Notre Dame Football

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 202

HAND: 9⅜"

ARM: 33"

WINGSPAN: 78⅞"

---

40-YARD DASH: 4.5

3-CONE: 7.12

SHUTTLE: 4.24

VERTICAL: 39.5"

BROAD: 10'10"

---

POSITIVES

— Excellent length and size for cornerback position. Long strider with very good top-end speed to carry receivers downfield.

— Smooth and controlled backpedal. Shows quick footwork to transition when breaking on short or intermediate routes.

— Does well when behind or in recovery. Doesn't panic when out of position and shows good timing to play through the hands.

— Good physicality when tackling receivers. Drives feet and runs through his target.

---

NEGATIVES

— Slower transitions at times. Can play with high pad level, causing separation out of his breaks.

— Bad eyes and tendency to gamble at times can pull him out of position. Doesn't always trust his eyes and becomes hesitant out of breaks.

---

2023 STATISTICS

— 12 G, 21 TOT, 3.0 TFL, 4 PD, 1 FR, 3 FF

---

NOTES

— 32 career starts

— 3-star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— 2021: Second-team All-Independent Team (Phil Steele)

---

OVERALL

Cam Hart is a big corner with ideal length, size and movement skills for the NFL. He's an experienced player with over 30 starts who contributed since his freshman season.

Hart was a versatile contributor throughout his collegiate career. He showed the instincts and understanding to play from zone coverage. When in zone, he does a good job of playing the quarterback's eyes. He is a very opportunistic player and looks to capitalize on tipped and overthrown passes.

When matching receivers, he does a good job of staying square in press coverage, showing his patience to get in phase down the field. He does a good job of sinking his hips and transitioning, but he has trouble at times flipping to run due to his size. He face-guards too long occasionally, but he has also shown the ability to turn and locate the ball.

Throughout his career, Hart did a good job of playing his position in the run game. He isn't an overly physical defender, but he's a willing tackler, although he can struggle with open-field tackling at times. He often throws a shoulder or dives at the legs of ball-carriers.

Although he has good physicality, Hart doesn't put up much of a fight against blockers. He often opts to keep his leverage and not fight much beyond that.

As a bigger cornerback, Hart has great movement skills. He plays with the instincts needed in zone and the short-area quickness desired to play underneath routes. He has the skills to be a contributor early on in his NFL career, with plenty of roles that he can fill into. Hart will go through an adjustment period for the first few years of his NFL career, though.

---

GRADE: 7.1 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 69

POSITION RANK: CB9

PRO COMPARISON: Iman Marshall

---

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

Should the Notre Dame Fighting Irish start Steve Angeli over Duke transfer Riley Leonard in 2024?

Angeli led the Fighting Irish to a 40-8 win over the Oregon State Beavers on Friday in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl in what was a strong performance for the signal-caller who backed up Sam Hartman all year.

With Hartman opting out of the Sun Bowl ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, Angeli completed 15 of 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns in the win, in addition to rushing for 27 yards on three carries.

Wide receiver Jordan Faison was Angeli's top target, catching five passes for 115 yards and one score. Jayden Thomas and Jeremiyah Love also caught touchdown passes and Jadarian Price and Chase Ketterer rushed for scores.

Following Angeli's performance, Notre Dame fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, hyped him up as the program's next starter:

Angeli looks phenomenal, next year could be fun

— John (@jkearney1331) December 29, 2023

Angeli HAS to start somewhere next year

— Mateo Estling (@mateoestling) December 29, 2023

This Angeli dude can PLAY

— Griff⚡️ (@chigriff1) December 29, 2023

https://twitter.com/Tony_Fuller/status/1740845698059288969

Feel like Angeli should have had some more playing time earlier! Trust him more against NAVY!!

— Ti 💸 (@TilerReese) December 29, 2023

Steve Angeli has gotta be QB1 next year, he’s been balling out today

— Aidan Joly (@ByAidanJoly) December 29, 2023

ANGELI IS THE FUTURE pic.twitter.com/lpfoGsmyXM

— Caleb (@OldManCaleb) December 29, 2023

Notre Dame offense looks way better with Angeli at QB

— Blaze Davis (@blazed1492) December 29, 2023

Notre Dame probably should have just started Steve Angeli all year.

— Nick Vipperman (@NickVipperman) December 29, 2023

Steve Angeli and the offense are cooking today! I don’t even wanna see Riley Leonard under center as the starter come next season. #NotreDame

— David (@fivestarsforme) December 29, 2023

I think I've been more impressed with Steve Angeli than I was Miller Moss honestly.

