Improve or Decline: Notre Dame's Defensive Position Groups
- Liam Farrell
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Coming off the heels of a national championship game appearance, Notre Dame is set to see a similar identity on the defensive side of the ball with defensive coordinator Chris Ash. Here, we breakdown whether each position group will be improved or worsened from the 2024 season to 2025.
Art by The Irish Tribune
While Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame transition from Al Golden to Chris Ash, the Irish are set to have a similar style of defense in 2025.
With the main objective to cause havoc, pressure the quarterback, and force turnovers, Chris Ash is looking to build upon the defense already set in place by his predecessors, and not try and instill a new ideology. While the Irish will return most of the linebacking core and secondary, the defense will have to find new young leaders to replace Xavier Watts, Jack Kiser, Benjamin Morrison, Rylie Mills, and Howard Cross.
Let's breakdown each position room to see if they are improved, similar, or worse than the 2024 Notre Dame team.
Defensive Ends
Better
Notre Dame is returning basically every edge rusher and defensive end from last season, minus RJ Oben, the Irish are poised to create pressure off the edge.
The Irish still are not at full health with Jordan Botelho suffering a pectoral injury and sidelining him for the next four months. However, the Irish will return Boubacar Traore and most likely pair him with Bryce Young to create the most explosive one-two combination.
Josh Burnham, Junior Tuihalamaka, and Loghan Thomas will continue to make an impact this season as well, and the way defensive line coach Al Washington splits up the snaps will be something to monitor, especially early in the year.
Interior Defensive Line
Worse
With Rylie Mills and Howard Cross making the next step to the NFL, the interior defensive line for the Fighting Irish is less talented than a year before.
Last season, with Mills and Cross both being injured during an extended period of time, young contributors, such as Donovan Hinish and Gabriel Rubio were efficient and able to make a difference.
The room also has two key additions: Jared Dawson, the transfer from Louisville, and Jason Onye returning to the team this season. Even though the Irish defensive line will be formidable, the talent on this year's roster doesn't compare to the one-two punch from a year ago.
Linebackers
Push
This is a push, but probably a lean towards better; however, one can't say the room will improve when the leader of last season's defense and all-time leader in games played leaves the program.
Kiser's absence will be felt, but it is on some of the other leaders such as Drayk Bowen, Jaylen Sneed, and Jaiden Ausberry to fill in the gap.
The California underclassman duo of Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Madden Faraimo will be interesting to see on the field as well.
Cornerbacks
Better
Despite the loss of Benjamin Morrison to the NFL Draft, the Irish already found their answer to a post-Morrison era in South Bend.
Leonard Moore and Christian Gray will be one of the best cornerback tandems in the country, and with another year of experience and tutorage of Mike Mickens, these two should be in good position for next season.
The depth is also a bit better at the corner position with Karson Hobbs and highly-touted freshmen, Dallas Golden and Mark Zachary IV set to make a splash.
Safeties
Worse
Any time a player with the caliber of Xavier Watts leaves a program, the position group is in a worse position.
While the depth of this year's safeties might have been better than a year ago, there isn't a way to instantly replace a player like Watts. Adon Shuler will do his best, though, in his quest to become the leader of the secondary.
The open competition to see who plays alongside Shuler, whether it be Luke Talich, Jaylen Stroman, or even JaDon Blair, will be interesting to monitor.
The nickel position also attempts to replace Jordan Clark with Alabama transfer DeVonta Smith, which should be interesting to see if the Irish can hit on an efficient nickelback once again.
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