Notre Dame linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa entered the 2024 season with high expectations for himself, but also from Fighting Irish fans.
The California native was one of Notre Dame’s biggest recruiting wins of the Freeman era, and he didn’t disappoint.
Viliamu-Asa recorded 37 tackles, one sack, and one interception in 14 games as he missed the USC and Indiana games with a knee sprain.
The injury is in the past and Viliamu-Asa is focused on improving his athleticism this offseason with Director of Sports Performance Loren Landow.
“Over the course of the winter, definitely getting my knee right, getting my body back healthy,” Viliamu-Asa said. “After that, he implemented things to do as far as recovery, stretching, my hip mobility, core, and things to not only prevent injury but enhance.”
Viliamu-Asa also focused on dropping a little bit of weight this spring. He’s checking in at just under 230 pounds, which he feels will help his game.
The ability to gain experience last fall is what has Viliamu-Asa the most excited. He’s seen how the college game works and fought through the ups and downs of a playoff run.
“The greatest teacher is experience,” explained Viliamu-Asa. “The more reps I got, the more comfortable I felt, the more things I was able to learn about myself and about the defense. I have a lot of experience coming into spring ball.”
Viliamu-Asa sees where he’s a completely different player from this time a year ago. The game is slowing down and he’s relying on that experience as he learns Chris Ash’s tweaks to the defense.
“Getting adjusted to the speed of the game and understanding you have to play with great detail as well as great effort,” Viliamu-Asa said of his growth. “There’s a lot of talent out here, so the littlest thing that you let slide is going to cost you.”
Ash isn’t changing a great deal, but one of the areas of focus is playing zone defense. Notre Dame was a heavy man coverage team a year ago, but they were sometimes exposed against Ohio State.
The change has been an adjustment for the defense, but a welcome challenge as it will pay off later.
“We played a lot of man coverage last year, so he knows we can play man,” stated Viliamu-Asa. “We’re implementing ways that we can switch up, play zone a couple times, different things on defense.”
Viliamu-Asa has also seen a change in The Gug.
Chad Bowden is off to sunshine, while Myron Tagovailia-Amosa returned to Notre Dame and Viliamu-Asa’s good friend, Madden Faraimo, is now in the linebacker room and the two are now recruiting a few kids from Southern California.
“It’s someone you’re able to relate to, someone that you have a similar background with, share commonalities with,” he said. “Sharing my experience with those kids, I come up here and do the best I can to share what Notre Dame is all about.”
When it comes to offseason motivation, Viliamu-Asa still has feelings about the national title game in his mind.
“I think about sitting in the locker room and seeing my brothers break down and cry,” said Viliamu-Asa. “The vision for this year is to go back and finish it.”
Want the latest scoop on the Fighting Irish? Sign up for our newsletter and become an ISD Premium Subscriber: Sign Up for ISD
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Long Sleeve T-Shirt Hoodie
