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Every team striving to win a national title needs a handful of players to step up over the course of the season and into the post season. We've see countless years where some players who are projected to be 'the guys' step up and play a big role on their respective sides of the ball. We've also seen years where some unsung heroes step up and become big time players on offense or defense as well.
The hype around Notre Dame heading into the 2026 season is some of the highest I've seen in quite some time. I wanted to take a dive into the players Notre Dame has on offense that have the opportunity to have the biggest impact. Some are more obvious than others, but the Irish will need them all nonetheless. This isn't a ranking of 'who will be the more impactful'. The Irish will need all of these players to step up this season to make a run at the title.
Leonard Moore - Cornerback
Does it get more impactful than being the No. 1 returning cornerback in all of college football? It's not very often we get to talk about Notre Dame having the best returning cornerback and one of the best returning quarterbacks in the country, but that's the life we're now living. Moore will be an anchor on the back end of this defense and he'll be relied upon to lock down his side of the field on October 17, November 7, November 21 and throughout the post season. The 6-2, 197-pound Texas native has been very vocal this offseason about Notre Dame's snub from the 2025 CFP. I'm looking forward to seeing what that will translate to on the field in 2026.
Boubacar Traore - Defensive End
What do you need in a championship caliber defense? A premier edge rusher and that's what Traore brings to the table. Last season, his first year back from a knee injury, Traore racked up 10.0 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks and a team-leading 31 pressures. Now, under the tutelage of Charlie Partridge, the Boston native looks to have an elite-level breakout in 2026 and become the anchor of Notre Dame's defensive line. Now that he's a year removed from the knee injury, Traore should be back this season even stronger, faster and more explosive.
Drayk Bowen - Middle Linebacker
Irish Breakdown has not been shy around the fact that Notre Dame returns the best linebacking corps in the country when you consider the level of talent, experience and depth they have in the room. At the center of that conversation is Bowen, a third-year starter and a 2025 team captain. He's the heart and soul of this defense; he's been the signal caller on this side of the ball for two years and is about to be for a third. Bowen is now headed into year two of the Chris Ash system. We saw last year how impressive he and the rest of the linebacking unit looked once they found their footing. The Indiana native is poised for a memorable final season in South Bend.
Bryce Young - Defensive End
Traore will be the anchor of Notre Dame's defensive line, but the ceiling of this unit will be greatly determined by the season Young puts together. We've seen countless seasons where Notre Dame has had one premier pass rusher, but opposite of them are decent players, but not difference makers. The 6-6, 260-pound defensive end has the prime opportunity to become a difference maker on this year's defense. Young had a breakout season in 2025 racking up 29 pressures and averaging more snaps per game than what he did as a true freshman in 2024. If he can put it all together the rest of this offseason, Young is poised for a massive breakout in 2026.
Adon Shuler / Brauntae Johnson - Safety
I couldn't separate the two players. They are arguably the best returning safety duo in the country and if they have the season I believe they can have, it won't be a debate when the season is said and done. There's a certain level of comfort you have as an analyst and as a fan when you know the back end of your defense is shored up; Johnson and Shuler provide that level of comfort to Notre Dame's secondary and new defensive backs coach Aaron Henry. Johnson had a breakout season in 2025 as a redshirt freshman and Shuler is gearing up for his third year in the starting lineup and will likely be a captain, once again, this fall.
Similar to the offensive side of the ball, it's very easy to pick more than just five to six players that will have a great impact on this year's defense. I haven't even mentioned Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Jason Onye, Tionne Gray, Francis Brewu, Christian Gray, DJ McKinney, Jaiden Ausberry, Armel Mukam, Keon Keeley, Luke Talich or Dallas Golden. That goes to show you the level of depth and talent on this roster. But all players will be needed for Notre Dame to achieve their ultimate goal of winning their 12th national championship.
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The hype around Notre Dame heading into the 2026 season is some of the highest I've seen in quite some time. I wanted to take a dive into the players Notre Dame has on offense that have the opportunity to have the biggest impact. Some are more obvious than others, but the Irish will need them all nonetheless. This isn't a ranking of 'who will be the more impactful'. The Irish will need all of these players to step up this season to make a run at the title.
Leonard Moore - Cornerback
Does it get more impactful than being the No. 1 returning cornerback in all of college football? It's not very often we get to talk about Notre Dame having the best returning cornerback and one of the best returning quarterbacks in the country, but that's the life we're now living. Moore will be an anchor on the back end of this defense and he'll be relied upon to lock down his side of the field on October 17, November 7, November 21 and throughout the post season. The 6-2, 197-pound Texas native has been very vocal this offseason about Notre Dame's snub from the 2025 CFP. I'm looking forward to seeing what that will translate to on the field in 2026.
Boubacar Traore - Defensive End
What do you need in a championship caliber defense? A premier edge rusher and that's what Traore brings to the table. Last season, his first year back from a knee injury, Traore racked up 10.0 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks and a team-leading 31 pressures. Now, under the tutelage of Charlie Partridge, the Boston native looks to have an elite-level breakout in 2026 and become the anchor of Notre Dame's defensive line. Now that he's a year removed from the knee injury, Traore should be back this season even stronger, faster and more explosive.
Drayk Bowen - Middle Linebacker
Irish Breakdown has not been shy around the fact that Notre Dame returns the best linebacking corps in the country when you consider the level of talent, experience and depth they have in the room. At the center of that conversation is Bowen, a third-year starter and a 2025 team captain. He's the heart and soul of this defense; he's been the signal caller on this side of the ball for two years and is about to be for a third. Bowen is now headed into year two of the Chris Ash system. We saw last year how impressive he and the rest of the linebacking unit looked once they found their footing. The Indiana native is poised for a memorable final season in South Bend.
Bryce Young - Defensive End
Traore will be the anchor of Notre Dame's defensive line, but the ceiling of this unit will be greatly determined by the season Young puts together. We've seen countless seasons where Notre Dame has had one premier pass rusher, but opposite of them are decent players, but not difference makers. The 6-6, 260-pound defensive end has the prime opportunity to become a difference maker on this year's defense. Young had a breakout season in 2025 racking up 29 pressures and averaging more snaps per game than what he did as a true freshman in 2024. If he can put it all together the rest of this offseason, Young is poised for a massive breakout in 2026.
Adon Shuler / Brauntae Johnson - Safety
I couldn't separate the two players. They are arguably the best returning safety duo in the country and if they have the season I believe they can have, it won't be a debate when the season is said and done. There's a certain level of comfort you have as an analyst and as a fan when you know the back end of your defense is shored up; Johnson and Shuler provide that level of comfort to Notre Dame's secondary and new defensive backs coach Aaron Henry. Johnson had a breakout season in 2025 as a redshirt freshman and Shuler is gearing up for his third year in the starting lineup and will likely be a captain, once again, this fall.
Similar to the offensive side of the ball, it's very easy to pick more than just five to six players that will have a great impact on this year's defense. I haven't even mentioned Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Jason Onye, Tionne Gray, Francis Brewu, Christian Gray, DJ McKinney, Jaiden Ausberry, Armel Mukam, Keon Keeley, Luke Talich or Dallas Golden. That goes to show you the level of depth and talent on this roster. But all players will be needed for Notre Dame to achieve their ultimate goal of winning their 12th national championship.
------
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Join the Irish Breakdown community!
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Continue reading...