— Nick Martin (@themicknartin) December 29, 2023

Angeli has been great in the zone read. Hartman never kept it, even when the read was there, which was always weird to me.

— Philip G OFD (@Philip__G) December 29, 2023

Angeli has really solidified his future as a starter for ND man I like this kid game fr https://t.co/VDifxpWyUc

— S8N👿 (@the_jc2) December 29, 2023

A lot to be positive about heading into the off season. The biggest question will be with Riley Leonard transferring in is Steve Angeli going to hang around or will he transfer? His stock is 📈 after today’s performance. #GoIrish

— Rockne’s House (@Rockneshouse) December 29, 2023

Given Angeli's performance in the Sun Bowl, it's reasonable to believe he and Leonard, who transferred to Notre Dame from Duke after spending the 2023 season with the Blue Devils, will engage in a quarterback competition ahead of the 2024 season.

However, Angeli could also opt to transfer after the Fighting Irish landed Leonard via the portal.

Only time will tell what the future holds for Notre Dame on offense, and we could get a little more clarity with the team's season having officially come to an end.

After being named a first-team All-American in each of the past two seasons, Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt is going to the NFL.

The 20-year-old announced on Wednesday he will forego his final year of college eligibility to turn pro.

https://twitter.com/JoeAlt7/status/1734951770676252772

Per B/R's NFL scouting department, Alt is the second-ranked offensive tackle and No. 6 overall prospect in the 2024 draft class.

As part of his announcement, Alt also said he would travel with Notre Dame but not play in the Sun Bowl against Oregon State on Dec. 29.

B/R's Brandon Thorn compared Alt to a "bigger/stronger" version of Atlanta Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews:

"Overall, Alt is a special prospect due to his size, athletic ability and polish for a player who will be only 21 years old throughout the duration of his rookie season. While he isn't the most powerful blocker and will concede some initial ground in his anchor, Alt has virtually every other tool and skill to become an immediate impact starter at left tackle with the runway to continue ascending and cement his status as a foundational piece of a roster."

Alt was a member of the 2021 recruiting class for the Fighting Irish. He was a 4-star prospect coming out of Totino-Grace High School in Minneapolis.

As a true freshman, Alt played at both tight end and offensive tackle. He appeared in all 13 games and has made 33 consecutive starts over the past three seasons.

ESPN's Matt Miller had the New York Jets using the No. 9 overall pick in his mock draft posted on Tuesday.

Given how many issues the Jets have had in both run blocking and pass protection this season, it certainly wouldn't be a surprise to see them target an offensive lineman early in the draft.

As the pre-draft process kicks into gear next month, Alt could see his stock increase given the value of being a left tackle and the lack of high-ceiling talent at the position behind him and Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu at the top of the class.

Former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard announced Tuesday that he has committed to transfer to Notre Dame and play for the Fighting Irish next season.

Leonard made it official with the following video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, referring to playing for ND as a "dream come true."

A dream come true. Go Irish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/2Ft09Ho4uj

— Riley Leonard (@rileyleonard13_) December 12, 2023

After playing three seasons at Duke, Leonard entered the transfer portal last month and immediately became one of the top quarterbacks available.

Leonard became the Blue Devils' starting quarterback as a sophomore in 2022, and he went on to complete 63.8 percent of his passes for 2,967 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions, while also rushing for 699 yards and 13 scores.

With Leonard at the helm, Duke went 9-4 and beat UCF in the Military Bowl, and Leonard earned game MVP honors.

A toe injury limited Leonard to just seven games this season, and it adversely impacted his effectiveness, as he completed just 57.6 percent of his passing attempts for 1,102 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions, along with rushing for 352 yards and four touchdowns.

This marks the second consecutive year in which the Irish have landed a big-name transfer at quarterback.

Last year, Notre Dame secured Sam Hartman, who starred for five seasons at Wake Forest, setting the career ACC record with 110 touchdown passes.

As a sixth-year senior, Hartman completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 2,689 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season, and the Fighting Irish went 9-3.

Since Hartman no longer has any college eligibility remaining, Leonard is in line to be Notre Dame's starter in 2024.

The Irish have won at least nine games in each of the past seven seasons, and with Leonard in the fold, they could be threats to return to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020.

The College Football Playoff selection committee's decision to snub Florida State in favor of Alabama had far-reaching implications for the rest of the postseason bowl games.

Especially the Sun Bowl.

