Notre Dame football enters fall camp with high expectations for its skill positions despite losing Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, Malachi Fields, and Eli Raridon to the NFL.

Head coach Marcus Freeman, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, and the Fighting Irish staff have done a tremendous job recruiting, developing, and retaining talent over the last several years. With redshirt sophomore quarterback CJ Carr returning as the veteran signal caller, Notre Dame seemingly has the offensive line and quarterback in place to create a ton of big plays when camp opens on Aug. 6.

When you consider the running back room, the wide receiver unit, and the tight end position, there are significant question marks this team will have to answer heading into the 2026 season. Over the next several weeks of fall camp, we should get good indicators of just how much growth each of these positions has experienced.

Here are the main questions to keep a close eye on.

Can the running back room replace the explosive play ability?

The question at running back is quite simple. While Notre Dame no longer has Love or Price, the Irish still have a very good unit led by Aneyas Williams, Nolan James Jr., Kedren Young, Javian Osborne, and Jonaz Walton. That is a lot of former top-ranked recruits and a lot of underlying talent to work with.

The major question, however, centers on explosiveness. Notre Dame’s offense was built last year off big plays in the run game. Both Love and Price could turn a short gain into a 60-yard touchdown in the blink of an eye. Does this offense have any running back or element capable of creating those lost explosive plays?

I would say this is an offense that will be more methodical and efficient than explosive as a running team in 2026. But what if I’m wrong about that, and there is more explosive ability than I’m giving this unit credit for?

Perhaps Williams breaks off a couple of home run plays. Perhaps one of the young freshmen in Osborne or Walton finds a role and adds that explosiveness they bring to the table. If this running game proves both efficient and explosive, it has a chance to be a special offense for the Fighting Irish in 2026.

What does the wide receiver pecking order look like?

The biggest question mark at wide receiver is the hierarchy of this room.

Jordan Faison stands as the known commodity who will work both field spots, and he should be a very productive player with Carr leading the way again. But who are the other pass catchers you can really count on?

Can Ohio State transfer Mylan Graham match the offseason hype we’ve seen so far? Can Jaden Greathouse kick the injury issues from this past year and get back to his once-promising self? Can Quincy Porter be available soon enough and make an impact at the boundary position like most people are hoping for? Can Micah Gilbert give you anything substantial? Will this finally be the Cam Williams breakout year?

There are so many questions at wide receiver, and none of them have to do with talent. It has everything to do with which of these players is finally going to have their breakout moments and what the pecking order of impact looks like when all is said and done.

When does 5-star freshman Ian Premer make his impact at tight end?

My biggest question mark at tight end is if and when 5-star freshman Ian Premer makes his impact for Notre Dame. If healthy, I feel good about Cooper Flanagan being a really good player for this offense, especially in the running game as a blocker. I feel good about James Flanigan and the potential he brings to the table. Ty Washington is a serviceable No. 3 or No. 4 tight end on this team.

But is there any player at tight end who has as much mismatch potential as what Premer brings to the table? The answer is no.

That is where my question mark lies. Can he make an impact as a true freshman in 2026? If he does, you feel a lot better about the pass-catching upside this tight end room brings to the table. The question is when the talented youngster will start to flash that 5-star upside and potential.