Notre Dame players were fully convinced of Marcus Freeman’s vision before the Orange Bowl

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (WSBT) — Marcus Freeman has completely let his team down during this postseason run, regardless of who was in or out.

Whether it’s a full-time starter or a player forced into the lineup due to numerous injuries, the entire team has embraced Freeman’s personality and belief in reaching his highest potential.

WSBT 22 asked several players on Sunday what makes Freeman an easy leader to follow.

“We call it (in this generation) aura,” defensive lineman Junior Tuihalamaka said. “You can feel the love he has for us. No matter if he’s mad at us, it’s all out of love. We also play out of love for him.”

“He leads by example. He would go (and play on the field with us) if he could,” sophomore safety Adon Shuler said. “Just having that mindset as a coach that us players see that and hear the things he said and know that if he had one more game he would go out there and do it with us.”

In a session open to reporters on Sunday, both RB Jeremiyah Love and DL Howard Cross III worked out.

Wearing a brace on his right knee, Love completed the exercises but appeared to be limited by the injury. Love left Thursday’s Georgia game with a knee injury.

Cross III’s left ankle was heavily taped, but he fully participated in the reporter-accessible portion. Cross III also twisted his ankle in a 23-10 win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.