Ko'o Kia

The latest on 2025 recruiting and winter workouts.

Notre Dame linebacker Kahanu Kia is back at Notre Dame after serving a two-year LDS mission in North Carolina.

TE Jack Larsen on if was a relief to see Mike Denbrock be named OC (TE background):"For sure. He's a great offensive mind and I'm excited to work with him for sure."- - - - - - - - - - -DE Cole Mullins on where his health is following his ankle injury:"I'm still trying to gain confidence back in the foot. I'm doing all the workouts, all the lifting and full weight. I'd say I'm almost 100 percent and I should be good by spring ball." - - - - - - - - - - -DE Loghan Thomas on benefits for transferring to St. Edward (Ohio) for his senior year:"Going against one of the best offensive lines in the country every day helped me to be the best I could be in practice and ultimately making the games a lot easier. Transferring your senior year is never easy, but being close to your family and going to a school that pushed me closer to my faith was all worth it." - - - - - - - - - - -DE Bryce Young on how his parents talked to him about Notre Dame: "I would say it was more so, 'Yeah, this is a great school.' They knew it was a great school because they experienced it, but more so for me, it was just them letting me see it. It was 100% my decision. They gave me the things I needed to hear: The good, the bad, the ugly. Everything. I took that and made my decision to come here because I thought it was the best place for me."- - - - - - - - - - -LB Kahanu Kia on his future role on the defense:"Right now it's just been linebacker. That's what I was recruited as. I'm excited to be back in the room with those guys like Jack. That's where I left off at. Wherever they need me, honestly. We haven't talked too much really. It's just been learning the playbook and do everything you can to give yourself the best opportunity to play."Bonus QuoteKia on seeing his brother, 2025 Notre Dame commit Ko'o Kia, for the first time in two years: "When I first saw him, he was so long and tall and almost unrecognizable. He's definitely gotten bigger since. He got super long. His arms were just like what the heck. I wish I had that." - - - - - - - - - - -LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa on learning the playbook:"They're kind of easing me into it and not trying to throw too much at me. Just be able to understand the basics of fronts and stuff like that. It's been really smooth. The older guys have been open about talking to me about it. I've been going in with the coaches to talk about it and learn. I think a lot that we did at Bosco has really been helping me with the transition." - - - - - - - - - - -DB Jordan Clark on playing with reckless abandonment: "To play nickel, you have to have it. Very often, nickels aren't the biggest people on the field, which are expected to fill the Sam linebacker role. You have to force, you have to box the ball back in, you have to get off blocks and destroy screens. I think the way that (Harper) plays the game is so admirable. I think it's how you should play, and I think (Chris O'Leary) pouring into him and coach (Mike Mickens) pouring into him just maximized who he could be. I can't wait to see what he does on the next level as well."- - - - - - - - - - -S Kennedy Urlacher on mindset when he's on the field:"Somebody's running with the ball, go hit him."- - - - - - - - - - -K Mitch Jeter on why he entered the Transfer Portal: "I recognized that I had one year of eligibility left from COVID. That was kind of my opportunity. And I did my time at South Carolina, did my four years, got my degree in biological sciences. So, I did that. I really just felt like I wanted a little bit of a change of scenery. A lot of different kinds of aspects are changing in college football, wanting to see what was out there for me, so I entered the transfer portal. "And Notre Dame kind of really stood out to me with the opportunity that I'm able to build through this brand and this network, as well as get on the field and compete for a national championship." '47 Navy Notre Dame Fighting Irish Fairway Hitch Adjustable Hat