Notre Dame Safety Adon Shuler Sets the Tone for Fall Camp: 'We Have To Go Harder'
Adon Shuler has been there and done that.
The New Jersey native enters his fourth fall camp and his second season as one of Notre Dame's leaders.
While the team hasn't officially named captains, it's a safe bet Shuler and Drayk Bowen will wear the "C" for a second straight year after both veterans joined Marcus Freeman at Tuesday's media session.
Notre Dame's three-year starting safety opened camp with a simple message for his teammates.
“We just have to go harder,” stated Shuler. “We left it to the judges last year and that's on us. But like Coach says, we have to own it. We can't dwell on it. We can't push the blame on somebody else. We just have to look in the mirror and make sure it's better next year.”
That mindset will be tested throughout camp.
Notre Dame enters the 2026 season carrying College Football Playoff expectations, but with those expectations comes the temptation to focus too far down the road.
The good news for Notre Dame is the roster is loaded with veterans who have experienced both the highs and lows of college football.
Shuler believes the Irish have to block out the outside noise and remain focused on the process inside Shields Family Hall.
“I would just say don't feed into the noise,” Shuler stated. “I would say that's kind of the biggest thing. None of that is going to change the past, but all we can do is build for the future and just get one percent better every day.
“We know every play, every opportunity we get to go on the field and practice in meetings, we have to be intentional about it.”
Shuler will also be tasked with helping develop and mentor the nation’s top secondary class.
The transition to college football isn't always easy, and he remembers exactly what it was like. After redshirting in 2023, Shuler didn't allow the disappointment of missing the rotation to slow his development.
“Just be where your feet are,” Shuler said of his advice to the younger players. “It's hard when you're away from home, you've been the best player on your team probably since you were a little kid. But just learn. Just be where your feet are. Don't dwell on somebody else's situation.
“I feel like that's kind of the hardest thing with college football nowadays. Everybody is always looking for the cameras and you just have to keep your head down and work.”
For Shuler, DJ Brown, Xavier Watts and Benjamin Morrison helped shape him into the player he is today.
This year's freshmen will have no shortage of examples to follow as Shuler, Brauntae Johnson, Leonard Moore, Christian Gray and DJ McKinney all could hear their names called in next April's draft.
“Being a safety at Notre Dame is really hard,” stated Shuler. “I think it's a role that a lot of people expect you to kind of know everything and always be in the right spots.
“Something I've learned from X is just always finding peace throughout the chaos. That's something I learned from him. He's always calm, cool, and collected. Same with D.J. Like, they were always just a level-headed guy in the room or on the team. That helped with my role. I'm kind of a rah-rah guy, but I know how to turn it off and on.”
Notre Dame's defense enters the season with lofty expectations. It's the second year under Chris Ash, nearly every starter returns and the unit has the experience and talent to be one of the nation's best.
“When you play your older brother in a video game, you're like, ‘Oh, I got to play him,’” said Shuler. “I feel like that's how I want it to be with the defense. ‘Oh, we have to play Notre Dame this week.’
“No matter where we go with the ball, there's going to be a guy who’s about their business. I feel like that's kind of the goal for the defense. No matter where you go, there ain't no weak points in the defense. We're going to attack you.”
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