Notre Dame football quarter-season awards: Who stands out on 3-0 team?
Notre Dame fans couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2023 season. The Irish picked up three wins in three games, only one of which was in doubt by the start of the fourth quarter (and that one quickly turned into a blowout, too).
Here are BlueandGold.com’s quarter-season Notre Dame football awards.
MVP: Quarterback Sam Hartman (Gr.)
Hartman is the best quarterback Notre Dame has had in at least a decade, and probably more. If he sustains this level of play for three more months, he might receive an invite to New York in December.
Runner-up: Left tackle Joe Alt (Jr.)
Offensive player of the year: Running back Audric Estimé (Jr.)
Eight yards per carry at just under just over 14 carries per game would earn Estimé serious consideration for the Doak Walker Award. Adding 5 receptions for 55 yards is a great sign for Notre Dame as well.
Runner-up: Hartman
Defensive player of the year: Defensive tackle Howard Cross III (Gr.)
Cross has been everywhere through three games, tying for second on the team with 15 tackles from the nose tackle position. Pro Football Focus rates him as the third-best interior defensive lineman in the country.
Runner-up: Linebacker Marist Liufau (Gr.)
Special teams player of the year: Defensive tackle Jason Onye (Jr.)
Onye blocked a field goal and serves as a personal protector on the punt team. Graduate safety DJ Brown was close, leading the team with 47 snaps across four units and registering 3 tackles so far this season, but Onye made the big play.
Runner-up: Brown
Coach of the year: Cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens
Mickens leads the best position group, top to bottom, on the team. He also serves as the defensive passing game coordinator, and Notre Dame ranks 12th in the nation in yards per attempt allowed with 4.81.
Runner-up: Running backs coach Deland McCullough
Freshman of the year: Slot receiver Jaden Greathouse (Fr.)
This side of Hartman, Greathouse is tied for the team lead in receptions (8) and receiving touchdowns (3), and he’s fourth in yards with 113. Although he fits best in the slot, it might be in Notre Dame’s interest to see if he can play on the perimeter more often.
Runner-up: Running back Jeremiyah Love (Fr.)
Most improved player: Liufau
Freeman knew it after the Navy game. This is a faster, more aggressive and more physical Liufau than Notre Dame saw last year. He’s right up there with Cross for defensive player of the year.
Runner-up: Tight end Holden Staes (So.)
Comeback player of the year: Running back Jadarian Price (So.)
After missing all of last season with a torn Achilles tendon, Price has 121 yards and 2 touchdowns in 16 touches as part of a ridiculously deep running back room in 2023. He’s a key cog in the Notre Dame offense.
Runner-up: Cornerback Cam Hart (Gr.)
Highlight of the year: Estimé’s 80-yard touchdown run vs. North Carolina State
Watching this live on television (BlueandGold.com beat writer Tyler Horka made the trip to Raleigh, N.C.), I hadn’t quite realized the game re-started after the rain delay before I looked up and saw Estimé running with no one in front of him. It was a perfectly-blocked play that showcased Estimé’s vision and speed, and it helped propel Notre Dame to a 45-24 win.
Runner-up: Hartman’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Greathouse vs. Navy (the second Greathouse TD)
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