For Heaven’s Sake

Alan Draper

Sports Editor

May 27 2023 3 min read

Today’s installment of the WU AM I? series includes two former 5 star prospects. We were all yelling, “Thank Heaven” at the time and should do so again in the future.

James Aldridge #34

Running Back
Junior
6′ 1″ 222 lbs.
Junior Crown Point, Indiana
Wu-Name: Excessive Wizard

James Aldridge should be a star a Notre Dame. Before Cierre Wood committed to the Irish in April, James was the only 5-star rated running back Notre Dame had signed since the internet recruiting service era began back with the incoming class of 2002. If only recruiting stars predicted the future that lays within the stars.

James has battled injury after injury since his senior year. If you followed James’ career in high school, there was a huge difference in his explosiveness and ability to break tackles last year as compared to his last fully healthy season during his junior year in high school. He led the team in rushing last year, but saw his production take a big dip in the last few games due to an emerging Robert Hughes.

Uhhh…. Fuck all that. Every year is a new beginning and James is healthier now than at any point since he arrived at ND in the spring of 2006. With all of the Irish’s weapons at tailback this year and with what should be an improved offensive line from a running perspective, James will produce. He will have fresh legs and the will to prove himself to the world. Look out! Aldridge is seeking a break out year, and I think that he may have one.

Jimmy Clausen #7
Quarterback
6’3″ 212 lbs.
Sophomore
Westlake Village, California
Wu-Name: Fearless Overlord

Only Ron Powlus knows this kind of hype. Jimmy Clausen was hailed as the best high school quarterback to come out of California since John Elway. Well, at least he didn’t go to Stanford. Jimmy was tabbed as a “5-star, can’t miss prospect” since his sophomore year in high school. ESPN did a story on him that year and in turn helped start the fire.

It’s quite unfair really. Unfair to expect a kid to dominate as a true freshman. Couple this in with an elbow injury and surgery and having limited reps in the spring and summer because of said injury. And he did fine. Fine for a freshman at Notre Dame of ALL places. He, of course, did not dominate. But he did show ND Nation that the best was yet to come with some very solid play behind a very shaky line. He had a better completion percentage and a better touchdown to interception ratio than Irish Legend, Brady Quinn.

What Jimmy is now, is the starter of this team after winning out over Evan Sharpley last year. He has a season under his belt and took a lot of shots both physically and mentally from foe and media. He is bigger and has more experience around him this year than last year at the skilled position. He is truly better.

Two things can make this year great for Jimmy: 1. His offensive line must give him time IN THE POCKET. 2. The running game must be more effective on 1st down. If these things can happen, than watch for a quarterback that looks more like Quinn during his Junior year. That is a bold statement, but I just watched Pulp Fiction.

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