Notre Dame Strikes Gold with a Pair of Defensive Blue Chips
- Max Uretsky
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
For proponents of the narrative that Notre Dame is unable to go head-to-head with the Georgia and Alabama's of the world when it comes to recruiting defensive players, it has been a rough couple of weeks.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
Four-star defensive end Ebenezer Ewetade out of South Carolina was a huge addition to the 2026 class for Fighting Irish when he announced his commitment earlier this month. And as we found out this week, Marcus Freeman, Al Washington, and the rest of the Notre Dame brain trust were not yet finished. Rodney Dunham, a fellow four-star (five-star on some recruiting services) also declared he would be continuing his football career in South Bend, Indiana, which created quite a buzz among those who follow high school recruiting. The combination not only bolstered a 2026 class that is now widely considered among the top six in the country, but it gives Notre Dame the type of talent and depth along the defensive line that has not been seen in quite some time.
As momentum built towards these elite prospects choosing the Blue and Gold, we began going through the tape to study their games. Now that it is official, we want to zero in on what fans can expect from the pair of defenders and why this is such a major deal.
Ebenezer Ewetade
Ewetade truly is an all-around balanced defensive end. He displays excellent hand usage, violent get-off, and a high motor. He plays with good leverage in the run game, which allows him to consistently set the edge. He knows how to disengage at the point of attack and is a strong tackler. Can close backside versus zone, and has a knack for punching the ball out and forcing fumbles. In pass-rush situations, he has very good upfield burst and does not stop moving his feet as he works to disengage from blocks. His athleticism shines through when it comes to his ability to bend and flatten off the edge when using an outside rush.
As he develops more physically, I would love to see him mix in some power rushes and use his length to his advantage. After piling up ten sacks and 28 tackles for loss as a junior, his senior season will be even more dominant.
Rodney Dunham
Dunham is everything you want in a pass rush specialist. Like Ewetade, he has rare bend ability, especially for being 6'5. He has elite upfield burst and there is not any wasted movement when he gets off the line. He has enough power and leg drive to split double teams off the edge and get home to the QB. He runs through chip blocks while maintaining his balance and it will be very hard for quarterbacks to get outside of him when they leave the pocket due to his change of direction and length. Dunham shows a high level of mental processing when it comes to diagnosing when the ball is coming out quickly and gets his hands up in passing lanes resulting in plenty of knockdowns. His pursuit effort is top-notch whether he is on the front or backside of plays. When it comes to stopping the run, Dunham comes off the line with power and uses his long arms to create space between himself and the offensive linemen before quickly slanting inside to make plays on interior runs.
At the next level, Dunham will need to establish consistent violence with his hands to make sure he does not allow offensive tackles the opportunity to lock out and stonewall him. As he enters his senior season, something to look for is seeing if he can clean up some tackling mechanics that allow ball carriers to fall forward. Dunham is the prototypical blue-chip player and should vie for snaps very early in his college career.
Even with some changes in the coaching staff and the front office, recruiting for Notre Dame seems to be catching fire at the exact right time. In order to be in title contention on a regular basis, landing these types of players is a must, and landing two in the same cycle establishes Notre Dame as a powerhouse both on the field and on the recruiting trail. With young talent all over the roster ready to explode this upcoming season, 2026 may end up being even more special. Marcus Freeman is building something sustainable, and that should make Notre Dame fans very excited.
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