulate opinions based on these publications.

Below are three observations on Notre Dame’s offense after reading three of the most popular annual college football preview magazines from Athlon Sports, Lindy’s and Phil Steele.

Notre Dame should exceed expectations on offense if…

Multiple Fighting Irish pass-catchers emerge as star playmakers in 2023.

That’s a tall order given Notre Dame’s pass-game deficiencies last fall and the significant loss of receiving production.

The Irish averaged 207.1 yards (98th of 131 FBS teams) through the air in 2022.

Michael Mayer amassed 67 catches for 809 yards in 12 games and led all tight ends with nine receiving touchdowns. He’s now a member of the Oakland Raiders.

In the offseason, Notre Dame lost three of its other top five pass-catchers after Braden Lenzy retired from football with a year remaining eligibility. Diggs transferred to LSU and Lorenzo Styles switched to defensive back and bolted for Ohio State.

These personnel losses amount to 1,669 receiving yards, 62 percent of the team’s pass production.

Steele ranks Notre Dame’s returning group of pass catchers 57th overall. That puts the Irish behind the likes of Akron (No. 44), Boston College (No. 52), Indiana (No. 55) and others.

Furthermore, none of the draft-eligible players on the roster are ranked among Steele’s top 75 wide receiver prospects or top 60 tight ends.

Yet Steele still slots Notre Dame 10^th in his preseason rankings despite a glaring offensive deficiency.

New quarterback Sam Hartman averaged just under 4,000 yards over the last two seasons at Wake Forest, so an uptick in receiving production will come from somewhere. 

The good news is there are several pass-catchers capable of breaking out. Jayden Thomas dominated the Blue-Gold Game by lining up all over the field, and Mitchell Evans looked ready for a bigger role this spring. They’re joined by several former blue-chip prospects like Deion Colzie, Tobias Merriweather, Chris Tyree, Jaden Greathouse, Braylon James, Eli Raridon and Holden Staes.

“Despite the unit lacking experienced depth, it is talented and with better QB play,” Steele wrote, “could put up better stats despite losing three of their top four.”

If few players emerge as bonafide stars, the program’s most glaring weakness could become a strength and foster the most dynamic Notre Dame offense in over a decade.

Opinions of Sam Hartman’s impact vary significantly

Notre Dame believes it added the type of quarterback capable of leading the Irish to victory over top-tier college football programs. 

Consenting views exist. Steele believes Hartman is a positive addition to the roster — especially compared to former quarterback Drew Pyne — but he won’t necessarily provide a program-altering presence. 

“Hartman is a solid upgrade over Pyne and this unit is improved,” Steele wrote, “and vastly more experienced.”

Steele’s magazine ranks the Notre Dame quarterback room 18th in the country and rates Hartman as the No. 28 draft-eligible quarterback prospect in 2024.

That puts the ACC’s all-time leading passer behind the likes of Duke’s Riley Leonard (No. 3), Oregon State’s D.J. Uiagalelei, Pitt’s Phil Jurkovec (No. 22) and Ohio State’s Kyle McCord (No. 24).

The other two publications are much more bullish on the addition of Hartman.

“Hartman set a new ACC record with 110 touchdown passes — 77 in the past two seasons — at Wake Forest,” wrote Athlon, which ranks the Notre Dame quarterback room seventh overall. “He will give the Fighting Irish a massive upgrade at quarterback.”

Lindy’s rates Hartman as the most impactful quarterback transfer of the offseason and the fifth-best signal-caller in the nation.

                                                                    Lindy’s Top Quarterbacks

At the very least, Hartman should prevent Notre Dame from experiencing any catastrophic losses. 

“How these guys beat Clemson but lost to Marshall and Stanford remains a mystery,” Lindy’s wrote. “Hartman could help avoid upsets while scoring a couple of upsets.”

A stout Fighting Irish offensive line will be tested often in 2023

Based on Steele’s projections, the Irish are one of two programs with two 30 draft-eligible offensive tackles in Alt (No. 1) and Blake Fisher (No. 15). 

Zeke Correll is also considered a top-10-to-20 center in college football.

“The Irish have college football’s premier pair of tackles in Joe Alt and Blake Fisher,” wrote Lindy’s. “Center Zeke Correll is the lynchpin and freshman Billy Schrauth is the young guy they’re raving about in South Bend.”

It’s no wonder Notre Dame enters fall camp with one of the top offensive lines in college football, but road grading opposing defensive fronts this fall will be easier said than done.  

Once again, the Irish feature Clemson and Ohio State on its schedule, and both enter 2023 with consensus top-six defensive lines. 

The strength of the Tiger’s defensive line is up the middle, thanks to the return of senior tackles Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro.

“They may be deeper than their fabled 2018 group,” Steele wrote.

At least in part, national pundits show Ohio State love based on the past success of defensive line coach Larry Johnson and recruiting rankings. 

“There’s never a shortage of talent,” wrote Lindy’s, which ranked the Buckeye’s defensive line No. 1 overall. “Ends JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer lead the latest charge, along with tackles Mike Hall, Ty Hamilton Tyleik Williams. Just more of the same, folks. Since 2016, an average of almost two Ohio State D-linemen have been selected in every draft (14 in eight years), including a trio at No. 3 overall or higher.”

Sawyer led the Buckeyes with 4.5 sacks in 2022 to go along with 6.5 tackles for loss. Lindy’s ranks the former top-10 high school prospect as its No. 7 overall defensive end.

His pressure numbers from last fall mirror Jordan Botelho’s, who played 127 snaps to Swayer’s 329.

With that said, Tuimoloau is a force to be reckoned with and Hall is an athletic marvel at 285 pounds. 

Lindy’s rates the Duke defensive line 10th.

“Wonder why Duke was able to do so well last season and enter this year with so much promise and potential?” the publication wrote. “Look no further than the line play under Mike Elko. Ja’Mion Franklin and DeWayne Carter lead the way on the disruptive defensive front.”

The Pittsburgh front checks in at No. 12 overall, according to Steele, even after the Panthers lost defensive ends Deslin Alexandre and Habakkuk Baldonado and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, the No. 19 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge is one of the best, and no matter how many defensive linemen head off to the NFL each year, they remain strong,” Steele wrote.

In total, seven of Notre Dame’s 2023 opponents rank among Steele’s top-45 defensive line units:

No. 1 Clemson

No. 4 Ohio State

No. 14 North Carolina State

No. 19 USC

No. 23 Duke

No. 29 Louisville

No. 42 Navy

The Fighting Irish offensive line can ill afford to take a week off this fall, but they’ll also have plenty of opportunities to prove they’re again worthy of contention for the Joe Moore Award.