ESPN independents preview has optimistic 2022 outlook for Notre Dame, but questions remain
ESPN college football guru Bill Connelly produces nearly endless preseason content in the lead up to kickoff, and he has been releasing conference previews in recent weeks. Last week he covered the independents, although the group is obviously not a conference.
Connelly’s piece shares projections, outstanding questions and top players, among other things. Here is a look at the highlights pertaining to Notre Dame.
SP+ projections
Unsurprisingly, Connelly has Notre Dame atop his SP+ projections among the independent teams. The article lists the Irish in the No. 8 spot, but as of Monday, he has updated the list. Notre Dame moved up one tick, jumping Texas A&M, and is now No. 7. The team’s position remained relatively stable due to a lack of transfers this offseason.
BYU is the only independent team Notre Dame plays in 2022, and the Cougars check in at No. 25 in the post-spring SP+ rankings.
Quarterback, coaching questions remain
Connelly’s biggest uncertainty with Notre Dame is technically two-fold; to paraphrase the writer, how will first-year head coach Marcus Freeman fare and who will play under center?
“So who will (the) quarterback be? The answer isn’t clear yet. (Tyler) Buchner, the more touted of the two (quarterback) candidates, showed off his rushing ability in 2021, averaging 7.7 yards over 45 non-sack carries, but he also threw three interceptions in 35 pass attempts,” Connelly said. “He seemed to show both a higher ceiling and a lower floor than (Drew) Pyne, who didn’t display the same mobility but made some big plays with his arm and went 6-for-8 for 81 yards and a touchdown after (Jack) Coan got hurt against Wisconsin.”
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On the opposite side of the ball, Connelly is far less concerned and focused his defensive analysis on experience.
“The Irish improved from 20th to 15th with Freeman as coordinator in 2021, and they return nine of the 12 players who had 400-plus snaps,” Connelly said.
He added that Notre Dame has a new defensive coordinator in Al Golden, but Golden’s body of work, plus Freeman at the helm, is a good sign for Notre Dame.
Two Irish players to watch
Not unlike many other outlets and analysts, Connelly loves both tight end Michael Mayer and defensive end Isaiah Foskey as impact players in 2022.
“They called him Baby Gronk when he first came to South Bend, but Rob Gronkowski caught 75 passes in two seasons at Arizona, and Mayer already has caught 113,” Connelly said of Mayer.
The 6-4, 250-pound tight end led Notre Dame in receptions last year with 71 for 840 yards and seven touchdowns, a single-season scoring record for Irish tight ends. He is back for what is presumably his final season in South Bend, as he is an expected first-round 2023 NFL Draft pick.
Also in the mix to be taken in the first round next April is Foskey.
“It’s hard to top what Foskey offered at the Power 5 level last season,” Connelly said, noting his ability to both rush the passer and drop into coverage, a skill becoming more coveted at the next level as NFL offenses become more pass-heavy.
Foskey posted 11 sacks last year, just 2.5 shy of former Irish defensive lineman Justin Tuck’s single-season sack record. That mark could very well fall before Foskey is done in South Bend.
