Notre Dame vs Miami: A Defensive Depth Chart Breakdown

Last season, the Irish and Hurricanes defenses had drastically different impacts on their seasons. Notre Dame consistently called upon the defense to make big, clutch plays, which ultimately landed them in the CFP Championship. For Miami, their defense allowed 31 or more points in six games, including in the regular season finale loss at Syracuse, which cost the 'Canes a chance to compete in the CFP. Following an offseason involving a lot of player shuffling for both squads, we preview each team's 2025 defense below:

Photo by The Irish Tribune

Interior Line:

Ahmad Moten Sr. (Miami) - The 6’3, 325-pound tackle is set for a breakout season after serving as a key backup last year, appearing in each game with two starts. Moten finished with 18 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a sack. The redshirt junior makes an impact against both the run and pass games.

Justin Scott (Miami) - A former Notre Dame target, the versatile sophomore typically lines up inside but is capable of kicking out to the edge if needed. As a true freshman last year, the 6’4 lineman recorded seven tackles, two for a loss, and a sack. Scott looked solid as a pass rusher, but he excelled against the run in his limited playing time a year ago.

Gabriel Rubio (Notre Dame) - Following the NFL departures of Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III, the 6-5, 321-pound redshirt senior is set for a breakout year. In 11 games played with three starts last season, Rubio tallied 24 tackles and a sack. He played well against the run, but if he can take the next step as a pass rusher, the veteran could very likely follow in Mills and Cross’s footsteps.

Donovan Hinish (Notre Dame) - One of the more experienced returning players is the redshirt junior and Captain. Hinish played in each game last season with three starts, recording 35 tackles and 4.5 sacks, including a clutch sack to seal Notre Dame’s victory over Georgia. The 6-2, 277-pound lineman played very well as a pass rusher, but his run-stopping capabilities were a bit concerning last year. If he improves this aspect, the Irish may not take as much of a step back in this position as some may believe.

Others to watch: David Blay Jr. (Miami), Jason Onye (Notre Dame), Jared Dawson (Notre Dame)

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Edge Rushers:

Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) - The star of this defense is the 6’3, 275-pound versatile edge rusher who can attack from either side of the line. After earning ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2023, Bain started just nine games last year after suffering an injury in the team’s opener that caused him to miss some time. The potential future first-round pick still tallied 23 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks while earning an All-ACC honorable mention nod. A fully healthy Bain is going to make an impact in each game he plays.

Akheem Mesidor (Miami) - A Canadian and former West Virginia transfer, the experienced lineman returns for his fourth year at Miami and sixth season of college football. Another versatile piece for this defense, Mesidor typically lines up on the right side but is more than capable of playing off the left edge or even moving into the interior. Last year, he started all 13 games and finished with 32 tackles, nine for loss, 5.5 sacks, and a forced fumble as an overall, well-rounded lineman.

Bryce Young (Notre Dame) - Last year’s special teams hero has Irish fans excited to see what the Notre Dame legacy can do when given the opportunity he has this season. Along with two blocked field goals and a blocked punt, Young appeared in every game last season, posting 23 tackles. The 6-7, 271-pound versatile defender is a tackling machine, and assuming he takes the next step in his development, he looks poised for a breakout year.

Boubacar Traore (Notre Dame) - Last season, Traore looked like a potential game-changer for the Irish defense after making two starts in five games, but his season was cut short due to injury during the Louisville game. The 6-4, 250-pound Vyper recorded three sacks, a pick-six, and a forced fumble in a two-week span last year. The redshirt sophomore has been named to the 2025 College Football Comeback Player of the Year Pre-Season Watch List, as the opportunity to get back on the field is nearly here.

Others to watch: Junior Tuihalamaka (Notre Dame), Joshua Burnham (Notre Dame), Jordan Botelho (Notre Dame)

Linebackers:

Mohamed Toure (Miami) - Miami received a wealth of experience when they landed this interior linebacker from Rutgers in the spring. Toure spent six years at Rutgers and enters his seventh season of college football, now with the Hurricanes. Toure missed all of last season and 2022 with torn ACLs. Ironically, the 6-2 linebacker’s last game was against Miami in the 2023 Pinstripe Bowl, where he recorded five tackles and a sack in the Rutgers victory. Across 37 games played in his career, Toure has totaled 168 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, and 13.5 sacks. He impressed when he last played in 2023, playing the part of a well-rounded leader in the middle of the defense.

Raul Aguirre Jr. (Miami) - Following the departure of the team’s leading tackler and top linebacker, Francisco Mauigoa, this junior is set to step in and take over. Last season, Aguirre appeared in 10 games with one start and recorded 27 tackles and added a touchdown to his name when he scooped up a fumble in the endzone against Louisville. In his somewhat limited playing time, the 6-2 inside backer showed he can be a force against the run.

Wesley Bissainthe (Miami) - The senior is a returning starter, with 23 starts in 26 appearances across the past two seasons, including starting each game last year. The versatile backer can play outside, inside, or slot corner if needed. Bissainthe finished second on the team with 59 tackles a year ago, showcasing his playmaking ability. While he is certainly impactful against the run and as a pass rusher, the 6-1 backer’s coverage skills have to be among the best in the ACC for his position.

