Fighting Irish players to watch in the upcoming season

Notre Dame’s road to glory in the next NCAA season begins in roughly two months. And if the team hopes to at least match its 10-win outing last year, it must bank on a roster of mostly new and younger talents. Yes, it’s doubtful that the Fighting Irish can get back quickly into title contention after having lost many key players. But one never knows. Hereunder are some names to watch this year.

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Miles Boykin
The senior has made a name for himself for that one-handed, 55-yard, touchdown pass in the recent Citrus Bowl. The 6’4” wide receiver should play an increased role in Notre Dame’s campaign this season, especially given his good chemistry with Brandon Wimbush.

Alohi Gilman
Former Navy standout Gilman sat out last season due to the NCAA rules on transfers, but he is expected to gain significant playing time as needed safety for the Fighting Irish. The junior has a solid record of 76 tackles in 2016, including 12 in a win over Notre Dame.

Khalid Kareem
Kareem has gone up Notre Dame’s depth chart with the transfer of Jay Hayes, especially as he has been displaying good work in both the field and the weight room. The defensive lineman should gain an increased and more active role this year, way more than the mere 20 plays he was involved in last season.

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Hello, my name isTom Colton, a student at the University of Notre Dame. I’m a huge fan of our school’s Fighting Irish football team. For similar reads, visit thisblog.

Be Built Like a Fighting Irish Football Player

Have you ever noticed how Fighting Irish football players are built like tanks? Well, they have to be. They have to be built in such a way that their bodies can handle high-impact hits and sudden bursts of movement. Getting to this plateau takes time and discipline, but anyone with the heart can do it. It’s all about conditioning your body to get into a regular routine to break and remake and strengthen the muscles.

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First thing’s first. Before starting a regular regimen, be sure to make time. Clear your schedule during your breaks and find two to three hours you can devote yourself to working out. This is not negotiable. When friends ask you out during this period, you have to say no, or just say you’ll follow after gym.

The second thing and one of the most important things to remember is that you have to eat right. Minimize the booze because that kills muscle development. Football players, though they love to party hard, also stick to a strict diet during training.

Third, get much-needed rest. Get at least six to seven hours of good night’s sleep. This is when your body heals itself to get ready for the following day’s work out.

These are all great reminders that not just football players, but athletes in almost any sport follow. But to be built, do what they do and hit heavier weights. That’s the start of your journey.

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Hello, I’m Tom Colton, a student at the University of Notre Dame and a huge fan of the Fighting Irish. For more on my hobbies and interests, check out this page.

What We Can Expect From The Fighting Irish In 2018

Notre Dame ended the past season on a high note with a huge win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl, and the momentum should carry over to 2018. Management, the coaching staff, and the team have good reason to be optimistic, for sure.

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Just a year ago, the Fighting Irish were struggling, coming off a 4-8 showing and with the NCAA having mandated the program to vacate the team’s 21 wins from the 2012 and 2103 seasons.

A year after, and with head coach Brian Kelly overhauling the coaching staff, Notre Dame went into the offseason as a 10-win team, capping things off by beating LSU. Even as rebuilding continues with the loss of several key players, we can expect the Irish to improve on defense. Mike Elko has left and is now the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M. But former linebackers coach Clark Lea should be more than qualified for the job.

Expect conditioning coordinator Matt Balis to excel more in his second year in the program. This was previously a big issue with the Irish, but last season’s showing proved that Balis had done a good job with the players’ mental and physical toughness. The challenge is to sustain such toughness among the players throughout the 12-game schedule.

Notre Dame’s kicking game should continue to be a key factor in their success this coming season. Justin Yoon was solid this past one, connecting on 14 of 26 field goal attempts and was perfect from inside 40 yards. Punter Tyler Newsome also had a good showing, having averaged 43.6 yards per kick in the 2017 season. Yoon and Punter should play a crucial role in the Irish’s upcoming campaign.

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Hello there, I’m Tom Colton, a student at the University of Notre Dame. I’m a huge fan of our Fighting Irish football team. For more Notre Dame football reads, visit this blog.