Live updates: Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman pre-NIU press conference

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is set to address reporters for the final time before Saturday’s home opener against Northern Illinois. The Irish take on the Huskies at 3:30 p.m. ET at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, and the game will be broadcast on NBC.

Here are Blue & Gold’s live updates from Freeman’s Thursday Zoom press conference, which begins at noon ET.

**Keep refreshing this page for real-time, written updates from Freeman’s Zoom press conference.**

What Freeman is saying

• Asked about Jordan Botelho, Freeman said the most impressive thing for him is turning his raw talent into “actual ability.” Being in his third year of defensive coordinator Al Golden‘s system helps, the third-year head coach explained.

• Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans has increased the amount of practice reps he’s been able to play. Expect to see Evans play more than he did against Texas A&M, but the Irish will continue to be smart with managing their expectations and his workload.

• Freeman is pleased with the tight ends group as a whole, and with the way Cooper Flanagan and Eli Raridon played Saturday.

• Asked what would signify growth from the passing game and the offensive line, Freeman said it’s not one specific thing, but he wants to see general progression from Week 1 to Week 2. He pointed to mental errors and pre-snap penalties that he’d like to see decrease up front.

• Regarding the passing game, Freeman said Notre Dame has to be “efficient in what we do.” That might mean taking and hitting more deep shots, or it might mean being better at the quick game.

• Freeman said he pushed his players during Tuesday and Wednesday’s practices. He told the coaches, “We can’t pull off the gas pedal,” and that the players knew right away that the Irish would double down on their intensity with the home opener coming up.

• On Beaux Collins: “Beaux is a competitor. Between the white lines, he competes. He is not okay with losing. He is a constant worker.”

• On Northern Illinois, Freeman said it’s a team that has a history of being competitive against Power Four schools. Offensively, the Huskies should challenge the Irish with different formations and motions. Defensively, Freeman pointed out that they were the best Group of Five pass defense last season.

“We have to make sure our bodies get healed up and we don’t stop with the mental preparation.”