WAKE UP THE ECHOES! Let's Preview the 2021-22 Notre Dame Football Season!

        Let's fuckin goooooo! It's just about that time again, summer is closing but College Football is right around the corner, literally my favorite time of the year. Especially the fact it's almost time for Notre Dame Saturday's. We got some new and some old faces mixed into this bunch, including a lot of players we've never heard from that are ready to make a huge splash for the Irish. One of the big additions is our new defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman replacing Clark Lea who took over as head man at Vanderbilt. Freeman is 35 years old, he's already dominating the recruiting trail for Notre Dame and many say he could be the coach in waiting for the Irish. He spent the last four seasons as the Defensive Coordinator for the Cincinnati Bearcats where he had a pretty decent resume. We got Jack Coan about to be named the new starting quarterback, Coan is a grad transfer from Wisconsin, Coan last started for the Badgers in 2019 where he took them to a 10-4 record, a Big Ten title game spot and an appearance in the Rose Bowl. Coan is the easy choice here to be the starter, he has experience, big game talent, an accurate arm, he's mobile and it's not the worst transition after losing 3 year starter Ian Book.

Players To Watch:

Marist Liufau, LB #8- This guy is going to be an absolute savage. The Junior from Punahou High School in Hawaii, the same High School that gave us Manti Teo, has speed, athleticism and can just hit that second gear so effortlessly. He will almost certainly start at will linebacker in Freeman's defensive scheme.
Isaiah Foskey, DE #7- This guy reminds me so much of Stephon Tuitt its crazy. He's literally just a big animal with freakish speed and ability.  He can rush the QB and he has no problem dropping into coverage to cover a running back or a tight end. He has real 1st-2nd talent and I am full on excited to see him play a full season
Michael Mayer, TE #87- BABBBBY GRONK. I know this is an easy one but god damn this dude is gonna be awesome. He's the best tight end in the country, argue all you want and I will full on tell you that you're wrong. They call him baby Gronk for a reason, need I say more?
Jack Coan, QB #17- I already talked about Coan so I won't say much. But I mean this guy is the new Starting QB for one of the most high profiled College teams in the country, of course we have to watch for this dude. He's big and accurate and that will fit perfectly into Kelly's scheme. 

Some Old faces we know and Love:

Kyle Hamilton, S #14- Kyle is one of the best safeties in the country, a first team preseason All-American and the leader of this defense. What a player to build your defense around if you're Marcus Freeman?
Kyren Williams, RB #23- I fucking love this kid 1,000 yard rusher, can catch and block? He's the ultimate package we need for a running back, he just got named team captain and is going to be a center piece of this offense. I can't want to see what he shows us in in 2021.
Jarrett Patterson, RG #55- Patterson was hurt for most of 2020 season with a foot injury but is back this year and moving back to his natural position at guard. He's another player with first round talent and someone who will be the anchor of the Irish offensive line. 

Schedule and Predictions: 

September 5th @ Florida State: Win
September 11th v's Toledo: Win
September 18th v's Purdue: Win
September 25h @ Wisconsin: Loss
October 2nd v's Cincinnati: Win
October 9th @ Va. Tech: Win
October 23rd v's USC: Win
October 30th v's UNC: Win
November 6th v's Navy: Win
November 13th @ Virginia: Win
November 20th v's Ga. Tech: Win
November 27th @ Stanford: Win

11 Wins 1 Loss

**To be honest, this schedule sets up really nice for the Irish this year. It's not the most daunting schedule from top to bottom and I truly think ND is the better team in all the games they play this year, now does that mean they'll play like the better team? Probably not. **

Final Thoughts:

Is Notre Dame the best team in the country? Nope, can they make another run into the college football playoffs? YUP. The schedule is super favorable for the Irish and let's be real with each other, is the committee going to pass on a 11-1 Irish team over an 11-0 team from another conference? No, they're not, ND brings the money, brings the eyes and that's what the NCAA wants. So strap the fuck in and get ready for another season of Irish Football!