Notre Dame football special teams coordinator/assistant defensive backs coach Marty Biagi on balancing responsibilities this spring, development of safety Adon Shuler, competition at long snapper, head coach Marcus Freeman extending the opportunity to him and more.

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Here's a transcript of our conversation with running backs coach Deland McCullough today. Questions may be paraphrased.

DELAND MCCULLOUGH

Jadarian Price was talking about the third-down certificate that’s your phrase. Can you tell us about that?

“I always mess with the guys throughout my career, but especially here. Just saying there’s two certificates, I tell the guys, two certifications, they got to have. One of them is to be a two-minute back, because of everything that goes along with that from the protections to deciphering, being a situational master of different things like that. Obviously, there’s protections involved with that, catching the ball. And then in third down. So, here it is, it’s third-and-8. You gotta be a guy who can quickly decipher what’s happening, understand body posture, understand linebacker levels, understand cap nickels and different things like that so that you’re good in protection. Not only being able to identify it, but then being able to defeat blitzers. It was good to see Jadarian today in tempo situations where we know the guys were coming, and he was able to quickly see those things and get over. I told him he’s getting close. I was joking with him. I said even Audric said when he gets his certificate, he wants to be the one to come back and hand it to him. Because we were working on that last year for a while. It’s continued to be so. He knows what he needs to do to work on that. Yeah, we kind of laugh about it, but he knows it’s serious too.”

Where do you see Jadarian Price now? Is he a lead back? Is he ready for that?

“Well, under me, what’s a lead back? What’s a lead back? All the guys continue to play. Far as I’m concerned, what we did with Jadarian last year was 100% on plan. It was we did not have to stress him. He was coming off an Achilles. There was no need in our room to say, ‘Look, we gotta load this guy up.” All I wanted him to do was bring him along the right way, put him in position to be successful for himself and for us to feel confident in his long-term development but then not overstressing his Achilles. We didn’t need to.”

You were conscious of that?

“100%.”

Was he having to be held back after heavy practices? Was he feeling the effects of that?

“Yes. Well, you’re mindful of that of anybody coming off of a major surgery anyway. From somebody who had three ACLs, I get coming off of surgeries and not being forced back into things and saying like, ‘I’m going to load you up.’ That was the beauty of having a dynamic room with a bunch of guys that you didn’t have to put too much stress on one guy whether it be Audric Estime or whether it be JD Price. To me, it all worked into the plan. This is what we were culminating for, coming into this year. OK, we’re putting him in his position.”

How did you evaluate Price’s Sun Bowl performance?

“He left some stuff out there. These guys, everything gets graded every day. Every single day, we get these guys and give them a grade on what happened that day. Every drill, everything we do. There’s continuous reminders of where they’re trying to get to. When the guys have a great day, I tell them, ‘You had a great day.’ He looked at that like any competitor should and said, ‘Man, there were some things I could have done a little bit different. I could have made this or made that happen.’ But at the end of the day, he had great ball security, he protected the quarterback and he made some plays with the ball in his hands.”

You’ve always wanted him to gain some more weight. Is Price where he needs to be there?

“You got to look at his body mass circumstance and say, ‘Well, what can he carry?’ I don’t want him 185. I know he can be that. But he doesn’t need to be 225 either. I’m comfortable with him in that 204-206 area. I’m really good with that for what he can do for his body, the way he runs and different things like that. I don’t want to overstress what his body can really handle or put him at a deficit situation for the way he needs to carry the ball at Notre Dame.”

Do you actually hand them certificates?

“It’s kind of just like an in theory type deal. I’ll say you’re certified now. I said, ‘Gi’Bran, you’re certified. The whole world knows you’re certified.’ But I’m thinking about doing it. Because even Audric said, ‘Hey, Coach D, when you do, I’m going to come back to give it to him.’ Because we’ve all been like, ‘Come on, JD. Come on. Come on.’ Put you in that position to come on. He’s that close.”

What are some of the things that you bring to grading players that aren’t standard necessarily?

