Newsstand: Notre Dame football begins spring practice today

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•03/07/24•

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The wait is over. Duke transfer Riley Leonard will throw passes in a Notre Dame uniform for the first time in the media’s eye Thursday morning when the Fighting Irish begin their 2024 spring practice schedule.

The media is allowed to watch the entirety of Thursday’s session, so check back in at BlueandGold.com throughout the day for updates and observations. Head coach Marcus Freeman is speaking to reporters after practice. Blue & Gold will have plenty of coverage from his press conference, too.

This is the third spring practice slate Freeman will oversee as the man in charge of the entire operation. It’s also is the third-straight year he’s had a different signal-caller go into the spring slated to be QB1, and each of those quarterbacks has had a different offensive coordinator. This year, it’s Mike Denbrock looking over Leonard’s shoulder. Denbrock is fresh off coaching Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and leading the No. 1 offense in the country at LSU.

On the always favorable side of continuity, meanwhile, Al Golden is going into his third year as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator. The Irish had one of the nation’s best defenses in 2023, finishing fifth nationally in yards allowed per game, but six starters from that squad are being replaced. Potential starters in the fall start making their cases in the spring.

Notre Dame’s practice sessions go on hiatus next week for spring break and will return in late March with everything culminating in the annual Blue-Gold Game on April 20.

Tweets of the day

Irish guard Olivia Miles isn’t going anywhere. She’ll be back in 2024-25 to team up with Hannah Hidalgo, and she’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.

The Irish put in proper work to be ready for spring practices.

Irish recruiting remains on a heater.

Quote of the day

“Coach Freeman carries himself like a president. I was nervous around him.”

— Class of 2026 linebacker recruit Anthony “Tank” Jones on Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman

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