I had five takeaways from today's practice:

1. It’s worth getting excited about this cornerback group
2. Running back depth shouldn’t be a problem this season
3. Steve Angeli is starting to look the part of a backup quarterback
4. Clarity at linebacker is a work-in-progress
5. Chris Tyree’s transition to wide receiver is nearing completion

I explain why in the story below:

LMK please

The Basketball Tournament, the annual tournament in which $1 million is awarded to the winning team, has a pair of Notre Dame men's basketball players participating this year.

Former Irish guard Prentiss Hubb is a member of The Nerd Team, which features a roster of players from academically prominent schools. The Nerd Team just finished defeating Happy Valley Hoopers with Hubb scoring a team-high 16 points and the game-ending shot.

Former Irish forward LaPhonso Ellis is coaching Team HEARTFIRE. HEARTFIRE has already advanced to the tournament's quarterfinals with a wins over JUCO Products, LA Cheaters and Mass Street. The team is led by Tevin Mack, Marcus Hall and Eric Griffin.

Just curious. Thank you

Login to view embedded media
Notre Dame 2024 four-star running back commit Aneyas Williams’s speed numbers have been confirmed by VNN Sports.

Similar to what they did with 2024 wide receiver commit Cam Williams, VNN Sports used Reel Analytics, a company based out of Atlanta, to track Aneyas’ speed.

Reel Analytics is “an AI-powered sports tech & data company analyzing video to measure athleticism so coaches can evaluate talent more accurately."

Williams clocked in a max speed of 20.5 MPH.

Login to view embedded media
Williams, the No. 2 all-purpose back in the 2024 recruiting class, kicks off his senior season at Hannibal (Mo.) High Aug. 25.

The 5-foot-10, 195-pound recruit is one of four Notre Dame commits to hold a 5.9 rating from Rivals. Others include offensive guard Peter Jones, safety Brauntae Johnson and linebacker Kyngstonn Villiamu-Asa. Cam and CJ Carr have 6.0 ratings.

According to the Rivals Football Team Recruiting Rankings Formula, recruits that fall between 5.8 and 6.0 are labeled All American Candidates and “considered one of the next-tier elite prospects in the country, generally among the nation’s top 300-325 prospects overall, a national All American candidate and a player deemed to have first to third round NFL potential.”

Login to view embedded media

Five of the top six teams in the UNITED SOCCER COACHES TOP 25 are from the ACC,

NATIONAL - PRE-SEASON POLL - AUGUST 1, 2023​

Records shown are final 2022 records.

Also receiving votes: University of California-Irvine (14), Xavier University (9), Brown University (7), Virginia Tech (7), Texas A&M University (5), Southern Methodist University (4), Rutgers University (3), University of Nebraska (2), University of Georgia (2), Samford University (1)

Just talked to Tom's dad, Eddie Z, who filled me in on Zibby's new job with Brown in the Ivy League. Tom had been at Western Michigan in a quality control role. The job with Brown in the Ivy League is a full-time position, his first in college coaching. His wife is due any day with the couple's third child. They already have a son and a daughter. Part of Zbikowski's recruiting territory will be the Midwest, which will bring him back to his native Chicago.

Login to view embedded media
I spoke with Notre Dame 2025 wide receiver target Cooper Perry on Thursday. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound recruit visited the Irish in March but wasn't able to make it back this summer for another visit.

Perry, a three-star according to Rivals, attends Scottsdale (Ariz.) Notre Dame Prep. As a sophomore, Perry had 78 receptions, 1100 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. Since the contact period began Aug. 1, Perry said Notre Dame is one of many schools he's in contact with.

"I am very excited to start building relationships with the whole staff at Notre Dame," Perry told Inside ND Sports. "I’m happy I can finally hit them up to talk about whatever."

During our conversation, Perry pointed out wide receivers coach Chasni Stuckey's ability to discuss about everything from football to life and goals off the field. Offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Gerad Parker and director of recruiting Chad Bowden are also staff members Perry identified being comfortable with.

In terms of what he wants to learn over the next year, Perry said he feels like he has a good grasp on the football program and wants to see more of the campus environment and opportunities beyond football.

"I just want to learn about everything really," Perry said. "I know they have awesome academics, I know their staff is amazing, and I know how competitive it is. Now I want to learn about the things non-football based."

Perry, who holds 15 offers from programs including Arizona, Arizona State, Louisville, Kentucky, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Wisconsin, visited the Sun Devils and Bruins in June.

This fall, Perry said he's eyeing visiting campus on Sept. 23 for the Ohio State game. Nothing is finalized, but Perry told me if he only takes one college visit this season, he will make sure it is at Notre Dame for its game against the Buckeyes.

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Link to full story:

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media

Rivals national recruiting analyst @Clint Cosgrove discusses how impressive it would be for Notre Dame to land 2025 OT Owen Strebig and his potential as a prospect, ND's newest commitment from 2025 RB Justin Thurman, the talent base in St. Louis, the rise of 2025 DE Christopher Burgess Jr., 2024 DT Justin Scott's Ohio State commitment, how elite 2025 WR Talyn Taylor is and what 2025 QB Deuce Knight would mean for the Irish.

