By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT⏐Profile: @NickKremer
Photo - The Irish Tribune
Let me start by saying that Marcus Freeman and the rest of the Notre Dame staff/support team deserve a TON of credit. The amount of work they put towards securing and keeping an elite recruiting class together is something that needs celebrating, especially in today's crazy world of college football. The recruiting and retainment operation of Notre Dame football is a well-oiled machine, and it shows on drama-free days like today.
Twenty-three young men have signed their National Letter of Intent to put on the gold helmet and play for the Irish in the house that Rockne built. Twelve of those young men will play on the defensive side of the ball, ready to continue the tradition of great defense for the Irish.
Marcus Freeman and staff were able to address a lot of crucial needs for the future success of this defense. They found big, explosive players along the defensive line. They found hard-hitting, tough linebackers with star potential. And they found long, athletic, and tough football players to handle the secondary. Let's meet the 12 newest members of the Notre Dame defense.
Overall grade for the defense: B
Defensive Line
Sean Sevillano Jr. - Defensive Tackle (6'2", 300 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐
From Clearwater, FL, Sevillano Jr. is a disruptive force in the interior, combining power and agility. Sean has the ability to eat up blockers on the inside, allowing linebackers to make plays. Sean is also a play-maker, showing great athleticism for his size, good pad level, and active hands to get off blocks.
Loghan Thomas - Defensive End (6'4", 210 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
From Lakewood, OH, Thomas is an agile and explosive edge rusher poised to wreak havoc in opposing backfields. Thomas has a very quick first step on the snap of the football, and has enough speed to bend the edge. Thomas will have to add some strength and additional pass-rush moves, but the ceiling is very high for this talented prospect.
Bryce Young - Defensive End (6'5", 240 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Another product of Charlotte, NC, Young is a powerful and versatile defensive end with a relentless motor. Son of former Notre Dame great Bryant Young, Bryce has all the tools to become a dominant player for the Irish. He has a great first step, and shows the ability to re-direct with quickness. Something tells me that both Young and Thomas will be stars for the Irish in the coming years.
Cole Mullins - Defensive End (6'4", 240 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐
From Hoschton, GA, Mullins brings a great motor, explosiveness, and versatility to the defensive line room. Projected to be a Vyper for the Irish, Mullins shows great strength and balance. An underrated prospect that will need to add some strength and mass before contributing, but this is a player that I can see making an impact down the road.
Linebackers
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa - Linebacker (6'3", 227 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A linebacker from Bellflower, CA, Viliamu-Asa brings a dynamic edge to the Notre Dame defense. His combination of size, speed, and football IQ makes him a versatile asset. KVA shows the ability to be an every down linebacker for the Irish, which is not the norm in today's college football. He shows the ability to be elite when blitzing, stopping the run, and defending the pass. With a very young LB corp at Notre Dame, I expect KVA to get playing time in his first year with the Irish.
Bodie Kahoun - Linebacker (6'2", 210 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐
From Roanoke, VA, Kahoun brings a hard-hitting presence to the linebacker corps, excelling in run support. Bodie shows good athleticism and is very physical in his play. He will need to continue to add strength and improve on some of his techniques, but with time, he will be an asset for the Irish defense
Teddy Rezac - Linebacker (6'3", 193 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐
Coming from Omaha, NE, Rezac is a versatile linebacker with the ability to cover ground and make plays in space. Teddy is a very impressive athlete and an underrated prospect. He shows great speed, ability to change direction, and balance when playing. Rezac will have to add some strength and improve some of his technique, but the ceiling could be very high for Rezac.
Corners
Karson Hobbs - Defensive Back (6'1", 180 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐
From Cincinnati, OH, Hobbs is a versatile defensive back with the ability to excel in coverage and support the run. Hobbs had a very impressive Senior season at Moeller. Hobbs has great length and long arms which allow him to make plays on the ball. Hobbs brings a very confident mentality to the corner room, which is always a positive when playing a tough position like corner.
Leonard Moore - Defensive Back (6'2", 170 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐
Coming from Round Rock, TX, Moore is a rangy cornerback with the speed and instincts to make plays on the ball. Leonard shows good athleticism, ball skills, and technique. Moore will have to add some mass, but he shows he has the tools to be a play-maker for the Irish.
Safety
Kennedy Urlacher - Defensive Back (5'11, 190 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐
From Chandler, AZ, Urlacher brings a hard-hitting, physical style to the Safety room. Urlacher is the son of NFL and college hall of famer Brian Urlacher. Kennedy is a tough football player that likes to deliver big hits when coming up to defend against the run or pass. He will have to improve on his coverage skills, but he has a high ceiling after improving in that area.
Brauntae Johnson - Defensive Back (6'3", 175 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hailing from Fort Wayne, IN, Johnson is a defensive back with very impressive athleticism. Standing at 6'3" and 175 pounds, he combines size and length with good ball skills as he was also a very talented wide receiver. As he continues to develop his technique in coverage, Johnson could be a difference maker on the back end of the defense.
Taebron Bennie-Powell - Defensive Back (6'1", 182 lbs)
⭐⭐⭐
From West Chester, OH, Bennie-Powell is a defensive back with a keen eye for reading plays. Taebron is one of those players that seems to always be around the football. TBP shows good athleticism on the field, but will have to improve on his technique at the safety position.
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