Notre Dame football update: Latest from Marcus Freeman on Mitchell Evans, Beaux Collins, more

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman met with the media on Thursday afternoon provided an update on Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans discuss Bo Collins and uh some other items we're going to discuss these key parts of the press conference before we do folks please hit the thumbs up on this video subscribe to our blue and gold YouTube channel for more content head over to blueandgold.com for more on the press conference previewing Northern Illinois recruiting content and so much more uh Jack let's first talk about Mitchell Evans not a finished product was the word that Marcus fman used and he didn't mean that as a player although he might agree with that as well but he meant more from his injury um standpoint from his recovery from that ACL that he suffered last year tell us about the ladies with Evans yeah Evans played 10 snaps against I against T&M and I think exclus exclusively on Third and pass situations like the was pretty much a break glass if necessary situation with Mitchell Evans Freeman was asked about that today he said that Evans is progressing he's increasing the amount of practice reps that he's gotten he'll be about two weeks out from being cleared uh for full for full contact and full uh full participation Freeman said it on Monday it was cleared like a week before the A&M game but I so expect to see Evans play a little more than he did against A&M but Freeman really stressed that like the Irish are going to be cautious with Mitchell Evans they know how important he is to their offense and like I I concur like there were a few times Mike you can correct if I'm wrong where I saw the Irish passing attack and I felt like man they could really use the full strength Mitchell Evans right now so they they know they're going to need him they want to bring him along slowly especially in a game like this against NIU that they should be able to Wi to win without him so expect to see a little bit more of him not too much more I would think yeah between him and Faison just like just get those guys ready for for Louisville it's not not that you know Purdue will be a SL next week I do expect Notre name to to win big against Northern Illinois may Ohio Purdue could be an interesting you know road test no Purdue but we'll see get get ready for Louisville get get get those guys ready for Louisville quote greater amount of plays than 10 from Freeman regarding Evans uh you asked about Bo Collins you brought up a really good point that it did just did not click with me I was like I haven't thought about that in a while but was here in the spring but he did not participate in Spring practice so fall Camp was really his start to Notre Dame practices and he played the most of the not only the wide receivers like all the offensive skill possessions as you mentioned yeah and maybe with the healthy Mitchell Evans that wouldn't be the case I would think like Evans really didn't come off the field last year but but I mean still it it's it's significant that Collins I believe played 59 snaps the second highest skill position player was Jaden great house with 48 snaps that's a significant difference and I I asked foran about Collins and he's like Bo Bo's got great work ethic he's durable uh he's got he's got the size to play that many snaps he's got the speed because Notre Dame has so much speed elsewhere like with with Faison even though he's out with Chris Mitchell with with Jaden Harrison with great house like you can play a guy with Bo Collins is not like Bo Collins is not necessarily a burner but you you know what you're getting with him on the boundary and I mean it paid off late in the game and freem Freeman said like bo bo is a competitor he's very even keeled off the field not not even necessarily alfield like on the sidelines with the small exception of the shove in the back of the of the the Texas ANM quarterback and he he admitted he got away with one there I think everyone everyone knows like you know we we've seen un Sportsman like called for less but it's not un Sportsman like if they don't call it so Freeman's like you know he's not okay with losing he's a constant worker uh just a lot of good things being tossed around right now about Bo Collins t let off the gas pedal this week yeah is there was there a discussion today about hey we cannot Overlook Northern Illinois yeah Freeman was asked about you know like how how has the week of practice been like coming off such an intense and emotional win against Texas A&M and no one no one wants to throw around the MW Marshall but like you kind of think about that in the back of your mind right in that like emotional week one game out outcome was different but got a group got a group of five team coming off a seven and six season coming at coming at home Freeman has said like in the past like he took his foot off the gas pedal after Ohio State in 22 uh he was on the pivot podcast with like briyan Clark and chanon Crowder and Fred Taylor he was like yeah my my mindset was like we're gonna beat Marshall it's gonna be my first win obviously didn't happen different approach being taken this time Freeman said that that they had you know some intense physical Tuesday and Wednesday practices Freeman really pulled the coaches together and was like we cannot let off the gas pedal and he let the players know right away that like they're going to double down on their intensity with the home home opener coming up they they know that this NIU team like it's if Notre Dame shows up they're gonna win this game but like if they they sleep walk through the first half like ni N na is good enough to get them or at least make this a closer game than it should be so I I I think some encouraging stuff being said by Freeman again can't pull off the gas Bel stressing that to the coaches and players making it clear that like just because you beat A&M it it it doesn't Define your season yeah that Marshall team of 2022 wasn't some World beater that that Notre Dame did lose to so if you you know yeah fubble here you just don't know so good for Notre Dame and look when Notre Dame hired Marcus Freeman it was you're gonna take some lumps with him and he he's going to learn on the Fly here but you're going to get that uptick and recruiting which I don't care what you guys say the rec recruiting under Marcus Freeman is better than it was under Brian Kelly and I think you can point to Kyle Kelly and I did a show today and uh I'm pull this up from it these are all the guys we think might burn their red shirts five of them were like Nob brainers KVA Bryce young Logan Thomas um Anthony knap and Leonard Moore and then the other five are kind of Fringe guys um Logan Thomas being a surprise because he's playing on special if you're playing against special teams say You're Gonna Play All Year most they could also like what what they did with Jaden Osberry last year they play played him on special teams and like four the fat fat for games and then decided red shirt but but your your point is a good one that like they're gonna get contributions from The Freshman yeah yeah so that that's me on my soap box for a second folks please hit the thumbs up on this video subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content again go to blueandgold.com for much more fighting Irish content that's going to do it for this video appreciate you guys for watching and as always we will catch you next time