(Notre Dame) — Appropriately, the morning sun poured through the east windows of the Irish Athletic Center Wednesday morning.

Indeed, a new day had dawned on the Notre Dame football program.

The Irish had to officially put the national runner-up season of 2024 behind them and begin working on the hopes and dreams of 2025.

“You take off one hat and put on another,” said Marcus Freeman. “That’s the reality of the profession of a coach, but a head coach is that you don’t have much time to recalibrate. You’ve got to move to the next thing. I didn’t really think of practice until today.”

Freeman was in his usual routine, dapping up players, whether it was transfers like defensive tackle Jared Dawson or freshmen like Styles Prescod, the big offensive lineman from Hamilton Southeastern.

Prescod was getting reps at first-team right tackle on the revamped offensive line. Guerby Lambert lined up at left tackle. Charles Jagusah and Sullivan Absher were the guards and Joe Otting handled the snaps at center. While Billy Schrauth, Ashton Craig and Anthonie Knapp are all expected back for the fall, Notre Dame fans saw how important offensive line depth was last season, so many of these spots are worth watching this spring.

On the offensive side of the ball, Mishawaka’s Justin Fisher is back with the tight end group this spring. Fisher has moved between tight end and running back during his Irish tenure. His presence with the tight ends indicates how deep the running back group is and how shallow Notre Dame currently is at tight end. The fact that “super senior” Kevin Bauman is back from knee surgery to participate may be a much-needed boost to that position group.

As for those running backs, Gi’Bran Payne returned to the group after missing all of last season with a knee injury. “He’s such a driven, motivated individual,” remarked Freeman. Still, Payne will have to work his way through a running back room that includes Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, Aneyas Williams and Kedren Young. Speaking of Love….boy, does he look back to form, blazing and thundering through a blocking drill before snagging a pass from C.J. Carr with one hand as though he were plucking an apple from a tree.

It was surprising to see both Will Pauling and Jordan Faison working with the wide receivers group, only because Pauling is coming off foot surgery in January and Faison is also playing lacrosse this spring.  “He’s working an enhanced practice schedule, but I reminded him it’s still lacrosse season. He’s still going to be able to do more football with us than he was last spring.”  Wide receiver Micah Gilbert did leave early with trainer Rob Hunt, but there was no obvious malady.

Of course, all eyes were on the quarterback crew, as Steve Angeli, C.J. Carr and Kenny Minchey battle for the right to replace Riley Leonard. That story is covered here https://sportsmichiana.com/2025/03/19/angeli-minchey-carr-began-battle-to-be-next-irish-starting-qb

Defensively, we were struck by the speed of Alabama transfer defensive back Devonta Smith. Smith is a Cincinnati native that Freeman knows well. “Devonta brings a leadership aspect,” noted the Irish coach. “He’s a tremendous athlete that has played a lot of football at a high level.”

Also noticeable was the physical growth of defensive end Josh Burnham. The junior from Traverse City has clearly been in the weight room as he looks stronger and faster going through drills.

Finally, you can’t help but notice the depth Notre Dame’s linebackers have as they go through drills. When the first two guys in line are Jaylen Sneed and Jaiden Ausberry, you are taken with the speed, but then here comes the power with Drayk Bowen and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. It makes you wonder how a player like Preston Zinter (who obviously has talent and is well-regarded by linebackers coach Max Bullough) fits in.

Perhaps the biggest question about this team will be where the leadership comes from, losing guys like Riley Leonard, Jack Kiser, Xavier Watts, Howard Cross III and many others. Freeman addressed that afterwards saying “I think you’ll see a different type of leadership. I want it to be organic. I want it to be authentic. That’s what I look forward to seeing in spring. Who are the guys that are gonna be energy providers? Who are the guys that at times need to challenge other guys? Those are all different things you observe in terms of leadership.”

And THAT may be the most important thing to be exposed in the light of the next three weeks.