According to Stewart Mandel of The Athletic, a variety of rearranged bowl matchups meant that Notre Dame was eligible to be selected by the Duke's Mayo Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl and Sun Bowl, and all three picked the No. 16 Fighting Irish as its top selection.

Per that report "the ACC then followed its prescribed process, leading to... its attorney writing each bowl's name on a piece of paper and drawing it out of a hat," with the Sun Bowl getting picked. That set up a highly anticipated matchup between Notre Dame and Oregon State.

Notre Dame to the Sun Bowl!

Oregon State fans finally get something to be excited about this month.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 3, 2023

Here's a general idea of how Florida State's snub altered the entire bowl landscape, as reported by Mandel:

Louisville was expected to be the Orange Bowl selection, but the Seminoles instead got that berth, setting up a very intriguing matchup with Georgia. The lack of a second ACC team in the New Year's Six meant that Ole Miss slid into the Peach Bowl against Penn State.

The Duke's Mayo Bowl, meanwhile, is an SEC-affiliated bowl but now had no eligible team. It instead negotiated to get West Virginia and eventually North Carolina to face them.

Then there were the complications facing the Gator Bowl, Holiday Bowl and Pop-Tarts, which in theory would have each had its pick of top ACC schools, out of Louisville, Notre Dame, Clemson, North Carolina and NC State. ACC rules stipulated that Louisville and NC State had to be two of the teams picked, while the bowls reportedly were told by the ACC that the Fighting Irish weren't available.

Per Mandel, an ACC official noted that Notre Dame was "eligible for selection, but under the selection guidelines, their selection by one of those bowls was not guaranteed."

One thing it did do on Sunday was cause major delays in actually announcing the bowl lineups:

First Florida State gets snubbed from playoff, now ACC bowls in a holding pattern as bowls are battling over Notre Dame, NC State, Louisville, Clemson, North Carolina, Miami & Virginia Tech, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 3, 2023

Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas gives an update. Confirms they’re waiting on ACC, which is in flux after Florida State got snubbed. Confirms Oregon State is in from Pac 12 pic.twitter.com/MqtYiURSsp

— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaver_) December 3, 2023

After a series of complicated negotiations and maneuvering—NC State had played the Holiday Bowl in 2021 so it wasn't eligible to return, while Kentucky was already in the Gator Bowl, ruling out a rematch with Louisville—Clemson ended up in the Gator Bowl, NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl and Louisville in the Holiday Bowl.

"(FSU's snub) was unfortunate for college football," Holiday Bowl executive director Mark Neville told Mandel, "but for us, it worked out that we got the No. 15 team in the country coming out here."

It all set the stage for Notre Dame's name to come out of the hat for the Sun Bowl.

"It was kind of a shocker when we finally got the call," Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas told El Paso's KTSM (h/t Nick Bromberg of Yahoo Sports).

He added that he and the Sun Bowl football committee "gasped" when he learned that Notre Dame was one of the schools available in the pool to be selected. It was a good day for the Sun Bowl, but a very weird day for college football in general.

Four-star cornerback Ivan Taylor committed to head coach Marcus Freeman's program on Friday, becoming the highest-ranked recruit in Notre Dame's 2025 class (per ESPN's Blake Baumgartner).

Taylor is the son of former NFL cornerback Ike Taylor, who won two Super Bowls throughout his 12 seasons as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The younger Taylor previously looked at Alabama, Florida State, Florida and Miami before deciding to become a member of the Fighting Irish.

In 2022, he recorded 65 tackles and three interceptions while breaking up eight passes as a sophomore for West Orange High School in Florida. He also ran track at the prep level and reportedly owns a time of 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, per 247Sports.

His agility and speed combined with his sound tackling mechanics make him an intriguing prospect. Taylor has the versatility to play across the secondary, having experience at both cornerback and safety.

While he's made a concerted effort to build his own legacy outside of his father's shadow, telling ESPN that "I'm my own player" in July, he's still taken advice from his dad in regards to the preparation that NFL players typically go through.

"Humble and work hard, I would say is what he's taught me the best," Taylor said, via Baumgartner. "... I'm embracing [the Taylor name] very much. My dad has taught me what he was being taught in the NFL. So I feel like I'm already ahead of the game because he's teaching me what NFL coaches and what it's been like and what you have to go through and how the whole thing is."

Freeman will be hoping that the young defensive back will help fortify a strong defensive unit in the future. Notre Dame allowed just 16.58 points per game this season, the ninth-best mark in the country.

Quarterback Riley Leonard kicked off transfer portal season with a bang on Wednesday, announcing his intention to leave Duke.