Jaylen Sneed (Notre Dame) - A versatile defender, the 6-2, 230-pound linebacker returns after playing in each game last season with six starts. Sneed finished the year with 51 tackles, six for a loss, two forced fumbles, and a touchdown when he picked up a fumble in the endzone against Navy. The redshirt junior has the potential to be one of the top backers in the country, making impact plays against the run and as a pass rusher.

Drayk Bowen (Notre Dame) - The junior interior backer was always going to be a leader for this season’s team, and that was acknowledged after Bowen’s teammates voted him as a Captain. The 6-2, 235-pounder returns after starting all 16 games last year, where he racked up 78 tackles, three forced fumbles, and two pass breakups. Bowen could be not just one of the top linebackers, but one of the top defenders in the country, with no real weaknesses in his game.

Others to watch: Jaylin Alderman (Miami), Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (Notre Dame), Jaiden Ausberry (Notre Dame)

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Defensive Backs:

OJ Frederique Jr. (Miami) - Miami found a former three-star gem in this sophomore cornerback. As a true freshman last season, Frederique appeared in all 13 games with seven starts, making an immediate impact. He finished the year tied for a team-high seven pass breakups, in addition to 30 tackles and an interception. The six-foot corner was named a Freshman All-American by 247 Sports and earned an honorable mention All-ACC selection. The Hurricanes have their lockdown corner in Frederique for, potentially, the next couple of seasons.

Jakobe Thomas (Miami) - The fifth-year senior DB is a former MTSU and Tennessee transfer. Thomas, primarily a Safety, enters his first season with the Hurricanes after one year with the Volunteers where he underwhelmed as a backup. Before Tennessee, Thomas spent three seasons with MTSU where he flashed his potential in 2023 after finishing the year with 71 tackles in 11 games. Over the course of his career, the 6-2 S has tallied 130 tackles, seven for a loss, and 14 pass breakups. While solid against the run, Thomas could be someone the Irish pass offense picks on in coverage.

Zechariah Poyser (Miami) - Another transfer in the DB room comes from Jacksonville State’s Zechariah Poyser. The 6-2 redshirt sophomore exploded last season with the Gamecocks, posting 75 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and three interceptions. Miami has high hopes for the highly sought-after transfer target who does his best work lined up in the slot. Poyser held his own against Louisville in Jacksonville State’s lone contest against a power-conference school, but time will tell how he translates to the weekly grind of ACC competition, compared to C-USA.

Xavier Lucas (Miami) - The third transfer of this newly formed DB room comes from Wisconsin, where he was teammates with new Notre Dame WR Will Pauling. Lucas, a 6-2 sophomore, impressed last year as a true freshman, recording 18 tackles, three pass breakups, and an interception in 11 games played with one start. Lucas and Frederique should combine to be one of the top outside corner duos in the ACC this year.

Christian Gray (Notre Dame) - One half of the returning starting CB duo is the six-foot junior who started 15 games last year. Gray finished the season with 35 tackles, nine pass breakups, and three interceptions, including a 99-yard pick-six against USC and a clutch interception with under a minute remaining against Penn State, which set up the game-winning score. After a rough game in the CFP Championship, albeit against an elite Ohio State WR core, Gray can be counted on in the clutch and should be in store for another solid season.

Adon Shuler (Notre Dame) - The Irish return their starting Boundary Safety with the redshirt sophomore coming off an impressive season where he recorded 59 tackles, five pass breakups, three interceptions including a pick six, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt. The hybrid safety/linebacker was impressive in coverage and against the run. If the recently announced Captain can clean up some tackling issues from last season, he should start receiving national recognition as one of the top young DBs in the country.

Leonard Moore (Notre Dame) - Speaking of top young DBs in the country, this 6-2, 195-pound sophomore is already receiving his deserved recognition. Moore is listed as a First-Team Preseason All-American by nearly every major media outlet after a stellar true freshman campaign. After appearing in every game and making 10 starts, the corner tallied 48 tackles, a team-high 11 pass breakups, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. When targeted last year, Moore allowed just a 46.4% completion percentage, cementing his status as a future superstar.

DeVonta Smith (Notre Dame) - The first of two starting transfers in the DB room is the nickelback from Alabama. Smith appeared in 12 games with one start last season, tallying 30 tackles, five pass breakups, and a forced fumble while mostly working as a slot corner. The 5-11 defender overall played well last season, impressing in coverage and against the run.

Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame) - Listed as the starting Field Safety is the Virginia Tech transfer coming off a season-ending injury that he sustained in last year’s opener. From 2022-23, Stroman appeared in 22 games with seven starts and totaled 98 tackles, six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles as a Hokie. The versatile 6-1 DB appeared very well-rounded in ‘23 and should have Irish fans excited about his capabilities when fully healthy.

Others to watch: Keionte Scott (Miami), Markeith Williams (Miami), Charles Brantley (Miami), Tae Johnson (Notre Dame), Karson Hobbs (Notre Dame), Luke Talich (Notre Dame), Dallas Golden (Notre Dame), Mark Zackery IV (Notre Dame)

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