It’s been a minute since Notre Dame Stadium heard the name Jaden Greathouse announced over the PA speakers.
On Saturday, Notre Dame fans heard it three times as the senior receiver hauled in three catches for 48 yards in the 52-0 win over Rice.
“It was great to have the ball in my hands, great to have some opportunities to make plays,” Greathouse stated. “At the end of the day, we won the game, and that’s the most important thing to me.
“If I’m a part of that, even better. It was great to be back in the home stadium for the first game. I think the offense did really well.”
The Texas native battled through a nagging hamstring injury last fall, but it appears those issues are behind him.
Greathouse admitted there were times last season when he struggled to trust his hamstring and the injury even affected parts of his spring.
“I feel like with any injury there is always a mental aspect of it,” said Greathouse. “Mentally, it was definitely tough, being out for a season. Having it become a recurring issue and all those kinds of things.”
Perhaps Greathouse's best play Saturday didn’t show up in the stat sheet.
The senior receiver played a major role in Notre Dame’s second touchdown, taking on two Rice defenders to spring Jordan Faison for an 11-yard touchdown.
It was an unselfish play and one Greathouse is more than willing to make every weekend.
“We knew that we could take advantage of them on the perimeter and they were going to give us some good looks that would allow us to get on the perimeter,” explained Greathouse. “As a room, we answer the challenge, and we’re intentional with it throughout practice, throughout the whole week. We were able to execute during the game.”
Notre Dame leaned heavily on its running backs and tight ends to beat Wisconsin in the season opener.
Against Rice, the Irish found nine different receivers throughout the afternoon, showing just how many options CJ Carr has at his disposal.
Greathouse believes the receiver room can build on Saturday’s performance.
“Just keep stacking days,” Greathouse stated. “Doing exactly what we're doing when we come out here, continuing to push each other, continuing to try to be one percent better and have that mentality about you and keep trying to elevate.”
Greathouse also believes the time spent with Carr throughout the offseason will begin to pay dividends as the season progresses.
“It’s great,” Greathouse stated. “He’s our captain, our leader. Very poised, calm, cool, and collected, and he has the talent to back it up too. He’s always been putting the ball right where it needs to be, making the right decisions.”
Carr’s ability to spread the ball around and make the right decisions gives the receivers confidence, even when they aren’t the ones getting the football.
There’s a belief that if they continue doing their jobs, their opportunities will come.
“As an offense, that boosts your confidence when the head guy is always doing the right thing,” Greathouse explained. “Always doing what he’s supposed to be doing and helping others elevate as well.”
This weekend, Notre Dame will face a Michigan State team that could roll out a defense similar to Wisconsin as the Spartans have several two-high safety looks.
“Michigan State’s defense is more basic,” Greathouse said. “They don’t run as many different coverages as Wisconsin does. Some of their coverages are pretty similar.”
So how does Notre Dame combat a two-high safety scheme?
Attack it.
“We have to attack them in the passing game this week and open up their defense,” said Greathouse. “That’s going to come down to every single person on offense, making sure the receivers are doing our jobs, the O-line is doing their jobs, the QBs are doing their jobs. All of those kinds of things, and just being physical.”
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