For the past four years, I have worked with former University of Alabama and Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander to develop a watch list and ultimately help select the winner of the Freshman of the Year award, named in Shaun's honor.
I will be following these rookies and redshirt freshmen from All-Star Games and Signing Day to spring training and offseason conditioning.
CB Benjamin Morrison competed for the award in 2022, while WR Jaden Greathouse was a standout player last summer.
The Fighting Irish's five freshmen not only have the talent to compete in 2024, but also have a chance to become Freshman All-Americans if they practice hard.
Not much was expected of Smith coming out of Reedy (Texas), so his promotion to a backup role with the “Z” was a pleasant surprise. He's undersized, but his smooth athleticism and quick speed allow him to separate opponents and break down the top of defenses.
If Smith can build on his strong spring, he and blue-chip recruit Cam Williams could become situational stars and playmaking cornerstones for the future.
Ausberry was a four-star recruit who turned down local school Louisiana State University to play at Notre Dame. After a standout offseason on and off the field, Ausberry is sure to be a key contributor this fall.
Ausberry is athletic, instinctive and versatile enough to earn playing opportunities against the rover, will and nickel in the secondary.
Shuler played on the first team opposite All-American Xavier Watts in the spring and will have to beat out Northwestern signing Rod Huard this summer, but he has shown enough throughout the offseason to warrant a significant increase in playing time.
Shuler has a sturdy build at 6-foot-10 and 200 pounds, and he's studied the game more to fill lanes in run defense.
It's been a decade since a true freshman linebacker has played significant minutes at Notre Dame, but Viriam Asah has the talent and maturity to get on the field right away, even if it means taking over for Drake Bowen.
At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, KVA is already a big player and has quickly picked up the intricate nuances of Al Golden's defense. While it's unlikely that Billiam Asah will start, it will be tough for the coaching staff to keep him off the field.
Jagsa has a chance to be the next great lineman at a school that has produced eight first- or second-round O-linemen in the past decade. He's an agile player at 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds with the feet to harden the edge and the strength to overpower opponents.
Previewing this season, Jagsa played well in place of All-American Joe Alt in last year's Sun Bowl and has already been deployed as Riley Leonard's blindside protector.
