Blue & Gold Illustrated: Notre Dame Football And Recruiting

Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell preview the NFL Scouting Combine, which begins this week. Notre Dame will have 10 participants at the combine, second only to Ohio State. A pre-spring preview of the 2016 schedule and subscriber questions were also part of the show.

Blue Gold recruiting editor Andrew Ivins talks with Rivals.com recruiting analyst Woody Wommack about the decommitment of Rivals100 Robert Beal and the latest with five-star athlete Demetris Robertson.

The decision of offensive lineman Steve Elmer to leave the program to pursue career opportunities away from football, and the election of wide receiver Corey Robinson as Student Body President at Notre Dame raises questions about the program's ability to compete with programs that are more focused on football. Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell discuss this issue, and also talk about how the wide receiving corps will shake out and how Notre Dame will put together an offensive line next fall.

Blue Gold Illustrated's Andrew Ivins and Bryan Driskell break down Notre Dame's recruiting class. The two touch on the limited amount of drama for the Irish down the stretch, the most important recruit and Jonathan Jones' National Signing Day commitment.

Blue Gold Illustrated recruiting editor Andrew Ivins and football analyst Bryan Driskell update the latest on a number of Notre Dame targets. The two preview National Signing Day and share their thoughts on 'ND1' while making some class predictions. 3:15 – Will Brian Kelly’s new six-year deal have any impact on recruiting? 

9:15 – Negative recruiting and how it’s having an impact on the Irish. 

14:30 – Todd Lyght and Autry Denson’s impact with in-home visits. 

18:40 – The latest with five-star athlete Demetris Robertson and his upcoming visits. 

27:15 – Thoughts on Notre Dame brining it’s 18-wheeler ‘ND 1’ equipment truck. 

33:00 – The latest with five-star linebacker Ben Davis following Notre Dame’s in-home visit. 

36:41 – Thoughts on five-star linebacker Caleb Kelly. 

40:46 – Could Jordan Fuller be a surprise for the Irish?

44:48 – Jonathan Jones looking more and more like a future Irish pledge. 

49:15 – Notre Dame’s first Junior Day looks to have been a success. 

58:50 – Our projected finish for Notre Dame ahead of National Signing Day.

Notre Dame has a number of key questions it must answer on the defensive side of the football. Who replaces Jaylon Smith, Sheldon Day, Romeo Okwara and the other departed seniors? Where will the leadership come from after losing four defensive captains? Will defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder be able to strike the right notes to get the 2016 defense up to speed? Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell address those questions and much more in the latest edition of the Irish Huddle. Subscriber questions concerning the defense are also addressed.

Blue Gold Illustrated writers Jordan Wells and Andrew Owens discuss the men's basketball team and their recent play, look ahead to the rest of the ACC season, and examine Irish recruiting.

So what can Notre Dame do to take its potent offense to another level, a championship level? Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell discuss the questions and improvements needed for Notre Dame to get to that level. Finding a quarterback, replacing Will Fuller and revamping the offensive line are key topics of discussion. Somogyi and Driskell also answer subscriber questions, including why Notre Dame refuses to go under center in the run game.

Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi is joined by assistant editor Andrew Owens and football analyst Bryan Driskell to discuss the big picture view of the 2015 season and what it means for the Notre Dame program. The trio finishes up by discussing the steps Notre Dame must take in 2016 to continue moving forward as a program, one that can compete for and possibly win another national title.

Blue Gold Illustrated senior editor Lou Somogyi and football analyst Bryan Driskell break down Notre Dame's 44-28 Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State. Following talk of the bowl game, discussion turns to the players who have declared for the NFL Draft and Jaylon Smith, who has yet to make his decision known.