There is just a week left until Notre Dame football plays its annual Blue-Gold spring game, but on Saturday there was an open practice that many in the media got the chance to attended.
Multiple Irish players stood out according to The Athletic’s Pete Sampson, as he named defensive ends Bryce Young and Jason Onye, safety Tae Johnson, linebacker Jaylen Sneed, wide receiver Elijah Burress, and tight end Eli Raridon.
He went on to note that the quarterback play was a mixed bag, as CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey each had good and bad plays. Sampson also said that Steve Angeli was “more steady but nothing spectacular.”
The biggest one that stands out to me is the play of Johnson, as there is a race to see who will take over the spot left by outgoing senior Xavier Watts. We are all clearly watching what happens in the quarterback competition, but having an elite player at the back-end of your defense will drive it.
While the spring is almost at an end, we are still starting to see who is going to step up for the Irish in 2026.
Standouts from Notre Dame’s open practice:
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) April 5, 2025
Bryce Young
Tae Johnson
Jaylen Sneed
Elijah Burress
Eli Raridon
Jason Onye
As for the first quarterbacks, Carr and Minchey both had big plays (good and bad). Angeli was more steady but nothing spectacular.
