Three potential Notre Dame Fighting Irish breakout players for the 2024 college football season
After finishing 10-3 with a dominant bowl win over Oregon State last season the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been adding the finishing pieces to a roster that looks ready to make the first 12-Team College Football Playoff this season. They return the vast majority of key contributors from last season outside of their offensive […]
After finishing 10-3 with a dominant bowl win over Oregon State last season the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been adding the finishing pieces to a roster that looks ready to make the first 12-Team College Football Playoff this season. They return the vast majority of key contributors from last season outside of their offensive line and linebackers, but they're still going to need a few breakout stars to shine this fall if they want to compete in January. Yes, the team needs quarterback Riley Leonard to stay healthy and break out in a bigger way than he ever has, but who else will take a huge leap and be the difference this year?
There are several potential breakout players on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to watch for this fall, but let's talk through three that could completely change the course of the season if they step their game up to the peak of their potential in 2024.
Jeremiyah Love, Running Back
This former Top 100 overall recruit in the nation is set to explode this fall. He showed off his quickness, agility, and long speed last year in isolated bursts when Audric Estime would step off the field last season. Now it looks like he'll get his shot as the lead back for the Fighting Irish. Jadarian Price should perform well out of the backfield too, but Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame coaching staff have not stopped talking up Jeremiyah Love all off-season long.
The spring game was basically just the Jeremiyah Love show as he saw 17 carries and targets on the day. The quote from Freeman mid-spring-game said it all:
"Let's keep getting the ball into Jeremiyah Love's hands and let him make some plays."
Love not only dominated at running back this spring, but also spent a significant amount of time working with the wide receivers to make sure he was good and ready to contribute as a complete feature back, splitting out wide when and if necessary too.
Love was pursued hard by several top programs around the country this off-season, but chose to stay with the Fighting Irish. He should be the focal point of the offense this fall. Paired with the fun mobility of Riley Leonard at quarterback, Love's elusiveness and versatility should make him one of the toughest weapons to defend in the nation.
Drayk Bowen, Linebacker
Now that JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau have departed for the NFL, Notre Dame's linebacker group will look quite a bit different. Jack Kiser, who had an incredible season a year ago playing more of the "Rover" role for the Irish will be slotting at the "Will" spot this fall, making him the near every down linebacker that Bertrand was in 2023. But what about young stud linebackers Drayk Bowen and Jaylen Sneed?
Drayk Bowen looks like he'll be the primary middle linebacker, very likely logging the second most snaps in the position group. Sneed will still be used creatively to utilize his athleticism off the edge and attacking downhill with his speed, but he won't be as integral to the team's overall defensive success as Bowen will in 2024.
Bowen's usage last year, although limited looked a lot like JD Bertrand's, but Bowen boasts greater athleticism and range. The former top tier four star recruit who also plays baseball for the Irish should prove to be perhaps the most important defensive breakout player on the team this season.
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Beaux Collins, Wide Receiver
Many Notre Dame fans are already familiar with new transfer wide receiver Beaux Collins because he's played against the Irish twice in the last two seasons as a part of the Clemson Tigers. Now he'll be sporting the Blue & Gold. He's reportedly had an excellent summer with the team already and is slated to slide into one of the two outside wide receiver roles for Notre Dame this fall.
He flashed big play potential at Clemson, as you can see on his long touchdown below, but as their offense struggled to find consistency at quarterback Collins struggled some too.
Collins should have the best quarterback play of his career with Riley Leonard at the helm. If Leonard can just get the ball in his general vicinity Collins should have no problem bringing in some impressive catches as he had double-digit contested receptions just last season alone.
Incoming transfer QB headlines Notre Dame stars in latest ESPN 2025 NFL mock draft
Even though the 2024 college football season has yet to kick off, predictions for the 2025 NFL Draft are already heating up. After this season concludes, the country's leading underclassmen will become eligible for the NFL. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are hoping a strong campaign will bring representation early in the 2025 draft. ESPN's […]
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And if you want to see what Beaux Collins can bring to Notre Dame this year at wide receiver just check out his highlights video below!
