Notre Dame DL Jayson Ademilola: 'We all want to be great'

Notre Dame defensive lineman Jayson Ademilola could have left for the NFL after his 2021 campaign, but the 6-foot-3, 285-pounder wants to build on his 49 tackles, eight tackles and 3.5 sacks. 

Ademilola went to work to add more size and strength for his final year in the blue and gold in hopes of improving his draft stock and leaving with a national title. 

"It's been definitely mentally,” Ademilola said of his biggest growth in the offseason. “I feel like my body is a lot stronger too. I'm a lot bigger this year going into the season. I have a big chip on my shoulder." 

The chip on the shoulder has always been there for Ademilola and he doesn’t expect to lose it any time soon. 

"I feel like I've always had a chip on my shoulder since I was young,” stated Ademilola. “That doesn't go anywhere. My chip comes from being from New Jersey and being a defensive lineman here, having to wait my turn. I'm never going to lose my chip. If anything, it's going to keep getting bigger and bigger." 

Ademilola, a graduate student, missed the spring following shoulder surgery, but it wasn’t all a negative. The New Jersey native was able to learn Al Golden’s new defense from mental reps and the transition to the field in camp has been seamless. 

"It's very unique,” Ademilola said of Golden’s scheme. “We're playing everything. We have everything going for us. It fits a lot of people's game. I like it a lot. It allows guys to play fast and free to make plays." 

It will be the third defense in three Ademilola has learned. The common denominator in all three schemes has been physical play, which the Irish have ramped up over the last eight months. 

"You saw how physical it was out there today,” explained Ademilola. “Tomorrow we're back in the stadium, so we know it's going to be a physical day. Everybody has been out there grinding. We're trying to get better.

“Quite frankly, it's more we're coming in here to work to improve how you are as a player rather than just trying beat the guy behind you. If he's not pushing himself and I'm not pushing myself, then why are we out here? We're just trying to get better for Ohio State and every game after that. That's the focus." 

Competition has been another emphasis for Marcus Freeman’s first team. The first-year head coach has challenged the lines on both sides of the ball to lead the team and it’s been fully embraced. 

"We like to carry ourselves as the strength of this team,” stated Ademilola. “We think about that each and every day. That's our mindset and makes us push each other harder and harder, so we don't have a breaking point. 

"That's why August is so important. Each and every day, we're busting our balls, busting our ass. We are the strength of the team. That's what it is. The O-Line and D-Line, the team is driven on the big guys." 

And it’s not been hard for the defensive line to embrace high expectations. It’s a veteran group with experience and they know what it takes to get Notre Dame to where Freeman is leading them. 

“We have a lot of older guys,” said Ademilola. “Everybody is helping each other out. We're all invested in getting better. We all want to be great. That's why this place is special. Everybody wants to be great. That's what we're working on each and every day." 

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