Proven starters Boubacar Traore and Bryce Young anchor a dynamic front, while elite freshmen and high-profile transfers ignite a fierce battle for rotation spots in Al Golden’s defense.
Notre Dame will have a mix of old and new at defensive end in 2026, with two starters returning but the depth chart will look a lot different. With the spring behind us we have a much better feel of what the depth chart will look like.
RETURNING PRODUCTION
Boubacar Traore - 37 tackles, 10.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 1 FF
Bryce Young - 20 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 3 break ups
Keon Keeley (Alabama) - 16 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 break up
Loghan Thomas - 2 tackles
STARTING DUO
Notre Dame returns redshirt junior Boubacar Traore and junior Bryce Young to the starting lineup. Traore had a breakout season and is poised for an even better season now that he's a a second year removed from the knee injury he suffered in 2024. Young has loads of talent but has to start producing at a level that matches his talent. This duo provides Notre Dame with a long, dynamic duo that could emerge as one of the nation's best of Traore can continue steady growth and Young can have a breakout season. A breakout from Young is something the defense could really, really use in 2026.
VETERAN DEPTH
Traore and Young might have the starting roles locked down, but there will be a battle to see how who mans the rotation behind the starters. Alabama transfer Keon Keeley is likely to emerge as a key member of the rotation. He showed impressive flashes late in the 2025 season, but he has to be a more consistent player. Keeley should benefit greatly from playing under Charlie Partridge. Junior Loghan Thomas has struggled to stay healthy at Notre Dame, and he also struggles to keep on weight. It's unlikely he'll be able to handle playing on first and second down for a high number of snaps, but his explosive athletic skill gives him a chance to earn a key rotation spot, especially in the pass game.
Notre Dame needs at least one of these two veterans to force their way into more snaps next season.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Arguably the biggest question mark at defensive end coming into the spring was the fact half the depth chart consisted of redshirt freshmen and true freshmen. Would anyone from that group force their way into the rotation? Coming out of the spring this group has answered a lot of questions and has a great chance to have multiple players earn a rotation spot.
Freshman Rodney Dunham was outstanding all spring, showing dual-threat skills as a run defender and pass rusher. Dunham is an advanced player that combines top level athleticism, football IQ and strength for such a young player. I'll be surprised if he doesn't force his way into the two-deep at some point very early in his freshman season. Classmate Ebenezer Ewetade isn't quite as advanced, but he showed explosive playmaking ability and will have a chance to earn a rotation spot as a rookie.
Redshirt freshman Joe Reiff had a strong finish to the spring and provides some power to the edge. His game reminds me a lot of former Irish edge NaNa Osafo-Mensah, who eventually developed into a very important rotation player by the end of his Notre Dame career. Classmate Dom Hulak showed a strong motor and reminds me a lot of past reserves like Junior Tuihalamaka and Jordan Botelho.
If this group can continue improving in the fall the defensive end group will go from the question mark it was before the spring started to a strength.
PAST DEPTH CHARTS
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