Look, Notre Dame’s championship hopes might have been buried under the heavy weight of last season’s loss to Ohio State, but it didn’t completely burn their house down. And this season, Marcus Freeman isn’t just repairing damage; he’s building a lasting program. He’s aiming not just for the championship run this year but also strategically recruiting to ensure future success. And the best part? Their defense remains a formidable force despite losing their key pieces. Looks like ND continues to make waves in South Bend.

Well, Marcus Freeman really did shape the program since the moment he took charge of Notre Dame. It’s either winning against a championship team, Georgia, or against all odds, taking your team to the finals. This guy did it all. And let’s not forget his disastrous defense that made things worse for other teams. Sure, they lost their key safety player, Xavier Watts, and their DC, AI Golden, but that couldn’t stop their run. And On3’s J.D. PicKell states it perfectly, “But like, the way they’ve recruited on defense, y’all, it’s not going to drop off because they lost Xavier Watts and Al Golden. Watch the spring game. Spring game is a spring game, but like, it’s the same temperature, the exact same temperature. You know what you’re getting from Notre Dame on defense.”

Look, Marcus Freeman’s team’s defense finished last season on a very high note, ranking No. 4 in scoring defense, allowing a mere 15.5 points per game. Crazy, right? They just allowed 307.4 yards per game, which was in the No. 11 position in the country, and allowed 4.8 yards per play, ranking No. 11 at the end of the season. They were the only team finishing the year ranked in the top 10 positions in both scoring offense and defense, apart from Indiana and Ole Miss. So, you can understand how important it is for them to keep up the pace.

So, that’s the reason Freeman went for a roster haul. First up, they brought Chris Ash as their defensive coordinator, who was also Rutgers’ HC back in 2016. They also have some key defensive players like Armel Mukam and Davion Dixon, as well as some key transfers like Louisville’s Jared Dawson and USC transfer Elijah Hughes. All of them had a pretty strong presence this spring, showing their effective and efficient side. The team also has its returning seniors like Jason Onye, Gabriel Rubio, and Donovan Hinish backing up the team. So, it’s pretty evident that ND’s defense is in no way losing its charm.

Now, just like their defense, Marcus Freeman’s offense is also pretty strong. As J.D. PicKell highlights, “The offense—you lost Riley Leonard, okay, bummer, totally hear that. But Jeremiah Love’s still there. On top of that, I think they have more knockout juice, quite frankly, on offense this year. I think Jaden Greathouse, the receivers we mentioned many a time here, (Quincy Jordan) Faison, the portal pieces, and Pauling Field—they got some guys now.” One thing is pretty clear: Marcus Freeman isn’t letting this season slip away like their championship hopes last year.

While there are skeptics who remain, J.D. PicKell just gave them a perfect answer to shut them down. “But Marcus Freeman, a couple years ago they lose to Marshall, everyone’s saying, is he the right guy? Is he in over his head? This past year they lose to NIU—same deal. Hey, I don’t know if this is Marcus Freeman, great defensive mind, I don’t know if he’s a head coach.”

“And then this thing plays out, and you watch them on January 20th playing Ohio State with a game in the fourth quarter for a national championship. Marcus Freeman is that guy. And he’s only going to get better. The way he’s recruited, the way that he’s built that—again, that culture, the roster, all those things,” PicKell said.

But here’s the kicker: Marcus Freeman’s receivers’ room is something that can turn things weird for them pretty soon.

Dark clouds loom over Marcus Freeman’s team

Notre Dame football’s spring buzz is intense, but beneath the excitement lies a serious concern. CJ Carr’s strong spring performance has fans optimistic about the Irish offense. While Carr’s emergence seems promising, the situation is riskier than it appears. A thinned-out quarterback room leaves Notre Dame relying heavily on an untested true freshman.

Steve Angeli’s transfer to Syracuse quickly increased the pressure on Carr to take charge of the offense. “This is a great opportunity for him,” said Locked On Irish host Tyler Wojciak. “They’re going to throw the ball a ton.” While Wojciak sounds optimistic, his words highlight the risk: the Irish offense now depends entirely on a player with no college starting experience, and his supporting cast seems increasingly weak.

Notre Dame suffered unexpected losses in its receiving corps over the winter, leaving them shorthanded. The wide receiver corps also suffered unexpected losses this winter, diminishing their once-reliable depth. Jayden Thomas, a projected top target, transferred to Virginia. “Thomas was a good player two years ago,” Wojciak added. “It felt like he was going to be WR1.” However, he finished 2024 with only 18 catches before quietly leaving. Deion Colzie, another talented but under-used player, also departed, transferring to Miami after limited playing time in South Bend.

The attrition continued beyond that, affecting the offensive line’s critical depth. Rocco Spindler, Pat Coogan, Sam Pendleton, and Ty Chan all moved to the transfer portal, depleting what was once a strong unit. According to Wojciak, “If they had stayed, Notre Dame would have, without a doubt, the deepest offensive line in the country,” The current starting five – Anthonie Knapp, Billy Schrauth, Ashton Craig, Charles Jagusah, and Aamil Wagner – remain solid, but the depth behind them has disappeared.

Any injury could make the line a significant vulnerability. As Notre Dame transitions to a more pass-oriented approach this season, the pressure on Carr is increasing. He will be required to lead with limited experience, supported by a line that cannot afford mistakes, and a receiver group that is now thinner than desired. While optimism remains in South Bend, it is now accompanied by a sense of urgency, with the Irish relying on their young quarterback to mature quickly.