#Duke QB Riley Leonard enters the transfer portal with possibly one of the best transfer announcement posts I’ve ever read.

Incredibly well written and well done. pic.twitter.com/rcfoH2m5Yk

— Jordan Crammer (@JordanCrammer) November 29, 2023

After throwing for 2,967 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions last year, big things were tapped for Leonard in 2023. A left toe injury thwarted those plans, though when healthy he still threw for 1,102 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

So where will the intriguing quarterback transfer potentially end up? Let's break it down.

---

Notre Dame

The overwhelming favorite is Notre Dame. Just ask social media:

Duke QB Riley Leonard set to enter the transfer portal. Notre Dame a likely destination. pic.twitter.com/pAiFDd61FB

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 29, 2023

Sources: Expect Notre Dame to target Duke QB Riley Leonard. He just entered the NCAA transfer portal

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 29, 2023

Notre Dame is the school to watch for Duke QB Riley Leonard, sources tell @max_olson and @PeteSampson_.

Looks like the Irish may have Sam Hartman's successor locked in soon.

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 29, 2023

Riley Leonard? More like riley leoNarD.

— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) November 29, 2023

It would make sense. Notre Dame will be losing senior quarterback Sam Hartman, who himself was a transfer ahead of this past season after spending his first five seasons for Wake Forest.

Leonard, meanwhile, would have the chance to increase his profile at a major program like Notre Dame. He was getting first-round draft buzz before the season, and another year of good tape—especially against the teams on Notre Dame's schedule—would seriously bolster his stock. This is a destination that makes a lot of sense.

---

Auburn

Another school that has gotten some buzz after Leonard's announcement was Auburn:

Notre Dame and Auburn will be destinations to watch for Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, sources tell @On3sports.

The Fighting Irish want to add a quarterback. An Alabama native, playing in the SEC would be attractive. An official timetable has not been set yet by Leonard’s camp,… pic.twitter.com/CbqivchrWx

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) November 29, 2023

https://twitter.com/brianjstultz/status/1729977237397512389

The Tigers need an upgrade at quarterback in the worst way after a season that saw them rank 125th in the nation in passing yards per game (157.1). It's incredibly difficult to survive the SEC gauntlet and make noise in the College Football Playoff without at least average quarterback play.

The Tigers didn't have that this season. They'll need it next year if they hope to bounce back from a disappointing 6-6 campaign. Leonard would be a huge upgrade.

---

Texas A&M

This is more conjecture, but the Aggies make sense for two main reasons—one, Leonard's head coach at Duke, Mike Elko, is taking over at Texas A&M. That familiarity, alongside the chance to prove himself against SEC competition, could be appealing for Leonard.

And two, Texas A&M probably will have a hefty NIL budget to support the new head coach:

I ultimately think he goes to the highest bidder — Notre Dame, Texas A&M, etc. — but man this is a super interesting one to watch. https://t.co/6Bcr0LoE6m

— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) November 29, 2023

The reason this wouldn't come to fruition is that Conner Weigman (979 yards, eight touchdowns, two picks) was playing well before a season-ending foot injury suffered back in late September.

The Aggies may already have their answer at quarterback, in other words, and adding a player like Leonard would be one less season for Weigman on the field. That could force the intriguing sophomore to consider if he would be better off transferring himself.

Consider Texas A&M more of a long shot than either Notre Dame or Auburn for that reason.

HEIGHT: 6'9"

WEIGHT: 321

HAND: 10"

ARM: 34¼"

WINGSPAN: 82¾"

---

40-YARD DASH: 5.05

3-CONE: 7.31

SHUTTLE: 4.51

VERTICAL: 28"

BROAD: 9'4"

---

POSITIVES

— Tall and long frame with a lean, well-proportioned build.

— Excellent athletic ability, balance and body control.

— Plays with a special blend of pad level, weight distribution, hand placement and footwork to routinely out-leverage defenders and sustain blocks.

— Extremely light on his feet in pass-protection.

— Able to protect the corner against speed and inside against counters with equal effectiveness.

— Plays long while maintaining a flat back with his head out of the block to establish first meaningful contact on pass-rushers, using potent, independent hands to disrupt their timing and keep them at his fingertips.

— Handles basic line games, stunts and twists with ease using clear eyes, proper depth, timing and spacing with his guard.

— Advanced, sticky run-blocker who is consistently on time and in proper position to win the block and execute his assignment regardless of scheme or level of the defense.

— Top-notch competitive toughness with consistent effort to finish blocks at a high level.

