Blue & Gold Illustrated: Notre Dame Football And Recruiting

Notre Dame's special teams took a small step forward in 2017, but they must get a lot better in 2018 if the Irish are going to make a playoff run. Blue & Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell discuss the Notre Dame special teams. They discuss record-setting kicker Justin Yoon and improvements from punter Tyler Newsome. Also discussed is the return game, which should see competition at the return spots in the fall.

The BGI recruitng staff discusses where Notre Dame stands with several targets at each position the class of 2020 and answers subscriber questions from the message board 

Notre Dame had the nation's best offensive line in 2017, and to be a playoff contender in 2018 the line must remain playing at a high level. For that to happen the entire unit must get better, but what player's emergence is most important to the unit's overal success? That is the topic that Blue & Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell debate in this show.

The Notre Dame secondary returns a deep and talented group of cornerbacks, but questions remain at safety. How well those questions get answered in the fall will determine the overall effectiveness of not only the secondary, but the defense. Blue & Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell discuss both position groups. Potential break out players, the emergence of younger players and the incoming freshmen are just some of the many topics discussed before the BGI staff answer subscriber questions.

The BGI recruting staff discusses the sage of TJ Sheffield, a LB target off the board, some upcoming visitors and answers questions from the message board 

Notre Dame has high expectations this season, and if it wants to reach those goals a number of coaches will have to perform well and their units will have to perform well. Blue & Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell discuss which Notre Dame assistant has the most outside scrutiny this season.

Notre Dame returns a pair of experienced and productive inside linebackers in 2018, which has raised expectations of the group. Depth, however, remains a question mark heading into fall camp. Blue & Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell break down the position, beginning with the standout veterans inside and finishing with the depth concerns.

Notre Dame picked up another commitment when 2019 WR T.J. Sheffield pledged to the Irish. Blue & Gold Illustrated recruiting reporter Corey Bodden and football analyst Bryan Driskell discuss what the commitment of Sheffield means for the Irish class. 

Following that discussion the staff discusses where things stand with the 2019 class. Notre Dame is close to being done, and the staff goes position by position with the latest on recruiting for the class.