Notre Dame's receivers are blossoming under new tutelage. Elite talent, fueled by Jordan Faison's focus and exciting transfers, promises a potent aerial attack.
Notre Dame wide receivers coach Mike Brown is heading into his third season with this unit. Outside of two transfers from Ohio State, every receiver in the room has spent the majority of their collegiate careers under his tutelage. This year, the receiver position is poised for a big year within this offense. They have the talent, the length and the athleticism to go along with an elite returning starting quarterback, CJ Carr.
The room, by and large, is relatively young and inexperienced outside of the two players at the top, Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse. Faison elected to stick with football this offseason and not play lacrosse, a sport he came to the university to play. Now, the Florida native is available every day in practice which has helped this group tremendously.
"It’s been great having him," Brown said of Faison. "Obviously the player is the player, but more important than that is his leadership and the way guys look up to him. He’s a great example for the young guys in how he goes about his business, how he studies film and how he works, how he practices. All of those things. The challenge to him is you’ve never done this before.
"You’ve never only focused on football," Brown continued. "What are the adjustments we need to make from a nutrition standpoint? What weight are we trying to get to. We sat down and he sat down with Alexa [Appelman] and Coach [Loren] Landow and all of us. We collectively put together a plan for him. He’s a rock star; he’s awesome."
Faison hasn't been the only player turning heads this spring. Earlier this offseason, Notre Dame brought in two Ohio State transfers at wide receiver in Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter. Porter is out right now recovering from a knee injury; he'll be available this summer. Graham, however, has been practicing since the start of spring and he's been putting his talents on full display.
"He’s a really good athlete," Brown said of Graham. "He’s gifted and he’s just so smart. He has a lot to learn but he picks things up really well. I remember when he came on his visit and we were watching film. I'd tell him what a play was and we’d fast forward five plays later and that play would pop up again. He’d like stop me and tell me, ‘Okay, this is the one where this guy had this…’ So I know he learns really fast. He’s hungry, he’s locked in and he’s growing. I’m really excited for him."
Porter is player that's expected to play the majority of his snaps in the boundary, but another current player is making a push for the starting role and that's rising redshirt sophomore Micah Gilbert. Gilbert has also started to come onto the scene this spring. The 6-2, 205-pound receiver has the potential to be a lethal weapon in this offense.
"He’s done a really good job this spring," Brown said about Gilbert. "He’s maturing really well. He’s doing a great job of leading the new guys and he’s competing every single day. He’s really working craft, and that’s been a part of who he is. The big thing for him is consistency. He’s shown flashes in the past but he’s got to be consistent. That’s one thing he’s done so far this spring. We have to take it one game at a time and just keep taking steps forward and getting better and better."
The pieces for Notre Dame having a championship-caliber wide receiver room is there. To go along with Graham, Faison and Gilbert, the Irish also have Greathouse, Porter, Cam Williams and Elijah Burress at their disposal. The talent is there, now it's about turning that potential into production.
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