Does the Notre Dame defense have fewer questions than the offense? We think so yes, many are expecting the Irish defense to contend for the best unit in the nation. The offense could enter that conversation (read our fall camp preview for that side of the ball HERE) but needs to develop a few more positions first. Today, we’re previewing a unit that’s going to be awfully hard to move the ball on in 2026.

Coordinator: Chris Ash, 2nd Season

The hire of Chris Ash was received rather lukewarm last off-season after Al Golden returned to the NFL and the Irish needed a new defensive coordinator. Then the team started 0-2 with the defense looking out of sorts and the firing Ash talk wouldn’t stop. It took a while for him to find his feet and eventually the Irish defense figured things out with their new coach, finishing a very solid 6th in the FEI rankings. Still, the start and missing the playoffs left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

The start to year two should be better than 2025.

The pressure going into 2026 won’t relent, although the start to the season should be far easier. Notre Dame’s defense has to be considered one of the best in the country and has so many pieces coming back that Ash will have virtually no excuses not to be operating at an elite level from the very first snap at Lambeau Field.

Returning Starters: 9/11

Notre Dame lost nickelback DeVonta Smith and defensive tackles Donovan Hinish and Jared Dawson who were both getting starts throughout the 2025 season. Gabriel Rubio was a surprise NFL pick by the Steelers from the interior of the line, as well. Otherwise, the defense is bringing back a plethora of players and will be one of the most experienced units in the country.

When you look at the natural rotation of defensive tackles, how Notre Dame supplemented at the position via the transfer portal with (hopefully) better talent, and that DeVonta Smith was banged up and missed some time, this does have the feel of a defense that brought everyone back and more.

Injuries

DL Jason Onye
DL Tiki Hola
DL Gordy Sulfsted
DL Chris Burgess
LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa
LB Drayk Bowen
LB Madden Faraimo
LB Ja’Kobe Clapper
CB Khary Adams
CB Dallas Golden
CB Nick Reddish
S Joey O’Brien

Many of these injuries were more recent and have more questions about players returning compared to our offense preview where we expect a pretty healthy roster. Jason Onye had surgery in early April after they discovered a broken bone in hand, which should be well recovered by now. True freshman Tiki Hola injured his ACL during his high school senior season and had surgery sometime around the New Year, now confirmed to be ready for camp. Gordy Sulfsted had torn labrum surgery earlier this year and was expected to be participating during summer workouts again. Chris Burgess is a new injury revealed by Marcus Freeman late last week, and he won’t be available to start camp.

The return of KVA will be the most watched injury recovery process.

The linebacker room is hoping to get healthy. KVA tore his ACL in the penultimate game of the 2025 season and Freeman said he won’t be fully healthy for camp. Drayk Bowen had surgery back in January to fix a torn hip labrum and to shave down a bone impingement. He was on the field moving a little bit during spring so we should expect good news for fall camp. Madden Faraimo had scaphoid surgery on his wrist but was doing most of the non-tackling work during the spring. True freshman Ja’Kobe Clapper had torn labrum surgery on his shoulder upon arriving at Notre Dame as an early enrollee and is expected back for practices.

In the secondary, true freshman Khary Adams was another one of the shoulder labrum surgeries and did not make his debut with the team during the spring. He’ll be ready for camp per Freeman. Fellow freshman Nick Reddish also tore his shoulder labrum late in the spring and had surgery, but is healthy for camp. A tricky lower back strain shut down Dallas Golden for the last bit of spring practice just as a precautionary measure. Freshman Joey O’Brien broke his fibula during the Blue-Gold and is cleared for camp according to Freeman.

Camp Questions

#1 Pass Rush

Notre Dame has done a tremendous job manufacturing pressure on quarterbacks without a set of defensive ends that are anchoring things up front. This is shaping up to be a solid-to-very-good collection of Irish edge rushers who should be even better defending the run. Boubacar Traore leads the way and is the best defensive end by far on the roster. We thought he’d have a real breakout season last year and it didn’t quite materialize. Another jump from him could really help out the pass rush, but we’re also waiting to see if Keon Keeley will be a difference maker and if Bryce Young is ready to put things together after a bit of a stalled sophomore campaign.

#2 Interior Reloading 

While the inside of the defensive might not have one player quite at the level of Traore, there are an awful lot of quality players vying for playing time. Of course, a pair of transfers (Francis Brewu and Tionne Gray) change the complexion of things, too.

Gray adds a big body to the defense. 

Ideally, you want at least 4 trusted guys on the interior and I think the Irish are going to open camp with 7 players legitimately claiming they can be that kind of playmaker for the defense. It’ll be fun to watch the competition for snaps.

