Fall camp is quickly approaching for Notre Dame football . They enter a very, very important 2024 season under head coach Marcus Freeman . The expectations are on a very high level, with a playoff berth and national title run on everyone’s minds.
A big reason for that optimism is the Notre Dame roster heading into this season. The depth of the team has been drastically improved under Coach Freeman, with a lot of upside to potentially tap into. That made ranking the roster a difficult task. In a new series, we break down the top 20 players on the roster heading into 2024.
The countdown starts with 16 to 20, where you will find a lot of important transfer portal additions. This is the depth of a strong starting unit, which will make-or-break the overall success this fall.
16. WR Beaux Collins
A transfer from Clemson, Notre Dame has become very familiar with Collins over the last couple of seasons. There seems to be a three-horse race to determine who the top pass catcher is for the Irish in 2024 and Collins is definitely a part of that conversation. A big-bodied receiver at over 6-2 and 210 pounds, Collins projects well into the boundary for the team. He enters the 2024 season with 91 career receptions for 1,290 yards and 11 touchdowns. There’s a chance that Collins is way too low on this list as we move into the fall.
17. LB Drayk Bowen
Projected to start at middle linebacker this season, a lot is expected of Bowen. The 6-2, 239-pound defender was once considered a top 50 recruit by multiple platforms coming out of Andrean High School in Indiana. The talent is impressive and Bowen could start way higher on this list next fall. For now, it’s all projection and the brief glimpses the sophomore has given us in the blue and gold so far.
18. K Mitch Jeter
Kicking has been an adventure for the Irish team over the last couple of seasons. Both Blake Grupe and Spencer Shrader had strong legs, but the accuracy left a bit to be desired. That is no concern for Jeter, who is one of the more accurate kickers in all of college football returning. During his final two years with South Carolina, Jeter made 23 of his 25 kicks, good enough for a 92 percent conversion rate.
19. DB Jordan Clark
Like Collins and Jeter, Notre Dame is hoping for Clark to come in as a transfer and contribute in a big way coming over from Arizona State. The son of former NFL safety Ryan Clark, Jordan also plays a tenacious style. He is projected to start at nickel back, while also having the flexibility to play safety as well. Clark heads into 2024 with 139 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and 17 pass breakups.
20. WR Jordan Faison
If you told someone that Faison would have had the potential to make the top 20 of this list a year ago, they would have laughed at you. At that time, the lacrosse star was a walk-on for the football program. Down the stretch of the season, you could have at guard that Faison was the top wide receiver for the Irish. That season concluded with five receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown against Oregon State. Faison brings a unique feel for space and after catch ability that the team needs more of.
Just misses the list
Finalizing the top 20 list was difficult. Here are the players who just missed the cut. The quality of depth for this 2024 Notre Dame team feels very unique compared to years past.
OG Pat Coogan
As of now, Coogan is projected to be the starting left guard for Notre Dame in 2024. That would be his second year as a starter, hoping to get rock solid play again, like they did last season. While there isn’t anything flashy about the 6-5, 310-pound offensive line, Coogan has a chance to be a vital veteran element for an inexperienced group up front.
EDGE Jordan Botelho
Botelho has been on breakout watch for three years now. The talent is there, but the play has been sporadic at best. If the Hawaii native can put it all together, that’s great but optimism is dwindling. Maybe Botelho needs to pretend that every game is a bowl game. If so, then he would be dominant.
S Rod Heard
It feels a little unfair not having Heard on the list. On paper, he is one of the Irish top defenders coming back in 2024, although that production comes from his time with Northwestern. During his career, Heard has recorded 182 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and five forced fumbles. He’s in a battle with sophomore Adon Shuler to start opposite Xavier Watts. Shuler also could have made this spot.
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