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Notre Dame

Gallery: Top photos from Notre Dame’s spring practice

photos -jpgby: Ashton Pollard04/28/22ashtonpollard7
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(Chad Weaver/BGI)

Fifteen practices. Five weeks. One new head coach.

Notre Dame spring practice concluded on Saturday afternoon, with the Gold team defeating the Blue squad in the annual Blue-Gold Game.

Here is a look back at the spring using some of the best photos from Blue & Gold’s Chad Weaver.

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The Irish defensive line at practice No. 1.

Notre Dame spring practice opened on a brisk morning on March 17. The groups practiced both inside of the Irish Athletic Center as well as just outside.

Marcus Freeman walks from his office in “The Gug” to the IAC.

Excluding bowl preparations, this spring was Marcus Freeman’s first time coaching practices with his own team. He stressed competition, minimizing mistakes and communication over the last five weeks. The 36-year-old was quick to acknowledge what he didn’t know.

Golden laughing with wide receiver Braden Lenzy.

By all accounts, Al Golden’s first spring at Notre Dame was a success. Freeman brought him in to tap into his head coaching experience, and the staff loved him. Defensive line coach Al Washington characterized working with Golden as “getting a PhD. in football.”

Tyler Buchner (12), Drew Pyne (10,) Steve Angeli (18) and Ron Powlus III (11) walk to practice.

Notre Dame has four quarterbacks on the roster, but sophomore Tyler Buchner and junior Drew Pyne are competing for the starting job. At 6-1 and 215 pounds, Buchner is considered the favorite.

Lenzy catches a pass in the end zone during a March practice.

The coaching staff raved about wide receiver Braden Lenzy all spring, saying the difference between last year and this year is huge. Lenzy’s reliability is through the roof, which is much needed for Notre Dame considering the wide receiver depth issues. The Oregon native had 32 catches for 350 yards and three touchdowns last season through the air along with five carries for 69 yards.

Joseph walks through the snow to practice.

One of the biggest transfer portal pickups of the offseason was safety Brandon Joseph. The former All-American at Northwestern has recorded nine interceptions in two full seasons of college football and undoubtedly brings a veteran presence to a secondary trying to replace Kyle Hamilton.

Zeke Correll practices at center with Hiestand looking on.

Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand is back at Notre Dame for the second time, and the early returns are good. He’s one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the country, and the players and recruits are excited to work with him.

Foskey (7) during the spring game.

Isaiah Foskey elected to return to Notre Dame for his senior season this fall. The California native posted 11 sacks last season and will spend his 2022 chasing the single-season school record of 13.5, which is held by Justin Tuck.

Mayer leads the team into the locker room before the spring game.

Michael Mayer is the best player on Notre Dame’s roster this season, and he continued to demonstrate his value during the spring game with three catches for 35 yards. The tight end also caught what would have been a touchdown, but it was called back for a false start on the offensive line. Mayer is chasing Ken McAfee and Tyler Eifert to become the best tight end in program history. He broke Notre Dame’s tight end single-season records last year for receptions (71) and touchdowns (seven).

Angeli hands the ball off to running back Jadarian Price.

Freshman Steve Angeli was the hero of the Blue-Gold Game, scoring the game-winning touchdown on a scramble as time expired to give the Gold team a 13-10 win. He also completed 11 of 13 throws for 180 yards with one score on Saturday.

Freeman stands in the center with his team.

Like all games, Saturday’s experience concluded with the alma mater. The players will now have some time off, while the coaches will go on the road to recruit. The team will reconvene in June.