Notre Dame's linebackers return with unmatched depth and elite talent. Can this unit become the nation's best, led by returning captain Drayk Bowen?
During Marcus Freeman's as head coach the Notre Dame program has built quite a strong reputation at linebacker. A program known for producing elite individual linebackers more than great units, Notre Dame has built much stronger all around units since Freeman arrived. Considering he was once an All Big Ten linebacker himself, this shouldn't come as a surprise.
Notre Dame had three linebackers win the Butkus Award from 2012 to 2020, but outside of 2017-18 the units were dominated by one great player. Under Freeman, Notre Dame's effectiveness at linebacker has been more about unit strength more than having one elite defender. In fact, all three linebacker starters in 2022 and 2023 were drafted.
The 2026 unit could be the first time under Freeman where we see a combination of depth, all-around play and top level talent. That is why the Irish have a chance to put the nation's best linebacker group on the field this season.
Let's continue our 2026 depth chart breakdown with a look at the linebackers.
PROJECTED LB DEPTH CHART
RETURNING PRODUCTION
Notre Dame returns its top eight tackers at linebacker from last season, including all five backers who played at least 100 snaps last season.
Drayk Bowen - 67 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 4 break ups
Jaiden Ausberry - 51 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa - 48 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 2 break ups
Jaylen Sneed - 35 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Madden Faraimo - 16 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 break up
Kahanu Kia - 9 tackles
Teddy Rezac - 4 tackles, 1.0 TFL
Ko'o Kia - 1 tackle
BOWEN LEADS THE WAY
There is no doubt who the leader of the Irish defense will be in 2026 thanks to the return of Drayk Bowen. Now going into his third season as the starting Mike, and his second as a team captain, Bowen will be tasked with continuing to provide great leadership. The question now is can he raise his overall level of impact play. Bowen has been a steady presence for Notre Dame the last two seasons, but there is another level he can, and must get to in his final season.
The big question is will the defensive system be built in a way that allows Bowen to play more downhill, and if he can thrive in that type of role. Bowen showed more playmaking last season than he did in 2024, making more tackles for loss (4.5) in twelve games than he did (4.0) in sixteen games the previous season. Bowen also had more missed tackles last season, and it took him and the rest of the linebackers at least three games to get comfortable in the Chris Ash defense.
Now that he has a year under his belt, the expectation is that Bowen will raise his level of play even more. He had 3.5 of his 4.5 tackles for loss in the last five games, and he did this despite averaging eight fewer snaps per game in those victories due to the Irish blowing opponents out. Bowen also averaged over one more tackle per game during the final five contests and also had 17 of his 28 run stops (PFF) in the final five games.
If Bowen can build on that higher level of production he'll have an outstanding final season leading the Irish defense.
AUSBERRY AND SNEED ARE AN IMPACT DUO
Bowen is locked in at Mike linebacker, but the Irish used a bit of a two-man duo last season, and at times three different players handled the Will position. That group was quite productive, and that's expected to continue in 2026. Jaiden Ausberry and Jaylen Sneed combined for 86 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five sacks last season.
Ausberry started the final 10 games of the season, and like Bowen he was more productive down the stretch than he was at the beginning of the season. Three of his four tackles for loss were in the final five games, and 11 of his 13 pressures came during that stretch. It was clear that the linebackers took time to get comfortable in Ash's defense, but once they did their level of play and their production skyrocketed. If you look at Ausberry an Bowen's negative numbers, like missed tackles, those numbers went down later in the season, which further supports this notion.
Sneed did a chunk of his production in sub packages, but late in the season he had two of his better off ball linebacker performances. The key for him having a strong final season is being a more consistent player, especially as an off ball linebacker. Sneed can run extremely well, he's strong enough to be a factor and in many ways his game has grown, but the lack of consistency in base looks has been the issue. If he can be more consistent and build on his strong finish to the season he and Ausberry could form a truly dynamic one-two punch at Will, and Sneed will be even better in the sub packages.
WHAT IS KVA'S STATUS?
The one big question at linebacker is the health status of Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, who went down with a season-ending knee injury during the blowout win over Syracuse. Viliamu-Asa was playing outstanding football at the time of his injury and he was on the verge of taking his game to an elite level. What we don't know is where his game will be in 2026. When will he be back? Will he be able to pick up where he left off? Will he need a year to get his game fully back to where it was before the injury?
If not for the injury we'd be talking about Viliamu-Asa becoming a star in the Irish defense, but now we have to wait and see just what he'll be able to do. Whenever he returns to form there is one thing we know, and that is Viliamu-Asa will be an impact player in the Irish defense. Last season, Viliamu-Asa was a difference maker as both an off ball linebacker at both Mike and Will, and as a pass rusher in sub packages. According to PFF, Viliamu-Asa is one of the 10 best returning edge rushers in the country on a per snap basis.
FARAIMO READY FOR MORE
Despite a loaded room in 2025, then freshman Madden Faraimo was able to force his way into the rotation last season. In the first series he got action, he broke up a pass that ended up in the hands of a teammate. In the last two games of the season, Faraimo racked up three tackles for loss, two sacks and had four quarterback pressures. You could see the light was starting to go on for him.
Now a sophomore, Faraimo will get a chance to earn a more regular role in the defense. With Viliamu-Asa likely out this spring, Faraimo should be able to get a lot of action as the No. 2 Mike linebacker and also at the Will spot. It also wouldn't be a surprise if he got some sub package looks as a pass rusher. He's athletic, physical and can do a lot of different things in the Irish defense.
DEPTH IS STRONG
That's a strong five already, but Notre Dame has really good depth behind the group discussed above. Kahanu Kia is a strong special players already and he showed some playmaking potential late in games last season. If his number is called due to injuries, Kia has the talent to step into the lineup and produce. His brother, Ko'o Kia, might be a year away from pushing for a role at linebacker, but I expect him to be a key contributor on special teams this season.
Redshirt sophomore Teddy Rezac was a special teams starter last season and he's a talented, athletic defender who is entering the time in his career when his game could really take off. He's filled out, gotten stronger and maintained his athleticism. This group gives the Irish truly elite depth at linebacker.
ROOKIES WILL NEED TIME
Notre Dame landed a pair of four-star linebackers in Thomas Davis Jr. and Jakobe Clapper. The returning depth will make it tough for them to crack the two deep as rookies, but the good news is they get a chance to learn the defense, spend time in the weight room and get acclimated to the academic work before they are being asked to compete for a spot in the rotation.
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