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We've hit the point in the offseason where, once again, we find ourselves talking about the potential of the Notre Dame wide receiver unit. In recent seasons, we've fielded conversations around the talent at wide out for the Irish and the impact they could have on the ensuing season. We're once again having that conversation, but unlike other seasons, we saw things throughout the spring that add validity to this being the season we see a breakout year from the Fighting Irish pass catchers. 

Major outlets like Athlon Sports have released their Top 10 position unit rankings for the season, and sitting at No. 9 in the country is the Notre Dame receiving corps behind other premier schools like Ohio State, Texas, Miami and Oregon. This is, by far, the deepest receiving room in the Marcus Freeman tenure, and it's not overly close when you look at the talent in the room from top to bottom. 

Freeman returns 2025 leading receiver Jordan Faison who racked up 49 receptions, 640 receiving yards, averaged 13.1 yards per catch and hauled in four touchdowns last season. He, along with fellow 2023 recruit Jaden Greathouse return to anchor this talented wide receiving corps. 

Greathouse has his breakout in the 2024 College Football Playoff Semi-Finals and National Championship game. The 6-1, 215-pound Texas native recorded seven receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown against Penn State in the Orange Bowl and six catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns in the title game against Ohio State. Notre Dame is the only team in the country that returns a wide receiver who's recorded two 100-yard performances in a CFP game. 

Added to the mix are Ohio State transfers Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter. Porter is expected to be the heir-apparent in the boundary to Malachi Fields while Graham will be in the rotation with Greathouse in the slot or Faison to the field. Both players were highly touted recruits coming out of high school and gained valuable learning experiences in Columbus with the Buckeyes. Now, their attention turns to the Fighting Irish where both players look to breakout. 

This room is also loaded with young, unproven talent. But if it hits, this receiving corps will vault its way up this ranking. Rising redshirt sophomores Cam Williams and Micah Gilbert are two players to watch for breakouts this season. Williams is coming off of his best spring session in college while Gilbert remained healthy during the spring. Both players will have to build on that throughout the summer and into fall camp.  Other players like redshirt freshman Elijah Burress and true freshman Devin Fitzgerald and Bubba Frazier also put their skillsets on full display routinely throughout the spring. 

There's still an element of 'we have to see it' from this group, I'll be the first to admit that. But one thing this room has that other previous units haven't had is a margin for error. There's so much talent and potential in this room that the Irish aren't in a position where if one player doesn't work out, the season gets significantly more difficult. As of today, I'd argue they're a Top 10 unit, but at seasons end, they could be one of the best units in the country. 

Athlon Sports Top 10 WR Units 

1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Texas Longhorns
3. Miami Hurricanes
4. Oregon Ducks
5. Indiana Hoosiers
6. Clemson Tigers
7. Texas A&M Aggies
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
10. Florida Gators

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