Notre Dame found itself in a tough spot last October when Ashton Craig went down with a second collegiate season-ending knee injury. Suddenly, the Irish were without their starting center for a massive showdown with No. 16 USC, and Joe Otting was thrust into the lineup for the first start of his career.
The pressure was immediate. So was the response.
On Notre Dame’s second offensive play, Otting helped spring Jeremiyah Love on a 63-yard run with a key block. Two plays later, Love was in the end zone, and the Irish had a game-tying touchdown. From there, Notre Dame leaned on the ground game all night, piling up 306 rushing yards in the freezing rain and finishing off a 34-24 win in the final scheduled meeting with its biggest rival.
Afterward, Otting drew praise from his teammates for the way he handled the moment.
"He did well. Didn't blink an eye," Notre Dame captain Billy Schrauth said.
"That's kind of his personality. He's kind of a cool cat.
Does the right things."
That outing turned into the start of a bigger role. Otting went on to start the final six games of the season, and Notre Dame averaged a 29.7-point margin of victory in those contests.
At 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, Otting has only strengthened his case since then. He worked with the first team throughout spring practice and has continued to stand out because of his agility and reliability.
"He's really a great athlete," offensive line coach Joe Rudolph said of Otting. "We knew that coming out of high school.
He's a multi-sport athlete. He's got great balance.
And you know what? He's smart as heck.
He's a very efficient communicator in there. Guys trust him.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Legacy Family Just Sent Marcus Freeman A Powerful Message
Marcus Freemans staying power at Notre Dame has become its own story as the buzz around him has grown, and one familiar Irish voice recently offered a reminder of why that matters. On a podcast, former Notre Dame and NFL running back Julius Jones said Freemans work with young players and college students stands out in a way that made him comfortable with his sons choosing the Irish, a nod to the developmental pull Freeman has built in South Bend.
Jones also touched on the kind of chatter that follows a coach with Freemans profile, including the negative recruiting that comes with rumors about bigger jobs and NFL possibilities. For Notre Dame, the message from a legacy family carried extra weight: Freeman is not just winning games and headlines, but making enough of an impression on families that they believe in what he is building long term. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Just Got Shut Out Of A QB Race That Mattered
Notre Dame already has its 2028 quarterback commitment in Trey Tagliaferri, but the Fighting Irish took a hit in another high-profile QB pursuit when Kingston Preyear trimmed his list and moved on from South Bend. Preyear is one of the more coveted passers in the class, and his recruitment had been one worth watching for Notre Dame as it tried to stay in the mix with the nations top programs.
Preyear is now down to Alabama, Florida and Vanderbilt, with a decision expected on July 10. Even with Tagliaferri on board, missing out here serves as a reminder that the Irish will keep running into heavy competition for elite quarterback talent, especially when a prospect has the kind of profile that draws national attention early in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Has One Massive Question Around Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa gave Notre Dame exactly the kind of sophomore jump the defense needed, turning himself into one of the more reliable playmakers on the field while showing real growth in both range and recognition. His season was built on impact plays all over the front and second level, the kind of production that made it easy to see why the Irish view him as such a central piece moving forward.
The bigger question now is less about what he can be than how quickly he gets back to that level after the knee injury that interrupted his year. Notre Dames defense is built around players like Viliamu-Asa who can process things fast and finish plays, and if hes fully right again, his next step could be the one that defines both the Irish defense and his long-term ceiling. [Read more 🡒]