My offensive line notebook has notes on the guard competitions, the pros and cons of facing so much blitzing in the spring, keeping Tosh Baker involved and more.

Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph discusses the timeline for the ongoing guard competitions, how Pat Coogan, Ashton Craig, Tosh Baker, Andrew Kristofic, Rocco Spindler and Billy Schrauth fit into the picture, what he's seen from offensive tackles Joe Alt and Blake Fisher and how the offensive line has bought into him as a new coach.

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Clemson jumped on Irish lefty Jack Findlay for five early runs, and the Tigers’ pitching staff made it stand up in evening their series with the visiting Irish with a 5-1 ACC baseball victory on Saturday.

The third and final game of the series is Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT.

Findlay (4-2) left the game, with trainers attending to him, in the bottom of the third, having not recorded an out in that frame. The Irish bullpen logged seven scoreless innings, but Notre Dame (18-13, 8-9 ACC) was unable to rally.

Clemson (21-15, 5-9) limited ND to five hits, two of them coming from Jack Penney. DM Jefferson collected the lone Irish extra-base hit, a double. Right fielder Brooks Coetzee was hit by a pitch for the nation’s-leading 23rd time this season.

BOX SCORE

My defensive notebook from today includes notes on roles for Notre Dame's starting and rotational linebackers, an advanced defense ahead of the offense, safety depth, Thomas Harper's progress and Navy prep.

Kaleb Smith, the Notre Dame wide receiver who graduate transferred from Virginia Tech earlier this year, announced Saturday he has medically retired from football.


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I thought Notre Dame needed to aim higher than Caleb Brewer for one of its remaining OL spots in the 2024 class, and I got the sense that may be happening after he visited this spring.

Now Brewer has committed to Penn State.


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Here's the morsel montage from today's scrimmage Notre Dame has shared with us:

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I'll slow it down and identify what's happening in the next post.

Notre Dame junior offensive tackle Joe Alt speaks about his first spring under offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, how he's embracing his leadership role, his leadership style, the chemistry of the offensive line, how they build trust in each other, the core values of the offensive line and the similarities and differences between Rudolph and Harry Hiestand.

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Notre Dame graduate student offensive lineman Zeke Correll talks about how he's grown mentally, what the spring has been like under new offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, stepping into a leadership role, what he's taken from Rudolph and former offensive line coach Harry Hiestand and how he has adjusted to working with two new guards.

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Notre Dame defensive tackle Tyson Ford discusses how his body has transformed in his move from defensive end, how much he’s improved this spring, what he learned about himself through the position switch, his description of defensive line coach Al Washington’s coaching style, why he fits at defensive tackle, how Jayson Ademilola influenced him and the challenge of facing ND’s offensive line.

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If you put two and two together, it appears Virginia assistant coach Kyle Getter will be named Notre Dame men's basketball's associate head coach.

Jerry Ratcliffe reported Thursday that Getter "leaving the Cavaliers to become an 'associate head coach' at another Power Five basketball program."

Then last night, 2024 PF Jackson McAndrew reported a Notre Dame offer and tagged Getter in the tweet. The tweet also included former Penn State director of recruiting Brian Snow, who we've long expected to follow head coach Micah Shrewsberry to Notre Dame.

We're asking around on when Shrewsberry's staff will be formally announced.

Here's Getter's bio from Virginia:


And Snow's bio from Penn State:


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Live now:

Still time to donate or sign up as a ghost runner like Coach and Mrs. Freeman! We are only 8 days away from the 2nd Annual Connor Luke Hayes Memorial 5K.
Register to walk or run ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Preregistration closes April 16th (this Sunday)

Connor Luke Hayes Memorial 5K​

The Connor Luke Hayes Memorial 5K is on Saturday April 22, 2023. It includes the following events: Connor Luke Hayes Memorial 5K, Connor Luke Hayes Memorial 5K (Ghost Runner), and Connor Luke Hayes Memorial - Kids Fun Run.
runsignup.com

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🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻 #CLstrong

“Our mission is to be a blessing and a light to others, just as Connor Luke was!”

The CLStrong Foundation is more than childhood cancer awareness, just as Connor Luke was more than a child with cancer. The CLStrong Foundation wants to bless others as we were blessed. Our goal is to be a blessing to our community, local families dealing with difficulties, whatever they may be, and to provide scholarships to deserving student athletes in our hometown of Calhoun, GA and Gordon County. Connor Luke loved big and we intend to use this foundation as a vessel to spread love and hope to others. God is good all the time! All the time, God is good!

