Fighting Irish wrap up week one of fall camp

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind -- Notre Dame Football in full swing after week one of fall camp just 29 days away from the opening of the season.

Day three gave the media a glance at second year defensive coordinator Al Golden and his experienced linebacker room led by three players who all came to Notre Dame in 2019. 

Just days into Golden's second fall camp with the Irish, he’s already seeing a difference for himself, the staff, and players. 

“I just think everything has slowed down, I'm hearing that from the players in from the, from the staff,” Golden said.

The Irish defense lost Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame’s all-time leader in sacks, but Golden has back three linebackers, all in their fifth season with the Irish, JD Bertrand, Jack Kiser, and Marist Liufau. 

“One of the coolest things is just having them as my best friends off the field, someone that you can talk to not just about football, but about school life, social, all those kinds of things. And I think that really does come on to the field,” Bertrand said.

“All three of the older guys are really doing a great job,” Golden mentioned.

“Anytime you have 3/5, your linebackers that can play with each other, it is special. I think like the big thing is, when we're on the field, we're normally on the same page. And if we're not, when we go the sideline, it takes us two seconds to figure it out and move on,” Kiser added.

Golden also has a handful of veterans on his defensive line and in the defensive back groups, plus a young core entering their second year with the Irish, hoping to make an impact during their allotted time on the field this season.