2025 Annual Player Development Report
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PLAYER LEADERSHIP: THE HUMAN ELEMENT
Notre Dame's player development program is driven by the invaluable contributions and leadership of our student-athletes. This year, we are proud to highlight the following players who have taken on key roles within the player development team:
Aamil Wagner, Player President
Dylan Devezin, Program Coordinator
Tre Reader, Director of Fundraising
Armel Mukam, Director of Community Service
These players have been instrumental in shaping and advancing our program, providing crucial feedback, input, and time to build a robust support system for their teammates. By having players at the center of player development, we ensure that our initiatives remain relevant, responsive, and impactful.
These leadership roles provide our student-athletes with hands-on experience in building and managing a program from the ground up. This unique opportunity serves as a valuable internship, equipping them with practical skills that will serve them well into their futures.
FORWARD BY AAMIL WAGNER, PLAYER PRESIDENT
As a student-athlete at Notre Dame, I've witnessed firsthand the evolution of our player development program over the past year. What began as a promising initiative has transformed into a comprehensive system that truly empowers us to grow beyond football.
The Close the Gap program has given me and my teammates the tools, knowledge, and network to maximize our potential—not just for the next game, but for the rest of our lives. The POD structure has created a supportive community where we learn from each other, building habits and skills that will serve us long after our playing days are over.
Project UnlockND has been particularly transformative. The connections I've made with alumni have provided invaluable guidance as I navigate my academic and professional journey. Every informational interview, networking event, and mentorship conversation has expanded my vision of what's possible.
As Player President, I've had the privilege of helping shape this program alongside my teammates. We've taken ownership of our development, creating initiatives that reflect our needs and aspirations. This sense of agency and responsibility has fostered a culture of growth that extends beyond individual achievement to elevate our entire team.
Looking ahead, I'm excited to see how our player development program continues to evolve. The foundation we've built this year will support generations of Notre Dame student-athletes in achieving prosperity and purpose, both on and off the field.
— Aamil
TLDR:
The Notre Dame football program's 2025 Annual Report on Player Development showcases the significant advancements made through the Close the Gap (CTG) program. Centered around the Peer-Oriented Development (POD) methodology and Win the Day framework, the program empowers student-athletes to find their purpose and reach their full potential. Key highlights include:
89% overall participation rate (up from 86% in 2024), with 1,080+ total development hours (35% increase from 797 hours in 2024)
PODs focused on Performance, Career & Relationships, Financial Empowerment, and Service
Our Win the Day program averaged 33 players per session, with 88% of participating players saying the program directly enhanced on-field performance
NYC Career Trek providing immersive professional experiences for 12 student-athletes
90+ alumni actively engaged through Project UnlockND matching system
INTRODUCTION
The Notre Dame football program is proud to present our 2025 Annual Report on Player Development. This year marked significant advancements in our commitment to holistically supporting and empowering our student-athletes through our Close the Gap (CTG) program.
Building on the foundation established in our 2024 report, we have refined our approach, expanded our reach, and deepened our impact across all areas of player development. The results demonstrate measurable growth in participation, engagement, and outcomes as we continue to evolve our comprehensive system for student-athlete development.
OUR MISSION
Closing the Gap through Commitment to Purpose and Potential
Our mission remains constant: to empower student-athletes to find, refine, and pursue their purpose both on and off the field, helping them reach their full potential and achieve lifelong prosperity. We are dedicated to providing the skills, experiences, resources, and network to maximize future career opportunities and life satisfaction for our athletes beyond football.
THE DEVELOPMENT FORMULA: OUR CENTRAL FRAMEWORK
At the heart of everything we do lies our development formula:
R = [G(I) × T × C(H)] × F
This equation serves as the foundational framework that guides every aspect of our student-athletes' development journey:
R (Results): The measurable outcomes we seek across all development areas
G(I) (Gap Identification): The systematic assessment of current state versus desired state
T (Translation Efficiency): The process of converting insights into actionable steps
C(H) (Commitment to Habits): The consistent execution of daily actions that drive improvement
F (Focus Factor): The quality of attention and effort applied to development activities
This formula isn't just theoretical—it's the practical engine that drives our entire player development ecosystem. Each component connects directly to our implementation systems:
Gap Identification [G(I)] is facilitated through:
Structured stakeholder conversations with coaches, staff, and mentors etc
Comprehensive player assessments across all pillars
Regular feedback mechanisms and performance reviews
Translation Efficiency [T] is enhanced through:
AI-assisted analysis that converts feedback into actionable insights
Clear development planning that bridges assessment and implementation
Resource alignment that connects identified needs with appropriate solutions
Commitment to Habits [C(H)] is supported by:
The HabitShare app for daily tracking and accountability
Peer support structures through our POD groups
Environmental design that makes habit execution easier
Focus Factor [F] is strengthened through:
Pre-practice S7 sessions (Seven-minute sessions before each practice) that establish clear intentions
Strategic priority alignment across academic, athletic, and personal domains
Distraction management strategies and quality assessment tools
This formula provides the structure through which we deliver all player development initiatives, ensuring that our approach is systematic, measurable, and effective.
