Brotherhood Driving Notre Dame Defensive Line in 2023
Notre Dame’s defensive line has seen a nice stretch of NFL-caliber players come through in recent years, but it’s been a few years since the room has highlighted its chemistry and brotherhood.
No, it’s not saying there were issues or the room wasn’t close in the past as that wouldn’t be accurate. Yet, the 2019 season with Khalid Kareem, Daelin Hayes, Ade Ogundeji, Jamir Jones, Kurt Hinish and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa was the last year where there was an incredibly close bond one could easily feel.
Enter Al Washington’s 2023 defensive line.
It appears Notre Dame has an exceptionally close-knight group and it’s not something Washington is taking lightly.
“It’s a really tight group,” stated Washington. “One of the more tight groups I’ve been around. They’re very supportive. I think they are very conscious about them maximizing themselves, but also their teammates around them. The older guys have done a great job with the young group. We’re a very tight group. I credit the leadership, the older guys for creating that culture.
“Culture is always tested when you go out there and you compete. I think they genuinely care and love each other. I think that’s everything.”
Nana Osafo-Mensah has been highlighted as the heart and soul of the room, but other players have made strides to challenge themselves to lead. Rylie Mills is one of those players, who has typically let his actions speak, but this fall, the Lake Forest (Ill.) native has stepped out of his shell a bit.
“Leaders gotta be seen, heard and felt,” explained Washington. “I think D-Linemen and O-Linemen in terms of team dynamics have to be the tough guys. They have to be the leaders, the enforcers. The people that you hear and see.
“I think Rylie’s embracing that in his own way. His desire to help people is what motivates him being vocal—trying to connect to guys. I think it does a lot for our team and our defense.”
Perhaps the biggest development is it’s not just Mills and Osafo-Mensah leading. The leadership has started to come from most of the veterans, which has led Notre Dame’s best teams as of late.
“I would say Rylie Mills, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Howard Cross, Jordan Botelho and even Junior Tuihalamaka,” Osafo-Mensah said of who the leaders are in the room. “All those guys always seek the opportunity to be able to lead. We always take turns being able to impact the defensive line.
“We have a big room. Guys with a lot of personalities, guys from all different parts of the world and country. Just being able to have different leaders in there helps us keep it together as one and to keep going to make it the best unit we can.”
Now, Notre Dame will ultimately need production on Saturdays this fall as leadership is nice to see on paper, but tackles for loss, sacks and pressures win games.
But when you’re talking about multiple players leading, it’s likely a sign there is not only depth, but confidence. Washington believes he has a room that can go deep into the depth chart if need be and maximizing the next few weeks will be crucial.
“I think we have a lot of guys that as a coach you feel confident they can execute and perform,” said Washington. “The guys you mentioned, (Brenan) Vernon and (Tyson) Ford, they’ve really taken to the off-season. They changed their bodies. Vernon coming in as a very talented prospect and has a workmanlike mentality. Tyson Ford, working on building his toolbox but I feel really good about the 9 or 10 guys if you look at a couple of guys being able to play a couple of different jobs, I think that’s the number we’re at.”
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