Malachi Fields Is Named Notre Dame's Top 2025 Newcomer By ESPN

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Notre Dame has certainly had a great deal of success finding impact freshmen and transfers in recent seasons, and that was certainly true in 2024. The Irish had three freshman All-Americans and had a number of transfers make a huge impact on the team during its 14-2 campaign. Notre Dame will once again look to have a number of newcomers impact the team.

ESPN ranked the top newcomer for all of its Top 25 teams for the 2025 season, and it ranked wide receiver Malachi Fields as the top newcomer for the Irish. Here is what ESPN had to say about the former Virginia standout:

"With Steve Angeli's transfer to Syracuse, all signs point to coach Marcus Freeman handing his offense over to redshirt freshman CJ Carr -- a big ask for an unproven young quarterback in a program that reached the national title game last year. Adding a player like Fields will take some pressure off Carr. Fields is a massive target and contested-catch specialist at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds who was plenty effective at Virginia despite topsy-turvy quarterback play. He finished eighth in the ACC with 808 receiving yards on 55 catches, nearly mirroring his 2023 production. Fields was also a team captain at Virginia and is well-equipped to step into the spotlight for the Fighting Irish in his final year of eligibility.

"More explosive downfield plays in South Bend. Freeman has been selective in the transfer portal, but there are big plans for Fields in 2025. He should break out and actually surpass his production at Virginia given his superior surrounding cast at Notre Dame. Fields is an immediate upgrade over Notre Dame's returning receivers, as well as the departing duo of Jayden Thomas (Transferred to Virginia) and Beaux Collins (New York Giants). Fields is a proven receiver with all the physical attributes to help Carr acclimate quickly as a rookie quarterback, serving as a big-bodied, athletic target on the outside. Fields is arguably a sharper route runner and a more durable, consistent outside threat than Collins, who averaged 12 yards per catch last year." - Billy Tucker, ESPN

Before discussing Fields, it remains incredibly puzzling how now a second writer at ESPN mentions CJ Carr likely being the starter because of Steve Angeli transferring. Signs don't point to CJ Carr starting because of Angeli transferring to Syracuse, as this article from ESPN suggest. Angeli is transferring to Syracuse because of the fact that CJ Carr (or Kenny Minchey) was on pace to start after out-playing Angeli throughout the spring.

Beyond that misguided intro, Tucker gets to a key point about the arrival of Fields. Carr - or Minchey - will be a first-year starter at Notre Dame, and neither has played a meaningful snap for the Irish. Having veteran pass catchers to throw to is a huge boost for young players, and Fields is one of the top returning pass catchers in the country. His 2024 production was done despite poor quarterback play, and he was one of the few receivers to have success against Notre Dame. Fields hauled in four passes for 81 yards against Notre Dame.

Notre Dame will need to improve its pass game in 2025, even with its young quarterback. Adding Fields to a depth chart that also has Jaden Greathouse gives the Irish a chance for an impactful one-two punch. If Jordan Faison can stay healthy and Will Pauling gets back to his 2023 form the Irish have a chance to have one of its best pass catching units in several years, something that is only possible because of the arrival of Fields.

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