These four Notre Dame football players have the most to prove as fall camp opens

SOUTH BEND — As Notre Dame football prepares to open the third fall training camp of the Marcus Freeman era, the “challenge everything” mantra has been turned up to full volume.

Now that the College Football Playoff offers a dozen golden tickets rather than just four, the Irish faithful isn’t just hoping for an invitation, it’s positively counting on one.

With a solid month to tune up for the season opener at Texas A&M on Aug. 31, these four individuals have the most to prove in the coming days and weeks:

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Riley Leonard, quarterback

A balky right ankle that required two offseason surgeries kept the former dual-threat Duke quarterback from fully displaying his mad skills in the spring. While the senior transfer likely won’t face live contact until opening night in Aggieland, Leonard’s passing accuracy, pocket poise and mobility will be tested in daily drills with and against his new Irish teammates.

Summer throwing sessions in Fairhope, Ala., with a handful of his new targets were a good start, but there’s still plenty of trust to be earned in all directions. Unlike Sam Hartman, his one-and-done portal predecessor in the same role at Notre Dame, Leonard has the benefit of a seasoned offensive coordinator in Mike Denbrock.

Charles Jagusah, left tackle

The prize recruit from Rock Island, Ill., already knows what it’s like to step in for all-everything Joe Alt, even if Pro Football Focus wasn’t all that impressed with Jagusah’s work in the Sun Bowl win over Oregon State.

Now that Alt is a franchise pillar of the Los Angeles Chargers, Jagusah will take up the torch as he tries to live up to that impossibly high standard on the left side. At 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds, the redshirt freshman fits the physical and mental profile to be the next great offensive lineman at Notre Dame, but a certain grace period may be needed in the meantime.

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Rod Heard II, safety

The Northwestern grad transfer never took the field in the spring as he finished up his master’s degree in information design strategy. Having enrolled in June, Heard is about to earn his doctorate in secondary navigation with Professor Mike Mickens as his advisor.

Lining up next to the reigning Nagurski Award winner in Xavier Watts should help ease the transition, but Heard’s every move will be scrutinized from July 31 onward. Replacing six-year stalwart DJ Brown in the starting lineup, Heard has the versatility to pair neatly with fellow grad transfer Jordan Clark, the projected starter at nickelback.

James Rendell, punter

Australian punters have been all the rage in American college football for more than a decade, but the 24-year-old from Melbourne is blazing a fresh trail at Notre Dame.

At 6-6 and 225 pounds, Rendell has a background in Australian Rules Football, but the ProKick Australia product can also blast conventional punts that carry 60-plus yards with ease. Briefly committed to Hawaii before flipping to the Irish in May, Rendell replaces Bryce McFerson, who transferred to Maryland.

When your nickname is “Thor,” any punts that are even remotely average might prove disappointing to a curious fanbase and a gawking media. Rendell, who hopes to petition for additional years of eligibility beyond 2024, can’t let that bother him.

Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for NDInsider.com and the South Bend Tribune.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: These four Notre Dame football players have the most to prove as fall camp opens