“There’s nothing revolutionary about it. I’m grading their alignments, their footwork, all of the small details of what they do. The new guys are the ones whose heads are blown. They’re like, ‘Dang, Coach, really? Really? My foot was …’ Yes. Your foot was … ‘I’m like a half inch too far?’ Yeah, you’re a half inch too far over. On my control jab step, it needs to be slower so I can get in the hip of the puller and getting in phase with him. Well, in high school, I used to just jab and run. You don’t do that there. Then you show them the tape of here’s why you don’t. You were too fast. You hit the hole too quick. The timing is messed up. That’s a lost opportunity. So these guys understand it’s a big picture here. On this level you don’t have a lot of opportunities to make up for what happened three plays ago. You got to hit it when it’s there. Because that’s the type of environment we’re in and that’s the standard that we have for our running backs here.”

Do you have examples for a guy lined up a half inch and then it shows the difference between a three-yard and 12-yard gain?

“Yes. 100%. Two days ago we were watching tape of a guy who read it a certain way. It wasn’t an argument. He said, ‘Well, why did I do this that or do that?’ I said, ‘Just keep watching.’ Three plays later, he’s like ‘Oh, I get it now.’ Everything has rhyme or reason to it. It all comes together. The guys say, ‘I guess that’s why you are where you are.’ That’s why you chose to come here, because of that detail that’s going to take you to the next level. Audric talks about it with his preparation for the NFL. I was talking to him last week or two weeks ago, whatever it was. I said, ‘Audric, is there anything during your interviews that you weren’t ready for? Let me know so I can prepare the next guys.’ It ain’t like I haven’t been in the NFL. It ain’t like it was 20 years ago. He said, ‘Coach, I was overprepared. There wasn’t one thing that came up that I wasn’t prepared for. Actually, I was kind of overprepared. I had so many more bullets in the chamber as far as knowledge is concerned.’ I’m here to give them my best shot, and that’s what I’m going to give him.”

What makes Price and Love different?

“Jeremiyah is more like a perimeter receiver type guy. Jeremiyah could probably — I’m not going to say probably. He could play receiver on a supremely high level. JD, I won’t say he’s a more traditional back. He’s got more running back nuance to him. He is really good catching the ball. He can run routes. The big difference between them: Jeremiyah is really twitchy. Bah, bah, bah, bah, bah (twitchy sounds). That type right there. Although JD has that type of ability too. Jeremiyah might have a step on him as far as that’s concerned. More of the perimeter, in space, running routes is where Jeremiyah is really, really elite.”

(more)

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"Notre Dame is just a special place," he said. "I truly believe every kid who has a dream to play college football at the highest level should consider visiting Notre Dame. It’s just a magical place to be at and Coach Freeman is as real as it comes! He told me in front of my family that I can commit at any time and I am number one on their board, so that means everything to me.

More from 2026 QB target Noah Grubbs in Wednesday’s story by Rivals National Recruiting Analyst @John Garcia Jr.

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Players featured include quarterback Kenny Minchey, quarterback CJ Carr, running back Jeremiyah Love, wide receiver Kris Mitchell, wide receiver Jaden Greathouse, tight end Jack Larsen, linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, linebacker Jaylen Sneed, linebacker Drayk Bowen, cornerback Clarence Lewis, safety Xavier Watts and more.

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From Fighting Irish Media:

Link: https://fightingirish.com/slaggert-signs-deal-with-blackhawks/

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After an illustrious career with his hometown team, senior forward and 2023-24 Irish hockey captain, Landon Slaggert has signed his first professional contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. The South Bend native inked the entry level deal with the neighboring NHL club Sunday afternoon, as announced by the organization.

“Landon has been part of my life since he was a little boy,” Catalino Family Head Hockey Coach Jeff Jackson said. “I knew then that he had a warrior’s spirit. Landon has been one of the most complete players that I have ever coached. What makes him so special is that his character matches his ability.”

In four seasons with the Irish, Slaggert appeared in 136 games and amassed 92 points off 47 goals and 45 assists. A full 200-foot player, he finished his career with a plus-11 on-ice rating.

In his final collegiate season, the senior led the team in both goals (20) and points (31). Producing his best offensive output of his NCAA tenure in year four with the Irish, Slaggert ranked among the nation’s best in both goals and points for the entirety of the season.

His career concluded with a career-best in goals and points, nine multi-point games, and a career high four points off a goal and three assists when the Irish hosted Penn State on January 20.

His last game in an Irish sweater featured a game-tying goal and an assist later in the contest to cap off his monumental season.

“I am proud of him and the man he has become. I look forward to watching him take the next step in his hockey career with the Blackhawks,” Jackson added.

Slaggert will report to Chicago later this week.

