Notre Dame continues its spring practice sessions as the competition for spots on defense intensifies. The Fighting Irish are well-stocked at all positions. Size, speed and athleticism are abundant with even more help on the way this summer. It is becoming difficult to use words of caution or attempt to tamp down expectations. Overconfidence is a danger that lurks in the shadows but the coaches are preaching performance over press clippings. Let’s review the situation as we know it today.

EDGE/DEFENSIVE END

Old and new faces form the makings of an improved pass rush. Veteran Boubacar Traore leads the charge. He returned this season to raise his NFL draft position by converting quarterback pressures into sacks. He was recovering from a knee injury last fall but is fully healthy right now.

Reserve Loghan Thomas is also competing for playing time. He has experienced difficulty adding weight although he is very disruptive when given an opportunity. Meanwhile, freshman Rodney Dunham has entered the fray and is already turning heads. It will be difficult to keep him off the field this season. Another highly regarded freshman, Ebenezer Ewetade, joins the team this summer.

Junior Bryce Young is expected to line up opposite Traore as the starting bookends. Young and legions of Irish fans are ready for him to emerge as a dominant force. Incoming transfer Keon Keeley can effectively slide in at either end position. Reportedly, Keeley prefers the edge to the strong side. He is slimming down from last year’s 282 pounds to become more explosive. Regardless of his position, the former Notre Dame recruit and Alabama player is excited to be Irish. Fans also cannot wait to see how he fits into the rotation.

“I feel like that’s been something that people have wanted to know,” Keeley observed. “Definitely slimming down. That’s the goal. That was something I think was mutually understood that I could slim down to allow myself to be physically the best player I can be for my body type. Realistically, nothing different than any other player trying to get bigger, faster, stronger, but I guess I’d emphasize leaner”, he said.

Several other competitors will make their case for snaps on the strong side. Redshirt sophomore Cole Mullins has impressed to date and is one of the leading candidates. He is joined by a pair of younger players in Joseph Reiff and Dom Hulak. Two more highly valued young players are also in the mix. Redshirt freshman Chris Burgess began his career at end but may have grown sufficiently to move inside. True freshman Elijah Golden enrolled in January and is participating as well. Their immediate and long term roles should be determined following the spring sessions.

The two deep figures to consist of Traore, Young, Keeley and Mullins. Dunham is the most likely player to crash that party, though.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Notre Dame received good news in January when the NCAA granted Jason Onye’s petition for an additional season. Onye returns to anchor a strong group that grew in size and power through the portal. Incoming transfers Tionne Gray and Francis Brewu elevated the group from a potential weakness to a strength. Gray is a 6’6″ 330-pound nose tackle while Brewu plays the three technique with incredible physical strength. His exploits in the weight room are already becoming legendary as he sets the bar for his teammates.

At these spots where depth is critical, Notre Dame has several quality competitors. Elijah Hughes became a force as last season progressed and will almost certainly be a major contributor. A three-deep rotation here is more than just a possibility. Burgess is a gifted athlete who has demonstrated the extra weight will not slow him down. He could easily become the breakout player in this group. Armel Mukam and Sean Sevillano saw action last season and continue to gain traction. Gordy Sulfsted and freshman Tiki Hola are further down the development curve. Hola is a player to watch for future stardom.

As we noted, Onye, Gray and Brewu were not on the roster as of January 1, 2026. Three weeks later, this trio had transformed an area of concern into a robust element of the defense. New line coach Charlie Partridge brings NFL experience to the table and is well respected. He has already made a positive impression on current players and recruits alike.

LINEBACKER

This area is stacked with accomplished veterans and young talent. Captain Drayk Bowen returns for his senior season and is joined by fifth year man Jaylen Sneed. Jaiden Ausberry is back after a productive campaign in which he was the team’s third leading tackler. Notably absent from spring practice is Kyngstonn Viliam-Asa, the team’s best overall defender. He is recovering from an ACL tear and is projected to be ready for action in October. He and Sneed are also very effective pass rushers who add a valuable dimension to the unit.

Several other players have a legitimate shot at meaningful playing time. Sophomore Madden Faraimo flashed his athleticism last season and is certain to be part of the 2026 rotation. Kahanu Kia and younger brother Ko’o Kia are an aggressive pair who have practiced well. Teddy Rezac is another player who has impressed the coaches with his instincts and playmaking ability.

Freshmen Ja’Kobe Clapper and Thomas Davis, Jr. are highly regarded but likely destined for special teams this season.

The combination of talent and experience in this group is impressive. They should cause considerable havoc this year with a more imposing line in front of them. Note that new linebacker coach Brian Jean-Mary has seamlessly taken over for the departed Max Bullough. This change should have little to no impact on these veteran players in Chris Ash’s scheme.

CORNERBACK

All-American Leonard Moore continues as the team’s shut-down corner. Veteran Christian Gray also returns opposite Moore, although he will have stiff competition from a pair of transfers. Fifth-year man DJ McKinney and sophomore Jayden Sanders are quality defenders who could win a starting job. Unsurprisingly, Gray has been cross-training at the nickel position.

Sophomores Mark Zackery and Dallas Golden return after a baptism by fire in 2025. Zackery played both field and boundary positions last season while Golden was exclusively at nickel. Both are expected to contend for regular roles this season. This makes six candidates to comprise a two-deep for the three corner slots.

Notre Dame’s talent and depth does not end there. Incoming freshmen Khary Adams, Ayden Pouncey, Nick Reddish, and Chaz Smith would be pushing to start at most schools. Adams and Pouncey in particular will be exciting to watch as they develop. The pipeline here is in fantastic shape. Recruiting has not suffered even though legendary coach Mike Mickens left for the NFL. His replacement, Aaron Henry, is already earning positive reviews from his players.

Moore is set on one side and Gray is likely to play quite a bit. The open questions are how well the transfers will fit and how much Golden and Zackery have developed. Once the coaches have the answers they will set the rotation and determine everyone’s best position. There is a wealth of talent to work with and the competition will only make them better.

SAFETY

Despite the level of quality and depth at other positions, safety is the most loaded area on this defense. Starters Adon Shuler and Tae Johnson may be the best pair in the country. Still, they will be pushed hard by a number of others. Luke Talich and Ethan Long made plays with regularity when give the opportunity last season. Incoming freshman Joey O’Brien is a five star recruit who is already drawing comparisons to Kyle Hamilton. Pouncey and Reddish will begin at cornerback but were also outstanding at safety in high school.

There is not much more to say here. The talent level is ridiculous. Irish fans cannot wait to watch O’Brien play but he will have to work hard to see the field.

SUMMARY

This defense is deeper and more talented than any Fighting Irish group in this century. Injuries are always a possibility, and there are players at each level that would be hard to replace. Up front, Traore is a unique talent with the requisite experience. At linebacker, Viliamu-Asa is probably going to be unavailable until midseason. That leaves Bowen as the player Notre Dame needs most on the field. In the secondary, Moore makes life easier for Chris Ash by taking the opponent’s best receiver off the board. Losing any of these three players for an extended period would be difficult to absorb.

That aside, the Irish will terrorize most teams on the schedule with havoc plays and turnovers. There is also a silver lining in having a potent offense and a formidable defense. These units will only get better individually and collectively by practicing against each other every day.