Hey Horka! Is the Notre Dame football program headed in the right direction?

In this edition of the Hey Horka! BlueandGold.com message board mailbag column we address the state of the Notre Dame football program and much more.

Is Notre Dame trending in the right or wrong direction overall as a program? — JohnsonBadMiles

I’m somewhere in the middle. Recruiting is most definitely on a heater, and you win games with players. But there is more to it than that. Freeman has to make sure he’s got everything behind closed doors under control. Of course, he needs to have things on game days under control too. Time will tell if he’s the right guy to do those things. But Notre Dame losing won’t be for a lack of talent. Figure out a long-term quarterback solution, make sure the operation is running smoothly 24/7/365 and go from there.

Who is Notre Dame’s best 2024 NFL Draft prospect not named Joe Alt? — Bsmitty8

Fellow offensive tackle Blake Fisher. His draft stock is going to soar with another full season of college ball under his belt, and perhaps his best one yet.

Dare I say running back Audric Estimé after the two offensive linemen? Running backs love coming out after three years, and now he’s got a chance to rack up some serious stats with Diggs gone and Tyree at wide receiver.

Maybe throw cornerback Cam Hart on there as the No. 4 prospect. If defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste has a big season, NFL scouts will probably love his measurables. Quarterback Sam Hartman gets a look with a solid year.

Which freshman linebacker is most likely to crack the rotation? — arrowfan624

Tough choice … I’ll go with a dark horse. I think Jaiden Ausberry showed us some things with coverage skills that could be useful. This coaching staff has set a precedent that if you can’t be trusted in coverage as a linebacker, you won’t play. It’s part of why Prince Kollie is no longer on the roster. Ausberry seems to already have the coverage instincts.

How good does a player need to be for you to take him from the transfer portal? Would you take a depth safety just to have a depth safety, for example? — jrp3

I’d take depth guys for sure. I viewed defensive tackle Chris Smith in that light last year, and he ended up being a nice contributor. Immediate starters from the portal are always preferred, but they aren’t always available. Take what you can get, especially with there only being 82 scholarships utilized by Notre Dame right now.

What are your thoughts on how Marcus Freeman ran this spring compared to last year’s? — arrowfan624

I liked this spring a lot better. Everything felt more intentional and thought-through. Practicing with a purpose. The “ra ra!” stuff is fun and all but sometimes it’s a bit too chaotic. It seems like everything was more internalized this spring and Freeman has a better understanding of where this team truly stands.

What’s Notre Dame’s toughest game in 2023 other than Clemson, Ohio State and USC? — jrp3

NC State. Hartman struggled against the Wolfpack when he was at Wake Forest. That’s Notre Dame’s first true road game of the season too. Speaking of Wake Forest, don’t gloss over the game against thew Demon Deacons. Hartman going against his old team seems like it could be trouble. It also be the best thing for him. It doesn’t feel like there is much in between.

What’s your read on if quarterback Steve Angeli likes where he’s at in South Bend? — TyWebb

He’s happy to be at Notre Dame, and his family loves that he’s here. We’re talking about a guy who for the second straight season is going to be one play away from being the starting quarterback at Notre Dame. And he’s done everything he can to prepare himself for that moment.

Is there a scenario where incoming freshman Charles Jagusah impresses in fall camp and wins a starting guard spot even though he’s more of a tackle? — jrp3

I question how ready he will be as a summer enrollee, but there is no questioning the talent. He’s the top signee in his class for a reason. We’re talking about a more highly-rated player than Blake Fisher was coming in. He’s already 6-6, 300 pounds. If things don’t go well at the guard spots early on then I think you have to give Jagusah a look right away, for sure.

The post Hey Horka! Is the Notre Dame football program headed in the right direction? appeared first on On3.