NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Strike another “first” off the list for Notre Dame’s head coach Markus Freiman. As head coach, he has already led a team onto the pitch. He walked Notre Dame through a fountain of exercises. And on Friday, Freeman led the Fighting Irish through his first practice as head coach.
No longer the defensive coordinator he had been at Purdue, Cincinnati and Notre Dame for the past six seasons, Freeman was in charge of the show for the first time as head coach when the Fighting Irish entered the field under the Irish Athletic Center’s enclosure and on the fields outside.
“It’s good to get below the belt,” Freeman said. “I’m used to being the one whistling now.”
Freeman was not limited to any part of the field, having served as a coordinator and as a positional coach throughout his coaching career, which began in 2010. He spent the two and a half hours of Friday’s session spending time with as many position groups as possible, on both sides of the ball.
“For me, part of that is spending time with your players,” Freeman said. “And that’s why I want to move to individual practice on purpose because, again, I’m not an offensive head coach (or) a defensive head coach or special teams. I’m just the head coach and I want to make sure I spend time with each positional group.”
Friday was the first of 19 drills Freeman’s Irish will have during his first fall camp.
“This first training session is the same as for the players as it is for the coaches to get into your routine,” noted the Ireland head coach. “Hopefully on the second or third day I don’t have to look at my script to know what the next lesson is. I’ll know exactly what’s going on.”
Talking Tobias (Merriweather)
True freshman wide receiver Tobias Merriweather has only been on campus since June, but made a good first impression. A native of West Carmas, Wash, he looked handsome on the first day of fall camp.
He’s 6-4 at a meager 198 pounds, but has good body control and explosiveness from his breaks. Freeman says there’s a chance for the former four-star recruit this year.
“I think he’s a guy who’s in a position that the depth in this space isn’t very long,” Freeman said. “So he’s in a position where he has to get up early. And you know, if he’s willing to help us, he’ll play. I think because of the depth in this space, you’ll see that he gets a lot more options.
“He’s long, he can walk (and) I’ve only heard great things from the summer about what he’s done, so I’m excited to see what he’s doing.”
Injury Updates
The Fighting Irish started training camp with a fairly healthy squad. Freeman said only three players – running back Jadarian pricetight end Mitchell Evans and wide receiver Joe Wilkins Jr. are currently the only three players not to play against Ohio State in the September 3 season opener.
There are other players who trained on the first day of the training camp, but they have a limited duty to start the camp.
“There’s a progression for some guys when they come back,” Freeman said. “You know, we can’t just go to zero and put them there (to) 100. So we got some people in there with limited reps.”
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These players include Logan Diggs (Shoulder), Marist Liufau (Ankle), Avery Davis (ACL) and Pipe Berrong (AKL).
Diggs suffered a labrum tear in his left shoulder in the blue-gold scrimmage in April. He was the only non-quarterback to wear a red jersey at practice Friday, meaning limited contact. He also wore a black support cuff/bandage on his shoulder and upper arm.
No Camp Culver
In recent years, Notre Dame has started a fall camp at Culver Academies, located about 34 miles south of campus. That’s out now.
“It wasn’t even something we talked about,” Freeman said. “I know they haven’t done it in recent years because of Covid but it wasn’t even something that was addressed as it was available for this year.”
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Contents of the Irish breakdown
Notre Dame 2022 squad
Notre Dame 2022 schedule
Large plaque of the Notre Dame 2023 class
Notre Dame 2023 Commit Board – Offensive
Notre Dame 2023 Commits Board – Defense
Notre Dame 2023 Scholarship Offers
Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers
Ranking The Signatories of 2022 – Offensive
2022 Signatory Ranking – Defense
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