Jerome Bettis Jr. is transforming, adding physicality and speed, making him an undeniable force on the Notre Dame receiving corps.
Every year, when Notre Dame begins spring training, there's always a handful of players that come onto the scene that some of us weren't expecting. This year, rising redshirt freshman receiver Jerome Bettis Jr. is one of those players. We've spent a lot of time this offseason talking about the receiver room, but Bettis Jr. is always an after thought. The work he's putting in this offseason and the foundation he's building will prevent that from happening again.
"So far it's been pretty good," Bettis Jr. said about his spring. "I'm starting to see things clearer now going into year two. I've been learning a lot from the older guys and Coach [Mike] Brown. They're coaching me up pretty good, so I feel like I'm in a good spot right now. I'm able to see things from every perspective and understand the 'why' behind what we're doing. It just allows me to play faster and think less."
When we attended the first practice, there were a couple of things we noticed about the receiving corps. First, they looked very athletic from top to bottom. Athletically, this group looked the part. Second, we noticed how much bigger Bettis Jr. had gotten from his freshman year to now. His physical transformation is what has started to turn some heads.
"I feel a real sizable difference," Bettis Jr. shared. "I guess the transformation for me kind of started pretty early. Right as the season started, I realized I wasn't really where I wanted to be in week one. The team was in Miami; I didn't get to go to that game, so I was watching at home. Then it clicked within me that I've got to make a change for myself. I've got to become more physical, stronger and faster. So, I put my head down from there. I've been working ever since."
The weight room isn't the only place the Georgia native has seen a difference. The work he put in during last season into this winter lifting session has now translated to the field. He's feeling more comfortable and confident in his abilities when the cleats and the helmet come on.
"I feel like it's a world change," Bettis Jr. explained. "Whether it's my physicality at the line of scrimmage, being able to move guys where I want them to go or whether it's in the run game blocking. I feel like it's become a lot easier for me now for sure with blocking and being more physical. Even in my routes, I feel a lot faster than where I was last year. I feel like that's opened up a whole other part of my game."
This is a very deep receiving room in South Bend. Even though they don't have as much proven production as some of the other units in the country, athletically, they stack up well with almost every unit in college football. There's a long way to go before this group can be considered a top unit in the country, but with players like Bettis Jr. emerging this offseason and pushing the guys in front of them, the room will be poised for a big year in 2026.
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