There’s Just Excitement as Two Notre Dame Grads Return to South Bend

C’Bo Flemister isn’t a captain, not officially, but since Matt Goncalves went down against West Virginia, Flemister has emerged as perhaps the leader offensively.

The sixth-year senior arrived at Pitt two offseasons ago without much fanfare, joining a rather loaded running backs room that featured Izzy Abanikanda, Rodney Hammond Jr., Vincent Davis and Daniel Carter, and he was just expected to provide a veteran presence in the room.

I don’t know if anyone could’ve expected that Flemister would be listed as a starter, coming off his first 20-carry, 100-yard game, midway through the 2023 season. And it isn’t just that veteran presence that he’s provided this season.

Shayne Simon is a captain himself, wearing the “C” on his jersey every game, and his impact might be a little more expected. The former top recruit was expected to finally get a chance at consistent playing time after arriving two off seasons ago.

Flemister and Simon didn’t quite arrive at the same time, Flemister waited until the summer of 2022 in order to finish his degree at Notre Dame, but the pair did arrive at Pitt together. And at Notre Dame together, way back in in a class of 2018 haul that also included Phil Jurkovec.

It hasn’t exactly been an easy season for Jurkovec, transitioning to more of a role in the tight ends room, but Flemister and Simon have been very important pieces in Pittsburgh. And Pat Narduzzi couldn’t be happier that Pitt landed the two “quality” men from Notre Dame.

“Where they came from, where they’ve been,” Narduzzi said Thursday at his weekly news conference. “Obviously, we know they started in South Bend, but they’re just two quality guys. C’Bo’s come a long way from where he was when he first got here, so I’m proud of him.

“Shayne’s been the same guy every day since he got here. You bring different guys in, and they come in at different stages in their life and different maturities, but I’m happy with both of those guys and hopefully, they play emotional on Saturday, going back to where they came from.”

Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Shayne Simon (32) September 2, 2023 David Hague/PSN

Simon played four seasons at Notre Dame, serving primarily as a special teamer and spot starter at linebacker, and he racked up 26 tackles (12 solo), three tackles for loss and five pass breakups in 32 total appearances.

In a season and a half at Pitt, he’s already recorded 73 tackles (41 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble and recovery in 21 appearances — starting at both Money and Star linebacker. In the wake of SirVocea Dennis leaving for the NFL, Simon has been a major presence in the heart of the defense.

And with a chance to face off against a talented Notre Dame offensive attack, Simon is excited for the opportunity.

“I think everybody’s kind of excited,” Simon said Wednesday after practice. “We’re all excited to go out there and play somebody that has a lot of hype, has a lot of guys that are of NFL potential, and there are a lot of guys in our room, the D-line, the offense, that want to go and prove themselves against some of those guys.”

Flemister has the same level of excitement when it comes to returning to South Bend for the first time, but he also wants to show that he’s been able to build upon what he learned from his time at Notre Dame.

“I’m excited to go anywhere, play anywhere, but it’s kinda special because I did spend four years of my life — the first four years of my adult life there — so I kinda grew into who I am today there,” Flemister said Tuesday after practice. “And then I had the opportunity to come here and showcase that even more.”

In four seasons at Notre Dame, Flemister carried the ball 110 times for 471 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns — adding three receptions for 49 yards. In just a season and a half at Pitt, he’s carried the ball 108 times for 503 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and four touchdowns — adding five receptions for 92 yards and a score.

Flemister and Simon have grown on and off the field since their time together at Notre Dame, growing into starters on the football field and pursuing further education at Pitt, and it was initially that off-the-field opportunity that drew Flemister to Notre Dame.

“The big attraction for me personally was my future,” Flemister said. “I mean, they preached four for 40, so four years for the next 40 years of your life, that alumni network is awesome, and just that was pretty much my biggest deciding factor. I’m looking 40 years down the road at how going there could’ve helped me out of high school.”

The opportunity to play for Notre Dame, to get that experience in South Bend, was a major draw for both Flemister and Simon. But don’t get it twisted, while they’re excited to catch up with some old friends and old teammates Saturday, it’s still a business trip. And the No. 1 goal is to win.

“I think every game is a huge chance to go out there and prove yourself, but any time you get to go back to your alma mater is pretty cool, so I’m excited,” Simon said. “But I’m excited for this team to go out and try to get a win.”