Since September of 2021 we have raised just over $60,000 and given just over $50,000 directly to families dealing with critical illnesses, charitable donations, community projects and scholarships. We are looking to do even more in 2023. Currently we accept donations directly via check to the CLStrong Foundation Inc. at 1232 Spring Place RD Rydal, GA 30171 or via Venmo @CL-Strong-Foundation. We have a website www.CLStrong.org . You can also follow us on Twitter at @ClStrongFND or CLStrong Foundation on Facebook. The ND community has been amazing in their support and we are so grateful for everything! CLStrong Forever! Go Irish! 🤟💪☘️

Thanks to all who submitted questions for me and @Eric Hansen on our latest podcast. These are the questions we answered with timestamps.

18:03 • @adrian1477: Why can't ND seem to land elite, 5-star athletes? We had two on the line last recruiting cycle with Keeley and Bowen and lost them. Alabama is averaging 58% of their past four recruiting classes being made up of consensus top-100 kids. Georgia is at 41% and Ohio State is at 37.1%. ND is at 14.6%...

23:58 • Marie Biafore - @biafore_marie: I know you can’t draw too many conclusions from spring practice, however, based on what you’ve seen, do you think ND is going to be better or worse this fall than you thought they were going to be before spring practice started?

27:00 • @CharlesWWolfe: Who has impressed you the most this spring?

28:50 • Nathan Reynolds - @Enforcers2117: I feel like I keep hearing about the freshman Wrs and Merriweather… can you talk about Thomas and what you’ve heard and seen from him.. I was going into this year thinking he’s going to be a breakout star with the flashes and plays he made last year

31:19 • @Russo1957: Did K. Smith leave the team? Also, is Kollie transferring? If Smith leaves will ND seek another WR in the Portal?

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Notre Dame offered 2024 power forward Jackson McAndrew Thursday. I caught up with the 6-foot-9, 210-pound power forward Friday evening to discuss his recruitment, head coach Micah Shrewsberry and what he believes his strengths are.

First, McAndrew told Inside ND Sports how he felt about receiving the offer and what he took away from speaking with Shrewsberry.

"I am so excited about it and to have an opportunity to play at a great program," McAndrew told said. "My first impression of Coach [Shrewsberry] was that he seemed like a great coach and person as well. I really liked his vision that he had for me if I came to Notre Dame and am looking forward to building a relationship with him and the rest of the staff."

McAndrew attends Plymouth (Minn.) Wayzata and plays for Howard Pulley Basketball on the Nike EYBL AAU circuit.

As a junior, McAndrew helped the Trojans claim the Class 4A boys basketball state championship after scoring 25 points in the title game. He was selected to the All-Tournament Team for his performance throughout the postseason.

McAndrew said he could offer college programs many skills on both ends of the floor.

"I would say that I'm an elite shooter with a high IQ," McAndrew said. "I am also a good positional rebounder and have a good handle on the ball. I feel like I am good on the defensive end as well. I can bring all of this and a great work ethic."

Rivals has McAndrew listed as a three-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class. He is not ranked at his position or in his state currently.

McAndrew holds eight offers from Creighton, Iowa, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Notre Dame, St. Thomas and Wisconsin. He took official visits to Creighton on Feb. 12 and Wisconsin last October. He also took a game day visit to Iowa March 5.

"Me and my family are looking for a program that has a coaching staff that we really like and trust," McAndrew said. "Also, a school that has good player development. Academics will also play a big role in it. Notre Dame is a school I will consider very seriously and is definitely one I am looking at closely."

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Vinny Martinez’s two-run double highlighted a six-run third inning as Notre Dame took control early and thumped host Clemson, 10-4, Friday night in the first of a three-game ACC baseball series.

Jack Penney and Brooks Coetzee each went 3-for-5 for the Irish (18-12, 8-8 ACC), with Penney scoring two runs and Coetzee knocking in three. TJ Williams hit a two-run homer in the fifth.

Freshman Caden Spivey pitched two innings of shutout relief to pick up his first collegiate win and lower his ERA to 1.88. Clemson (20-15, 4-9) has dropped six straight in its all-time series with the Irish.

Sophomore lefty Jack Findley (4-1, 2.82) gets the start for Notre Dame in game 2, Saturday at 4 p.m. EDT.