Blue & Gold Illustrated: Notre Dame Football And Recruiting

Notre Dame is bringing in a talented and deep group of freshmen, and several will have an immediate impact. Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell debate which freshman will stand above the rest and make the most significant impact in the 2016 season.

Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell preview the wide receiver and tight end positions for the Irish. Notre Dame loses the majority of its pass game production from last fall, and players without much experience have to emerge. Are they ready for primetime, and will the tight end become a bigger factor in the offense? Those questions and more are addressed in the latest edition of the Irish Huddle.

Who replaces Will Fuller as Notre Dame's top playmaker? Who fills the leadership void left by Chris Brown? Which Irish pass catcher steps up as the go-to player, the one who is most vital to the Irish offense? Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell debate that topic in this week's podcast.

Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell preview the 2016 Notre Dame backfield. What can Irish fans expect from Tarean Folston, who is back from a season-ending knee injury? How will he and Josh Adams fair together? Will Dexter Williams or Justin Brent find a role on the offense? What, if anything, can be expected of the freshmen? Those questions and more are addressed by the staff.

In order to make a run at the College Football Playoffs, Notre Dame must get better play from its defense, especially its secondary. Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell debate which defensive back is most crucial to Notre Dame getting improved play on the back end of the defense. Is it senior cornerback Cole Luke, or junior safety Drue Tranquill?

With football season now less than 100 days away, its time to begin previewing the 2016 season. Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell begin the preseason discussion by previewing the quarterback position. The strengths of both DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire are discussed, as is what both players must do to improve their game and seize hold of the position. An important question is how quarterbacks coach Mike Sanford can keep ultra-talented sophomore Brandon Wimbush happy and engaged while on the bench. The staff discusses that topic and offers insight on what the Irish might do.

Which running back - senior Tarean Folston or sophomore Josh Adams - holds the key to Notre Dame's rushing success in 2016? Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell debate that topic in this edition of the Irish Debate.

Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell discuss Notre Dame's latest quarterback commitment before getting into a conversation regarding whether or not Notre Dame has what it takes to be a title contender in 2016. Somogyi gives his five keys to Notre Dame's title teams from the past, and talks about whether or not Notre Dame has that kind of team in 2016.

If Notre Dame wants to get into the playoffs and make another run at a title, its defense must step up and play championship defense. That must happen without All-Americans Jaylon Smith and Sheldon Day, who are now in the NFL. Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell debate which defensive player holds the key to that turnaround, and why.

Blue Gold Illustrated recruiting editor Andrew Ivins and football analyst Bryan Driskell give an update on where things stand with Notre Dame recruiting. Ivins was at the The Opening Regionals in Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, where a number of Notre Dame commits and prospects shine. The pair discusses several recent offers, the most important recruit in the class and where things stand at defensive tackle and linebacker recruiting before moving on to listener questions.