Notre Dame WR Logan Saldate Was A Sponge in the Fall, Ready For Spring Opportunity
Notre Dame’s receiver room was going to become young in a hurry following Monday night’s National Title game. The program was losing three graduate transfers and then on Wednesday, Deion Colzie and Jayden Thomas announced they would enter the transfer portal to find a new home for their final year.
The Irish did add two graduate transfers in Malachi Fields and Will Paulding, but Notre Dame receivers coach Mike Brown will now be tasked with developing a young room over the next nine months.
That means this spring will be an extremely important one for freshman receiver Logan Saldate. The California native appeared in one game this year but practiced with the varsity for the majority of the year after starting the year on the scout team.
“It was good being on scout team to see how it is, get myself some reps and make some plays,” said Saldate. “Being up with the big dogs has really helped me more, in my opinion. I’ve been able to learn the playbook and be around the guys to be a sponge.”
Saldate, a June arrival, admits he thought he was ready to contribute as a freshman following summer workouts but quickly saw in fall camp the game is played at another level when the pads come on.
“It was pretty fast,” laughed Saldate. “A few days into fall camp, I realized the speed of the game, the intensity and physicality. Everything is intensified and better in college.”
It’s a mature and honest answer from a first-year player. The jump is a significant one coming out of high school. There aren’t many guys like Jeremiah Smith, which means Saldate isn’t alone in terms of learning life is different at this level.
Saldate realized he had to work but also take in the knowledge from the older players in the room to make himself ready for the opportunity ahead of himself this spring.
“This year has been great so far,” stated Saldate. “I came in at first thinking I was up to par and ready to go off the bat. After being around guys like Beaux (Collins), (Jaden) Greathouse, Kris Mitchell and guys like that taught me so much more about the game I didn't know coming out of high school. I’m just learning everything and being a sponge to soak everything in.”
Brown also made sure to spend as much time as possible with Saldate. The mental side of the game is where Brown’s emphasis was over the fall. He had to catch his freshman receiver up in case he was needed.
“I would say my route running, reading defenses and coverages,” Saldate said of his biggest improvements since he arrived on campus. “Coach Brown has worked with me a lot of that. At first, I was not running full speed because I was thinking too much and it was affecting my whole game. Once I got into the film room more, it allowed me to play fast.”
Film study is always an eye-opening experience for freshmen, and for Saldate, it was no different. Sure, everyone watches film in high school, but the level of detail on their own practice reps, much less an opponent, is a drastic change.
“It’s so much different,” laughed Saldate. “I feel in high school, you’re sitting down watching your opponent and not really picking them apart to find their weaknesses. Here at Notre Dame, we watch film on every little thing we do and the opponent. We’re just trying to pick up on key details and stuff like that.”
With Jayden Harrison gone, Saldate will have a chance to get more reps and make a move behind Greathouse in the slot while also learning the field position to expand his potential usage.
“I would honestly say every part of my game I need to improve,” said Saldate. “Route running, speed, reading coverages and communicating with the quarterback.”
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