---

NEGATIVES

— Will concede ground initially against the bull rush before transitioning into his anchor, resulting in the pocket being compressed, especially against an effective long-arm technique.

— Below-average jolt and power on contact.

---

2023 STATISTICS

— Team captain

— 12 starts at left tackle

---

NOTES

— Born Feb. 28, 2003

— 4-star recruit from 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Played tight end and defensive end as well as basketball. Alt didn't make the transition to the offensive line until he arrived at Notre Dame. He gained over 70 pounds between his junior year of high school and when he arrived on campus in 2021.

— Alt grew up playing quarterback before making the transition to tight end in high school.

— Joe's father, John Alt, was a 13-year starter and two-time Pro Bowler at left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs and was inducted into the franchise's Hall of Fame in 2002. Joe's older brother, Mark, has played professional hockey since 2013 and currently is under contract with a pro team in Germany.

— 2022 first-team AP All-American

— 33 career starts, with 32 of them at LT and one at RG

---

OVERALL

Joe Alt is a three-year starter inside Notre Dame's 55-45 run-pass split, zone-based offense with 33 consecutive starts along the offensive line (all but one at left tackle).

Alt's father started Joe out at quarterback to broaden his understanding of the game before he moved to tight end in high school and eventually to left tackle at Notre Dame. Alt has a tall, towering frame with a well-proportioned, lean build, ideal arm length and excellent athletic ability.

Alt wins as a pass-protector with light, coordinated feet and even weight distribution to reach his landmarks balanced, under control and on time. He maximizes his length and plays long with a flat back and head out of the block, keeping defenders at his fingertips with light, effective independent strikes, allowing him to protect the corner and fluidly redirect against inside moves.

Alt handles basic line games, stunts and twist with ease using clear eyes, proper depth, timing and spacing with his guard, and he provides physical, assertive and timely help when uncovered. He will initially concede ground against the bull rush before transitioning into his anchor, resulting in the pocket being compressed, especially against an effective long-arm technique.

Alt is not the most powerful run-blocker, but he more than makes up for it with pristine technique on and through contact with excellent pad level, balance and body control to steer, sustain and finish blocks consistently. This shows up on both the front and back side of Notre Dame's inside/outside zone and pin-pull concepts, from the first to the second level of a defense.

Overall, Alt is a special prospect due to his size, athletic ability and polish for a player who will be only 21 years old throughout the duration of his rookie season. While he isn't the most powerful blocker and will concede some initial ground in his anchor, Alt has virtually every other tool and skill to become an immediate impact starter at left tackle with the runway to continue ascending and cement his status as a foundational piece of a roster.

---

GRADE: 9.1 (Top-10 Player — Round 1)

OVERALL RANK: 5

POSITION RANK: OT1

PRO COMPARISON: Bigger/Stronger Jake Matthews

---

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson thought Notre Dame went a bit over the top when it came to honoring graduate transfer Sam Hartman.

Hartman was on the Demon Deacons for five seasons before deciding to spend his final year of college eligibility with the Fighting Irish.

Clawson quipped that Notre Dame "only dated" the quarterback compared to how long he was in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

"[Notre Dame] bought him and rented him for a year, and now they love him?" the coach said to reporters. "This is where college football is."

Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson was critical of Notre Dame's love for Sam Hartman on Senior night👀

"Here’s a guy that we recruited, and we developed. You know, they’re putting a video on him saying, ‘We will always love you.’

Like, you only dated him for a couple of… pic.twitter.com/rMVHVGsaMm

— On3 (@On3sports) November 22, 2023

Clawson got a firsthand look at how Notre Dame honored Hartman on senior day. The Fighting Irish routed Wake Forest 45-7 in its final home game.

Maybe some of the adulation toward Hartman was a bit excessive, but he has made a big impact on the field in his one year. He also assumed a leadership role inside the locker room.

Notre Dame Stadium video board shows Sam Hartman as Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" plays over the speakers. Hartman gives a thumbs up.

— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) November 18, 2023

Clawson made sure to say he didn't have any lingering bitterness toward Hartman for leaving Wake Forest.

"Sam and I had a great discussion before the game and after the game, and I love the young man," he said. "I really do. I don't blame him at all for what he did. That's the system now. For him to have the opportunity to have that experience, and make that type of money in one year, who can fault him?"

Clawson is correct in that this is the new normal in college athletics thanks to the one-time transfer rule. Even before that, players such as Hartman were free to play elsewhere for their last season after obtaining a degree.

It's probably only a matter of time before Clawson looks to the transfer portal to find an immediate solution at quarterback, at which time his comments will be thrown back at him.