Heading into the 2024 season, Notre Dame is expected to have one of the best defensive lines in all of college football. A big reason for that is the interior duo of Howard Cross and Rylie Mills , who are coming off of a season where the duo combined for 113 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Add in players like Gabriel Rubio, and Jason Onye behind them, and the Irish have the potential to be absolutely dominant inside this fall.
On the edge, there is a lot of optimism but there are also still several questions to answer. As you dig through the depth chart, you are going to become even more excited. The edge group might have uncertainty but it also has some exciting names and high upside talent. In a lot of ways, the defensive end positions could be the difference between a great and elite defense in 2024.
Who are the headliners?
Coming into the season, the rotation still has to figure itself out a little bit. There are a few names that could end up being the most productive players on the edge, but a couple of them have made little impact in college so far. The veteran aspect to this conversation is still important.
At the Vyper position, Notre Dame still appears to have high hopes for Jordan Botelho, who returns as a starter this season. When Botelho has his weight where he needs it to be, and he’s locked in, he’s a very talented player. We have seen it in the bowl games each of the last two seasons, recording 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a countless amount of pressures in those two contests.
The problem is that Botelho often disappears. He was a rock solid run defender in 2023 but Botelho plays a position where the Irish need a pass rush from. In the other 24 games he has played in the last two years, the Hawaii native has collected just 7.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. That backfield production needs to improve this season.
At the field end, former Duke standout RJ Oben appears to be the favorite to start. He is by far the team’s most accomplished pass rusher on the roster, boasting a nice resume during his career. Oben totaled 20 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks during his career so far. He chose to bypass the NFL and return for a sixth season in 2024, hoping a lot of sacks and wins would come as a result. If the Irish increase their outside pass rush this season, Oben will be a big reason for it.
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Figuring out the depth
With a couple of question marks up top, at least as far as consistent production, the depth will be very important this fall. Notre Dame has done a good job finding options in that room, bringing in a lot of length and upside for Al Washington to work with.
At Vyper, the Irish are going to need someone to step up big time. While there is still hope for Botelho, finding some insurance, or at least some quality depth could prove to be very important in the biggest games of the season. One name that has continued to have fans buzzing is sophomore Boubacar Traore. When it comes to twitch and bend, there may not be anyone better on the roster than Traore.
You saw the flash of what Traore could be last season against USC, finishing with a sack on an impressive rep and getting former Trojan quarterback Caleb Williams on the ground. That flash was once again seen in the Blue-Gold Game as well. It’s about getting a consistent version of the 6-4, 240-pound defensive end on a per snap basis.
Outside of Traore, Junior Tuihalamaka will play. He should be a better edge setter in 2024 but doesn’t seem to have much pass rush upside. It will also be interesting to see if freshman Loghan Thomas gets any opportunities as a pass rusher in 2024. His body is still developing but the talent is certainly there.
Behind Oben at big end, the possibilities are even more exciting. Notre Dame fans will continue to hype up true freshman Bryce Young, and the excitement is warranted. The son of former Irish great Bryant Young, he is a freaky athlete at defensive end. Already listed at 6-7 and 258 pounds, Young has the look of a future first round draft pick. His tools are incredible.
The heavy favorite to be the top backup in 2024 is Joshua Burnham, who was originally recruited to play linebacker at Notre Dame. He has now grown into the 6-4, 247-pound defensive end you see today. Burnham got his feet wet in 2023 but is now expected to take a step toward this fall. If he does, this rotation has a chance to be stellar.
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