THE POD SYSTEM: IMPLEMENTING THE FORMULA
Building on our development formula, we implement our player development through our Peer-Oriented Development (POD) methodology. PODs are the practical application of our formula, bringing together players with shared goals and interests in key focus areas:
Performance
Career & Relationship Development
Financial Empowerment
Service
POD STRUCTURE AND PROGRESSION
Each POD follows the Inspire, Decide, Learn, Do cycle—a framework that creates a continuous feedback loop of improvement:
Inspire: Motivation through exposure to possibilities and peer success stories
Decide: Commitment to specific development goals and action plans
Learn: Acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary for improvement
Do: Active implementation of learnings through habits and actions
PODs are both thematic (focused on specific content areas) and progressive (advancing in complexity each year). This dual structure ensures that student-athletes build comprehensive skills while continually deepening their mastery.
POD PROGRESSION BY CLASS YEAR
Our POD system creates a four-year developmental journey:
Year 1: Foundation Building
Year 2: Skill Development
Year 3: Application
Year 4: Mastery & Transition
This progressive structure ensures that by graduation, each student-athlete has developed a comprehensive skill set across all development pillars.
PROJECT UNLOCKND: POWERING OUR DEVELOPMENT ENGINE
Project UnlockND serves as the connective tissue of our player development system, strategically aligning our vast alumni network with our development framework. Rather than functioning as a separate initiative, Project UnlockND is the engine that powers our entire player development ecosystem.
DATA-DRIVEN FOUNDATIONS
Project UnlockND operates through a matching system that considers:
Player Data: Interests, career aspirations
Alumni Data: Professional expertise, industries, and preferred engagement methods
POD Framework Alignment: Current level in each developmental pillar
Timing Optimization: Ensuring connections happen at the right moment in a player's development
This methodical approach transforms networking from a random, opportunity-based activity to a systematic, intentional process that benefits all student-athletes regardless of their natural networking abilities.
MATCHING PROCESS AND IMPLEMENTATION
The Project UnlockND matching algorithm carefully weighs multiple factors:
Interest alignment between players and alumni
Player's current development needs
Alumnus engagement preferences and expertise
Appropriate timing within the player's development journey
When a match is made, it's not just beneficial—it's transformative, because it's purposeful, timely, and aligned with the player's development needs.
In 2025, we've seen remarkable growth in this system, with a 92% satisfaction rate among players with their alumni connections , demonstrating the effectiveness of our methodical approach.
PARTICIPATION AND IMPACT
Our 2025 metrics demonstrate significant growth across all areas of our program:
93 total players engaged in at least one POD or service event (compared to 89 in 2024)
89% overall participation rate (up from 86% in 2024)
580 total POD hours completed (compared to 508 in 2024)
500 total community service hours (up from 289 in 2024)
1,080+ total development hours (35% increase from 797 hours in 2024)
4.75/5 average POD effectiveness rating (improved from 4.6/5 in 2024)
88% of Win the Day participants reported significant performance improvement
92% of players reported implementing daily intentions from S7 sessions
Note: All POD engagements this year were optional
These metrics reflect not just growth in participation, but also deeper engagement and impact as our integrated system continues to mature.
KEY INITIATIVES AND OUTCOMES: OUR FOUR PILLARS
Our development formula and POD framework are implemented through four key pillars, each addressing essential aspects of student-athlete development:
PERFORMANCE: WIN THE DAY PROGRAM
The Win the Day methodology directly applies our development formula to on-field performance, providing a systematic approach to daily improvement during spring practice.
Participation and Impact:
33 players per session on average
88% of players reported the program significantly improved their on field performance
92% of players implemented at least half of their daily S7 session intentions during practice
50% of players reported implementing over 75% of their intentions
Every participant established at least one new positive habit, with 50% forming three or more
On-Field Performance Impact: Survey data revealed additional performance benefits beyond participation metrics:
4.3/5 average effectiveness rating for pre-practice sessions in focusing player attention on specific improvement areas
87% of players reported the program directly contributed to their improvement as a player
91% indicated the program helped them accomplish their personal performance goals
Implementation correlated with impact: players reporting 76-100% implementation averaged 4.5/5 impact rating
75% of players have applied the Win the Day methodology to areas outside of football, demonstrating transferable skills development
42% of players identified gap identification as the most valuable aspect, with habit creation and pre-practice sessions each valued most by 29% of players
Implementation Process: The Win the Day program exemplifies our development formula in action:
Gap Identification [G(I)]: Pre-practice S7 sessions begin with review of previous performance and coach feedback
Translation [T]: Players convert feedback into specific practice intentions and routines
Commitment to Habits [C(H)]: Daily implementation of targeted improvement habits
Focus Factor [F]: Deliberate focus on executing intentions during practice
CAREER & RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Our Career & Relationship Development pillar strategically connects our development formula with Project UnlockND to create pathways for professional success.
