Notre Dame football: 3 things that’ll make Irish contenders in 2023
![Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman with players shortly before taking the field for Friday's Gator Bowl game. The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish took on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game in Jacksonville, Florida's TIAA Bank Field Friday, December 30, 2022. The first half ended with South Carolina holding a 24 to 17 lead. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 123022 Bs Gatorbowl 15](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F5bf51c564ccaae80970bf2ed7b0729e4a0c9adc85f661b9e950b87abbde4a04b.jpg "Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman with players shortly before taking the field for Friday's Gator Bowl game. The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish took on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game in Jacksonville, Florida's TIAA Bank Field Friday, December 30, 2022. The first half ended with South Carolina holding a 24 to 17 lead. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 123022 Bs Gatorbowl 15")
Marcus Freeman just finished up his first season as head coach of Notre Dame football and the Irish went 9-4 and finished No. 19 in the final AP Top 25. Not too shabby for a first-year head coach.
Now the Irish are looking to improve on that and get back to the College Football Playoff. Brian Kelly brought the program to the biggest stage multiple times but couldn’t finish the job.
Freeman is trying to change that.
But in order for the Irish to get back on that big stage and have a shot at shocking the nation, a few things need to happen in 2023.
3. Development of a true No. 1 receiver
Whoever starts at quarterback for Notre Dame this upcoming season will need someone to step up and take the reins as that true No. 1 receiver.
Gone is Michael Mayer who has been one of the best tight ends in college football for years and that means Notre Dame is going to have to find a new top target. It’s been a few years since there has been a clear top receiver and that needs to change if the Irish are going to be contenders.
Fortunately for the Irish, there are two really good receivers coming in with the 2023 class in Braylon James and Jaden Greathouse and they’re both enrolled early.
Could it be Deion Colzie or Tobias Merriweather or Jayden Thomas? All three guys have the potential to be that go-to target but my money would be on Merriweather with his size and explosiveness. Notre Dame has options, but someone needs to step up.