Following a 40-8 victory over Oregon State in the Sun Bowl, Notre Dame has written its final chapter on the 2023 campaign.
Marcus Freeman’s second year at the helm of the Fighting Irish will be remembered as a pretty typical season. The program registered nine-plus wins for the seventh consecutive year.
As the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams in 2024, the challenge for ND will be rising a little bit higher.
Notre Dame has already kicked off that pursuit with a marquee transfer, dipping into the ACC for a quarterback once again. That commitment from Riley Leonard, however, is simply one story of a busy offseason in South Bend.
The following sections—who’s staying, leaving and on the way—are a mix of projections and reported/confirmed plans.
Who’s Staying.At Least 3 Veteran Defenders
Although the depth chart was loaded with seniors in 2023, many of those players have remaining eligibility. So far, the Irish know defensive tackles Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills will return along with linebacker Jack Kiser. Each one had at least 45 tackles this season.
Benjamin Morrison
While the secondary is hoping that All-American safety Xavier Watts passes up the NFL, that might not happen. Benjamin Morrison, on the other hand, cannot enter the draft for another year. He’s been a fantastic two-year starter at corner, totaling eight interceptions and 14 pass breakups.
Otherwise, It’s a Good Question
Look, this could be a tough offseason in South Bend. The offense must be rebuilt, and the defense is stacked with return-eligible seniors. What if many of them decide to move on? Notre Dame has plenty of former blue-chip recruits who could break out in 2024, but no freshmen and sophomores beyond Morrison return as legitimate stars.
Who’s Leaving
Sam Hartman, QB1
The big-name pickup of the 2023 offseason, Sam Hartman played about as well as anticipated when considering ND’s limited receiving corps. He threw for 2,689 yards with 24 touchdowns to eight interceptions, chipping in 123 yards and three scores as a runner.
Joe Alt and the NFL Hopefuls
Notre Dame supporters will be glued to the screen early in the 2024 NFL draft; left tackle Joe Alt could be a top-five selection. Running back Audric Estime has Day 2 potential, as does safety Xavier Watts if he turns pro. Offensive tackle Blake Fisher, linebacker Marist Liufau and cornerback Cam Hart are among the other possible draft picks.
Outgoing Transfers
Notre Dame is set to rebuild an underwhelming group of wideouts afterChris Tyree, Rico Flores Jr. and Tobias Merriweather each entered the portal. Veteran center Zeke Correll are defensive lineman Nana Osafo-Mensah are two more notable transfers.
Who’s on the Way
Standout Duke Teammates
Notre Dame had a firsthand look at quarterback Riley Leonard and edge-rusher RJ Oben during the October win at Duke. Clearly, the Irish saw something they liked. Leonard is expected to replace Hartman, while Oben—who has three seasons of 4.5-plus sacks—will be a useful addition to the defensive front.
Another Top-10 Recruiting Class
While the program is typically known for its defense, ND’s top signees in the 2024 cycle all play offense. Five-star receiver Cam Williams (29th overall) is the highest-rated prospect, followed by offensive tackle Guerby Lambert (42nd) and quarterback CJ Carr (59th). On the defensive side, linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa checks in 66th.
Potential Impact Receivers
Entering the 2023 season, an unproven group of receivers loomed as a major weakness. That perception held true. Notre Dame quickly made the position a priority in the portal, landing Florida International standout Kris Mitchell and Clemson’s Beaux Collins.
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