Three things I’m looking for in Saturday’s fully open Notre Dame football spring practice

The Fighting Irish are opening all of Saturday’s practice, held in Notre Dame Stadium, to the media. Here are three things Blue & Gold is looking for with boots on the ground in South Bend.

Quarterbacks, quarterbacks, quarterbacks

I said it three times because that’s how many of them I expect to get a real read on. It’d be hard to imagine Riley Leonard being full-go three weeks after a second ankle surgery in a span of two months. This practice will be about Steve Angeli, Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr.

Is Angeli ahead of his younger assailants? Is the race between Angeli and Minchey closer than the one between Minchey and Carr? Who’s got the best read on Mike Denbrock‘s new offense? The best rapport with Notre Dame’s new wide receiving corps? Who’s just plainly throwing the best ball with one week left in spring ball? And, not to fully leave him out, just what does a full session look like for Leonard, who says he’s very much on the mend?

When Notre Dame opens up an entire two-hour practice to the media, it’s only natural to keep a close eye on the QBs.

Who are Notre Dame’s top pass-catchers?

It’s about time the media gets to see Notre Dame wideouts go against corners for the first time since, really, March 7 — the first day of spring ball. There have been far fewer one-on-ones during open portions of practice than there were in 2023 fall camp.

It’s one thing to say early enrollee freshman Micah Gilbert looks good in individual drills and routes on air. How’s he faring when a corner is in his grill? He looked good a month ago in that regard, but it was his first collegiate practice and he was going against walk-on third- and fourth-teamers. He’s elevated himself to the point of earning some first-team reps. Reporters get to get a glimpse of what’s gotten him there.

Where do seniors Jayden Thomas and Deion Colzie fall in the mix? They’re the longest-tenured players in the group, but there is a growing feeling it’s sophomores Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison and newcomers like Gilbert and Kris Mitchell who are going to run the room. Saturday, we’ll get a good gauge on what the Notre Dame wide receiver pecking order looks like.

Who’s rushing the passer?

I’m intrigued by the defensive ends. Jordan Botelho has incumbent status at Vyper and Duke transfer RJ Oben has all the experience he needs at field end. The rearranging behind them is fascinating.

Has sophomore Boubacar Traore lept ahead of everyone else, namely Junior Tuihalamaka, at Vyper? Is it possible early enrollee freshman Bryce Young is providing more upside than Joshua Burnham backing up Oben?

Notre Dame needs more from its defensive ends from a pass-rushing standpoint in 2024. There are some interesting pieces on the prowl. Saturday, we’ll get a long look at them.

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