Notre Dame Offense Aims for Another Step Forward in 2025

Notre Dame’s offense had its moments in 2024. 

The Fighting Irish reached the National Championship game, so it’s safe to say the unit was far from ineffective, but there’s still plenty of room for growth heading into the 2025 season.

Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock will have a new quarterback leading his offense, but one thing is very clear: junior receiver Jaden Greathouse will be a key player in the offense regardless of who is throwing him passes. 

Denbrock wants CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey to throw it to Greathouse, even if he’s not open, as Notre Dame believes he’s open if he’s one-on-one. 

“A lot of times it's the quarterback gaining enough confidence that no matter whether he looks covered or not,” explained Denbrock. “I know if I throw it close, he's going to make the play, right? That builds over time and unfortunately, last year, because of circumstances that were outside our control, we lost a lot of that developmental time.” 

That trust eventually developed with Riley Leonard, but it took 14 games. In Notre Dame’s final two contests, Greathouse exploded for 13 catches, 233 yards, and three touchdowns, including two scores in the national title game.

Carr and Minchey won’t lack rapport with Greathouse, so it’s on them to trust their receiver will make a play. 

“As the season went along, that confidence continued to build and we got better and better because of it,” Denbrock said. “Now we're in a little bit more position where I think these guys, even though they weren't the guy throwing the ball, the quarterbacks have seen we do have guys who can make plays if you give them opportunities to do it. Let's not be so afraid to cut it loose and let those guys be a part of what we're trying to get done.” 

In 2024, Denbrock called more screens than at any of his previous stops at LSU or Cincinnati. Why the shift?

”I think it's a good way to keep defenses off balance and not let them pin their ears back and just kind of get after you,” stated Denbrock. “It's also a good way to kind of keep your completion percentage in a good spot and get the ball in some playmakers' hands and hopefully get some bodies on some perimeter players that don't like to tackle and give those guys who can really do something with it a chance in space. That's all a piece of it.” 

With explosive weapons and a young quarterback, expect Notre Dame to continue building out its screen package in 2025.

“I think it's game to game, which would really kind of dictate how many screens we are running,” said Denbrock. “How many do we carry into the game plan and things like that. A lot of it depends on who we're playing against.” 

Junior running back Jeremiyah Love is the player Denbrock will look to create more opportunities for this fall. 

In 2024, Love racked up 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 28 receptions for 237 yards and two more scores. And Denbrock believes there’s more to come.

”I think for him, just understanding that he's got the ability and will show the ability to everybody that he can be an every down back,” explained Denbrock. “He's somebody who has the versatility necessary to not only be electric out of the backfield, but be electric as somebody who can run and catch the football. If that means on third down, if JD’s (Jadarian Price) in the game at tailback, he's in the game as one of the wide receivers, then that's what it means.

“But also using him out of the backfield more on some option routes and in different things where he's got an opportunity to kind of break people down in space and catch the football and do something special with it.” 

While some positions will feature new faces due to natural attrition, Denbrock expects improvement across the board from last year’s group.

”I don't see an area where we shouldn't be better,” said Denbrock. “I think we've got an opportunity at all positions to play at a higher level than we did, at a more consistent level than we did a year ago. We've got talent at every position. We've got capable bodies at every position. We've got pretty good depth at every position. It's an exciting time for us offensively.

“I think, as the year went along, I thought our players really developed a lot of confidence in what we're doing and how we do it. I think that's just something that we're continuing to build on.”

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