Cool look back at his college ID.

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I’ve looked around and quite possibly overlooked it but where is it? Thanks

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Notre Dame football 2026 linebacker target Coslen Gatten is scheduled to visit the Irish on April 6 for spring practice. He was last on campus in October for the Pittsburgh game, and also visited last spring.

Gatten, who was one of 10 inside linebackers in the 2026 recruiting class to report offers on Pot of Gold Day, holds 11 offers including the Irish, Duke, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Tennessee, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Gatten, a Penn State legacy and son of former Nittany Lions linebacker Aaron Gatten, is a three-star recruit per Rivals. He is ranked as the No. 10 inside linebacker in the 2026 class.

The Pittsburgh Central Catholic standout has struck up a very close relationship with defensive coordinator Al Golden and linebackers coach Max Bullough thus far in his recruitment. Here are some highlights from our conversation on Tuesday evening:

"My reaction to getting the offer ... I was ecstatic," Gatten told Inside ND Sports. "It’s definitely been one of my dream schools growing up. Coach Bullough actually visited PCC to meet with me and give me the offer. It was a great moment. Then I formally announced it on Pot of Gold Day."

Gatten also plays tight end. As a sophomore, he finished with 48 tackles (27 solo) and one interception. He said Bullough has complimented his speed and change of direction the most.

More on what he talks about with Bullough and Golden:

"Communication has been great. There is certain times I call them and we discuss everything from my weekly schedule of what I have going on, football [and] football scheme stuff. My biggest takeaway is I love how their linebackers fly around in coach Golden's defense. I think my speed would fit in well in their schemes."

On expectations for his upcoming visit:

"I’m really looking forward to getting up there and really digging into everything from school to practice to everything Notre Dame. My parents and I have been there for games so [I'm] now looking forward to all the other stuff revolving around the program."

Gatten has spring visits lined up with Nebraska, Wisconsin and Tennessee, and expects to find time to get to Penn State before April is over. Duke head coach Manny Diaz has also been doing a good job with Gatten, and the Blue Devils recently hosted him last weekend.

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Notre Dame announced today that cornerback Benjamin Morrison had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder yesterday (Monday).

Morrison is expected to return for the 2024 season.

Story:

Notre Dame sent out an offer to 2026 wide receiver Devin Carter on Pot of Gold Day. Now hte Irish have landed a spot on his busy spring visit list. Carter, who Rivals ranks as the No. 11 overall prospect in the 2026 class, plans to visit Notre Dame on April 6.

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Carter was previously committed to Florida State, his father's alma mater. He's the son of Dexter Carter, a former running back at Florida State (1986-89) and 1990 first-round NFL Draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers.

Devin Carter caught 55 passes for 982 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore for state champion Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove.

His visit schedule is below.

March 26: Georgia
March 28: Alabama
March 29: UCF
March 30: Miami
April 1: Florida State
April 2: LSU
April 3: Texas A&M
April 4: Texas
April 5: Oklahoma
April 6: Notre Dame
April 8: Ohio State

The four-star receiver from Cocoa, Fla., decommitted from Ohio State on Tuesday night and is now focused on Missouri, Georgia, Notre Dame and UCF.

The very productive Boggs will visit Georgia this weekend but the issue with Ohio State might have been his intent on taking visits so more could be coming as well.

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Notre Dame sent out an offer to Ohio State 2025 wide receiver commit Jayvan Boggs on Tuesday.

Per Rivals, Boggs is a four-star recruit. He is the No. 26 wide receiver and No. 73 overall player in the Rivals250.

The Cocoa (Fla.) High recruit committed to Ohio State last October, and reports 23 total offers including Notre Dame, Florida, Georgia, Miami (Fla.), Oregon, Pittsburgh and Penn State.

Pittsburgh and Oregon offered Boggs earlier this month, and Boggs actually reported his Georgia offer earlier Tuesday afternoon just before 1 p.m. EST.

As a junior, Boggs totaled 93 receptions, 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns. He had eight games with over 100 receiving yards, including a season-high 218 against Venice High, when he was matched up against Florida State 2024 four-star CB signee Charles Lester III.

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POLL

Notre Dame hosts Syracuse on Saturday (2 pm ET). The Orange is/are No. 3. Then comes, in succession, No. 5 Duke. No. 7 Cormell, unranked North Carolina and No. 2 Virginia ahead of the ACC Tournament.

