Notre Dame's defense has had an excellent turnaround in the last month of football. They've held Arkansas, Boise State, NC State and USC significantly under their point totals and yards avergaes on the season. The Razorbacks, Broncos, Wolfpack and Trojans were also held in check in the second half and struggled to move the ball up and down the field in the second half against the Irish defense.
Currently, they rank No. 44 in points allowed per game (21.3), No. 21 in rushing yards allowed per game (100.7) and No. 2 in the country in interceptions (13). Defensive coordinator Chris Ash has this unit playing significantly better than how they opened the season, but that doesn't mean they won't need other players to step up in this home stretch in November. Notre Dame's offense will need these players to breakout in the second half of the season to further increase their chances of making a run in this year's College Football Playoffs.
Defensive End Josh Burnham
Josh Burnham's lack of snaps have been on of the more interesting storylines of the 2025 season. He was banged up in the middle of September, but is now healthy and ready to contribute. When he's seen the field, Burnham has been an extremely efficient player for this defense, but he's only played 86 snaps this season. His season high came against Miami in the season-opener where he played 25 snaps and hasn't gone above 16 snaps since then. Burnham has graded out in the Top 10 on defense in overall grade per PFF but he hasn't been on the field for even close to half of the defensive snaps on a week to week basis.
At some point, defensive line coach Al Washington, along with Ash, will have to start utilizing the depth in the room and it doesn't get more quality than Burnham. Both Bryce Young and Boubacar Traore have played over 200 snaps this season; Traore is four snaps away from playing 300 in a season where he's only one year removed from a significant knee injury. Moral of the story, Burnham needs to see more snaps. He's one of the best players against the run and he'll be needed sooner than you might think.
Defensive Tackle Jason Onye
The injury to Gabriel Rubio isn't ideal, but Notre Dame has depth along the interior of the defensive line. Fifth-year senior Jason Onye is one of those players. He's had a very interesting career during his time in South Bend. Last season, he left the team to handle personal issues and returned this past winter. Onye worked his way back up the ranks and has been the starter along the interior since week one. He's played the second most snaps of any interior player outside of Donovan Hinish who has played seven more snaps than Onye. I'm sure you're asking, 'why is he on the breakouts list if he's played so much?' Simple answer, he has to play at a higher level.
Onye hasn't had a bad season by any means, but the expectations around the 6-5, 302-pound defensive tackle have been sky-high for the last couple of seasons. For one reason or another, it hasn't panned out, but now is the perfect opportunity for Onye to breakout and be a force along the interior. He hasn't shown his full abilities generating pressure as a pass rusher and has been solid, but not elite in the run game. Onye has the ability to be a Sunday player and has the opportunity to reach that potential over these next five games. If he breaks out, and Rubio returns healthy, the interior of Notre Dame's defensive line will be a force.
Nickel Back Dallas Golden
Alabama transfer DeVonta Smith, who they brought in to play nickel, has been nursing a calf injury for the past few weeks which meant that true freshman Dallas Golden has earned the start at nickel. Golden started against Purdue, NC State and USC and ended up playing 29 snaps against Arkansas and 54 against Boise State despite not starting. He's played the 9th most snaps on defense despite not playing against Miami and USC and will likely be a key rotational piece for Notre Dame's secondary moving forward. At some point, Smith will return, but will he be ready to take on the lion's share of snaps?
All signs are pointing in the direction of a Golden breakout. He's given up some big plays in the passing game, but he's a true freshman. Ben Morrison did the same thing from time to time in 2022 during his true freshman season. Leonard Moore gave up some explosive plays during his true freshman season last year. Big plays will happen, but Golden has the potential to be an elite level talent at the nickel for the Irish for years to come. With a last name like Golden, South Bend has to be the home where you breakout.
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