First and Gold Podcast

Game is reminding me of Corey Robinson but little shorter, more filled out.

Notre Dame has never had the amount of weapons they have now. It’s been trending this way for 5 years. The rest of the country isn’t ready. Truly they aren’t.

@jamelljohnson_ Respectfully disagree. I don’t think it will take long for you to be pleasantly surprised by what those position groups are capable of. I’ve never been more confident in a roster.

@FirstandGoldPod And TE

So the board is set. Onye is back and now we can officially say the following: - Best safety room. - Best DB room. - one of, if not THE best LB rooms. - one of, if not THE best D-lines. - Pre-season Heisman front runner at QB. - Top 5 WR room. CAN be the best in the country when it’s said and done. - Potentially best RB room. - Entire o-line retained, CAN be the best in the country. - TE room CAN be the best in the country. - Incoming 2026 class gives these statements even more juice. Chip on Shoulder. Belt to ass. Trophy hoisted. Statue built. No doubt left. 2026 is gonna be one for the books. It’s time.

This is all projection by me, for sure. This is what I strongly think these groups are capable of in terms of ceiling, and how attainable said ceilings are. No doubt, the proven production isn’t there for every position. But you look at the roster and the way it was put together….i don’t think the staff cared about that as much as they have in the past. Like me, they are projecting what these players can become. I personally LOVE that strategy because it marries what the staff has done so well in HS recruiting, but doing it in the portal.

@pokoneill @FirstandGoldPod I agree with you, but you can’t consider anything a “top X” group when they haven’t done much on the field

@CFBGuy999 I know this isn’t a hot take given the ratings above. But I firmly believe Premer will be the best TE ND has ever had.

Top 10 Notre Dame Tight End Recruits by Rating (On3) Since 2010 🍀 Ian Premer - 2026 - 96.49 Michael Mayer - 2020 - 96.40 Brock Wright - 2017 - 95.01 Alize Mack - 2015 - 94.83 Cole Kmet- 2017 - 94.27 Ben Koyak - 2011 - 94.06 James Flanigan- 2025 - 93.46 Eli Raridon - 2022 - 93.41 Nic Weishar - 2014 - 91.67 Mike Heuerman - 2013 - 91.18 Who was your favorite?

One of those things you read but can’t fully comprehend. Incredible potential for the 2026 Irish. You all should be VERY excited.

@CFBGuy999 On roster currently- Micah Gilbert Portal- Graham New Comers- Kaydon Finley

Notre Dame Wide Receiver Room: Micah Gilbert - 6’2/201 Cam Williams - 6’2/198 Jaden Greathouse - 6’1/212 Jerome Bettis Jr - 6’1/208 Logan Saldate - 6’0/189 Elijah Burress - 6’0/184 Jordan Faison - 5’10/183 Portal: Quincy Porter - 6’4/210 Mylan Graham - 6’1/195 New comers: Devin Fitzgerald - 6’2/185 - 4⭐️ Kaydon Finley - 6’0/200 - 4⭐️ Dylan Faison - 5’11/170 - 3⭐️ Bubba Frazier - 5’10/165 - 4⭐️ Brayden Robinson - 5’8/160 - 4⭐️ Who is your personal favorite? #GoIrish 🍀

@JohnMassingale4 Truly worked out for the best

So glad we missed on some of our initial targets. Everyone we ended up getting is better. Porter/Graham >>Marsh/Strong/Townsed Brewu/Gray >>Mateen/Gilliam

The process to get to where this portal class landed probably wasn’t what ND’s staff would’ve drawn up. But how the pivoted and attacked after is emblematic of the Freeman era. It hit all the notes. - Impact ✅ - Upside ✅ - Multiple years of eligibility ✅ - All Needle Moving prospects ✅ This is how ND wins in the portal. They are now officially positioned to leave no doubt in 2026.

The case could be made now. ND might just have the best d-line in the country for 2026.

@CFBGuy999 Might consider Gray at nickel. Or move him to boundary vs field. Depending on size/how he fills out..young at DT would be fun.

Projected 2026 Starting Defense 🍀 DE: Boubacar Traore DT: Francis Brewu DT: Armel Mukam DE: Bryce Young LB: Jaylen Sneed LB: Drake Bowen Nickel: Golden CB: Leonard Moore S: Adon Shuler Field: Tae Johnson CB: Gray/Sanders/McKinney What would you change? 👇

All eyes on Tionne Gray now. That would seal the best portal class In the country. Get Onye back? Oh MY. Plenty to be excited about.

This account has admittedly been very quiet throughout the transfer portal and it’s not for lack of desire to cover it. This silence has been deliberate. With that, if you’re following us, it’s important to note- This account will normally be last to report on most things. For starters, I don’t have sources (yet). But more than anything, I am of the belief that it’s important to let things play out. Because in the world of CFB, ESPECIALLY in the portal, things can change immediately. By the very nature of how ND handles information, it was always going to be crickets on their end. Not saying I agree with that strategy, but that’s how they do it. The entire time this app/fanbase was in full panic mode, I was very well aware that things were being worked on and there was no such panic in the Gug. There were some missteps, sure. But ultimately, so long as ND gets Francis Brewu, potentially another interior DL, and a Kicker, this portal class is one in a massive fan of. So long as ND retains much of its firepower on offense and defense, this roster will be upgraded going into 2026.

@JohnMassingale4 Totally agree. Can’t think of a better player to showcase what partridge can do than Mukem. The talent is there.

This is important for ND’s DL room. Armel should be part of the rotation this year. At 6’3 305 he’s got the prototypical stature for an interior DL. I’m excited to see what Chris Partridge can do with Armel.

Of the Dante Moore, Peyton Bowen, Keon Keeley sagas- nothing hurt me more than seeing Keon go to bama. So happy to see him coming back to The Bend. Gonna have a great resurgence, and I can’t wait to watch it.

Let’s just say this is the most wrestling dad thing ever and makes me respect freeman even more. Hope more details come out cause I can picture this situation….Al Smith Invitational gets intense.

What I love most is how clear ND’s operation was in having a plan the entire time. That’s a program that is looking to leave no doubt next season. But beyond that, this is an A+ hire. Fit, recruiting history, and overall body of work. Phenomenal move.