Adon Shuler Confident Entering Second Season at Notre Dame
Adon Shuler had a big spring.
In fact, Shuler might have had the best spring on the defensive side of the ball, which Notre Dame desperately needed as graduate transfer Rod Heard II couldn’t participate.
The New Jersey native is now dialed in for fall camp and he hopes to make some noise on the depth chart over the next three weeks.
“High energy,” Shuler said of the first few days of fall camp. “Everybody’s just excited. We’re like kids in a candy store. We’ve been waiting since the spring game to get the start of camp and get the whole team together, so we’re just looking forward to building each day.”
Shuler, a sophomore, has embraced the competition with Heard, as the opportunity is exactly what he envisioned when he chose Notre Dame out of high school. The culture in the secondary has only benefitted every safety, as they are able to communicate and learn from each other.
“I would say that it’s a challenge and a grind, but that’s what I came here for, not to just walk in
and be the guy,” explained Shuler. “I wanted to walk in and compete. That’s what I’m able to do here. Seeing other guys like X (Xavier Watts) and Rod, who have experience, they teach a lot of the game, and so just getting that knowledge from them is really important to help my game get better.”
It’s also not surprising that Shuler has paid close attention to Watts over the last seven months. The reigning Bronko Nagurski Award winner led the nation in interceptions last fall, and Shuler has soaked up the All-American's knowledge of the position.
“He caught a lot of picks in the post last year, and so just getting my game better like that from him,” stated Shuler. “I’m also learning routines from the older guys like X, so I’m getting a routine down and that’s helping me.”
Shuler also has new voices around him leading the safety room, which seems to have produced positive returns. Chris O’Leary is in the NFL, so Shuler is now taking instruction from Mike Mickens and Marty Biagi.
Biagi has taken a significant role with the safeties and that’s fine by Shuler.
“He brings a lot of energy from the special teams to the secondary,” explained Shuler. “High energy. He’s always quizzing us, keeping us on our toes, and making sure that we’re always pointing towards the process. That’s really the biggest thing with Coach Biagi.”
Last fall, Shuler entered fall camp looking to prove himself as he missed the spring with a shoulder injury. This year, the focus is different as he’s not only in a position battle, but the defensive staff is counting on him to make plays when given the opportunity.
“Stacking days,” stated Shuler. “Being consistent. That’s the best way to be consistent. I wouldn’t
say that I have something that I need to work on, but just being consistent, stacking days and
making sure the coaches can trust me has kind of been my biggest goal going into camp.”
If there is a specific detail that has Shuler’s attention, it would be communication and that requires extra work outside the building, which he has also embraced.
“That’s the one thing [Coach Mickens] says about the playbook,” Shuler explained. “We have to do our work early — the night before, going into the installs, and being that extra coach on the field. That’s his biggest thing, especially for the safety room. Corners normally don’t have to communicate as much.
“For the safeties, he wants to make sure that we’re out there, being an extra coach for him, seeing where our eyes [are] and making sure that we’re looking at the right things.”
Another person responsible for Shuler’s big offseason is Director of Football Performance Loren Landow. Shuler has put an emphasis on taking care of his body before and after workouts, which young players don’t often learn until year three.
“He just taught me how to be a vet,” Shuler said of Landow. “He shows me a lot of videos, tips, and stuff. How the best in the league treat their bodies. Kinda the same with Coach Balis. I’m continuing
to build every time I get to lift and taking it serious.”
Shuler has checked off several boxes this offseason, but confidence isn’t one of those. The 6-foot, 200-pounder has never lacked confidence as it was a building block for him growing up.
“Coming from New Jersey, I feel we have to be confident in the way we live,” said Shuler. I would say my hometown, Irvington, and my coach, Coach Smoke (Pierre), instilled confidence. Irvington Tough. I feel I have to have that no matter where I’m at.”
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