Welcome back to Irish Illustrated Insider. I'm Tim O'Malley, joined today by Tim Priester of Irish

Illustrated, John Bryce of Football Scoop and Irish Illustrated. And Tim Priester, we are one day removed from

Notre Dame's first spring practice of 2025. So after your chance to view dynamic stretching,

I was wondering if you are closer or further away from thinking Notre Dame will return to the national championship game to take on Ohio State.

Do I have to have a definitive answer to that?

There is no nuance because they're either closer or further no matter what at some point.

Well, that's true. I don't have an opinion about that. I mean, you know, yesterday was a body count.

And, you know, like you, we spent a majority of the time looking at the, what was it, six of the eight grad transfers are here.

And then 13 incoming freshmen. We're up on the pert, so it's hard to see. J.B. may have had a better view than, than I did, but, you know, I mean, just checking out

the new coaches, you just want to get an idea. Like, for me, it's always physical maturity,

and you can, there's clearly a difference when you see a Devante Smith, you know, running

around out there, Jared Dawkins, stuff like that.

So, you know, I don't want to, I don't want to come to too many conclusions based upon a snapshot of, of observation.

But I tell you one kid, Cree Thomas was a kid that jumped out at me right away.

Just just change the direction and quickness.

We're going to talk about all those guys.

That's good because I didn't see.

He's one of the guys I didn't see.

So in my report, that's good to know.

Now, that was that that was.

And again, it's just based upon like one or two reps and just, you know,

move out of the back pedal.

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