During this Saturday’s game against Syracuse, the Notre Dame football team will recognize 33 of its players for Senior Day. Many of the seniors have led the program through the beginning of the Marcus Freeman era, playing a role in the run to last season’s National Championship game. Additionally, a number of transfers have stepped in to enhance Notre Dame as their college careers wind down.
As we look forward to Saturday’s celebration, let’s take a look back at the best moments offered up by the seniors of Notre Dame football.
Botelho scores in first collegiate game
Some seniors have been around for longer than others. For defensive end Jordan Botelho, this is year number six in South Bend. The Honolulu native made quite the splash to start his first, suiting up against South Florida in game two of the shortened 2020 season. Late in that game, a 52-0 Irish win, Botelho found himself in the right place at the right time on special teams, scooping up a punt blocked by Osita Ekwonu. He ran it the other direction for a touchdown, making a lasting memory in his Notre Dame debut.
Heading into Saturday, Botelho has played 51 games across six seasons, fighting through injuries to get on the field during the last two years. In 2023, his best campaign, he made 12 starts and totaled 32 tackles along with four sacks.
Buchner returns from injury, leads Gator Bowl victory
The beginning of Tyler Buchner’s time as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback wasn’t pretty. After spending 2021 as a change-of-pace rushing option off the bench, he took the reins as a top prospect in 2022. As expected, he didn’t do much in a tough opening assignment at Ohio State. The following week, however, Notre Dame’s offense sputtered to a loss against Marshall, and Buchner hit the shelf with a shoulder injury.
Then a sophomore, Buchner wouldn’t return until the Gator Bowl for a matchup against South Carolina. Reclaiming the starting role from Drew Pyne, he put on a show, accounting for five total touchdowns, including the game-winning pass to Mitchell Evans in a 45-38 victory. The Gator Bowl MVP has had quite the career trajectory since, transferring to Alabama before returning to Notre Dame as a wide receiver and lacrosse fixture. He’s now the holder for Irish football.
Onye bookends 2023 with blocks
Always a presence on Notre Dame’s defensive interior, Jason Onye made his mark on special teams two years ago. First, in the home opener against Tennessee State, he shut down an early opportunity for the Tigers to capture momentum on a field goal, blocking the kick. The play helped to set an Irish touchdown drive. Later, at the end of the regular season, he got his hands on another one at Stanford. That block ended up in the arms of Javontae Jean-Baptiste, who muscled his way down the sideline for a 60-yard touchdown.
This season, Onye has become an even greater factor for Notre Dame on the regular. The Rhode Island product has made the first seven starts of the year, sitting just one tackle shy of his career high with 16 on the season.
Tuihalamaka seizes Sugar Bowl momentum
Any Irish fan could tell you where last season’s Sugar Bowl was won. Coming off a takedown of Indiana in the College Football Playoff opener, Notre Dame was in a low-scoring tussle with Georgia through a quarter and a half in New Orleans. The game would change in the middle minutes, as the Irish grabbed a touchdown right before halftime and collected another on the kickoff to begin the second half. The first score was set up by none other than defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka, who fell on a Gunner Stockton fumble deep in Bulldog territory.
That play was part of Tuihalamaka’sbest season in an Irish uniform. Last year, he racked up 33 tackles, making five of them for loss while adding three sacks. He’s impressively never missed a game since joining the Irish in 2022, preparing to play his 53rd contest this Saturday against Syracuse.
Fields puts on a show in Pittsburgh
You don’t have to look far to show the transfer seniors some love. Just last weekend, former Virginia wideout Malachi Fields fattened up his highlight reel in Notre Dame’s 37-15 defeat of Pittsburgh. “Free-play Fields” made a pair of spectacular catches when freshman quarterback CJ Carr caught Pittsburgh jumping offside, chucking the ball downfield with nothing to lose. After ending the first quarter with a one-handed snare at midfield on a free play, he made another contested catch along the sideline for a deep-ball touchdown. He’d add another score on the goal line in the second half for good measure.
All told, Fields finished the day with season highs across the board – seven catches, 99 yards and two touchdowns. He’s put together a high-quality season in the blue and gold, totaling 596 yards and five scores as Notre Dame’s top receiver. Fields heads into his Senior Day with a combined 196 yards in his last two games.