The University of Notre Dame football team officially began spring practice earlier this week, but they will have to wait until after spring break to really start learning what the 2024 Fighting Irish will look like. It won't happen.
Of course, we know a few things about this new look version of the Fighting Irish. Riley Leonard will be the starting quarterbackthere will be several. new wide receiver If they show off what they can do, there will be a log jam at running back.
On this topic, the latest episode is rock on irish podcast We worked on a running back room theme. Along the way, Tyler Wojciak and Luke Smith discussed what they expect to happen in spring practice, with Smith believing the crowded running back room should be thinned out a bit.
In particular, Smith said he believes it is time for Gibran Payne to “learn the transfer portal”.
While Smith admitted his view was a little harsh, he made it clear that he believes it's time for the Notre Dame football player to move on to another school. And he seems to want to see Paine do that, to save the Irish coaches a little bit of themselves.
“Frankly, what he said was inexcusable.” [Payne] I was on third down last year as well, but I got as much playing time as he did,” Smith said. “I'm sure he's a good running back, but you look at all the talent Notre Dame had. He didn't do any work in that area last year, but Dylan McCullough… I know that they have a system in place and they choose the jobs of each of their subordinates individually. That's definitely not going to happen this year.”
Smith went on to say that he believes this spring will be a failure for Notre Dame football if Gibran Payne does not leave or is not gracefully ejected.
Wojciak agreed that while he doesn't have the same strong opinion of Payne as Smith, he thinks the running back rotation needs to change.
“Given the situation at Notre Dame last year,” the podcast host said. “And what they have this year, I'm with you guys. I think the rotation needs to be shorter.”
The sophomore back had 45 carries for 168 yards and two touchdowns in 2023. It was the best game of the season. Stanford game He had six carries for 35 yards and one touchdown.
We'll have to wait and see if anything changes for the Notre Dame football team and Gibran Payne.