Kylee Watson: "How much do you love Kylee Watson?"

Sonia Citron: "That's hard. Is there anything below 1?"

😂

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The former four-star recruit out of Charlotte Christian and early enrollee wide receiver was someone who stuck out earlier this month when ND granted the media full access for spring practice No. 1.

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I just got off the phone with Zech Fort, a four-star safety out of IMG Academy in the 2026 class.

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Fort, the No. 21 overall prospect in his class, followed up his Pot of Gold Day offer on St. Patrick's Day with a visit to Notre Dame on Saturday.

Why was visiting Notre Dame a priority?

Fort: “Getting up to Notre Dame was important to me, because people have been saying, like my trainer, how when you go to Notre Dame, you just have to go up there and see that. You’ll like it. I understand what he meant by that, so I went up there. Another reason I went up there is because Notre Dame offered me. They showed me interest. I have interest in whoever has interest in me. That’s why I wanted to get up there and see what Notre Dame was about.”

What did he learn about Notre Dame on the visit?

Fort: “I learned that at Notre Dame it’s bigger than football. The connections that you can make there, you can’t really find those types of connections at another college. I learned how they play, how they run their defense, their schemes. Then I also got to grow closer with coach Freeman, coach Golden, coach Mickens and coach Bowden.”

Does he think he’ll try to get back to Notre Dame?

“Yeah. I feel like sometime in the future I have to get back up there. I gotta find out when.”

Fort also visited Ohio State on Friday and plans to be at Alabama on Thursday.

I'll have a full story in the morning.

Notre Dame football sent out its first five offers to tight ends in the 2026 recruiting class on Pot of Gold Day, but the Irish are continuing to invite prospects to campus and evaluate them in person as potential offers down the road.

Sam Hamilton, a tight end prospect out of Cinncatni (Ohio) Moeller, visited campus on Monday. Hamilton camped at Notre Dame last summer and was invited back to check out spring practice and get a deeper look at Notre Dame’s campus and football program.

Per Rivals, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Hamilton is a three-star recruit. He is ranked as the No. 16 player in Ohio for the 2026 class and was listed as a prospect now on the radar by Rivals national recruiting analyst @Greg Smith after performing well at January’s National Underclassmen Combine in San Antonio.

I spoke with Hamilton following his visit to get his latest thoughts on the Irish, offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Mike Denbrick, plus his conversations with a Moeller teammate who is signed with Notre Dame.

On why he returned to South Bend:

"The reason I wanted to come back to Notre Dame is because [head] coach [Marcus] Freeman really wanted me to come back and I'm interested in Notre Dame as a football program and school," Hamilton told Inside ND Sports. "Because I feel like if I get into Notre Dame, I will not only be ready to go to the next level for football but also for my life. It's just really prestigious and it's a very nice school and all around, [it's] what I want."

On coach Denbrock:

"Coach Denbrock really cares about his players and he wants the best for them but he'll also get on them. If they make a mistake, he will tell them what to do and cheer them back on. I got to see what it'd be like to be coached by him ... getting to see that really elevates Notre Dame on my radar. That's what I want in a coach. I want a coach that will drive me to be the best player and best person I can possibly be."

On conversations with Meoller teammate and 2024 CB signee Karson Hobbs:

"He told me you need to be tough in the classroom, in your faith and in football. Learning that from Karson and him teaching me some of the things that I need to know and some of the little extra things is helpful. Notre Dame is high on my list of schools right now and he's really sold it out on me ... and I got to see what it's really like being a Notre Dame football player today."

Hamilton has three early offers from Kentucky, Miami (Ohio) and Toledo, and is receiving additional interest from schools including Coastal Carolina, Wisconsin, Stanford and Tennessee. Hamilton is expected to be at Ohio State for an unofficial visit on Tuesday.

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Join us Monday at 8 p.m. EDT (an hour later due to women's basketball) on YouTube as @Eric Hansen and I go live for the next weekly edition of "Football Never Sleeps."

We'll discuss quarterback Riley Leonard's latest injury, the short-term and long-term impacts of it, more spring practice updates and the latest recruiting news while answering questions from viewers.

Football Never Sleeps is sponsored by Legacy Heating & Air.

We hope you join us live with questions or submit some ahead of time. Hit the bell to set a reminder to get notified when we go live.

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