Then @Eric Hansen and I answer questions from Twitter and The Insider Lounge (22:58).

Login to view embedded media

“I think Nana is a foundation to our unit, a foundation to our defense,” said defensive line coach Al Washington. “He is one of the few guys I’ve ever been around that has the natural talent to lead. People are (drawn) to him. They’re moved by him."

2024 cornerback commit Karson Hobbs

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media

Chat Transcript: Dishing on Notre Dame football's walk-ons of note​

Also diving into ND's independence in shifting college landscape, training camp surprises, O-line prowess and battles.

Login to view embedded media
I spoke with Notre Dame 2025 offensive line target Rowan Byrne earlier this week. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound recruit attends New Rochelle (N.Y.) Iona Prep. He made his way to Grill & Chill on Sunday after earning an offer from the Irish during camp in June.

Byrne, the No. 28 offensive tackle in the 2025 recruiting class, spoke very highly of Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph. The Irish see him playing at guard or center at the next level, and Byrne said he's OK with that but doesn't want to switch back to playing tackle spot two or three years into his college career.

"He's got to be the offensive line coach I'm closest to in the nation," Byrne told Inside ND Sports. "I love coach Rudolph. I know he really wants to coach me. I'm a massive priority for him."

"The message from him and really the entire staff, [head] coach [Marcus] Freeman and [defensive coordinator] coach [Al] Golden, they all told me, 'We've offered one interior guy in the country, and that was you. We want you to come play here [and] you're in a really unique spot where you are the No. 1 one guy at your position in the class for us.'"

Byrne and his father chopped it up with Freeman and heard all about the 4-for-40 plan that Freeman first introduced to Byrne back in June in his office.

"I don't think that there are many schools that can offer that," Byrne said. "That means a lot, it gives you a life after football. Even if I play 10 years in the NFL, I'm 32 years old, I do have 40 more years. I think the impact [and] the ability that lets you take your life to [is] a whole new level."

The three-star recruit also visited Michigan and Ohio State last week. Byrne holds offers from both and feels like he couldn’t go wrong going to either school or Notre Dame.

Entering his junior season, Byrne has 22 total offers including Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers and Wisconsin. The Bearcats and Seminoles both extended offers on Tuesday.

In regards to returning to Notre Dame, Byrne told me he’s all set to visit for its home game against Ohio State on Sept. 23.

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Link to full story:

Login to view embedded media
Notre Dame 2024 shooting guard commit Cole Certa has accepted an invitation to Under Armour Next Elite 24. He’ll compete from Aug. 10-13 in Atlanta.

Login to view embedded media
The Elite 24 invites 48 of the best boys and girls’ high school basketball players from the rising senior class to compete under one roof.

According to Rivals, Certa is a three-star prospect and the No. 36 shooting guard in the 2024 recruiting class.

However, Certa had a strong July and may see his stock rise in the next Rivals’ rankings update.

The 6-foot-5, 175-pound shooting guard is Notre Dame's only commit in the 2024 class. The Irish are also pursuing 2024 targets Travis Perry, Trent Perry, Sir Mohammed, Jackson McAndrew and Garrett Sundra.

For his senior season, Certa is enrolled at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy after playing at Bloomington (Ill.) Central Catholic last season.

Login to view embedded media

Watch List Watch: Groza Award eyes Notre Dame kicker Spencer Shrader​

Notre Dame senior defensive lineman Rylie Mills offers perspective on offensive guard competition, position versatility, confidence in defensive line group after departures, leaders that have emerged, freshman defensive end Brenan Vernon and more.

Login to view embedded media
Click here to subscribe to Inside ND Sports on YouTube.

NBC hasn't announced who it will be yet, but it will need to replace Kathryn Tappen as its pregame, halftime and postgame studio host for Notre Dame football games. That's because Tappen will be working as a sideline reporter for the Big Ten Saturday Night games on NBC.

The Big Ten booth will be Noah Eagle (play-by-play) and Todd Blackledge (analyst). Is that better or worse than Jac Collinsworth and Jason Garrett on Notre Dame games?

Login to view embedded media
Notre Dame 2024 power forward target Garrett Sundra’s official visit wrapped up on Tuesday night. The Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI recruit arrived late Sunday and spent two days on campus.

The 6-foot-10, 200-pound power forward is down to Notre Dame, Butler, Miami (Fla.), Providence and Virginia Tech.

Login to view embedded media
Sundra took an official visit to Butler last November and has unofficially visited Virginia Tech earlier this summer.

Sundra’s primary recruiter at Notre Dame has been assistant coach Mike Farrelly. From most players I’ve spoken to from the east coast, Farrelly seems to be the primary recruiter for that area.

Before his visit, Inside ND Sports sat down with his grassroots basketball head coach Bryan Hogg.

Login to view embedded media

Login to view embedded media
Moss previously visited Notre Dame in March and June.

