2024 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team explained

Year:	2024
Team:	Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Sport:	football
Conference:	Independent
Coachrank:	7
Aprank:	7
Record:	0–0
Head Coach:	Marcus Freeman
Hc Year:	3rd
Off Coach:	Mike Denbrock
Oc Year:	1st
Def Coach:	Al Golden
Dc Year:	3rd
Stadium:	Notre Dame Stadium

The 2024 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team will represent the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Fighting Irish will be led by Marcus Freeman in his third year as Notre Dame's head coach. They will play their home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Offseason

Coaching changes

The following coaches left the program:

• Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Gerad Parker left for the head coach position with Troy.
• Defensive backs and safeties coach Chris O'Leary left for the safeties coach position with the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL.
• Wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey was not retained.

The following coaches were hired:

• Mike Denbrock was hired from LSU to be the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.
• Mike Brown was hired from Wisconsin to be the wide receivers coach.
• Loren Landow was hired to be the director of football performance. The position has been vacant since Matt Balis resigned prior to the 2023 season.

The following coaches were promoted:

• Running backs coach and run game coordinator Deland McCullough was promoted to associate head coach and running backs coach.
• Graduate assistant Max Bullough was promoted to linebackers coach.
• Cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator Mike Mickens was promoted to defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator.

The following coaches were demoted:

• Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Al Golden was demoted to defensive coordinator.

Departures

NFL

See main article: 2024 NFL draft.

	OL		1	5
	OL		2	59
	LB		3	87
	CB		5	140
	LB		5	143
	RB		5	147
	DL		7	222
Thomas Harper	S		Undrafted
	QB		Undrafted
	K		Undrafted
	LS		Undrafted

UFL

See main article: 2024 UFL draft.

Transfers out

• CB Ryan Barnes transferred to UMass.
• CB Micah Bell transferred to Vanderbilt.
• OL Michael Carmody transferred to UCLA.
• S Antonio Carter II transferred to Jacksonville State.
• OL Zeke Correll transferred to NC State.
• WR Rico Flores Jr. transferred to UCLA.
• S Ramon Henderson transferred to UCLA.
• WR Braylon James transferred to TCU.
• DL Aidan Keanaaina transferred to California.
• CB Clarence Lewis transferred to Syracuse.
• P Bryce McFerson transferred to Maryland.
• WR Tobias Merriweather transferred to California.
• OL Quinn Murphy transferred to Western Michigan.
• DL Nana Osafo-Mensah transferred to TCU.
• TE Holden Staes transferred to Tennessee.
• OL Joey Tanona transferred to Purdue; previously medically retired.
• WR Chris Tyree transferred to Virginia.
• RB Skip Velotta transferred to LSU.
• LB Nolan Ziegler transferred to Central Michigan.

Retirements

• RB Sam Assaf
• DL Cole Aubrey
• S DJ Brown
• WR Henry Cook
• WR Chase Dixon
• P Bryan Dowd (selected 6th overall by Chicago Fire FC in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft)
• WR Griffin Eifert
• DL Tyson Ford (medically retired)
• DL Aiden Gobaira (medically retired)
• RB Chase Ketterer
• P Ben Krimm
• OL Andrew Kristofic
• WR Matt Salerno
• TE Hakim Sanfo
• S Eddie Scheidler
• OL Brennan Wicks

Additions

Transfers in

• DL Quentin Autry transferred in from Columbia as a walk-on.
• P William Bartel transferred in from Villanova as a walk-on.
• WR Tyler Buchner transferred in from Alabama as a walk-on.
• S Jordan Clark transferred in from Arizona State.
• WR Beaux Collins transferred in from Clemson.
• K Eric Goins transferred in from The Citadel as a walk-on.
• WR Jayden Harrison transferred in from Marshall.
• S Rod Heard II transferred in from Northwestern.
• CB Max Hurleman transferred in from Colgate as a walk-on.
• K Mitch Jeter transferred in from South Carolina.
• QB Riley Leonard transferred in from Duke.
• WR Kris Mitchell transferred in from FIU.
• DL RJ Oben transferred in from Duke.
• RB Jake Tafelski transferred in from Central Michigan as a walk-on.

Recruiting

^[1]

New walk-ons

• OL Max Anderson
• CB Mickey Brown
• CB Charles Du
• WR Matt Jeffery (on lacrosse scholarship)
• DL Eric Lindstrom
• LB Tommy Powlus
• QB Anthony Rezac
• WR Xavier Southall
• LS Joseph Vinci
• OL Robbie Wollan

Other

• LB Kahanu Kia returned from Mormon missionary.^{[2] [3]}
• P James Rendell joined from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Frankston Football Club.^[4]

Changes

• Marty Auer switched positions from S to CB.
• Dylan Devezin switched positions from QB to RB.
• Justin Fisher switched positions from TE to RB.
• Kahanu Kia switched positions from DL to LB.
• Chris Salerno switched positions from P to K.
• S Luke Talich earned scholarship on March 7; previously walk-on.^[5]

Personnel

Roster

• Notre Dame is currently 1 player over the scholarship limit of 85.

Depth chart

Notes and References

1. Web site: Notre Dame Signs An Outstanding 2024 Recruiting Class . 20 December 2023.
2. Web site: Notre Dame DE Kahanu Kia is leaving Notre Dame for mission trip. Joshua. Vowles. January 10, 2022. One Foot Down.
3. Web site: Kahanu Kia Is On His Way Back To Notre Dame Defense. Sean. Stires. December 18, 2023. Sports Illustrated.
4. Web site: Australian punter James Rendell commits to Notre Dame football. Jack. Soble. May 1, 2024. On3.
5. Web site: Notre Dame puts walk-on safety Luke Talich on scholarship. Jack. Soble. March 7, 2024. On3.