Projecting Notre Dame’s Defensive Depth Chart After 2025 Spring Practice: Who Starts, Who Rises, and Who’s Ready to Contribute
The conclusion of spring practice for Notre Dame’s football program has left a clearer — though still evolving — picture of what the Fighting Irish defense may look like heading into the 2025 season. Under defensive coordinator Al Golden, who continues to earn praise for his NFL-caliber schemes and player development, Notre Dame’s defense returns a promising mix of veterans, breakout candidates, and impact freshmen. While nothing is truly finalized until fall camp concludes, we can begin to project the defensive depth chart based on performances this spring, buzz around the program, and positional need.
Starting on the defensive line, the Irish will rely heavily on proven leaders to anchor a front that must replace key contributors from last season. At defensive end, senior Jordan Botelho has emerged as a tone-setter and looks poised to start at the strong-side end spot. His high motor, power at the point of attack, and improved pass-rush technique were all on display this spring. Opposite him at the Vyper position — Notre Dame’s hybrid edge role — junior Boubacar Traore made significant strides and appears ready to take the next step as a full-time starter. Traore’s speed off the edge gives Notre Dame a dynamic pass-rushing threat, and his versatility allows Golden to move him around in creative packages.
Inside, the Irish should field one of their deepest tackle rotations in years. Senior Howard Cross III is back as the team’s most disruptive interior presence. He’s expected to start at the three-technique, where his quickness and leverage continue to overwhelm offensive linemen. Next to him, look for sophomore Devan Houstan to lock down the nose tackle position. Houstan impressed coaches with his improved strength and technique during spring ball and has edged ahead of veteran Gabe Rubio in the competition. That said, Rubio will still rotate in heavily, particularly in short-yardage situations, and has starter-level experience. Keep an eye on Tyson Ford and Rylie Mills, who both saw reps at multiple interior spots and could play key rotational roles, especially in pass-rush situations.
Linebacker remains a strength, though spring saw significant competition and experimentation, particularly in light of former starter JD Bertrand’s departure. At Mike linebacker, junior Drayk Bowen appears to have taken a firm hold of the job. Bowen has always been praised for his instincts and physicality, and this spring he showed improved lateral quickness and command of the defense. Backing him up is freshman phenom Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, who arrived with five-star expectations and quickly lived up to the hype. Though it’s unlikely he starts immediately, Viliamu-Asa has shown flashes of elite sideline-to-sideline ability and may force his way onto the field early.
At Will linebacker, junior Jaylen Sneed has finally started to put it all together. His athletic upside has never been questioned, but this spring he demonstrated greater consistency, particularly in pass coverage and play recognition. Sneed was one of the defense’s spring MVPs and is now penciled in as a starter. Freshman Teddy Rezac is also making waves. The former safety has adapted quickly to linebacker responsibilities and offers excellent range and coverage skills — something the staff is looking to utilize in sub-packages.
The Rover position, a hybrid linebacker-safety role, saw perhaps the most intense spring competition. Sophomore Preston Zinter emerged as a favorite here due to his physical play and comfort in space, but he’ll continue to battle with juniors Nolan Ziegler and Jaiden Ausberry throughout the summer. Ziegler returned to form after a season away from football and provides toughness and leadership, while Ausberry’s closing speed and instincts give him situational value. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see all three involved depending on the matchup or down-distance situation.
Notre Dame’s secondary, arguably the team’s most exciting group, is loaded with talent and depth. Starting at cornerback, Benjamin Morrison returns as one of the top players in the nation at his position. A true lockdown defender, Morrison has been excellent in spring and will anchor the back end. On the opposite side, the battle is closer. Senior Jaden Mickey took first-team reps most of spring and looked more confident and consistent than in past seasons. However, sophomore Christian Gray is closing fast. Gray’s ball skills and length make him a natural fit, and the competition will likely extend into fall camp. Expect both to play significant snaps, even if Mickey starts Week 1.
At nickel, look for Thomas Harper to reprise his role. The sixth-year senior brings valuable experience, toughness, and intelligence to the slot corner position. Freshman Leonard Moore, though, might be too talented to keep off the field. Moore flashed excellent instincts and fluidity this spring and could be a future star at multiple spots in the secondary.
At safety, the Irish must replace All-American Xavier Watts, who declared for the NFL Draft, but spring practice showed that Notre Dame’s talent pipeline remains strong. Senior Ramon Henderson has finally stepped into a full-time leadership role and looks poised to start at free safety. His range and understanding of the defense were evident throughout the spring scrimmages. At strong safety, junior Antonio Carter II has the inside track. A transfer from Rhode Island, Carter has developed into a physical enforcer with improved coverage skills. His ability to step into the box gives Notre Dame additional flexibility against run-heavy looks.
Backing them up are a trio of intriguing options. Senior DJ Brown is a trusted veteran who can play either safety spot in a pinch. Sophomore Adon Shuler had a strong spring and could be a breakout candidate — he brings a downhill, aggressive mentality that fits well in Golden’s scheme. Don’t rule out early enrollee Ivan Taylor, either. The son of former NFL star Ike Taylor showed surprising polish and isn’t far off from contributing if needed.
Special packages and substitutions will be frequent, especially with how Golden likes to mix coverages and disguise pressures. Expect the Irish to use a “Dollar” package with six or seven defensive backs in passing situations, particularly given the depth at safety and corner. In those situations, look for players like Ausberry, Moore, and Taylor to see the field alongside Morrison, Henderson, and Carter.
Depth-wise, the 2025 defense is better equipped than it’s been in years. The influx of elite freshmen — headlined by Viliamu-Asa, Taylor, Moore, and Rezac — adds a level of competition that ensures no starting job is safe. Veterans like Cross, Botelho, Henderson, and Morrison provide a strong backbone of leadership and production. The key question will be consistency. While Notre Dame has the physical tools and experience to field a top-10 defense nationally, how quickly the younger players adapt and how the linebacker rotation settles may define the unit’s ceiling.
Another aspect worth watching is leadership. With Bertrand, Watts, and Cam Hart gone, the Irish will need new vocal leaders to emerge. Cross, Morrison, and Henderson are already filling that void, but intangible chemistry is just as important as talent. Fortunately, by all accounts, the defense was one of the most cohesive units during spring camp, with positional groups pushing each other daily.
Looking ahead, the depth chart is unlikely to stay static. Injuries, positional shuffling, and freshman emergence will all impact who sees the field this fall. That said, Notre Dame fans should be encouraged by what they saw and heard this spring. The defense, long the bedrock of the Irish under Marcus Freeman’s tenure, looks ready to take another step — maybe even into elite territory.
The defensive front should be more disruptive, the linebacker corps faster and more versatile, and the secondary deeper and more talented than it’s been in recent memory. With a tough schedule looming in 2025 — including matchups against Texas A&M, USC, and Clemson — the Irish will need that defense to shine early and often. But if spring was any indication, this group won’t just be reacting to opponents. They’ll be setting the tone. And that’s a very good sign for Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff hopes.
