Notre Dame Football Mailbag: Mike Mickens returns, Jaden Greathouse breakout, high upside defensive line, and the recruiting trend
We are in the longest part of the offseason. With no football happening, we are left to just sit around and wait. This is also the part of the offseason where everyone is dreaming about Notre Dame football, and all that the 2025 college football season could potentially bring. To help make the months go […]
We are in the longest part of the offseason. With no football happening, we are left to just sit around and wait. This is also the part of the offseason where everyone is dreaming about Notre Dame football, and all that the 2025 college football season could potentially bring.
To help make the months go a little quicker, the Notre Dame Football Mailbag is designed to pass the time and gain a deeper understanding of the program. In this week's edition, we cover Mike Mickens, Jaden Greathouse, some recruiting, and projecting the offensive and defensive lines. Here is the latest.
Projecting the Notre Dame offense
If I had to put money on it, I would say yes. It’s obviously dependent on them playing more than 12 games. If a quarterback does start 13 or more games, I feel confident they will get to 3,000 yards. I think one of Jaden Greathouse or Malachi Fields could get over 750 yards in just the regular season.
Notre Dame defensive staff
Mike Mickens is staying at Notre Dame. It was a tremendous job by Marcus Freeman and the staff to retain him. It’s my hope that there is still a long term plan for Coach Mickens as a defensive coordinator, but that feels unlikely at this point. I don’t know enough about him to justify whether he should or shouldn’t have that title right now.
I’m neutral on Coach Ash, but I didn’t like the hire overall. I think he can be solid with the talent to work with. I just don’t think that he is a coach that has shown he can create a sustainable product, and has never stayed around long enough to see it develop.
I expect recruiting to continue to trend upward with the recent on-field success. With Coach Freeman’s pedigree as a recruiter, that success, and continuing to be competitive in NIL, the talent will continue to come. It should come in an even higher volume as well.
Kenyatta Watson latest
Unfortunately Kenyatta Easton will not be coming to Notre Dame. It appears the Irish staff had other candidates they were also pursuing, so they should be fine. That position is directly under the general manager, but is basically the full overseer of the recruiting operation. They have a lot of freedom to run the operation under the ideological beliefs of Coach Freeman.
Jaden Greathouse’s development
I do think that ending to the season could springboard a player like Greathouse. Another thing he has to his advantage is that Notre Dame is going to have a younger quarterback. Having a slot receiver like Greathouse is a player that a youngster could have high confidence targeting in the middle of the field, and with quick game.
Offensive and defensive line upside
For the offensive line in 2025, I think the highest upside would be Charles Jagusah at left tackle, Billy Schrauth at left guard, Ashton Craig at center, Anthonie Knapp at right guard, and Guerby Lambert at right tackle. Obviously I expect Aamil Wagner to be back at right tackle, and I’m interested to see how left tackle and right guard shake out.
For the defensive line, my starting lineup if fully healthy would be, Boubacar Traore at vyper, Jason Onye at three technique, Jared Dawson at nose tackle, and Bryce Young at defensive end. I think you could also make an argument for Armel Mukam at either interior spot, but it’s still uncertain just how good he is right now.
Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish stacked with young high upside defensive breakout candidates ahead of the 2025 college football season
Breakout Notre Dame defenders heading into 2025.
