Quick Hits from Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly's Wake Forest Week press conference

Another week. Another win.

Another press conference.

Before No. 5 Notre Dame (7-1) — winners of six consecutive games by at least 20 points — hosts Wake Forest (5-3) on Saturday, eighth-year Irish head coach Brian Kelly met the media on Tuesday.

Here are the highlights from Kelly's address.

-- Kelly called Wake Forest senior quarterback John Wolford "arguably the most experienced quarterback we'll play."

-- Junior tight end Alize Mack remains in the concussion protocol, Kelly said. The plan is to elevate his heart rate and do cardio today.

-- Sophomore running back Tony Jones Jr.'s ankle is much better, Kelly said. Jones got treatment on his hip pointer today and is expected to be active on Saturday.

-- Junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush did not need treatment on his ankle, Kelly said, and will be good to go on Saturday.

-- Kelly said that they'll continue to get junior running back Dexter Williams (ankle) re-intergated into the offense as long as he maintains his trademark explosiveness. "As long as he's able and he has that burst, he's part of what we're doing," Kelly said.

-- How does Kelly balance taking a knee late in games in an opponent's territory with the desire to add "style points" for the College Football Playoff committee? "I think (if) you control a football game and you have a game under control, I do what I think is right in those situations," Kelly said.

-- Notre Dame is getting physically stronger as the season progresses, which is unusual, Kelly said. That improvement is reflected in the team's weight room numbers.

-- Kelly said that Notre Dame's first-year director of scouting, Bill Rees, has provided the program with a particular advantage this week. Rees joined ND from Wake Forest and has an extensive knowledge of the Demon Deacons' personnel.

-- Are the Irish continuing to improve? "All in all, I think we're playing better as a football team than we were early in the season," Kelly said.

-- Does Kelly want his players to know where they stand in the College Football Playoff rankings? "They're aware, and for them to enhance their situation, they need to know where they are," Kelly said. He added, however, that "the enemy is distraction."

-- If Mack can't play, Kelly said, tight ends Cole Kmet and Nic Weishar will earn more playing time. "Cole Kmet is ready to go. He's chomping at the bit," Kelly said.

-- Kelly said that it does bother junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush that the narrative is that he isn't a consistent passer. "He listens to that stuff probably a little too much," Kelly said. The coach added, though, that Wimbush is continuing to improve.

-- Kelly said that sophomore cornerback Julian Love is one of the team's strongest players from the waist down, and that positively impacts his play. "He can really stick his foot in the ground and drive on receivers," Kelly said.

-- Kelly said that "33 Trucking" is about 33 guys -- 11 on offense, 11 on defense and 11 on special teams -- providing opportunities for the band's "lead singer," No. 33, Josh Adams.

-- Kelly said that he hasn't watched enough college football outside of his own bubble to provide an informed opinion about who should make the top four in tonight's College Football Playoff rankings. "I'd have Georgia 1, Notre Dame 2, and then there's no other teams," Kelly joked.