Jaden Greathouse Is A Different Kind Of Playmaker For Notre Dame

The Notre Dame wide receivers get a lot of criticism for the fact the Irish pass game has struggled in recent seasons. If Notre Dame is going to become an offense that can fuel a championship run the position will certainly need to improve its playmaking and production, the 2025 unit has a chance to do just that.

While there is plenty of understandable excitement about the transfer portal class, junior Jaden Greathouse is ready to prove that Notre Dame already has a big time playmaker already on the roster.

Greathouse hauled in 42 passes for a team-leading 592 yards (14.1 YPC) and four touchdowns last season, but he saved his best for the final two games of the season. Greathouse was brilliant in the semifinal win over Penn State and title game loss to Ohio State, hauling in 13 passes for 233 yards (17.9 YPC) and three touchdowns.

Where was that all season? Well, Greathouse was always that player, but the opportunities didn't come until later.

"What Riley [Leonard] - and what we learned - toward the end of that season is that if Jaden Greathouse is covered one-on-one, he’s not covered. Throw him the ball," head coach Marcus Freeman said of Greathouse. "He’s able to make some catches that some people would assume that he’s covered. 

"We have to trust him. He’s not always going to outrun everybody, he’s not going to be wide open," continued Freeman. "If he’s one-on-one, give him a chance. Because more [often] than not, he’s going to make the play."

This performance is backed up by statistics. Greathouse doesn't get as much national attention because the volume wasn't all that impressive. He ended with just 592 yards, but 233 of those yards came in the last two games.

That speaks to the opportunity to produce, but when given the opportunity Greathouse was as good as there was in all of college football. Just look at the numbers for Greathouse compared to the perceived best slot receivers returning for 2025.