Marcus Freeman has spent his tenure as Notre Dame head coach building a program capable of attracting one of Notre Dame's best recruiting classes in a generation.
He’s done such a good job building that program that even after signing such a class, the Irish won’t have to rely on many of those freshmen to play major roles immediately.
Still, that doesn't mean those youngsters arrived in South Bend without expectations for themselves.
Most have spent much of their football careers as the best players on the field. Now, they find themselves competing behind established players who were once in the same position.
For Freeman, learning how to handle that transition is part of their development.
"It's an everyday message for everybody in our program and understanding that the greatest things in life take time and the things you want, you're not going to get instant gratification here or anywhere else," Freeman told reporters this weekend.
Freeman understands that message isn't always easy for a young player to accept, particularly when he's accustomed to playing significant roles.
"It can get maybe a little bit deflating," Freeman said. "You come in and you see some of the great players that are in front of you and you say, ‘Man, am I ever going to be there?’ Yeah, because they were you one day."
There are exceptions, of course.
Leonard Moore arrived at Notre Dame in 2024 and quickly proved capable of playing before eventually moving into the starting lineup as a freshman. But Freeman understands that's an atypical path.
For most young players, the process starts with handling whatever responsibilities they've already earned.
"If you want more, you got to clear your plate," Freeman said. "I say it all the time, whatever you've been given today, you got to clear your plate. If you do that consistently, you're going to get more."
For some, that could mean making the most of practice reps, contributing on special teams or mastering a smaller role before being trusted with something larger.
Special teams could also provide an early indication of which members of the Class of 2026 are closest to earning roles this fall.
Freeman pointed to defensive end Ebenezer Ewetade and linebacker Rodney Dunham as two freshmen who could contribute early.
"I think Ebenezer, he did a heck of a job in the kickoff drill,” Freeman said. “Being a defensive end, you don't always picture that guy being a kickoff guy, but he did a heck of a job. We had a kickoff drill the other day and he showed up and Rodney Dunham's gonna help us."
The young defensive backs could also provide help.
"But Joey O'Brien's, don't know exactly which ones will play, but those guys, you're gonna see them on some special teams," Freeman said. "(Ayden) Pouncey, Khary Adams and those guys, you'll see them start the season, I'm sure on some special teams."
Trusting in delayed gratification certainly doesn't mean waiting until an older player leaves and assuming the opportunity will automatically follow.
"If you wait for the opportunity, you're going to be waiting for a long time because there is no, it's your turn here," Freeman said. "We don't do, ‘Alright, it's your turn.’ No, it's you learn that position."
The players currently standing between Notre Dame's freshmen and larger roles weren't always established veterans themselves. They had to develop, compete and prove they were ready for more.
Now, the Class of 2026 has the opportunity to do the same without Notre Dame needing to rush the process. For Freeman, the challenge is making sure those players understand that waiting for a larger role doesn't mean waiting to develop.
The opportunity they're working toward may take time, but how they spend that time will largely determine when it arrives.
