Marcus Freeman focused on preventing slow starts as Notre Dame opens fall camp

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- Notre Dame football will open fall camp Thursday with only five players completely out due to injury:

DL Christopher Burgess Jr.
DL Tiki Hola
OL Charles Jagusah
OL Peter Jones
LB Ko'o Kia

However, there is still a handful of players that will be limited at the start of camp as they continue to recover from left knee surgery. Those names include wide receiver transfer Quincy Porter, linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, wide receiver Elijah Burress, offensive lineman Ashton Craig, safety Nick reddish, and wide receiver Brayden Robinson

Head Coach Marcus Freeman made it a point to emphasize how the Irish have used the extended offseason to address the slow starts that have hurt the program in recent years. He said those early-season struggles cannot be fixed only during game week.

“It’s a January-through-August issue,” Freeman said. “We’re enhancing little things we’ve done in terms of how we practice, which days we practice and how much meeting time. There are a lot of different things.”

Freeman also praised wide receiver Micah Gilbert and running back Aneyas Williams for their growth and leadership entering the season. A role Williams is expected to step into following the departures of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.

Returning starting quarterback C.J. Carr also spent the offseason building chemistry with a new group of receivers. Freeman said Carr organized additional throwing sessions and traveled to Florida with teammates for offseason bonding.

The Irish will practice Thursday, Friday and Saturday to begin fall camp. ABC57 News will provide more updates on these storylines as they develop.