Our review of the 2025 Notre Dame football roster concludes today for the defense. We recently covered the front four and linebacker positions. Previously, we discussed the offense. Today we will discuss the cornerbacks and safeties. A significant loss in each area will be the NFL’s gain. Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts are among the best players we have seen at Notre Dame in quite a while. There are no plug and play replacements for athletes of that caliber but many good options are available. Once again, the Irish were active in the transfer portal. Two experienced and productive players will join a wealth of young talent in each position.

CORNERBACK

Notre Dame’s talent and depth allowed the Irish to play a significant amount of man coverage in 2024. They did so throughout the regular season without paying a heavy price. Morrison’s injury in October had negligible impact until Jeremiah Smith burned them in the championship game. We learned that every defense featuring man coverage needs a strong pass rush to make it work. By the time January rolled around, the Irish had lost too many quality linemen to win it all.

One positive outcome of last season’s injury toll was the emergence of Leonard Moore. Normally, a freshman corner would have a target on his back. It took only a few short weeks before teams learned to avoid Moore like the plague. The best news during this offseason is position coach Mike Mickens has remained in South Bend. Teams continue to pursue Mickens but as of this writing he seems satisfied with being named co-Defensive Coordinator. He will maintain day to day responsibility for the Irish cornerbacks.

Portal Losses: Jaden Mickey

Other Losses: Benjamin Morrison (NFL Draft), Jordan Clark (expired eligibility)

Portal Additions: Davonta Smith

Retained Players: Christian Gray, Leonard Moore, Karson Hobbs, Chance Tucker, Tae Johnson

Incoming Freshmen: Dallas Golden, Cree Thomas, Mark Zachary

Gray remains the starter opposite Moore, and that should not change. Smith moves in from Alabama to replace Clark as the nickel back. Hobbs will compete for a spot behind Moore and Gray. Tucker is coming off an ACL injury last fall and may miss this spring’s practice sessions. Johnson enrolled as a safety but practiced more at corner after Morrison’s injury. He maintained his redshirt status while showing exceptional athleticism. He could contribute as a swing piece in 2025.

All of the incoming freshmen have an opportunity to earn playing time. None are early enrollees, so success may not be instantaneous. Zachary is the most polished pure cornerback while Golden had an excellent two-way career in high school. He could play wide receiver at the college level but Notre Dame wants him at corner. Thomas was the first to declare for the Irish and is often overlooked. He is highly skilled with deceptive speed. Thomas may not make waves at the level Moore did in 2024 but keep your eye on him.

 Although the three starters appear to be set, the battle for backup roles will be interesting. Unless Tucker is fully healthy and earns a spot, the candidates are all young and inexperienced. This will test the coaching acumen of Mickens but there is no better person to develop this talent.

There is justifiable concern since the schedule is front loaded. Several of these players will not have the benefit of spring practice to get acclimated. If injuries were to strike Moore, Gray, or Smith, the Irish could be vulnerable.

SAFETY

Irish fans owe a debt of thanks to Watts for returning to Notre Dame in 2024. He could have entered the NFL draft last April but came back and delivered another stellar season. His shoes cannot easily be filled but there are talented players waiting for the opportunity. Fortunately, Adon Shuler will return to his strong safety spot. Shuler emerged last year to seize the starting job from transfer Rod Heard. He brings a physical presence to the position and will only continue to improve.

Portal Losses: None

Other Losses: Xavier Watts (NFL Draft), Rod Heard (expired eligibility)

Portal Additions: Jalen Stroman

Retained Players: Adon Shuler, Luke Talich, Ben Minich, Kennedy Uhrlacher, Taebron Bennie-Powell

Incoming Freshmen: JaDon Blair, Brandon Logan, Ethan Long

Four returning safeties other than Shuler were on the roster last season. Luke Talich is the most familiar name. Talich played in all 16 games and scored a touchdown with a 79-yard interception return. Kennedy Uhrlacher and Ben Minich were most visible on special teams although Uhrlacher made more memorable plays. Taebron Bennie-Powell underwent shoulder surgery early last fall and is still in recovery mode.

Three incoming freshmen will join the competition. Two of them, JaDon Blair and Ethan Long, enrolled in January and will participate in spring practice. Blair looks the part physically, and program insiders believe he will join the rotation in the fall. Brandon Logan will join the group this summer. He is an outstanding athlete who may be a high MLB draft pick in July. Hopefully he will honor his pledge to the Irish but it may not be a slam dunk.

Stroman had a successful run at Virginia Tech before undergoing shoulder surgery after the 2023 campaign. He played in the team’s opener in 2024 but had to leave the game in the final minutes. At that point, he elected to sit out the season, get healthy, and complete his degree. Notre Dame quickly reached out when Stroman entered the portal, and he committed shortly thereafter. His shoulder issues are reportedly behind him. We can Stroman to start the season alongside Shuler.

That would leave Talich, Uhrlacher, Blair and the others to fight for backup slots. Competition will bring out the best in each player. Hopefully, the coaches will be able to decide based on merit rather than attrition due to injuries.

We can conclude that the 2025 defense will be deep and athletic. This unit is loaded with young, talented players who need to prove themselves. Freeman understood this and has added veterans from the portal in key areas. Will it be enough to become a playoff caliber defense? The key to success is health along the front line and their ability to generate an effective pass rush. If that happens, the athletes behind them will shine.

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