GREEN JERSEY ALERT
Notre Dame Football head coach Marcus Freeman met with journalists Thursday following the 28-3 Irish victory against the Miami (OH) RedHawks as the team prepares to take on the Louisville Cardinals Saturday. The coach shouted out some standouts and talked fashion, of course.
How Do You Do, Fellow Kids?
On the experience factor of seventh-year senior Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough and senior Louisville wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, “Shough is a guy that’s extremely experienced. He’s a big guy and tall. Not really easy to take down. [He’s] seen a lot of defenses and throws a really good deep ball. Very similar to [sixth-year senior Miami (OH) quarterback Brett Gabbert] last week, it’s really going to be challenging to confuse them in terms of what you’re playing defensively. But it’s going to be a challenge to make sure that we’re executing at a high level. The wide receiver, Brooks, he’s a playmaker. He’s a guy they’re going to try to get the ball to down the field. He can make contested catches and will present a challenge to our DBs for sure.”
It’s Called Style
The coach answered the question on everyone’s mind and said, “Yeah, they’re going to wear the green jerseys.”
Field Facts
On the evolution of the field wide receiver position with Jordan Faison back following a sprained ankle, with Kris Mitchell in play and with KK Smith’s strong showing against Purdue, Freeman said, “I feel strongly about the position. I think it’s deep. Faison’s back to, I would think [to] his normal self or as close as he can be. Kris has been playing well, and KK’s done a good job in his both opportunities in the last two games, so I feel good about the room. They’ve had a good week of practice and we’ll see what the game dictates in terms of production, but I’m really pleased with the field wide receiver position.”
Recovering, Possibly Returning
On what defensive lineman Jordan Botelho’s status could be in 2025 considering his knee injury in the Purdue game and a following surgery, Freeman said, “That’s something that we’ve told him is an option for him if it’s something that he wants to do. But more than anything, [we’ve] wanted him to kind of get through the different emotions after having a surgery like he had. We just want him to know that if he wants the opportunity to come back next year, we would love to have him back.”
One Play Away
On defensive lineman Junior Tuihalamaka’s star showing with Botelho out against the RedHawks, Freeman said, “I think it’s just a reflection of the preparation he’s put in, the depth. The opportunity that was presented, he capitalized off of it, and so, it’s a great example for everybody in our program. You’re always one play away. He was playing a little bit for us, obviously in an increased role. He had a lot of production on Saturday, and again, that doesn’t happen with luck. It happens because of preparation and he’s putting a lot of work in, and I’m excited for him and happy that he was able to get that production on Saturday.”
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