When Notre Dame made the College Football Playoff in 2024, then-sophomore wide receiver Jaden Greathouse stepped up in a big way for the Irish offense.
In the semifinal and championship games, Greathouse caught 13 passes for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns.
“Yeah, for any player it’s going to give you a confidence boost and you’re going to feel more confident about yourself,” said Greathouse. “But really the only thing I can think about is the red and white confetti coming down to the ground and just thinking about how I need to dominate next season.”
While it looked like Greathouse was about to break out in 2025, a hamstring injury would only allow him to play in four games where he totaled just 4 catches for 73 yards.
Heading into 2026, however, the now-senior Greathouse returned from his hamstring injury and was not going to let the previous season affect him mentally either.
“Yeah, definitely,” said Greathouse. “Feeling really good, feeling really healthy, and all those kinds of things. Doing everything I can to take care of my body, and it’s going really well.”
“Definitely, I feel like with any injury there is always a mental aspect of it. Mentally, it was definitely tough, being out for a season. Having it become a recurring issue and all those kinds of things. Just trying to stay consistent in my rehab and consistent in my mental; everything’s been going good.”
A big difference from Greathouse’s sophomore and senior years? The change at quarterback.
When Greathouse had those electric performances in the CFP, Riley Leonard was throwing him the ball.
Now it’s CJ Carr leading the Irish offense and developing chemistry with Greathouse.
“I think the chemistry was built in the offseason, and getting countless reps,” said Greathouse. “Not every game is it going to be put out there, but last week it was, and you could see that bit of connection. We just keep stacking days, keep taking it week by week, and making sure by the end of the day that we’re winning.”
One thing that has not changed since that CFP run is how good Notre Dame’s defense is.
Facing the Irish defense in practice makes the Irish offense, including Greathouse, better.
“It’s definitely a big confidence boost,” said Greathouse. “Seeing the defense develop all offseason and seeing our guys getting better, and getting tons and countless reps throughout the whole offseason, it only helps you get better. Every single one of our DBs is an elite coverage guy, and everyone’s been getting so much better this offseason. As an offense, that makes us better when one of the best defenses is pushing you every single day. Iron sharpens iron.”
With Greathouse having to go up against Notre Dame’s defensive backs in practice, route running can become the difference between winning and losing a rep.
The coverage that Greathouse faces influences which part of the route becomes the most important.
“I think it depends on different situations,” said Greathouse. “Usually, in man [coverage], if you’re getting pressed, it's probably [your] release. If you got zone coverage, then probably your feet at the top of your breaks is definitely the most important. That’s what’s cool about wideout: you get different looks every play, and there are different situations [where] you need to have different tools for each and every single play. That’s what makes it interesting.”
That work doesn’t go unnoticed either.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman notices Greathouse’s work on the field regardless of what the stat sheet says.
“I think he's an incredible contributor to what we do offensively, regardless of whether he's catching 10,000 footballs or not,” said Freeman. “I think he's blocking his behind off. He's running routes and doing his responsibilities within the framework for our offense at an unbelievable level. The ball hasn't happened to find him as much as all of us would like the ball to find him. But, hopefully, as we continue to go, if he continues to be consistent in what he's doing, the football gods doth reward people who play the game the right way. And I look forward to seeing him in and get some of that.”
All that hard work culminated in an 8-catch, 125-yard performance against BYU in Provo for Greathouse.
While the Irish did not emerge with the win, it seems like wideout Jaden Greathouse is returning to form.
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