Participation and Impact:
4.8/5 overall effectiveness rating (up from 4.4/5 in 2024)
90 alumni connections established through Project UnlockND (45% increase from 2024)
14+ internships and job shadowing experiences secured (compared to 8 reported in 2024)
90%+ of team engaged in 1 on 1 career meetings with our career services team
5 players studying abroad in Milan
NYC Career Trek: Launching Experiential Learning A highlight of this year's career initiatives was the inaugural NYC Career Trek, marking the first of what will become an expanded series of immersive professional experiences. This three-day experience for 12 student-athletes connected our development formula to real-world professional exposure:
Gap Identification [G(I)]: Students identified specific career interests and knowledge gaps
Translation [T]: Career trek itinerary was designed to address these specific interests
Commitment to Habits [C(H)]: Participants developed networking habits through structured interactions
Focus Factor [F]: Dedicated focus on professional development during the immersive experience
The trek included visits to:
Ares Capital (private credit)
A16Z (venture capital)
Junto Capital (hedge fund)
NFL League Office
JPMorgan Chase (wealth management)
New York Stock Exchange
This inaugural trek represents just the beginning of our experiential learning initiatives, with plans to expand to additional cities and industries in the coming year.
Relationship Building Component: The relationship building aspects of this pillar focused on:
Basic and advanced networking skills development
Professional communication training
Creation of personal follow-up plans
Email etiquette, LinkedIn and Handshake profile creation
~200 former players attended the Annual Legacy Social (compared to similar attendance in 2024)
FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
Our Financial Empowerment pillar has evolved from our inaugural program into a cornerstone of our player development approach, with structured implementation of our development formula.
Participation and Impact:
Average session attendance increased from 44 players in 2024 to 55 players this year—a 25% increase
Engaged 91 unique players—87% of our entire roster (up from 44 enrolled in 2024)
94% reported improved financial knowledge
91% have implemented specific strategies learned in the POD
Tangible Outcomes:
83% have opened a high-yield savings account
74% have established a separate account for tax obligations
65% have started a retirement account (Roth IRA or similar)
61% have set up a dedicated investment account
83% report having a clear system for allocating their income
Application of Development Formula:
Gap Identification [G(I)]: Financial assessments to determine areas of growth
Translation [T]: Conversion of financial principles into specific action steps
Commitment to Habits [C(H)]: Development of consistent financial habits (saving, tracking, investing)
Focus Factor [F]: Prioritization of financial health amid competing demands
The Three Pillars of Our Approach:
Cash Flow Management: The Foundation
The three-account system (Operating, Tax, Growth)
A reimagined 50/30/20 rule tailored to their unique financial situation
Strategic allocation of NIL and other income
The Growth Game: Making Money Work For You
Understanding that money is a tool for freedom and owning your time
Learning the power of compounding and the value of starting early
Developing tax strategies and disciplined investing habits
The Athlete CEO Mindset
Viewing themselves as CEOs of their own enterprises
Understanding how to structure a support team
Building a personal "family office" approach to wealth management
SERVICE
Service remains an integral part of our player development program, allowing students to make meaningful contributions to the community while developing leadership and teamwork skills that translate to all areas of life.
