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‘You want to take every opportunity you can’: Buchner prepares to start in Gator Bowl

By Madeline Ladd · Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022

Arguably the biggest question mark in determining Friday’s bowl game outcome, sophomore quarterback Tyler Buchner will take the field as the starter for the first time since his injury against Marshall. With the transfer of former starting quarterback Drew Pyne and the accelerated healing of Buchner’s shoulder, head coach Marcus Freeman chose Buchner to take the field on Friday. However, Buchner has not played since the Irish loss to Marshall. On top of that, he has only started two games in his entire career.

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Next man up: Mitchell Evans steps into larger role after Mayer’s departure

By Emily DeFazio · Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022

With projected first-round NFL Draft pick Michael Mayer officially out of the Irish tight end room, the remaining members of this position group have big shoes to fill in this 6-foot-5 offensive hole. One player shouldering that responsibility is Mitchell Evans, who notched a touchdown for Notre Dame against UNLV earlier this season. The sophomore has emerged as a valuable member of the developing offensive makeup and already has the next-man-up mentality intact. This mindset will come in handy with the recent changeover in the Irish’s roster.

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Observer Sports Staff predicts the Gator Bowl: Notre Dame v. South Carolina

By Observer Sports Staff · Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022

Bowl games are a bit of a battle of attrition with all the opt-outs, and Notre Dame loses two All-Americans for this battle with South Carolina. However, the Gamecocks will be down about half-a-dozen starters, so it feels like, while lacking their star power, Notre Dame might have an edge in player availability. Quarterback is obviously the big question mark, and we’ll see if Tyler Buchner made much progress since completing 56% of his passes for no scores, two interceptions and a 54.0 quarterback rating in seven quarters earlier this season. He’ll have his opportunities against a Gamecocks’ defense that has struggled in all phases of the game of the year.

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Keys to Victory: Notre Dame vs. South Carolina

By Mannion McGinley · Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022

The Irish are set to take on the Gamecocks in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl just before 2022 ends. These are the things Notre Dame will need to accomplish to end their 2022 campaign on a high note. A win Friday earns head coach Marcus Freeman his first bowl game win. 

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Thomas: Gator Bowl, recruiting drama puts spotlight on Irish safeties

By Aidan Thomas · Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022

Safety has long been a position of strength for Notre Dame football. Six former Irish safeties currently populate NFL rosters, three as starters. For the three seasons prior to 2022, Notre Dame enjoyed the services of Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton racked up eight career interceptions in two-and-a-half seasons (missing the last half of 2021 due to injury). The Baltimore Ravens drafted Hamilton 14th overall.

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Moller: Freeman can use Gator Bowl to gain momentum into next season

By Nate Moller · Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022

As more and more college players decide to sit out bowl games to prepare for the NFL draft or enter the transfer portal, bowl games have lost their significance to an extent. In Friday’s Gator Bowl between the Irish and the South Carolina Gamecocks, the Irish will be without junior tight end Michael Mayer and senior defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey. Both All-Americans opted out to pursue the NFL draft. The Irish will also be without junior quarterback Drew Pyne. Pyne started the last ten games for the Irish but decided to transfer to Arizona State. On the flip side, the Gamecocks will likely be without some important wide receivers and tight ends and pieces in the secondary. 

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Irish drop third straight, fall to 0-2 in ACC play

By Liam Coolican · Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022

Notre Dame dropped their third consecutive game and fell to 0-2 in ACC play Wednesday night in Tallahassee. Florida State played much better than their 3-10 record coming into the contest would indicate, but Notre Dame squandered numerous chances throughout the game as the Seminoles survived with a 73-72 victory.

The Observer

Running back Jayden Limar reneges on Irish commitment, flips to Oregon

By Annika Herko · Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022

After receiving 19 offers from top schools including Michigan, USC, Miami and Utah, running back Jayden Limar verbally committed to Notre Dame on May 26, later making his third campus visit on June 10. However, the Washington native took four campus visits each to Pac-12 schools Oregon and Washington. With rumors that he might flip late in the cycle, Limar did exactly that. After taking an official visit to Oregon, breaking policy for Notre Dame verbal commits, Limar flipped his commitment from the Irish to the Ducks on National Signing Day.

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Notre Dame 2023 recruiting class instant analysis, grades

By Aidan Thomas · Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022

Notre Dame signed its recruiting class after an eventful early signing day. Most notably, the Irish entered the day with 26 commitments, but flips affected the class. Five-star safety Peyton Bowen flipped to Oregon and four-star running back Jayden Limar is projected to do the same. 

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Notre Dame National Signing Day updates, analysis

By Observer Sports Staff · Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022

Notre Dame continued to build their official signing class on Wednesday, inking 24 new recruits in the morning hours. Four-star running back Jayden Limar flipped to Oregon, and five-star Peyton Bowen announced the same move at 11 a.m central time. Here’s a look at every recruit that has signed with Notre Dame on National Signing Day, plus overall analysis of the class.

The Observer

Cooper Flanagan signs on as next Irish tight end

By Aidan Thomas · Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022

On Wednesday morning, De La Salle High School product and tight end Cooper Flanagan made his longtime commitment to Notre Dame official, putting pen to paper on his National Letter of Intent. Flanagan verbally committed in September 2021. Since then, however, he picked up offers from Alabama, Miami and LSU. By Rivals, Flanagan is the 12th-ranked prospect in Notre Dame’s fourth-ranked 2023 recruiting class. 

The Observer

‘Possession receiver’ Rico Flores Jr. signs, could make immediate impact

By Andrew McGuinness · Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022

Perhaps no position has more riding on it for the Irish in their 2023 recruiting class than wide receiver. The unit lacked both depth and true game-breaking talent in 2022, and the numbers backed it up. Notre Dame’s top three wide receivers combined for 855 yards and six touchdowns. Junior tight end Michael Mayer tallied 805 yards and nine scores all on his own. Even acknowledging Mayer’s first-round talent and that he’s one of the most dominant tight ends in the sport, that type of production from wide receivers simply isn’t up to Notre Dame’s standards.

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