Dallas Golden's explosive potential ignites Notre Dame's secondary. Can this dynamic freshman transition from rotation player to bona fide starter, elevating the entire defense?
The 2025 recruiting class looks to have a surge this offseason and solidify themselves in rotations and starting lineups across the board. Offensive tackle Will Black looks to seize hold of a starting position in the trenches. Defensively, rising sophomore Dallas Golden looks to solidify his position in the nickel rotation and will have an opportunity to start. A breakout from Golden throughout this offseason will raise the overall ceiling of the secondary and give Notre Dame a truly dynamic rotation at nickel for the first time in Marcus Freeman's tenure.
There's three different levels to a player breaking out. The first level of a breakout season is a player going from not playing a ton to being an integral part of the rotation. The second level of a breakout is a player going from a key rotation guy to a starter. The final level of a breakout is going from a starter to a certified dude on their respective side of the ball.
Golden was the highest ranked recruit in the 2025 recruiting cycle on the Irish Breakdown recruiting board. He was graded as a 4.5 star recruit with a 5.0 star upside grade. In high school, he was a 'do everything' type of player making a significant impact on offense, defense and special teams. We thought he might make his presence felt his first season on campus and we weren't wrong.
As a true freshman, Golden played in 10 games throughout the 2025 season and started against Purdue at home, NC State at home and USC at home. He also saw significant time against Arkansas on the road (29 snaps) and Boise State at home (54 snaps). During his freshman campaign, Golden racked up 22 total tackles, two passes defended and one interception.
At times, the Florida native looked like a true freshman, but even in those moments, you saw the potential of what he will be in a Notre Dame uniform. Golden was named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Watch List and enters this offseason as one of the candidates to start at the nickel position. Now that new defensive backs coach Aaron Henry has taken over, the nickel position is up for debate. But a breakout offseason from the 6-0, 195-pound defensive back could shake things up in the two-deep.
BREAKOUT PREDICTION
Golden has one of the highest ceilings on the defensive side of the ball, and you could argue on the entire team. He has elite change of direction, good speed and a strong feel for the game. Now that he has 311 snaps of experience under his belt, Golden is poised for a massive step forward in year two which we've seen from countless Fighting Irish defensive backs in recent years.
It's likely that the Irish will also try out veteran Christian Gray at the nickel spot as well with the arrival of Colorado's DJ McKinney in the summer, but it's not a done deal. A strong push from Golden this offseason could earn him the spot as the starting nickel. After all, the Florida native started three games at nickel as a true freshman, a very difficult position for any talented player let alone a true freshman.
In his three starts, he allowed two touchdowns, recorded two pass break ups and recorded an interception against Purdue in the second half. Golden also recorded 11 of his 22 tackles on the season in his three starts and flashed his potential in those opportunities. At the bare minimum, Golden will be in the rotation at nickel and his versatility gives him the ability to play positions across the board in the secondary.
Since Freeman's arrival as defensive coordinator in 2021, there hasn't been a true rotation at nickel, especially over the last few seasons. Oklahoma State transfer Thomas Harper was the lone nickel in 2023. In 2024, Arizona State transfer Jordan Clark took almost every rep at nickel. This past season, Alabama transfer DeVonta Smith was brought to South Bend to take over the nickel spot, but health issues kept him off the field paving the way for Golden's opportunity.
If Gray works out at nickel and McKinney takes over the field spot, you have a dynamic one-two punch in the slot with Golden and Gray. If Golden pushes for the No. 1 spot at nickel this offseason, you have a very talented one-two punch at field corner with Gray and McKinney. The Irish secondary is truly in a win-win scenario barring Golden having the breakout offseason, something he's more than capable of having.
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