Only 58 Days Until Kickoff: Jaiden Ausberry Could Be Notre Dame’s Silent Star With Game-Changing Impact on Defense This Season
With just 58 days remaining until Notre Dame football kicks off its highly anticipated 2025 season, the spotlight naturally falls on returning stars, hyped newcomers, and the strength of the team’s schedule. But amid all the noise, one name quietly gaining traction within the program is sophomore linebacker Jaiden Ausberry. He isn’t the loudest voice in the room, nor is he the most talked-about player in national media. Yet those who watch closely believe he may be one of the most important pieces to Notre Dame’s defensive puzzle this fall.
Ausberry arrived in South Bend last season with pedigree, promise, and plenty of expectations. A consensus four-star recruit out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he was widely considered one of the most intelligent and versatile linebackers in the 2023 class. His father, Verge Ausberry, played linebacker at LSU and currently serves as LSU’s executive deputy athletic director, which only amplified the buzz around Jaiden’s development. While LSU was long considered a favorite to land him, Ausberry surprised many by choosing Notre Dame—a decision rooted in academics, faith, and a belief in what Marcus Freeman’s staff is building on the defensive side of the ball.
His freshman season was more about foundation than flash. Ausberry didn’t see major starting reps, playing sparingly in a linebacker room that leaned heavily on veterans like JD Bertrand, Marist Liufau, and Jack Kiser. But when he did get on the field, the flashes were undeniable. Whether on special teams or in mop-up defensive duty, he showed range, instincts, and fluidity in space. The coaching staff took note.
Now, with the departure of Bertrand and Liufau, there’s a void in the heart of Notre Dame’s defense. And Ausberry, once a quiet reserve, is now primed for an expanded role—perhaps even a breakout one.
The linebacker room remains deep, with players like Kiser returning and veterans like Jaylen Sneed and Nolan Ziegler still in the mix. But what separates Ausberry is his versatility. He can play multiple linebacker spots, drop into coverage, blitz off the edge, or spy athletic quarterbacks. At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, he moves more like a safety than a traditional box linebacker, which gives defensive coordinator Al Golden the flexibility to scheme creatively in a season where disguising looks and keeping pace with mobile quarterbacks will be critical.
His cerebral approach to the game also makes him a coaching staff favorite. Ausberry was praised during spring practices for his ability to grasp the nuances of Golden’s defensive system—something that often trips up younger players. Multiple coaches have remarked that he “plays like a senior” in terms of mental preparation and film study.
While he’s not the loudest personality on the roster, Ausberry has emerged as a leader through action. His work ethic in the weight room, attention to detail in drills, and vocal presence in positional meetings are all signs that he’s taking his next step seriously. His teammates have taken notice.
Defensive end Jordan Botelho recently singled Ausberry out in a team interview, saying, “That dude’s a dog. He doesn’t talk a lot, but he just knows where to be and makes plays. We all trust him.”
That trust will be critical. Notre Dame’s defense was excellent in 2024—one of the best in the country in both points and yards allowed per game. But with departures at linebacker and the need to replace a few key voices on the field, continuity and chemistry become even more essential.
Golden will likely rotate packages heavily early in the season, especially with a challenging early schedule. But don’t be surprised if Ausberry begins to anchor the defense more and more as the season progresses. His ability to do a little bit of everything makes him an ideal fit for modern college football, where defensive players are asked to cover more ground and handle more diverse responsibilities than ever before.
There’s also something to be said about players who simply understand the big moments. Ausberry grew up around big-time football. From SEC sidelines to NFL conversations in his household, he’s been around elite programs for much of his life. That awareness, that comfort with high-pressure situations, shows in the way he prepares. He doesn’t get rattled. He doesn’t overthink. He reacts, and he adjusts.
Notre Dame’s 2025 schedule will demand that composure. With games against Texas A&M, Florida State, USC, and a potential playoff push on the line, the Irish need players who don’t shrink in the spotlight. Ausberry may not have the national name recognition of some of his teammates—yet—but his internal stock has soared.
One assistant coach recently said, “If you’re asking me who’s going to surprise people this year, I’d say Jaiden. Not because he came out of nowhere—we’ve always known he was good. But because he’s going to be everywhere. He just makes things happen.”
The quiet importance of a player like Ausberry is that he doesn’t need headlines to validate his impact. He may not lead the team in sacks or interceptions, and he may not go viral for a highlight reel hit. But what he will do is show up—on third down, in the red zone, during two-minute drills, and in those fourth quarters when a single defensive stop can determine the season.
Notre Dame fans should be encouraged by what this next generation of Irish defenders represents. Players like Ausberry symbolize a transition: from a team carried by upperclassmen leadership to one that’s now trusting in underclassmen built in Marcus Freeman’s vision.
Freeman, a former linebacker himself, has made it clear that defensive intelligence and speed are the foundation of his team’s identity. In Ausberry, he has a player who embodies both.
And with just 58 days until the Fighting Irish take the field, that foundation looks stronger than ever.
The questions surrounding Notre Dame’s linebacker room heading into fall camp will likely remain until actual games are played. Can the unit maintain its production without Bertrand and Liufau? Can someone emerge as the reliable playmaker in crunch time?
Jaiden Ausberry is answering those questions quietly, methodically, and confidently.
In a sport obsessed with five-star hype and highlight reels, sometimes the most valuable players are the ones doing the dirty work in silence. Watching the film. Learning the schemes. Leading by example.
This season, don’t be surprised if, by November, the name on everyone’s lips is the one that started the year in the background.
Jaiden Ausberry might not be the loudest voice in the locker room. But on the field, he’s about to make a lot of noise.