#3 Nickelback 

The spring saw Notre Dame really go for it while transitioning Christian Gray to a nickel corner, although he was still seeing time as an outside corner, too. I’m guessing Gray opens fall camp as the nickel with the first team but there are so many defensive backs that there should still be plenty of competition. Dallas Golden was looking promising here during spring before his injury and a transfer in for this season could also change things, more on that below.

#4 Fourth Safety

Adon Shuler, Tae Johnson, and Luke Talich appear as locked in to the top 3 safety spots as much as can be possible. Shuler is a returning captain, Tae is an emerging star, and Talich is the lanky one with a remarkable penchant for making plays. But, who slots in as the fourth safety? Joey O’Brien has the 5-star pedigree but had the injury setback. Ethan Long or Brandon Logan haven’t been in the spotlight much so far in their careers but that could change soon.

New Faces to Watch

DE Rodney Dunham

We know this defense is loaded for the fall and ready to inflict a lot of damage upon opponents. It won’t be easy for any true freshman to see playing time. Dunham may be an exception. The nation’s no. 7 overall prospect came in at a good playing weight (officially listed at 242 right now) and looked every bit of the 5-star talent during the spring. His burst off the line could allow him 150 to 200 snaps this year. That may seem high but Dunham could turn into the second best pure pass rusher on the edge behind Traore.

DT Francis Brewu

Remember Notre Dame’s slow start in the transfer portal late last calendar year? Notre Dame picking up Pittburgh’s best defensive lineman was a terrific move and provides the Irish with an extremely strong interior presence while solidifying an area of the defense that was looking weaker after the 2025 season. Brewu was a PFF Freshman All-American in 2024 and is coming off a very good season in 2025 with the Panthers. He may not be an unquestioned starter heading into camp but he’s a good bet to be the best interior player on the team.

CB DJ McKinney

A bit of a forgotten man among the transfers, McKinney has finally enrolled with the team this summer and joins a loaded defensive back group. He began his career with Oklahoma State (2022-23) and really flourished in 2024 with Colorado. Last year saw him battle through injuries and miss a few games while not quite living up to expectations.

McKinney back in his time with the Buffs.

Still, he’s been scouted as a quality NFL talent and has 19 passes defended in his career. McKinney has good size and could play a big role on the outside or at nickel corner, too.

CB Khary Adams

I am not sure that Adams needs to be someone to watch in terms of playing time but I’ve added him in this section because he missed spring with an injury and we don’t know where he’ll fit into the secondary. He was a massive recruit and Composite 5-star who in many other seasons would be the talked about freshman in the class. Now, he’s someone to keep an eye on as he may need some patience for the 2026 season.

5 Quick Thoughts

#1

Three new assistant coaches at each level of the defense is definitely a major talking point heading into the season! There’s an expectation that Chris Ash will keep this train rolling but perhaps there will be some small hiccups integrating all this new staff. I’m especially keen to see new defensive line coach Charlie Partridge in action. He’s been hitting homerun after homerun on the recruiting trail and needs to maximize the talent on hand if the Irish can be a National Championship contender.

#2

If you read my article on the 2026 opponent quarterbacks I think Wisconsin’s Colton Joseph could be really frisky, especially as a runner. I’m curious to know whether the Irish are going to spend a lot of time during fall camp preparing for him and making sure the linebackers are locked in against that type of playmaker who run make plays with this feet.

#3

I count 22 players who are locks to play a lot on defense this season if they are healthy. That is a ton! I was trying to think of the “best of the rest” guys not included in that count and it would be Nick Reddish, Armel Mukam, Rodney Dunham, and Ethan Long.

Ebenezer was DGTâ„¢ during the spring.

#4

With the redshirt rule no longer a thing, I’m curious to see how many defenders the team rolls out there in the early part of the season. I think things are a little different on offense where really young offensive linemen, for example, simply aren’t ready to contribute and there’s really no scenario where the 13th and 14th guys on that depth chart are seeing garbage time. But defense? Are there going to be 50 snaps available to someone like Ebenezer Ewetade just getting after it as a twitchy pass rusher?

#5

Carr and the receivers trying to grow the passing game against this secondary is going to be fun to watch during camp. Remember, during camp last year there were reports of Carr being “too aggressive” and turning the ball over too often, something that didn’t play out during the season. The secondary, and defense, should get their fair share of wins against this offense, though.

Freshmen Numbers

All of these players were enrolled for the spring so we’ve known about their numbers for a while. I really like Dunham in Justin Tuck’s #44 jersey. Thomas Davis is wearing his father’s #58 from his NFL days.

DE Ebenezer Ewetade #14
DE Rodney Dunham #44
DT Tika Hola #55
DT Elijah Golden #90
LB Thomas Davis, Jr. #58
LB Ja’Kobe Clapper #23
CB Chaz Smith #26
CB Khary Adams #21
CB Ayden Pouncey #13
S Nick Reddish #32
S Joey O’Brien #20
K Micah Drescher #36
P Jasper Scaife #39