Irish defensive ends and linebackers ignite the field. Proven stars and rising talents anchor a formidable unit, ready to dominate.
The level of proven talent returning on the defensive side of the ball for Notre Dame this season is outstanding. Yes, there are still some question marks along the interior of the defensive line, but by and large, this will be an extremely talented and experienced group next season. They return key starters and top talent at every level of the defense. Defensive coordinator Chris Ash won't have a talent shortage on his side of the ball next season. Now, it's about maximizing their talent and consistently putting them in the right spot to be successful.
It starts up front with the defensive line, specifically the edge players. Defensive end Boubacar Traore returned from injury this season and started in 11 of their 12 regular season games. He sat out of the Navy game due to the style of game that it was, not for injuries. Even with missing a regular season game, Traore finished the year leading the team in total pressures (31), sacks (7.5), tackles for a loss (11.0) and total sacks plus hits on the quarterback (15). The 6-4, 250-pound edge rusher is poised to have an All-American caliber season in 2026 and he won't be alone.
Fellow defensive ends Josh Burnham and Bryce Young are also expected to return to next year's roster. Burnham wasn't able to play a full workload of snaps mid way through the season due to a lingering injury, but he broke out against Boston College and didn't look back in the month of November. He finished the season with 19 total pressures and five hits plus sacks on the quarterback while only playing 114 pass rushing snaps. Burnham was 3rd on the team in tackles for a loss with 6.0 and finished the year tied for 3rd on the team in total sacks with 3.0.
Young, a standout sophomore this past season, ended the year second on the team in total pressures with 28. That's only three total pressures behind Traore but Young played 92 less pass rushing snaps. The 6-7, 271 power edge rusher finished the season with 10 total hits plus sacks on the quarterback, 2.0 tackles for a loss and 20 total tackles. The breakout many fans were expecting in 2025 will likely come in 2026. Heading into next year, the Irish will have one of, if not the best, defensive end rotation in the country.
The linebacking corps is absolutely loaded with talent and experience even with Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa's injury status heading into the offseason. Captain and middle linebacker Drayk Bowen will likely return for his senior season along with soon-to-be redshirt junior Jaiden Ausberry. Bowen and Ausberry finished first and third on the team in total tackles. Soon-to-be redshirt senior Jaylen Sneed also has the opportunity to return in 2026 along with a host of young talent. All four linebackers last season accounted for 201 tackles, 21.0 tackles for a loss, 63 total pressures and two forced fumbles and that doesn't account for any of Madden Faraimo's production either.
The secondary might be the most loaded group of the bunch. For starters, star cornerback Leonard Moore will be back in the boundary next fall. Moore finished the season leading the team in interceptions with five and was a finalist for the Thorpe Award and the Bronko Narguski Award. Field corner Christian Gray is also expected to be back in South Bend in 2026. Gray didn't have the season many of us had hoped for, but he still led the team in pass breakups with nine, recorded two interceptions and allowed a lower reception rate than Moore did.
At safety, the Irish will have one of the best safety tandems in the country with captain Adon Shuler and soon-to-be redshirt sophomore Tae Johnson returning to the Notre Dame defense. Shuler was second on the team in total tackles with 53 and that was with missing two and a half quarters of football due to a targeting penalty. He also recorded five passes defended, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Johnson got his opportunity in the starting lineup and never looked back. The 6-2, 193-pound safety finished the season 4th on the team in total tackles with 48 and 2nd on the team in interceptions with four and that was without playing much in the first game and missing the final two regular season games.
The defensive side of the ball is loaded with top end talent and experience and should pick up where they left off in 2025. A lot of that will come down to Ash, the rest of the defensive staff and the decisions they make moving forward. High level talent will not be an issue for this group and I'd argue they have a better outlook heading into 2026 than they in 2025.
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