Thanks to injuries and a full depth chart, especially with Malachi Fields starting for Notre Dame, young wideout Micah Gilbert hasn't been able to really make a name for himself in South Bend. However, he believes that could change in 2026, and he credits things he learned from Fields and others for one big reason why.
There's no shortage of good wide receivers on the Irish roster this year, either. However, Gilbert believes the way that Fields went after the ball in the air is something he can copy and make his game that much better.
Watching Malachi, he attacked the ball really well," Gilbert said as he met with the media after a Saturday Notre Dame practice. "He was a really good deep threat. So we're seeing the way he attacked the ball, how he can go up and get the ball, translated well, and able to take notes from that."
Micah Gilbert says Malachi Fields taught him how to attack the ball for Notre Dame football
Gilbert will need to find a way to separate himself from the pack. Last year, he had just 9 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Some of that was out of his control as he suffered a pair of injuries in the spring and fall of 2025.
However, when he was healthy and on the field, he made the most of his playing time. The Irish wide receiver recorded his first career reception and receiving touchdown in the season opener at Miami. His career-long 26-yard reception and 37 receiving yards came in a shootout win over Purdue.
As the spring goes on, he'll have to continue to show just how good he is and how much he needs playing time. He could lay a foundation with the Notre Dame coaches that will hopefully carry into the fall. Then, all bets are off when the depth chart battles are in full effect.