After exploring other options, Mukam returns to Notre Dame, poised to transform his disruptive potential into consistent impact on the defensive line.
Notre Dame got some very good portal news today as junior defensive tackle Armel Mukam has decided to return for the 2026 season. Mukam decided to jump in the portal following the 2025 season and took visits to Virginia, Northwestern and Georgia Tech but ultimately chose to come back to Notre Dame.
Mukam played just 69 snaps last season, but the expectation was that he would become much more of a factor in 2025. The Canadian native only played 15 snaps in the first eight games of the season, but there was a bit of a breakout in the win over Navy. Mukam got early action in the game and played extremely well, finishing with a pressure and a run stop in the win. Mukam flashed his athletic skill and disruptive ability in the game.
In the final four games, Mukam played 54 snaps and you started to see the big time potential we saw when he signed with the Irish. He had four pressures on just 27 pass rush snaps and four run stops in 27 run game snaps in those four games. For context purposes, if he kept that same rate for an entire season and played as many snaps as Jared Dawson he would have finished with 27 pressures and 16 run stops. That would have ranked third on the defense in pressures and been second on the defensive line in run stops, trailing only Boubacar Traore.
Mukam still has plenty of room for growth. At 6-3 and 305 pounds, Mukam certainly has the size to be an every down factor up the middle. Despite the added weight, Mukam has maintained quality athleticism and has shown the ability to be a disruptive penetrator in limited opportunities last season. There is no doubt he has the raw tools to be a factor for the Irish defense.
When looking at his game, Mukam must first focus on consistency. One of the things that limited his playing time was that he didn't play with consistency of effort, technique or execution to really be the factor he's capable of in the Irish defense. Inconsistency at defensive tackle means a big play (TFL, sack) on one snap, but then hitting the wrong gap on the next play, opening up a run lane for the running back or scramble lane for the quarterback.
If Mukam can be a more consistent player in each of those areas he could be a major breakout for the Irish. It's about turning his potential into production, and if he can do that he'll be a legit factor inside for Notre Dame.
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