Let's be honest, Irish fans. We've been waiting for a preseason like this for what feels like a decade. The hype train isn't just leaving the station; it's doing donuts in the parking lot. With the final major watch list dropping this morning, the numbers are officially absurd. Notre Dame is absolutely plastered all over the national preseason awards circuit, tied for the second-most total players (14) on major lists with only Ohio State ahead of them. This isn't just a pat on the back; it's a warning shot to the rest of the country. The talent in South Bend isn't just deep - it's elite, and the folks who vote on these things are finally taking notice.
| List | Players Named | Date Announced |
|---|---|---|
| Walter Camp POY | C.J. Carr, Adon Shuler | Aug. 5 |
| Davey O'Brien | C.J. Carr | Aug. 7 |
| Bednarik | Drayk Bowen, Howard Cross III | Aug. 8 |
| John Mackey | Eli Raridon | Aug. 9 |
| Outland Trophy | Billy Schrauth, Howard Cross III | Aug. 10 |
That's 14 names spread across the sport's most prestigious individual honors, and there's still room for more when the Lombardi and Thorpe lists drop later this month. Ohio State might have the overall lead, but here's the kicker: Notre Dame leads every independent school by a mile - UConn is next with just 3 players. This roster isn't just competing; it's dominating the conversation before a single snap is played.
The General on Offense: C.J. Carr is Collecting Hardware Before the Season Starts
If you're looking for the face of this movement, look no further than the quarterback under center. C.J. Carr is having a historic preseason, and the accolades are stacking up like cordwood. He was named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year list on August 5th, and just two days later, he snagged a spot on the Davey O'Brien Award list. The reasoning is simple: he's coming off a massive 2025 campaign where he threw for 3,412 yards and 29 touchdowns. But the stat that should absolutely terrify opposing defenses? He's one of only two returning Power Four quarterbacks with over 3,000 passing yards and a 68% completion rate.
📊 3,412 yards and 29 TDs in 2025 - C.J. Carr is one of only two returning Power Four QBs with those numbers and a 68% completion rate.
This isn't just "good"; this is "Heisman Trophy finalist" territory. In fact, his odds are currently sitting at +1400 on DraftKings, which means the market is starting to respect the buzz. He's the triggerman for the No. 4-ranked team in the country, and with that kind of efficiency, he's going to have a realistic shot at every single QB award by the time December rolls around.
But Carr isn't flying solo in the backfield chatter. Safety Adon Shuler also made the Walter Camp list, and frankly, it's well deserved. Shuler posted 74 tackles and 4 interceptions in 2025, and he's the last line of defense for a secondary that's primed to wreak havoc. When your quarterback is slinging it and your safety is erasing mistakes on the back end, that's a recipe for a special season.
The schedule sets up perfectly for Carr to pad those numbers, too. The Irish open against Miami on September 5th at Hard Rock Stadium - a prime-time ABC showcase where the whole country will be watching. Then it's a manageable stretch before the gauntlet of USC at home on October 17th. If Carr performs in those marquee moments, that Heisman chatter is going to get deafening.
The Brick Wall Brigade: Bowen, Cross, and the Bednarik Bite
On the other side of the ball, the Irish are just as ferocious. The Bednarik Award list (given to the best defensive player in the nation) reads like a Notre Dame depth chart. Linebacker Drayk Bowen and defensive tackle Howard Cross III both got the nod on August 8th, and they are the heart and soul of this Al Golden defense. Bowen is a tackling machine after racking up 98 stops in 2025, while Cross is a nightmare in the backfield with 8.5 sacks.
