How has Notre Dame’s offense help up after two grueling games to start the season?
Offense
QB
#13 – Riley Leonard – 6’4”, 216 – Sr.
#18 – Steve Angeli – 6’2”, 208 – So.
RB
#4 – Jeremiyah Love – 6’0”, 219 – So.
or
#24 – Jadarian Price = 5’10”, 206 – So.
#22 – Devyn Ford – 5’11”, 200 – Sr.
WR
#5 – Beaux Collins – 6’2”, 206 – Sr.
or
#83 Jaden Thomas – 6’2”, 218 – Jr.
WR
#1 Jaden Greathouse – 6’1”, 215 – So.
or
#2 Jayden Harrison – 5’10”, 198 – Sr.
WR
#10 – Kris Mitchell – 6’0”, 185 – Sr.
#11 – KK Smith – 6’0”, 178 – Fr.
TE
#88 – Mitchell Evans – 6’5”, 260 – Sr.
#87 – Cooper Flanagan – 6’6”, 257 – So.
or
#9 – Eli Raridon – 6’7”, 250 – Jr.
LT
#54 – Anthonie Knapp – 6’4”, 294 – Fr.
#75 – Sullivan Absher – 6’7”, 321 – Fr.
LG
#72 – Sam Pendleton – 6’4”, 310 – Fr.
#78 – Pat Coogan – 6’5”, 310 – Sr.
C
#70 – Ashton Craig – 6’4”, 308 – So.
#78 – Pat Coogan – 6’5”, 310 – Sr.
#64 – Joe Otting – 6’3”, 303 – Fr.
RG
#74 – Billy Schrauth – 6’5, 310 – So.
#50 – Rocco Spinder – 6’5”, 325 – Jr.
RT
#59 Aamil Wagner – 6’6”, 291 – So.
#76 – Guerby Lambert – 6’7”, 323 – Fr.
Injury Notes
- Starting wide receiver Jordan Faison was injured in the Texas A&M game and missed the Northern Illinois game. While not listed on the depth chart, he is expected to be available.
- Back up left tackle, Tosh Baker is out for the second straight game with a shoulder injury. The senior brings experience to an otherwise green offensive line.
Notes
- Notre Dame has the market cornered when it comes to the name Jayden.
- Jeremiyah Love leads Notre Dame with 25 carries to Jadarian Price’s 12. Love is the clear lead back despite the “or” designation.
- Beaux Collins leads Notre Dame with 10 receptions and should be considered the #1 receiver despite sharing the “or” designation with Jaden Thomas who has 2 receptions.
- Jaden Greathouse is the second leading receiver for the Fighting Irish and should be considered the starter with 8 receptions despite sharing an “or” designation with Jayden Thomas who 2 receptions.
- Quarterback Riley Leonard is averaging a career low 3.4 yards per carry, a career low, after averaging 6.1 yards per carry at Duke in 2023.
Depth Chart Strength
Running Back
Jeremiyah Love is averaging 6.8 yards a carry and his back up, Jadarian Price is averaging 5.7. YPC. Expect a heavy dose of Love and Price in this game with Notre Dame’s young offensive line better at run blocking and Riley Leonard dealing with a non-throwing shoulder injury that could limit his running.
Notre Dame has 4 total touchdowns in 2 games, are rushing touchdowns. If the fighting Irish are going to get back on track against Purdue, it will be on the ground with Love and Price leading the way.
Depth Chart Weakness
Quarterback
Riley Leonard does not look like the same quarterback I watched terrorize Clemson when he played for Duke. In a piece of stunning irony, a late high ankle sprain against Notre Dame last season ended his year. I’m not sure if it’s still bothering him, I’ve yet to see his trademark power running this season.
To make matters worse for Notre Dame, Leonard suffered an injury to his non-throwing shoulder against Northern Illinois. Throwing or non-throwing, it doesn’t matter, shoulder injuries make everything miserable. I assume he’ll get a shot to numb it up, but Riley is a great dual threat quarterback. Take away the run threat and he is a decidedly average drop back passer, with a career passing percentage that hovers in the high 50’s or low 60’s (currently 61%). He threw for 3 touchdowns in 7 games at Duke last season and ran for 4. He has 24 total passing touchdowns in his career and 20 rushing touchdowns.
His backup, Steve Angeli, is a former 3* prospect out of New Jersey who attempted 44 passes for 504 yards last season, most coming in the bowl win over Oregon State where he went 15 of 19 for 232 yards and 3 touchdowns. If Purdue can stuff the Notre Dame running attack, Angeli might be the better option if this game turns into a passing contest.
Coach Freeman has yet to pull the trigger on inserting Angeli, despite Leonard struggling with both his play and injury. It might happen against Purdue.
Overall
Notre Dame’s offense has been less than stellar this season. That’s expected against a semi-pro team like Texas A&M, but the fact they only put up 14 points in a home loss is shocking.
This team is missing some classic Notre Dame components. The offensive line is uber talented, but young. They struggled last week to contain Northern Illinois defensive lineman Devonte O’Malley. It’s possible they saw O’Malley on the back of the jersey and assumed he was on their team, but that doesn’t explain the two sacks and 3 tackles for loss.
They’re also missing an impact tight end this season. The position combined has 4 catches and is an afterthought in the passing game. The receivers a decent, but there is a reason Beaux Collins isn’t playing for Clemson, and it’s not because he was reliable during his time in Tiger Town. In the past, he has struggled against physical corners in man coverage and Purdue will give him just that on Saturday.
Running back, however, might be a problem. The Fighting Irish are averaging 160.5 yards a game on the ground this season and 160.5 through the air. Love is their most explosive player and Jadarian Price isn’t far behind. Purdue has to go all out to stop the run and then hope they can hold up on the outside in the passing game.