Rivals rates him as a three-star and No. 32 safety in the 2025 recruiting class. He attends Fredericksburg (Va.) St. Michael and checks in at 6-foot-2, 178-pounds.

Login to view embedded media

STAMFORD, Conn. – Aug. 2, 2023 – This fall, NBC Sports will present 31 FBS college football games across NBC and Peacock, including primetime games on 13 consecutive weekends – both NBC Sports records.

NBC Sports’ college football game commentary teams feature a dynamic and experienced mix of play-callers, analysts, and sideline reporters. Following are NBC Sports’ college football announcers, with additional commentators to be added as the season progresses:

• Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Kathryn Tappen (sidelines) – Big Ten Saturday Nights
• Jac Collinsworth (play-by-play), Jason Garrett (analyst), Zora Stephenson (sidelines) – Notre Dame Football and select Big Ten Football games
• Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Chris Simms (analyst), Lewis Johnson (sidelines) – East Carolina vs. Michigan, as the Big Ten season kicks off one month from today, Sept. 2 on Peacock (Noon ET)
• Brendan Burke (play-by-play), Paul Burmeister (play-by-play), Andrew Siciliano (play-by-play), Joshua Perry (analyst), Michael Robinson (analyst), Kyle Rudolph (analyst) Anthony Herron (analyst), and Caroline Pineda (sidelines) will call Big Ten Football games.

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

23:09 • @ccc90: Why go with a $3B company that is hanging on by a thread vs a $170B company that all the kids and future players prefer? It’s a head scratcher.

26:50 • @MikeDevoy1: On the hazing topic Bob Morton spoke of the importance of “humbling the freshmen”. That statement puzzled me. The ones whose egos need deflating would get that on the field. What am I missing?

30:55 • Robert Halicky - @bhalicky5859: Who leads Wide Receivers with receptions, yards and catches? Doesn’t have to be same guy, obviously. I feel like JT will lead with catches, Tobias with yards and TDS. Outside shot with CT with TDs?!?!

33:46 • Andrew Callan - @acallan1: Pressuring the QB seems like a big ? mark for this defense, what have you seen that excites you & what worries you there? Pass Rush Bellwether Prop Bet — 2023 Botelho: more sacks or penalties?

38:16 • Marie Biafore - @biafore_marie: Can you both Predict who you think will be the primary punt and kick returners for the year?

41:10 • Ryan Urquhart - @UrquhartCRNA: Will ND receive any new verbal commitments soon from the Grill and Chill event last weekend? If so, who?

42:40 • @Irish 92: Will you be surprised when the Irish win the National Championship this year or did you know it all along? Go Irish!!

45:39 • @Irishjohn68: What are recruits and fan’s thoughts on the new green uniforms for the OSU game?

48:36 • @CharlesWWolfe: Saw the green jersey promo video… how many Notre Dame beat writers would it take to tackle Estime?

I just realized I never shared this from Friday's podcast with Bob Morton. Apologies for the delay.

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

30:25 • @ldlgoirish: The loss of Matt Balis as staff losses go he is right up there with Mike Elston and Tommy Rees. Georgia has 13 2024 recruits currently ranked 5.9 or higher by Rivals. ND has 6. Therefore identifying players like Joe Alt and developing them in crucial. I do not feel the talent gap on paper will close until ND makes the playoff virtually every year and has more players consistently drafted. IMO they need three first round draft picks and three 2nd or 3rd round draft picks in each recruiting class. For the Junior and Sophomore classes who would be those 6 players in each class identifying your choice for the first rounders. For the freshmen class feel free to ID six players in any round 1 - 3. As an example Alt and Fischer could be two of the three first round talents in the junior class based on year recruited.

38:40 • Nathan Reynolds - @Enforcers2117: So how did Fred Hale end up at ND a couple years ago? Was he let go my Eastern Michigan or was he recommended by Balis?? And was it the plan for him to take over when Balis decided to leave (retire or resign)?

41:55 • @Hond: Where do you see Jaylon Sneed contributing to the Irish in 2023 and is he on track, ahead of schedule, or is there cause for concern for him?

44:54 • Marie Biafore - @biafore_marie: I realize you’ve only had two days of practice, but so far what are the biggest surprises for you?

48:31 • @NDF_Discord: Which 5 players on each side of the ball are you most curious to follow throughout fall camp (regardless of where they may be on the depth chart)?

55:56 • Mr Nev - @mririshred: Thoughts on Al Golden's comments about preparation for this years schedule?

1:01:11 • @Rockne93: Any word on the contract negotiations for the upcoming apparel deal? Is ND sticking with Under Armor? I thought it was supposed to be announced in July.

1:02:53 • @CharlesWWolfe: This is a shot in the dark, but any chance Notre Dame will ever have their vacated wins restored under new president Baker? I have been meaning to ask, but the Tennessee scandals reminded me.

Live Chat: Talk Notre Dame Football with Eric Hansen​

A look at the biggest de-commitments and flips here: