Interior Line
The Irish defense enters fall camp with a clear hierarchy at the interior of the line. Senior Tionne Gray and sophomore Frances Brewu are slated to start at defensive tackle, bringing a combined 70 tackles and 4.5 sacks from their previous stops. Behind them, Jason Onye, who earned an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA, and transfer Elijah Hughes provide depth, giving the unit flexibility as the season progresses.
Edge Rushers
On the edge, the coaching staff counts on Boubacar Traore and Bryce Young to anchor the end positions. Traore’s 2025 campaign featured 37 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, while Young contributed 20 stops and two sacks. Freshman Rodney Dunham, a five‑star recruit, impressed during spring drills and is expected to meet the lofty expectations placed on him, while Keon Keeley offers additional rotational talent.
Linebackers
At linebacker, the projected starters are Drayk Bowen and Jaylen Sneed, with Jaiden Ausberry and Madden Faraimo listed as the primary backups. Sneed’s pass‑rushing style draws comparisons to Kyngstonn Viliamu‑Asa, though he is still looking to cement his role. Ausberry, now in his fourth year, is regarded as an unsung contributor who brings steady production, while Faraimo adds versatility to the group.
Secondary
The secondary boasts a trio of starters in Leonard Moore, DJ McKinney and Christian Gray. Moore is frequently cited as one of the nation’s top cornerbacks, and McKinney arrives from Oklahoma State with 137 career tackles and four interceptions across stops at Oklahoma State and Colorado. Gray’s clutch performances include game‑clinching picks against USC and Penn State last season. Complementary pieces such as Mark Zachary IV, Dallas Golden and Jayden Sanders provide depth, ensuring the secondary can weather injuries.
Safety Group
At safety, Tae Johnson and Adon Shuler are the expected starters. Johnson’s four interceptions a year ago included a pick‑6 against Pittsburgh, while Shuler posted two picks and three tackles for loss. Backup safety Luke Talich, who also recorded three interceptions and an 84‑yard receiving touchdown on a fake punt against Stanford, and Joey O’Brien round out a group that aims to improve on recent turnover margins.