Five Notre Dame Offensive Players Who Need to Shine in Fall Camp
Spring ball is a time for development and growth. Young players can show their work over the last year and many coaches open it up for competition to enhance the program’s culture.
Fall camp is a different story. There will be opportunities for young players to prove they belong and to show off their development, but it’s also time for the staff to find the strengths and weaknesses on both sides of the ball.
When it comes to Notre Dame’s offense, Mike Denbrock will need to find out who has mastered his offense and who can make plays. It’s the third offense in three years for Notre Dame, but there has been plenty of time to learn the playbook, so there aren’t excuses when the Irish hit the field in two weeks.
It would be easy to name at least 10 players Notre Dame needs to step up on offense, but we’re limiting it to five-ish today. Riley Leonard will not make this list, but he needs to have a good camp considering he missed a large chunk of the spring.
RT Aamil Wagner
All signs point to the redshirt sophomore getting the first look at right tackle as Notre Dame looks to replace Blake Fisher. Wagner’s weight has been a hot topic on message boards for months, but it shouldn’t matter at the end of the day. Sure, Wagner sitting at 310 would be great, yet I’m not sure college coaches would be freaking out about it.
“He’s either going to be good enough, or he’s not going to be good enough,” stated one college football staffer (not at Notre Dame. “303 isn’t going to help him beat Georgia.”
Protecting Riley Leonard and being able to find a push in the run game will be top priorities for Wagner or Tosh Baker, who will also challenge to start at the right tackle position. Can Wagner keep his opponent from getting into his body in pass sets? Can he block the right guy? One would think Wagner could do both at 295 or 310.
The Ohio native’s athleticism is an intriguing piece of the puzzle. It’s unlikely we’ll see too much from him, given our viewing limitations, but if Wagner can pull or get out in space, it opens up Notre Dame’s offense in the run game and the screen game. If Wagner proves he can use his athleticism as a strength, it could set him up to make his first collegiate start.
LG Pat Coogan/Rocco Spindler
Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph seems to be comfortable with Billy Scrauth manning the right guard position and moved Spindler to the left side during the spring. The strengths and weaknesses have been written about in great detail over the last three months, but it’s still an intriguing situation for Rudolph and the offense.
Coogan is listed at 310 on the Notre Dame roster, while Spindler checks in at 331 in the latest update. We’re told Spindler is likely more around 320, but if Rudolph is looking for more of a push up the middle, Notre Dame can get big in a hurry.
Spindler, Schrauth (315) and Ashton Craig (308) could provide a push and an interior presence the Irish haven’t had since the 2020 season when Aaron Banks and Tommy Kraemer started. Coogan’s athleticism and ability to pull is a strength while giving up a little weight. It’s not as if Coogan was pushed around as some other guards in the last few years have, but he relies on other aspects of his game.
At the end of the day, it’s a good situation for any offensive line to be in, as you have two starters competing. It’s healthy. Sure, the loser isn’t going to be happy, but it gives Notre Dame a fantastic sixth lineman and every program needs that. Both players will hit their maximum potential and Notre Dame needs that.
WR BEAUX COLLINS
The Clemson graduate transfer didn’t practice in the spring as he was working to complete his degree, which means he didn’t get to take live reps in Notre Dame offense. Now, Collins should be more than familiar with the offense as he attended practice, meetings and has had time in the offseason to work with the quarterbacks and receivers.
Outside of finding comfort in the offense, Collins has a chance to be a playmaker in the boundary and that’s something Notre Dame’s offense has missed greatly. In fact, you’d have to go back to 2021 when the Irish featured Kevin Austin Jr.
Now, we’ve heard Collins is moving around like a freak in offseason workouts, but perhaps the most intriguing piece is the California native is still a bit of an unknown. Collins was productive at Clemson despite going through some bad quarterback play and with a motivated Leonard, the 6-foot-3 receiver could be in line for a breakout year.
Last fall, Tobias Merriweather struggled simply to catch the ball, which was a bad omen for the season. An experienced Collins should be able to do that and more. If Notre Dame can get Collins going in the boundary, then it opens up a great deal for this offense given some of the personnel grouping Denbrock can roll out.
TE ELI RARIDON
Mitchell Evans proved a year ago that he would be Notre Dame’s next NFL draft pick at the tight end before his ACL injury. Marcus Freeman has stated Evans is on schedule to play this fall, but Notre Dame will need more than his production at the tight end position.
Denbrock has proven throughout the years that he can maximize the tight end in his offense, and Raridon fits the bill in what his offensive coordinator likes to do. LSU tight end Mason Taylor recorded 74 catches for 762 yards and four touchdowns over the last four years under Denbrock’s guidance. Sure, it might not seem like massive production, but considering Malik Nabers put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and Brian Thomas was the second-leading receiver in 2023 with 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns, Taylor did a mighty fine job.
Taylor thrived in the RPO game, leaking to the flat or sneaking out for crucial first downs. Raridon (and Evans) can do the same. In fact, I believe Raridon has a chance to become a significant playmaker in this offense if he can make that jump. If Notre Dame can get Collins going in the boundary, Kris Mitchell as a deep threat, then Raridon has chance to thrive as teams still need to account for Leonard’s legs - not to mention Jaden Greathouse will command attention and then you get to the running backs.
Yes, it sounds good on paper. Will Notre Dame be LSU 2023? It’s doubtful, but the attention of others will give the tight end favorable matchups and between Raridon and Evans, the Irish should be able to take advantage.
Raridon needs to prove he can stay healthy, but then show confidence he can be the elite playmaker he showed in high school. The two ACL injuries definitely slowed his development, yet the athleticism is still there and if he can make a couple plays in early in fall camp to gain confidence, watch out.
RB JEREMIYAH LOVE
Love showed flashes as a true freshman from the start of last season. If you spoke to those around the St. Louis native, Love was more than fine with redshirting and learning the ropes. Then he got the first taste of college football against Navy and made sure Notre Dame had to use him moving forward.
Speed is a trait that Notre Dame has been missing from its backfield for a few years (outside of Chris Tyree) and Love has plenty of it. Kyren Williams, Audric Estime, Logan Diggs and Tony Jones Jr. were high-end backs for Notre Dame, but none were considered speed guys. Love is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
The sophomore back will now need to earn the trust of the staff and prove he can execute their ideas for him as a running back and receiver. Love will also need to show he can handle a larger role and responsibilities mentally, which includes pass protection.
It seems Notre Dame will have no issues placing a large load on him, but that’s if he’s ready. Jadarian Price has shown that he can be RB1, and both will make each other better. Similar to many positions, Notre Dame is stacking talent at running back and it can only make the entire group better.
If Love can show he’s ready for more work, Notre Dame’s offense could have a chance to be dangerous.
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