Notre Dame got the receiver help it was looking for against Navy, and Jerome Bettis Jr. made sure the Irish noticed.
With the wideout rotation already a point of emphasis for the coaching staff, the game started out like it might go the other way. Then Micah Gilbert left with an apparent injury, Bettis stepped in, and the whole passing picture changed. The junior receiver turned in the best outing of his career, finishing with six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown to lead the 7-1 Irish in every receiving category.
Before Saturday, Bettis had just four receptions for 92 yards on the season. Against Navy, he matched and then passed that production in one game, setting career highs in catches, yards and touchdowns. It was his first trip to the end zone as a college player.
Marcus Freeman said Bettis earned the chance.
“I thought he really did a good job of taking advantage of his opportunities,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said of Bettis. “Thought he had a really good week of practice, he’s had good weeks of practice. And as we talked about as a staff, if there's opportunities to be intentional about trying to get guys in the game that can help us, then we're gonna do it.”
The highlight came on the opening play of the fourth quarter. CJ Carr looked left, Bettis sold a simple curl route, then got his cornerback to jump the double move. From there, he spun through a 360-degree twirl and sprinted down the left sideline, with four yards of space before gliding into the end zone untouched.
Carr was just as complimentary after the game.
“He’s continued to grow and he’s a guy that’s super consistent for us,” Carr said. “He plays in that boundary spot, is willing to go in and block, and he does that well.
And then he’s super consistent in the pass game, he’s going to make contested catches for you. So, super excited to see him get in the end zone today, and he did a great job for us.”
After that performance, Bettis has clearly pushed his way into the conversation for a bigger role. Whether that carries into the Miami game is a question to watch closely on November 7.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Suddenly Has A Serious Drayk Bowen Concern Before Miami
Notre Dame is already juggling a few health questions coming out of the Navy game, and the biggest one may be at linebacker. Drayk Bowen suffered a lower right leg injury during the matchup, and with Miami next on the schedule, his availability is now uncertain at a spot where the Irish can least afford another setback.
Marcus Freeman also had to address the status of several other injured players, including Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Leonard Moore, Cooper Flanagan and Micah Gilbert, after a game in which Notre Dame leaned on substitutions and limited some players' workloads to get through it. The next few days should tell the story on Bowen, but for now it leaves one of the defense's key pieces very much in question heading into a major test. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Early Navy Gamble Is Raising Questions Fast
Chris Ashs early-game choices against Navy stood out right away, and not just because Notre Dame was trying to settle in on defense. The Irish mixed in reserve players early, including starting Christian Gray at cornerback and getting backup linebacker Anthony Rezac on the field on the opening drive, as the unit tried to sort out Navys option looks and keep the game under control.
Instead, Navy put together its longest offensive drive of the season during that stretch, and the Midshipmen briefly led 3-0 before Notre Dame answered to go ahead 7-3. The sequence has already put a spotlight on the defensive playcalling and the decision to lean on reserves so early, leaving plenty of room for questions about how much of the opening trouble was execution and how much was design. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Freeman Just Put Notre Dames Defensive Leadership Under Pressure
Marcus Freeman did not hide his frustration at halftime of Notre Dames game against Navy, and his comments cut straight to the heart of the defenses issues. He said the unit was being asked to run plays it did not know, a sign that the problems were not just about effort or physicality but about execution and communication in a game that demanded both.
Freeman also stressed that the defense had to play physically and stay away from panic, a message that carries extra weight when a head coach is openly questioning how the calls are being handled. The Irish were sharper after the break, but the halftime critique only adds pressure on defensive coordinator Chris Ash and leaves Notre Dames defensive leadership under a brighter spotlight moving forward. [Read more 🡒]