Notre Dame defensive coordinator Chris Ash isn’t one to tip his hand when it comes to his personnel or much of anything else.
But earlier this week, Ash offered a small glimpse into just how much defensive depth the Fighting Irish have coming out of fall camp.
It starts and ends with the secondary, where Notre Dame boasts arguably the nation’s most talented and deepest group.
Cornerback Leonard Moore and safety Brauntae Johnson are receiving All-American hype, while two-time captain Adon Shuler is running the show at safety.
Graduate transfer DJ McKinney has NFL scouts intrigued after a strong 2024 season at Colorado.
But it’s sophomore Jayden Sanders who could be Notre Dame’s X-factor.
The Michigan transfer is battling McKinney for the starting job at field corner and has also worked at nickel. Ash made it clear that he doesn’t have plans to move Sanders to nickel full-time, but when Dallas Golden was banged up early in camp, the Irish slid the 6-foot, 195-pound Sanders inside because of the strong spring he had at the position.
That kind of position flexibility is what every coach craves and Sanders’ willingness to move around should only benefit him moving forward.
“I know people talk about that (depth), but Jayden has done an outstanding job since he got here,” stated Ash. “We didn’t know a whole lot about him. When he got here, it was a slow start for him and he really accelerated near the second half of spring and he hasn’t let up.
“He shows up every single day. He has a great attitude, he’s coachable, and I’m really glad he’s here on our team.”
The starting safeties are set in stone for Ash. Senior Luke Talich is the third safety, while the fourth safety spot remains up for grabs.
Sophomore Ethan Long flashed last fall, but freshman Joey O’Brien has caught the eye of just about everyone during camp.
O’Brien thrives in coverage, and his 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame is reminiscent of Kyle Hamilton roaming the secondary.
The next step for O’Brien is becoming a more consistent tackler and playing with the physicality Marcus Freeman demands, but he appears well on his way.
“He flashed last spring,” explained Ash. “He missed some time in the summer from an injury in the spring game, as you guys know. He's still trying to get back to where he was in the spring, but he's shown signs that he can be a great player. We're really fired up about him.
“How much does he do for us this year? We don't know. Time will tell, but he'll have a role doing something.”
At the second level, Notre Dame might also have the nation’s deepest and most talented linebacker group.
The Irish went five deep at linebacker a year ago and all five players returned in 2026.
Sophomore Madden Faraimo was the fifth man as a freshman, gaining valuable experience in all 12 games. Faraimo recorded 16 tackles and two sacks in 2025 and is pushing for a larger role in his second season.
“I love Madden,” Ash said. “Great kid, works really hard, he's very athletic, he's still learning the game, learning the ins and outs of what we're asking him to do, but he just works hard. He is a very likable individual and he gets along with everybody, shows up every day with the right attitude and goes hard.”
The interior of Notre Dame’s defensive line has also been a major talking point, with Marcus Freeman saying the Irish could potentially go six deep.
Notre Dame added transfers Francis Brewu and Tionne Gray, and both have done more than simply add bodies to the room. They’ve raised the level of competition and made the entire group better.
“Depth,” Ash said of the two transfers. “Competition. Big bodies that have played at a high level. They’ve just made everybody better. They’re big, strong, athletic guys and they made both Jason (Onye) and Armel (Mukam) better. We really like the depth and the competition.”
On the perimeter, Ash has three defensive ends with college experience in Boubacar Traore, Bryce Young and Keon Keeley.
Keeley has put together a strong fall camp, but the depth at edge could ultimately be determined by Notre Dame’s prized freshman defensive ends.
Rodney Dunham was the flashy five-star, while Ebenezer Ewetade is the prospect with first-round traits.
Ash isn’t in a rush to throw either freshman into the fire, but he’s been extremely pleased with how both players have attacked their first eight months in the program.
“They’re both talented,” said Ash. “They’re both mature. They work really hard. They’re coachable. We’ll just see how fast they come along and get to the point that they need to be to help us. That’s really it. They’re great kids. They work hard, they show up every day with a great attitude and every day they’re getting better.”
And that might be the most telling part of Notre Dame’s defensive depth.
The coaching staff has the luxury of allowing players to develop rather than forcing them onto the field before they’re ready.
For Ash, that depth doesn’t just provide insurance. It creates competition and that could lead to Notre Dame making a run into January.
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