Participation and Impact:
500 total community service hours (73% increase from 289 hours in 2024)
35 players participated in Reading Fridays at Madison STEAM Elementary (up from 29 players who served in February 2024)
29 players engaged with Ronald McDonald House
10 families supported through the Thanksgiving drive
Key Initiatives:
Reading Fridays: Weekly program at Madison STEAM Elementary led by Armel Mukam
Ronald McDonald House Partnership: Regular player visits on home game Fridays
Thanksgiving Drive: Providing meals to local families, organized by Benjamin Morrison
Joyce Center Trick-or-Treat: Community Halloween event
Make-A-Wish Program: First Make-A-Wish student hosted in over a decade
LOOKING AHEAD
Building on the positive momentum of this year, we are excited to embark on several new initiatives to strengthen and expand our player development ecosystem:
Enhancing the Notre Dame Advantage
A key focus for our future development is further enhancing the implementation of Notre Dame's "4 for 4ever" promise through scalable systems and processes that connect student-athletes with the vast Notre Dame network:
Expand opportunities for all student-athletes to benefit from Notre Dame's extensive alumni network
Create more systematic pathways for network engagement across all class years
Increase alumni involvement through diverse engagement options beyond financial support
Build measurement systems to track and optimize network impact
Implementation Strategy:
Enhanced Alumni Engagement
Continue to expand alumni database with more detailed expertise and engagement preferences
Create accessible pathways for alumni to contribute based on their interests and availability
Develop clearer messaging on the impact of alumni engagement on student-athlete success
Advanced Network Mapping
Implement improved searchable systems with tags aligned to our development framework
Create geographic mapping to facilitate more in-person engagements
POD Framework Integration
Systematically align alumni resources with our established POD progression
Develop specific engagement types for each POD level
Create protocols and standards for each engagement type
Personalized Development Pathways
Create individualized development journeys based on interests, needs, and aspirations
Enhance matching systems connecting student-athlete profiles with appropriate alumni
Implement just-in-time resource allocation based on development stage
Tiered Incentive System - The P-Club (Planned Implementation)
A key initiative planned for the upcoming year is our P-Club system, designed to create structured progression and reward sustained engagement:
Develop a tiered engagement model to recognize and reward player participation
Implement a membership and points system where players can unlock opportunities and experiences based on their level of engagement
Create progression pathways that encourage sustained involvement in development activities
The P-Club will transform how players engage with development opportunities by creating visible advancement paths and tangible benefits for consistent participation. This gamification of development activities will leverage behavioral science principles to increase motivation and long-term commitment.
Scaling Our Systems
A critical focus for the coming year is scaling our systems to maximize impact and efficiency:
Stakeholder Feedback Integration
Expand our systematic approach to gathering input from position coaches, strength staff, and other key stakeholders
Refine our AI report generation process to provide more actionable insights
Create a streamlined pipeline from feedback to action plan
HabitShare Enhancement
Develop custom integrations to better track and analyze habit formation
Create position-specific habit libraries based on successful patterns
Implement peer accountability features to strengthen the supportive community
Data Analytics Expansion
Build comprehensive dashboards to track development across all pillars
Identify correlations between development activities and on-field performance
Use predictive analytics to anticipate development needs
Automated Progress Tracking
Implement systems to automatically monitor progress across all pillars
Create personalized dashboards for each student-athlete
Develop real-time feedback mechanisms to support continuous improvement
Expanded Experiential Learning
Building on the success of our inaugural NYC Career Trek, we plan to significantly expand our experiential learning opportunities:
Develop a calendar of industry-specific career treks to multiple cities
Create more structured job shadowing programs during academic breaks
Host expanded career development events with direct connection to internship opportunities
Facilitate micro-internships tailored to player interests and academic schedules
Implement pre and post-trek programming to maximize the impact of these experiences
These expanded experiential learning initiatives will provide our student-athletes with direct exposure to diverse industries and career paths, transforming abstract career concepts into tangible experiences that inform their professional development.
Bridge Concept Implementation
Strengthen the connection between sports science data and daily player habits
Create more robust support systems for translating performance insights into actionable improvements
Develop tiered support structures based on individual player needs
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Foster greater integration between athletic departments, player development, and the broader campus
Create shared systems and processes that enhance communication and coordination
Develop cross-functional working groups to address holistic student-athlete needs
CONCLUSION
As we conclude the 2025 Player Development Annual Report, we reflect on both our progress and our path forward. This year has demonstrated the power of our integrated development system—a comprehensive approach that connects our development formula [R = (G(I) × T × C(H)) × F] with structured implementation through our POD framework, all powered by Project UnlockND.
The growth we've seen this year is significant:
Overall development hours increased by 35% (from 797 to 1,080+)
Service hours grew by 73% (from 289 to 500)
Financial Empowerment engagement expanded from 44 to 91 players
Career connections deepened with 14+ internships and job shadowing experiences
Win the Day program demonstrated measurable on-field performance impact
What makes these improvements possible is the systematic nature of our approach. By creating clear pathways from gap identification to implementation, we've developed a scalable model that benefits all student-athletes. Our development formula provides the framework, the POD system creates the structure, and Project UnlockND delivers the resources and connections.
As we look ahead, our focus remains on enhancing this integrated ecosystem:
Scaling our systems to reach more student-athletes more effectively
Expanding our alumni engagement through improved mapping and matching
Deepening our implementation of the "4 for 4ever" promise through concrete systems
Leveraging technology to automate and optimize our processes
Most importantly, we remain committed to developing the whole person—student, athlete, and future leader. The success of our program isn't just measured in metrics, but in the growth of our student-athletes as they prepare for lifelong prosperity and purpose.
The journey of player development is ongoing, and we remain dedicated to innovation, improvement, and excellence in all that we do. Through the continued dedication of our players, coaches, staff, and alumni, Notre Dame Football's player development program will remain at the forefront of collegiate athletics, setting the standard for how institutions can prepare student-athletes for success both during and long after their time at Notre Dame.